Bahamas News
Resolution to Name Sailing the National Sport of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas
RESOLUTION TO NAME SAILING THE NATIONAL SPORT OF THE BAHAMAS
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, MARINE RESOURCES AND FAMILY ISLAND AFFAIRS
HON. CLAY G. SWEETING HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
10:00 A.M.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TO MAKE THE HISTORIC RESOLUTION TO NAME SAILING THE NATIONAL SPORT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG AWAITED ANNOUCEMENT BY BAHAMIANS FAR AND WIDE AS SAILING HAS BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF WHO WE ARE AS BAHAMIANS. FOR CENTURIES, BAHAMIANS HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS MASTERS OF THE SEA. FROM THE LUCAYANS AND ARAWAKS, SWASHBUCKLING PIRATES, QUAINT WORK BOATS TO METICULOUSLY CRAFTED SLOOP RACE BOATS, BAHAMIANS HAVE EVOLVED THE SPORT OF SAILING AS IT PLAYS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR CULTURE. HISTORIANS TELL US THAT THE FIRST REGATTA WAS HELD IN ROLLEVILLE, EXUMA IN 1943.
HOWEVER, IN THE LATE 1950s, REGATTAS BECAME MORE ORGANIZED,COMPREHENSIVE AND TECHNICAL. THE FIRST REGATTA HELD IN THE ELIZABETH HARBOUR, GEORGE TOWN, EXUMA WAS RECORDED ON MARCH 26-28,1954 AND WAS CONSIDERED A MAIN EVENT AS MORE THAN 70 VESSELS FROM THROUGHOUT THE BAHAMAS COMPETED.
MADAM SPEAKER, OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES, THE SPORT GREW IN STRENGTH AND IS NOW A FORMIDABLE ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE FAMILY ISLANDS. SAILING IS SO UNIQUE TO EACH ISLAND THAT PARTICIPATES IN HOLDING REGATTAS. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NOTICED THIS EARLY ON. THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL YACHTING COMMUNITY FORMED AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED THE OUT ISLAND SQUADRON TO FUND BAHAMIAN REGATTAS.
IN 1959, THE LATE DUKE OF EDINGBURG PRINCE PHILIP WAS BOTH A PATRON AND PARTICIPANT OF THE REGATTA IN GEORGE TOWN, EXUMA – SIGNALING TO THE WORLD THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS NATIONAL TREASURE.
ANOTHER PIVITOL MILESTONE IN BAHAMIAN HISTORY WAS CEMENTED BY THE LATE SIR DURWARD KNOWLES AND CECIL COOKE, WHO WON THE FIRST EVER OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL FOR THE BAHAMAS IN SAILING IN 1964. SOON AFTER, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHAMAS BEGAN SPONSORING REGATTAS – A PRIVILEGE THAT IS NOW CARRIED BY MY MINISTRY. WHEN THE BAHAMAS BECAME INDEPENDENT, A SAILING REGATTA WAS HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME OUTSIDE OF GEORGE TOWN, EXUMA IN NEW PROVIDENCE.
THERE ARE NOW 18 SENIOR REGATTAS HELD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE ALSO SOME 17 JUNIOR SAILING EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE ANNUALLY. RACES ARE HELD IN THE A, B, C, AND E DIVISIONS AS THEYDIFFER IN BOAT SIZE, BUT NOT IN THE FIERCE NATURE OF THE OVERALL COMPETITION. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT REGATTAS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COUNTRY.
