Bahamas News
PM Davis: Long Island Airport Runway Contract Signing signals the start of the ‘economic heavy lifting’ that Long Island needed
By Eric Rose
Bahamas Information Services
NASSAU, The Bahamas – During his Official Remarks at the Long Island Airport Runway Contract Signing with Bahamas Hot Mix, on June 18, 2025, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis stated that the signing signaled “the start of the economic heavy lifting that Long Island has needed for far too long”.
“This is a community that has given much to The Bahamas – building contractors, farmers, teachers, fishermen, police officers, and leaders
– and yet, for years, what they’ve received in return has fallen short of what was fair,” he said at the event held at the Office of the Prime Minister on Cable Beach. “Development came slowly. Promises were made, but little changed.
“That pattern ends with us.” Among those present included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper; Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs the Hon. Clay Sweeting; and Permanent Secretary Dr. Anya Symonette; Director of Aviation and Deputy Director General of Tourism Dr. Kenneth Romer; Director of Works Robert Mouzas; and Managing Director at Bahamas Hot Mix Company, Ltd. Ebbi Saidi.
Prime Minister Davis pointed out that the new runway will unlock real opportunity, making Long Island “more accessible for domestic and international flights, safer for travel, and more attractive to investors, tourists, and returning Bahamians”.
He said: “Better infrastructure brings more than convenience – it brings confidence. Confidence in building a home, confidence in opening a business, confidence in raising a family. It allows people to stay rooted in their community while reaching the rest of the country and the world.”
Prime Minister Davis added: “This runway, combined with the recent road and water project, represents a clear, coordinated vision for Long Island; one that treats the island not as an afterthought, but as a priority; one that backs up talk with action.”
He pointed out that his Government expects that project to create jobs for Bahamians, particularly Long Islanders, and his Government will ensure that it moves forward with “accountability, transparency, and the required urgency”.
Prime Minister Davis also thanked Bahamas Hot Mix for partnering with his Government to bring the runway to life, and the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs, especially Minister Clay Sweeting, and the Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, and other stakeholders, for their role in “untapping and opening up real opportunities in Long Island”.
“This island has always held promise rich in history, culture, and character; but for too long, the necessary infrastructure was missing,” he noted. “That is what we are building now, piece by piece.”
Prime Minister Davis added: “We started with roads; then came the waterworks; today, the runway; and very soon, within 60 days, the terminal. We are moving forward with plans for a new, modern 10,000-square-foot terminal, equipped with customs and immigration services. This will transform the airport into a formal port of entry – welcoming not just visitors, but returning sons and daughters of Long Island. It’s more than a building. It will be a gateway to possibility.”
“Jets will be able to land with ease,” he continued. “International flights will have a clear destination. Businesses will find it easier to move people and goods. Families will be better connected; and a new standard of development will be set.”
Prime Minister Davis pointed out that the greatest opportunity was in what the project makes possible.
“For Long Islanders living abroad whether in Nassau, Grand Bahama, the U.S., or elsewhere, this work sends a message: the time to come
home is drawing nigh,” he said. “Your island is changing. The infrastructure is coming into place. The barriers that pushed so many away are starting to fall.”
He added: “We are building an island that welcomes you back not just for holidays or retirement – but for business, for family, for life. Today goes beyond roads, runways, or terminals. It’s about a return: a return to roots; a return to community. Return to your home. With every investment we make, we unlock the capital and confidence already here quietly held in the hands of people who never stopped believing in this place.”
Prime Minister stated that Long Island did not need to be reinvented.
“It needs to be supported,” he said. “And once supported, it will rise.”
“We’re doing the work to make that rise real, for the people here now and for those ready to come back and finish what they started,” Prime Minister Davis added.
“And I can clearly say, it is truly a new day in Long Island.”
PHOTO CAPTION
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis speaks during the Long Island Airport Runway Contract Signing with Bahamas Hot Mix, on June 18, 2025 at the Office of the Prime Minister, Cable Beach. Among those present included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper; Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs the Hon. Clay Sweeting; and Permanent Secretary Dr. Anya Symonette; Director of Aviation and Deputy Director General of Tourism Dr. Kenneth Romer; Director of Works Robert Mouzas; and Managing Director at Bahamas Hot Mix Company, Ltd. Ebbi Saidi.
(BIS Photos/Eric Rose)
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Dasani products, proudly sponsored the fifth annual, Caribbean Hoopfest.
The tournament brings together Bahamian high school basketball teams and visiting teams from the United States for a competitive
showcase at the Kendal G. L. Isaacs Gymnasium. Following its inaugural year at the Kendal G. L. Isaacs gym and last year’s event at Loyola Hall, the tournament returned to the Kendal G. L. Isaacs gym this year.
During the weekend tournament, CBC kept athletes well hydrated with in-kind donations of Dasani Water, Powerade and Minute Maid Juices.
During the tournament’s final day, CBC provided additional support by offering Sprite No Sugar samples and inviting attendees to participate in its Spin the Wheel for a chance to win exciting prizes.
CBC was proud to support this incredible event, which provides young Bahamian athletes with valuable exposure to U.S. basketball scouts and coaches. This opportunity gives them the chance to earn scholarships, continue their education, and pursue their basketball careers in the United States.
Event organizer, Donald Francois shared his appreciation for CBC’s support.
“I want to express our sincere appreciation for Caribbean Bottling Company, who has been a tremendous supporter and an important part of the success of our program. Without CBC’s support, Caribbean Hoop Fest would not be able to function at the level it does today. And without Caribbean Hoop Fest, we would not have been able to provide the opportunities that have helped young Bahamian athletes gain exposure and pursue educational opportunities in the United States,” he expressed.
Since the program’s inception, several Bahamian student-athletes have been selected for scholarship opportunities, highlighting the
tournament’s growing impact on the development and advancement of young basketball talent in The Bahamas.
They are: Kelvin McDowells – Guard, Wodson Antoine – Power Forward, Justin Lafleur – Guard and Sean John – Guard.
After another successful edition of the tournament, Francois shared what he hopes he and Caribbean Bottling Company can achieve in the future.
“Our vision is bigger than basketball. We want to use the platform of Caribbean Hoop Fest to educate, develop, and create opportunities for young people and their families throughout the Bahamas. With individuals and organizations committed to our mission, we believe we can continue to grow the program and make an even greater impact,” Francois said.
For more details on community support, events and new products visit Caribbean Bottling Company at www.cbcbahamas.com today.
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
-
News1 week agoBeaches Turks & Caicos shares dining etiquette training at Provo youth summer camp
-
News3 days agoSalt Cay Water Shortage Unresolved as Residents Question Promised Relief
-
News1 day agoBermudAir Launches New York Area’s First Nonstop Service to South Caicos, Now Just a 3.5 Hour Flight from Newark
-
Bahamas News1 day agoCBC Supports Opportunities for Young Bahamian Basketball Players
-
Bahamas News24 hours agoBahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday