Honorees and their families,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon.
I often tell the story of growing up in Cat Island because it reminds me where I come from. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that a barefoot boy from Old Bight, running along dusty roads and helping his mother tend to chores, would one day stand before you as Prime Minister of The Bahamas.
When I look back on those days, I see God’s hand in every step. I see how His grace carried me from those small beginnings to this moment. And when I think about that journey, I realize that it is not just my story. It is the story of many Bahamians. It is the story of a people who learned to live with little but give with much. It is the story of a people who built something strong out of faith, hard work, and love for each other.
When I look around this room today, I see that same story in the lives of every person being honoured. I see men and women who have given their time and their hearts to this country. You have done it quietly, without asking for recognition, because you believe in serving others.
You come from every island and every walk of life. Some of you served in classrooms, guiding young minds. Some cared for the sick and the elderly. Some protected our communities and kept our nation safe. Others worked in churches, civic groups, and neighbourhoods, doing the work that keeps the soul of our country alive.
You all have one thing in common. You chose service over self. You chose to give instead of take. You chose to make this country stronger, kinder, and more hopeful.
We live in a time when the world often measures success by how much we have. But here in The Bahamas, we have always known a different truth. Success is measured by how much we give. It is measured by the love we show, by the good we do, and by the lives we lift up along the way.
That is the spirit that built this country. It is the same spirit that lives in every one of you today. You are the reason The Bahamas continues to stand tall through every storm. You are the proof that our greatest strength is not in our resources or our riches, but in the character of our people.
When I think about the Bahamas of my childhood, I think about what community truly meant. If someone lost a loved one, everyone gathered to comfort the family. If someone’s roof blew off, the neighbours came with their hammers. If a child was hungry, another household shared its food.
We did not have much, but we had each other. We had love. We had faith. We had a deep belief that if one of us struggled, the rest would help to carry the load. That is the foundation on which this country stands today. It is what we must protect. It is what we must pass on to the next generation.
You, our honourees, keep that spirit alive. Through your work and your example, you remind us that being Bahamian is about more than where we live. It is about how we live. It is about kindness, generosity, and compassion. It is about caring for others as we would care for our own.
There are few things more powerful than a person who gives from the heart. You have shown us what true leadership looks like. Leadership is not about power or position. It is about responsibility. It is about showing up when others step back. It is about lifting others up when they are down.
You have done this quietly and faithfully. You have shown that service is the highest calling. You have proven that the greatest honour comes not from medals or titles, but from the lives you have touched and the hope you have restored.
You remind us that a good life is one that blesses others. That is what it means to be Bahamian. That is what it means to serve.
I want to speak to our young people for a moment. I know it is easy to feel that the world is moving too fast, that opportunity is far away, or that your voice does not matter. But remember this. Every person you see honoured here today began with the same uncertainty. They began with small steps. They began with service.
Do not wait for perfect conditions to do good. Start where you are. Help where you can. Love this country enough to leave it better than you found it.
When I was that barefoot boy in Cat Island, I could never have imagined where life would lead me. But I knew that my purpose was tied to the people around me. I knew that the value of life was not in how high I climbed, but in how many I could lift with me.
That is the message of today. That is what we celebrate in you, our honourees.
On behalf of the Government and the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, I thank each of you. Thank you for your faith. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for reminding us of who we are and what we stand for.
You remind us that this country’s beauty is not only in its waters or its skies, but in its people. You remind us that no matter what challenges we face, we have the strength to endure, the grace to forgive, and the heart to rebuild.
Your stories are the story of The Bahamas. They are stories of hope, humility, and faith that God rewards those who serve with love and sincerity.
As I stand here, that barefoot boy from Cat Island is still very much alive in me. He still remembers the rhythm of the sea, the laughter of neighbours, and the voice of his mother praying late into the night. He still believes that faith will carry us through, and that good will always prevail.
When I think about that journey, and when I see each of you sitting here, I am reminded of one of the most beloved hymns we sing in our churches.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine,
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Those words remind us that all we have comes from grace. Every blessing, every success, every moment of joy comes from God’s goodness and mercy.