REGATTAS ARE A NATURAL DRAW FOR BAHAMIANS THROUGHOUT OUR ISLANDS AND ENCOURAGES SUSTAINABLE DOMESTIC TOURISM. IT ALSO GIVES BAHAMIANS OF DIFFERENT TALENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THEIR CRAFTS FOR ALL TO ENJOY. EACH ISLAND WHERE REGATTAS ARE HELD BENEFIT FROM A SIGNIFICANT, ECONOMIC BOOST. ARTISANS, MUSICIANS, FOOD VENDORS AND MAIL BOAT OPERATORS ALL BENEFIT FROM THE POPULARITY OF REGATTAS.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE CANNOT NAME SAILING THE NATIONAL SPORT WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE MANY CHAMPIONS WHO HAVE BUILT THE SPORT TO WHAT IT IS TODAY. THOUGH IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO NAME EVERYONE – LEGITMATE SAILING CHAMPIONS SUCH AS ROLLEY GRAY; HEZRON MOXEY, EDGAR MOXEY, RUPERT KNOWLES, VERNON LOCKHART, LIVINGSTON MILLER, BROOKS MILLER, ALFRED BAIN, FRED FINLEY, RICHARD HEPBURN, SAMUEL STUBBS, AND LAURIN KNOWLES MUST BE GIVEN THEIR JUST DUE. THESE ATHLETES USED THEIR INTELLIGENCE, HEARTS AND BRAWN TO DEVELOP SLOOP SAILING IN OUR COUNTRY. THEY HAVE PAVED THE WAY AND INSPIRED MANY BAHAMIANS TO CONTINUE TO EXCEL IN SAILING.
MADAME SPEAKER, SAILING IN THE BAHAMAS IS EXTRAORDINARY AND LEGENDARY. NO OTHER SPORT SHARES THE AMOUNT OF DEPTH IT HAS IN OUR HISTORY. THERE IS SIMPLY NOTHING LIKE IT. AS A FORMER FISHERMAN, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRAWN TO THE WATER AND WITH SAILING – IT IS NO DIFFERENT. I HAVE SAILED AT EVERY REGATTA, I HAVE ATTENDED – A TRADITION THAT I HOPE TO KEEP IN THE FUTURE.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE WORLD CONTINUES TO MARK THE MANNER OF OUR BEARING WHEN IT COMES TO SAILING. WE CONTINUE TO MARCH ON TO GLORY AS WE ARE SEEING OUR YOUTH TAKE A KEEN INTEREST IN THE SPORT AND THIS IS FROM BOTH MALE AND FEMALE SAILORS. YOUNG CRAIG FERGUSON, MADE WAVES LAST YEAR WHEN HE WON THE OVERALL TITLE IN THE SILVER FLEET AT THE 2022 ARKAS OPTIMIST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN BODRUM, TURKEY. YOUNG SAILORS LIKE ELLIANNE HIGGS, JOSHUA HIGGINS, SPENCER CARTWRIGHT, JOSHUA WELCH, PAUL DE SOUZA, FINLEY MCKINNEY-LAMBERT, ZANE MUNRO, JOSHUA WEECH AND OTHERS HAVE REPRESENTED THE BAHAMAS INTERNATIONALLY.
MADAM SPEAKER, BAHAMIANS CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR MARK GLOBALLY IN SAILING. WE WANT TO THANK THE VARIOUS YOUTH SAILING CLUBS SUCH AS THE ROYAL NASSAU SAILING CLUB, THE BAHAMAS NATIONAL SAILING SCHOOL, THE LYFORD CAY SAILING SCHOOL, EXUMA SAILING CLUB, ABACO SAILING CLUB AND THE BAHAMAS SAILING ASSOCIATION – THE GOVERNING BODY FOR CONTINUING OUR COUNTRY’S TENACIOUS LEGACY IN SAILING. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR SAILING IN THE BAHAMAS.
MADAM SPEAKER, IN JANUARY, UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF MY MINISTRY, SEE HOW THE MAIN SAIL SETS DEBUTED AT FUSION SUPERPLEX. THE 90MINUTE DOCUMENTARY IS A REVEALING, TIMELY, MASTERPIECE DETAILING THE HISTORY OF BOAT BUILDING AND SLOOP SAILING THROUGHOUT THE BAHAMAS. MY MINISTRY IS GRATEFUL TO HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BAHAMIAN PRODUCER-DIRECTOR CHARLIE SMITH, A.K.A. CHARLIE BAHAMA AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS FRED MUNNINGS AND NADIR HASAN, COMMODORE DANNY STRACHAN, THE MOVI GROUP AND DR. CHRISTOPHER CURRY FOR THEIR AWESOME WORK ON THE FILM. THE FILM IS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED INTERNATIONALLY THIS YEAR.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE ARE PROUD TO ANCHOR SAILING AS THE NATIONAL SPORT OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS. FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS, BAHAMIANS HAVE DISPLAYED PASSION AND GRIT FOR THE SPORT AND IT IS ONE THAT HAS BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN YOUNG AND OLDER BAHAMIANS. WE HAVE WITNESSED ITS EVOLUTION, AND IT IS A SPORT THAT HAS WON THE HEARTS OF BAHAMIANS AND THE MILLIONS OF VISITORS TO THE BAHAMAS.
