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Your Excellency,
Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper,
Honourable and Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A pleasant good morning.
As we continue to take on the major national challenges to build a brighter future for all Bahamians, we do so with a sense of urgency.Our people deserve a country that fully empowers them and protects them. And while we have achieved many important milestones in our fifty years as an Independent Nation, we know that there is still so much more that we can do – and so much more that we can be.
Because we all see the tremendous talent, intelligence, and ingenuity that is bursting at the seams in our communities.
We see how visitors and investors are coming to our shores to enjoy the splendor of our nation. And we believe that every Bahamian should have a right to prosper and enjoy this nation just as much as anyone else. It is our birthright.
Unfortunately, when we take a look around our nation, it is plain to see that we are not there yet.
But I entered politics because of my belief that we can get there.
Through private-public partnerships, through strategic, long-term national development, and through a commitment to the founding principles of this nation as outlined in our Constitution – the principles of “self-discipline, industry, loyalty, unity, and abiding respect for Christian values and the Rule of Law.”
We can get there.
As we lay a foundation and build on the progress that will take us from where we are to where we intend to be, one of the fundamental components of progress will be the quality of leaders who are driving our national development.
A few months ago, we made some changes to our team to re-align their skills and expertise with portfolios that empowered our Cabinet members to do their best work.
Today, we are once again ensuring that our team members are positioned to do their best work with the appointment of the Honourable Leon Lundy as Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Leon is already well-equipped to take on this role, having served as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.
His exemplary dedication and leadership in his capacity as a Parliamentary Secretary has paved the way for his success as a Minister of State within this Office.
The Office of the Prime Minister is heavily involved in all areas of government, particularly in high-priority areas, such as economic development, crime, education, cost of living, and climate change. Mr. Lundy is already quite familiar with this portfolio, as well as the strategic agenda of this administration.
As a Family Island man, he has deep insight into the developmental needs of our Family Islands, which is also a major priority of ours as we move forward with our Bahamas-wide developmental plans.
Throughout his career, which includes extensive work as the CEO of the Andros-based non-profit, The Lundy Foundation, he has exemplified what it means to lead with compassion and vision, making him a great fit for a Cabinet that always places compassionate leadership first as we rollout our vision for a fairer, more prosperous Bahamas.
In his own words, he spoke of his path to non-profit work and his eventual political career as being a product of his passion to serve others.
As he steps into his new role as Minister of State, I am certain that he will continue to be a valuable part of the OPM leadership team, and a welcome addition to the Cabinet.
As with any change made to the composition of our Cabinet team, our sole objective is to ensure that the Cabinet of The Bahamas is better able to drive progress on national development for the benefit of the Bahamian people.
I look forward to working along with Mr. Lundy and the rest of the Cabinet as we continue to move this nation forward and drive real change.
Thank you and may God continue to Bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
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