Achieved the lowest unemployment rate in the history of an independent Bahamas, leading to a historic 57% vote share in 1997.
Restored investor confidence, resulting in record levels of visitor spending, hotel occupancy, and satisfaction by the late 1990s.
Partnered with the private sector to launch landmark developments, including Atlantis, which redefined Bahamian tourism.
Transformed the Hotel Encouragement Act to improve cash flow, spurring property refurbishments and new investments.
Privatized state-run hotels, reducing burdens on the Public Treasury and creating jobs.
Established the Bahamas Investment Authority to streamline and attract foreign and domestic investment.
Modernized the financial services sector through stronger regulations and transparency.
Regularized Crown Land ownership for thousands of Bahamians, encouraging investment and tenure security.
Protected jobs of over 20,000 civil servants during the global economic crisis.
Expanded workforce development through the Centre for Excellence, the National Retraining Programme (4,000 Bahamians), the 52-week Job Programme (1,000 participants), and Labour on the Blocks (1,200 jobs).
Created 5,500 jobs and training opportunities through national job skills initiatives.
Launched the National Retraining Programme benefitting 4,000 Bahamians.
Attracted more than 380,000 new airline seats to the islands in one year, the largest annual increase in history.
Welcomed the Oasis of the Seas on its inaugural visit in 2009 and grew Nassau cruise arrivals to over 3 million passengers in 2011.
Recorded two years of positive GDP growth before the global pandemic after five years of stagnation.
Created 14,735 jobs in two years prior to COVID-19, with unemployment at a ten-year low.
Renewed the 52-week job programme, training and employing 1,000 Bahamians.
Delivered over 1,200 jobs through Labour on the Blocks.
Finalized Carnival Cruise Line’s Grand Port project in Freeport, Carnival’s port in East Grand Bahama, and Half Moon Cay pier.
Approved Baha Mar’s $300 million expansion, creating 1,500 jobs.
Signed agreement for Nassau Cruise Port redevelopment (100% Bahamian workforce after 2 years, 500 construction jobs).
Approved Disney’s Lighthouse Point development in Eleuthera ($800M GDP over 25 years, $14M annual revenue).
Reduced duties on household furniture and appliances; further exemptions in Economic Empowerment Zones.
Extended homeowner stamp tax and duty concessions for home renovations.
Small Business & Entrepreneurship
Created opportunities for Bahamians to own shares in national companies through public offerings.
Launched Self-Starters, providing $2.5M in grants to nearly 600 entrepreneurs.
Established the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC), approving $70M for 1,800 small and medium-sized businesses.
Eliminated business license fees for micro-businesses and first-time owners.
Extended full duty exemptions to Bahamian small businesses, giving every entrepreneur the same opportunities once reserved for big investors including duty-free access to equipment, materials, and start-up inventory.
Launched the Online Business Portal (2018), cutting startup times from months to as little as 6 days.
Advanced digitization of public services (passports, certificates, licenses), already serving thousands.
Passed legislation to protect minority interests in commercial transactions.
Infrastructure Development
Family Islands
Exuma: Opened Barreterre Docks and boat ramps, launched the Gateway to the Cays, new asphalt roads underway, and a new international airport in progress.
Long Island: Completed Newton Cay Bridge (first bridge built in The Bahamas in 32 years), opened Monument Road, paved asphalt roads, and launched construction of a new international airport.
Eleuthera, Harbour Island & Spanish Wells: Opened the Roderick Newton Higgs Bridge, paved major roads in Harbour Island, Tarpum Bay, and settlements, advanced North Eleuthera Airport upgrades, and opened Rock Sound Dock.
Abaco: Opened Elbow Cay Dune Refurbishment, built Little Abaco Bridge & docks, repaired Red Bays Road and seawalls, constructed a new $73M Wilson City power station, primary school, government administration building, and Marsh Harbour International Airport.
Cat Island: Approved contracts for Water & Sewerage upgrades.
Grand Bahama: Carried out road repairs and renovations at Garnet Levarity Building (Courts), completed the Smith Point Seawall, constructed Ferry Terminal at McLean’s Town Dock and new government administration building, and transformed Williams and Russell Towns with sidewalks, paved parking, lighting and vendor booths.
Bimini: Repaired airport facilities and constructed a $14.5M power station to improve reliability.
Berry Islands: Repaired airport facilities.
Andros: Completed London Creek Bridge, Staniard Creek Bridge, Lisbon Creek Dock repairs, South Andros Gym repairs, and constructed a new transmission line connecting North & Central Andros.
Ragged Island: Invested $8M in public infrastructure restoration and began building a new school.
Inagua: Signed contracts for a new school, police stations, and roads.
Crooked Island & Acklins: Completed $4.3M in roadworks and launched water projects in Chesters, Lovely Bay, Salina Point, and Snug Corner.
New Providence
Revitalized with major roadworks, new water systems, Arawak Cay port, and Lynden Pindling International Airport upgrades.
Redeveloped downtown Nassau and launched the $400M LPIA project, completing the US Departures Terminal on time and within budget.
Completed major upgrades under the $150 million New Providence Road and Utility Improvement Programme, modernizing roads and essential infrastructure across key corridors.
Constructed the 2nd Paradise Island Bridge.
Dredged the Nassau Harbor enabling the accommodation of the world’s largest cruise ships.
Opened Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium and supporting infrastructure.
Completed new public housing in Dignity Gardens, Pride Estates, and Yellow Elder.
Built new schools including Anatol Rogers Jr. High, T.G. Glover Primary, and Cabbage Hill Primary.
Commenced PMH Critical Care Block and multi-year water supply upgrades.
Energy & Utilities
Stabilized BPL with a new multi-combustion power plant and reduced consumer electricity costs by ~40%.
Invested in the country’s first battery energy storage systems for BPL to enable the power provider to store and use solar-generated electricity.
Contracted new engines to expand capacity.
Introduced fuel hedging programme to lower and to stabilize energy prices, leading to lowest sustained surcharge in 20 years.
Ended chronic landfill fires by constructing a new state-of-the-art waste management facility.
Democratic Freedoms & Good Governance
Ended broadcasting monopoly, introduced cable TV and internet.
Televised Parliament for the first time.
Reduced the House of Assembly from 49 to 38 seats; introduced local government.
Computerized the public service.
Passed Fiscal Responsibility Law requiring governments to publish Fiscal Strategy Reports (2018–2020).
Published quarterly budget reports starting in 2018.
Introduced new IMF-compliant chart of accounts (2019).
Replaced foreign VAT auditors and attorneys with Bahamians.
Tableled the Public Procurement Bill (2020) to ensure greater transparency.
Housing
Enacted $75M public housing program, constructing 470 and 237 serviced lots, plus 180 more under construction.
Raised first-time homeowner stamp tax exemption to $500K.
Passed Access to Affordable Homes Act for duty-free concessions.
Installed infrastructure at Carmichael Village (365-lot subdivision).
Invested $1M in survey equipment and issued new Crown Grants.
Acquired 83 acres for a young professionals community.
Justice & National Security
Expanded the judiciary with new courts, justices, and magistrates.
Extended the Supreme Court to Grand Bahama.
Modernized the Police Force with new law, training, and technology investments.
Hired over 700 new officers across Customs, Police, and Immigration.
Introduced electronic monitoring of accused and convicted persons.
Expanded CCTV and launched the National Crime Intelligence Agency.
Established the National Neighborhood Watch Council.
Reorganized rehabilitation and expungement programs for ex-offenders under the Citizen Security and Justice Programme.
Improved prison rehabilitation spaces and training.
Established the Sexual Offenders Registry.
Health Care
Introduced legislation to regulate all branches of health care.
Created the Hospitals Authority to improve management and delivery.
Built nine new health clinics across the Family Islands, including a mini hospital in Exuma.
Rand Memorial Hospital (Grand Bahama): ER renovation and expansion. New state-of-the-art operating theatres. $21 million allocated for phased redevelopment.
Princess Margaret Hospital (New Providence): ER renovation. $9 million in major improvements at PMH and areas of Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre.
Upgraded Elizabeth Estates Clinic and South Beach Health Centre to strengthen urgent care at the community level.
Enhanced South Beach Health Centre to care for COVID-19 patients.
Increased capacity at PMH, including a modular unit and a treatment and isolation unit provided by Samaritan’s Purse.
A 98,000 sq. ft. medical school campus is underway in Grand Bahama.
Introduced the Prescription Drug Programme for selected chronic diseases and medical conditions.
Through the Supplies and Management Agency, secured and sustained PPE distribution for public hospitals and private-sector partners.
Secured additional ventilators and implemented AIRVO High Flow Oxygen delivery systems in Grand Bahama Health Services and New Providence.
Education
Built a new pre-K school and expanded universal pre-school access, now serving more than 3,000 students nationwide.
Made $1 million available to pre-school owners for facility expansion and refurbishment, providing grants of up to $25,000 to 36 centres across The Bahamas.
Changed the school lunch menu to ensure that balanced, nutritious meals are provided to children in the government school lunch programme.
Increased scholarship funding to the College of The Bahamas by $1 million for students unable to meet tuition costs.
Increased funding for teacher training at COB and boosted government educational loans and scholarship funding for national and international institutions from $400,000 to $8 million.
Increased merit, academic, and technical scholarships from $400,000 to $2 million, creating the system of annual national scholarship grants.
Introduced the visionary grant programme for tuition-free college education at the University of The Bahamas and BTVI, leading to a 57% increase in UB enrollment with an additional 10% projected annual growth.
Repaired and restored 15 schools in Grand Bahama and Abaco following Hurricane Dorian, in partnership with local and international NGOs.
Purchased 5,880 tablets and Wi-Fi devices for students on the Lunch Programme, and, in partnership with the private sector, distributed thousands of tablets and laptops nationwide.
Signed a contract with BTC to install fiber optic cable in all government schools. Nearly 60% of schools now have connectivity, allowing teachers and students to use smart technology for modern learning.
Provided all students and teachers in the Family Islands communities of Mayaguana, Inagua, Acklins, Crooked Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Cat Island, and on Andros (Congo Town and Mangrove Cay) with digital devices for the new 2021 school year.
Created a structured teaching career path to attract and retain qualified educators.
Stopped hiring teachers at the bottom of the pay scale, ensuring fairer compensation.
Increased funding for teacher training and professional development.
Expanded the national school system with new primary and secondary schools.
Prioritized early-childhood education and lifelong learning through expanded government partnerships and targeted grants.
Social Progress & Equality
Equalized rights for all children, abolished primogeniture, legislated equal pay, and set the national minimum wage.
Expanded NIB benefits and introduced unemployment insurance.
Assisted 24,635 Bahamians with unemployment benefits (2009–2011).
Passed the Child Protection Act (2007).
Reduced import duties on food staples, building materials, energy-saving cars, and eliminated taxes on computers/software.
Culture & Heritage
Enacted Antiquities, Monuments & Museums Act.
Established the National Art Gallery, Junkanoo Expo, and began National Performing Arts Centre.
Built the replacement Nassau Straw Market after the 2001 fire.
Supported UB’s Harry Moore Library and Communications Centre.
Environment
More than doubled the National Park System and funded BNT ten-fold.
Established BEST Commission and mandated environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for major projects.