IT IS A SPORT THAT SUBTLY REMINDS US OF WHO WE ARE – A FRIENDLY, MARITIME PEOPLE THAT CONTINUES TO MAKE WAVES INTERNATIONALLY BY SAILING WITH VIGOR AND GRACE – THE UNDERPINNINGS OF THE BAHAMIAN SPIRIT. MY MINISTRY AND I ARE PROUD OF EVERYTHING THIS SPORT HAS ACHIEVED AND WILL ACHIEVE FOR OUR COUNTRY OVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE. WE SALUTE ALL BOAT OWNERS, BOAT BUILDERS, SAIL MAKERS, MAST AND JIB TRIMMERS, ANCHOR RODE HAULERS AND PRY RIDERS FOR THEIR TIREDLESS DEDICATION TO THIS SPORT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS INCREDIBLE SPORT GROW FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME.
MADAM SPEAKER, I OFTEN SPEAK OF GOVERNMENTS BEING CONTINUOUS. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE FRUITION OF THIS HISTORIC ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY. ONE WEEK AHEAD OF THE NATIONAL FAMILY ISLAND REGATTA TO BE HELD AT GEORGE TOWN WE SEE THIS IN ACTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE INITIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE FORMER MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND MARINE RESOURCES, THE MEMBER FOR MARCO CITY AND THE FORMER ADMINISTRATION FOR TAKING THE INITIAL STEPS TO NAMING SAILING AS THE NATIONAL SPORT.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORTS AND CULTURE, THE MEMBER FOR GARDEN HILLS, THE MINISTER OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS AND AVIATION, AND MEMBER FOR THE EXUMAS AND RAGGED ISLAND, THE HONORABLE PRIME MINISTER AND MEMBER FOR CAT ISLAND, RUM CAY AND SAN SALVADOR AND ALL CABINET COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS EFFORT.
IN 2023, THE YEAR OF OUR GOLDEN JUBILEE, I AM PRIVILEDGED TO STAND HERE TODAY TO DECLARE THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE MOVE TO MAKE SAILING, THE NATIONAL SPORT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS.
PM: Project delivers on promise and invests in youth, sports and national development
GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — Calling it the fulfillment of a major commitment to the island, Prime Minister Philip Davis led the official groundbreaking for the Grand Bahama Aquatic Centre, a facility the government says will transform sports development and create new opportunities for young athletes.
Speaking at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex on February 12, the Prime Minister said the project represents more than bricks and mortar
— it is an investment in people, national pride and long-term economic activity. The planned complex will feature a modern 50-metre competition pool, designed to meet international standards for training and regional and global swim meets. Davis said the facility will give Bahamian swimmers a home capable of producing world-class performance while also providing a space for community recreation, learn-to-swim programmes and water safety training.
He noted that Grand Bahama has long produced outstanding athletes despite limited infrastructure and said the new centre is intended to correct that imbalance, positioning the island as a hub for aquatic sports and sports tourism.
The Prime Minister also linked the development to the broader national recovery and revitalisation of Grand Bahama, describing the project as part of a strategy to expand opportunities for young people, create jobs during construction and stimulate activity for small businesses once operational.
The Aquatic Centre, he said, stands as proof that promises made to Grand Bahama are being delivered.
The project is expected to support athlete development, attract competitions, and provide a safe, modern environment for residents to access swimming and water-based programmes for generations to come.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
The Bahamas, February 15, 2026 – For the better part of three years, Bahamians have been told that major Afreximbank financing would help transform access to capital, rebuild infrastructure and unlock economic growth across the islands. The headline figures are large. The signing ceremonies are high profile. The language is ambitious. What remains far harder to see is the measurable impact in the daily lives of the people those announcements are meant to serve.
The Government’s push to secure up to $100 million from Afreximbank for roughly 200 miles of Family Island roads dates back to 2025. In
its February 11 disclosure, the bank outlined a receivables-discounting facility — a structure that allows a contractor to be paid early once work is completed, certified and invoiced, with the Government settling the bill later. It is not cash placed into the economy upfront. It does not, by itself, build a single mile of road. Every dollar depends on work first being delivered and approved.
