Bahamas News
PM Davis terms Grand Lucayan Redevelopment HOA Signing Ceremony a ‘Pivotal Day for the People of Grand Bahama
By Eric Rose
Bahamas Information Service
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas – During his Official Remarks at the Grand Lucayan Redevelopment Heads of Agreement Signing Ceremony, on May 15, 2025, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis said that the day would long be remembered as “pivotal for the people of Grand Bahama”.
“It’s time to turn the page on hardship, to leave heartbreak behind,” he said. “It’s a time for renewal, a time for new opportunities, a time for new beginnings.”
Among the many special guests and senior government officials present at the ceremony, held at the Grand Lucayan Convention Centre,
were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper; Minister of Education and Technical & Vocational Training the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin; Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Ginger Moxey and several Cabinet Ministers; members of the Diplomatic Corps, clergy and uniformed branches; various stakeholders and Grand Bahama residents.
The prime minister said, “As many of you know, I had the pleasure of living in Grand Bahama very early in my career, which gave me the opportunity to form lifelong friendships and a strong connection to this very special place. It also gave me the opportunity to understand the potential of Grand Bahama to create a fulfilling life.”
After speaking about his personal ties to Grand Bahama, Prime Minister Davis pointed out that leadership is about “what you leave behind”.
“I intend to leave behind real results for the people of Grand Bahama – jobs, infrastructure, healthcare, opportunity, and most of all, dignity,” he stated.
“That’s what matters. That’s what lasts.”
Prime Minister Davis noted that the Grand Lucayan redevelopment was “very ambitious, and rightly so”.
He said: “At the heart of this redevelopment is an integrated resort village that will create jobs, restore confidence, and give Grand Bahama the momentum it deserves. That means three new hotel buildings, a full-scale cruise resort, a revitalized 25,000-square-foot casino, a Greg Norman-designed golf course, over-the-water cabanas, beach clubs, family attractions, water parks, retail spaces, restaurants, music venues, and a 16-slip mega-yacht marina. This is no small undertaking.”
“This is an $827 million investment – and perhaps much more – the kind of scale that has the power to shift the local economy, create opportunity at every level, and change lives for the better,” Prime Minister Davis added. “More than 1,300 jobs will be created during construction, and 1,750 permanent jobs when the development is fully up and running.”
Prime Minister Davis stated that thousands of Bahamians will have an opportunity to earn, to grow, and to build a future for themselves and their families, right there at home.
He said: “We’ve said clearly: Bahamians must be at the centre of this. At least 80% of these jobs must go to our people. That’s not just a condition — it’s a conviction. Because we know the skill is here. The talent is here. The work ethic is here. What’s been missing is opportunity; but no longer.”
“You see, we’re not here to make promises, Prime Minister Davis continued. “We’re here to make progress – enduring progress. The kind of progress that can lift up entire communities on Grand Bahama.”
Prime Minister Davis said that what they were building of the Grand Lucayan was not a stand-alone project: it was part of a “wider, more connected vision for Grand Bahama”.
He said: “A vision that recognises that true development doesn’t happen in silos. It happens when the key pieces fit together – when
infrastructure supports industry, when tourism supports small business development, when investment supports people’s ability to live, and work, and thrive – right here at home.”
Prime Minister Davis stated that was why his government was focused on delivering a broader transformation. “We are moving ahead with a new, modern airport that matches the scale of Grand Bahama’s ambitions,” he announced. “We’re also supporting the Carnival port development, a critical piece in making Grand Bahama a leading cruise destination again. Thousands of passengers, new spending in the local economy, and fresh opportunities for Bahamian entrepreneurs across transport, food, crafts, and tour services.”
Prime Minister Davis pointed out that the Grand Bahama Shipyard was also a part of that strategy.
“Already one of the most important industrial assets in the country, the Grand Bahama Shipyard is receiving attention and investment to ensure it continues to grow as a hub for technical jobs, skilled trades, and export-led services,” he said. “This is what a modern economy looks like. It’s not built on one pillar — it’s built on a strong foundation that supports tourism, transport, manufacturing, and innovation.”
Prime Minister Davis added: “And don’t forget – we are building a new hospital, because the people of this island deserve modern, reliable healthcare, without having to fly to Nassau for basic services. We are investing in roads and water systems. We are helping small businesses. We are pushing for more training, more job readiness, and more chances for young people to stay and succeed right here, which is being led by your own Minister of Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey. And, yes, we are starting up new developments like this one, because we know that jobs are the foundation for any economy, a path to dignity and self-reliance.
“That is the kind of holistic vision Grand Bahama deserves. And that is the vision we are delivering.”
Prime Minister Davis thanked Mr. Steve Sirang, CEO of Concord Wilshire Capital, and the entire development team.
“You brought your heart, proposal, and a sense of belief in Grand Bahama’s future, and you’ve committed to working alongside us to make that future real,” he said. “I thank you for that.”
Prime Minister Davis added: “I’d also like to thank Curt Hollingsworth, our Consul General out of Miami who introduced Steve to Grand Bahama, and later to me. To the Deputy Prime Minister, you have been central in our redevelopment of Grand Bahama and it’s your tireless efforts towards, what I call, the launching pad that have helped get us to where we are today.”
He continued by thanking Minister Moxey.
“Your determination to see this island rise again has never wavered, and it shows in the outcome we celebrate today, along with Parliamentary Secretary Kingsley Smith,” Prime Minister Davis said. “There’s no doubt that Grand Bahama is in good hands and its future is bright.”
He continued: “And to the Director of Investments Phylicia Woods Hanna – words can hardly express our appreciation for the amount of
hours spent, the tireless effort made, to pull this across the line. We thank you.” He also thanked Attorney General Ryan Pinder; Chairman of Lucayan Renewal Holdings Ltd., Julian Russell and its board members; and all the public officers across government who worked behind the scenes.
“We are building a better future for our country and this island,” Prime Minister Davis stated.
He added: “My friends: Let us remind ourselves, no one project can fix everything. Making sure the economy includes everyone who wants to be included is going to take a lot of hard work.
“We all need to pull in the same direction; so allow me to invite you on board. No matter where you stand politically – I ask you to join in building a better Grand Bahama.”
Prime Minister Davis continued: “This is a moment that should unite all Bahamians.
“A moment when Grand Bahamians can stop waiting and start building. A moment for those who kept going, who kept believing – to see that their faith was not in vain. Let us move forward together – with great purpose, with gratitude, and with the people at the centre of it all.
“Let this moment be the turning point. The moment Grand Bahama turned the page and started its most auspicious chapter.
“Friends: Let’s get to work, and let us work together. May God bless Grand Bahama; and may God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”
PHOTO CAPTION
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis speaks, during his Official Remarks at the Grand Lucayan Redevelopment Heads of Agreement Signing Ceremony, on May 15, 2025. Among the many special guests and senior government officials present at the ceremony held at the Grand Lucayan Convention Centre were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper; Minister of Education and Technical & Vocational Training the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin; Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Ginger Moxey and several Cabinet Ministers; members of the Diplomatic Corps, clergy and uniformed branches; various stakeholders and Grand Bahama residents. (BIS Photos/Eric Rose. Drone Photography Courtesy of Eric Rose)
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.
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