The wider framework has been described as support for “climate-resilient and trade-enhancing infrastructure,” a phrase that, in practical terms, should mean projects that lower the cost of doing business, move people and goods faster, and keep the economy functioning. But for communities, that promise becomes real only when the projects are named, the standards are defined and a clear timeline is given for when work will begin — and when it will be finished.
Bahamians have seen this moment before.
In 2023, a $30 million Afreximbank facility for the Bahamas Development Bank was hailed as a breakthrough that would expand access to financing for local enterprise. It worked in one immediate and measurable way: it encouraged businesses to apply. Established, revenue-generating Bahamian companies responded to the call, prepared plans, and entered a process they believed had been capitalised to support growth. The unanswered question is how much of that capital has reached the private sector in a form that allowed those businesses to expand, hire and generate new economic activity.
Because development is not measured in the size of announcements.
It is measured in loans disbursed, projects completed and businesses expanded.
The pattern is becoming difficult to ignore. In June 2024, when Afreximbank held its inaugural Caribbean Annual Meetings in Nassau,
Grand Bahama was presented as the future home of an Afro-Caribbean marketplace said to carry tens of millions of dollars in investment. What was confirmed at that stage was a $1.86 million project-preparation facility — funding for studies and planning to make the development bankable, not construction financing. The larger build-out remains dependent on additional approvals, land acquisition and further capital.
This distinction — between financing announced and financing that produces visible, measurable outcomes — is now at the centre of the national conversation.
Because while the numbers grow larger on paper, entrepreneurs still describe access to capital as out of reach, and communities across the Family Islands are still waiting to see where the work will start.
And in an economy where stalled growth translates into lost opportunity, rising frustration and real social consequences, the gap between promise and delivery is no longer a communications issue.
It is an inability to convert announcements into outcomes.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
A hardline strategy that reduced murders, gunfire, and collateral deaths
The Bahamas, February 8, 2026 – What happens when police stop routinely granting bail to high-risk suspects and aggressively execute outstanding warrants? In The Bahamas, the answer in 2025 was fewer murders, fewer gunshots, and safer communities.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force arrested 4,337 individuals on outstanding warrants last year, ensuring suspects were brought directly before the courts instead of being released back onto the streets. At the same time, police significantly curtailed the use of police bail for high-risk and repeat offenders, particularly those already entangled in violent disputes.
Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles said the shift was informed by hard lessons from previous years. Intelligence reviews showed that
many homicide victims were not random targets, but men already wanted by law enforcement and — critically — by other criminals. When released on bail, those individuals often became targets themselves, triggering retaliatory shootings that spilled into neighbourhoods, roadways and public spaces.
By keeping high-risk suspects in custody pending court appearances, police say they disrupted that cycle — removing both potential offenders and potential victims from the streets.
The impact was stark. Murders declined by 31 percent in 2025, falling from 120 in 2024 to 83, the largest percentage decrease in homicides since national tracking began in 1963 and the lowest murder count in nearly two decades.
Police leaders say the strategy also reduced the collateral damage that had increasingly alarmed communities. Innocent residents had been caught in “sprays of gunfire” as targeted attacks unfolded in residential areas, at traffic stops, and in public settings.
Gun-violence indicators reflected the change. Gunshot reports fell by 35 percent, while incidents detected by ShotSpotter technology declined by 29 percent, confirming that fewer shots were being fired across the country.
“Gunshots ringing out and cutting through our peaceful paradise were down remarkably,” Commissioner Knowles said, attributing the improvement to decisive enforcement, tighter bail practices, and sustained pressure on offenders.
Police also intensified enforcement against breach of bail conditions, charging and detaining more suspects than in any previous reporting period. Officers say the approach removed the opportunity for repeat offending while matters were before the courts.
Police leadership said the results go beyond statistics. By limiting bail for high-risk suspects and executing warrants at scale, the strategy saved lives, protected bystanders, and restored confidence in public safety.
In 2025, fewer people were hunted, fewer bullets were fired, and fewer families were left grieving — a shift police say was no accident, but the result of deliberate, hardline choices.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
