During her delivery of the Speech from the Throne, on May 20, 2026, Governor-General Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Cynthia A. Pratt stated that her Government recognised that the first responsibility of any administration was to secure economic stability and create the conditions for national growth.

“When My Government first assumed office in 2021, it inherited an economy under extraordinary strain,” Governor-General Pratt said, at the State Opening of Parliament, held in the Imperial Ballroom of Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.

She added:  “Over the past term, stability has been restored, confidence has returned, unemployment has declined, major investments have resumed, and the country’s fiscal position has strengthened.  The international community has taken note of our success, which was described by the International Monetary Fund as ‘remarkable’.

“Also, in an unprecedented move, in this fiscal year, two of the major international credit ratings agencies upgraded the outlook for The Bahamas.”

Governor-General Pratt noted that her Government recognised that economic statistics alone did not define the daily realities facing Bahamian families.

“Too many Bahamians still feel pressure from the high cost of living,” she said.  “Too many young people are still searching for opportunity.

“Too many small businesses still face barriers to growth.”

“Accordingly, my Government enters this new term focused on building a stronger, more modern, more resilient Bahamian economy,” Governor-General Pratt said.

She stated that her Government believed economic growth must create opportunities for all.

“My Government intends to introduce modern competition legislation to protect consumers from price fixing, abuse of market dominance, and unfair pricing practices while supporting greater transparency in the marketplace,” Governor-General said.  “My Government will also advance a consolidated investment incentives framework bringing together the country’s investment legislation into a unified system.

She added:  “My Government intends to establish a National Investment Policy with clear national priorities and transparent investor obligations to ensure that economic growth delivers measurable benefits to the Bahamian people.  My Government will continue implementing the Land Adjudication Act and Registered Land Act, to create a central searchable land registry, modernise records, and reduce delays in property transactions.”

Governor-General Pratt continued, pointing out that her Government also intended to establish a Foreign Direct Investment Compliance Unit to ensure investors honoured the commitments they made to the Bahamian people.  

“My Government will review the Real Property Tax regime to provide meaningful relief for Bahamian property owners,” she said.  “My Government intends to introduce mandatory decision-making timelines for development approvals to create greater certainty, transparency, and efficiency within the process.”

“My Government will also require state-owned enterprises to submit binding business plans, with clear performance milestones aimed at reducing long-term dependence on government subsidies.” Governor-General Pratt added.

Speaking about Grand Bahama and the Family Islands, Governor-General Pratt stated that her Government would continue to promote fundamental transformation in Grand Bahama through enhanced investments and economic development, re-organisation of arrangements with the Grand Bahama Port Authority, and strengthening of opportunities with key stakeholders.

“Grand Bahama will become the gateway to the Caribbean for trade, tourism, and investment with the development of the Afro-Caribbean Marketplace and Logistics Centre, MSC Cruise Port, Xanadu Beach Project and other major developments,” she said.

Governor-General Pratt added:  “After consultation with Family Island communities, My Government intends to devise individual Family Island Development Plans.  These will be the basis upon which we will implement a range of measures to pursue a more structured, strategic approach to family island development.   Ongoing programmes such as the Family Island Airport Renaissance and Infrastructure Clinics will continue.

“The critical needs of Family Islands will be addressed through the Family Island Development Act.”

Governor-General continued and said that her Government believed the dignity of work must remain central to national policy.  Accordingly, she added, her Government intended to introduce the Employment Bill 2026, representing “the most significant modernisation of labour protections in a generation”.  

“The legislation will strengthen workplace standards, expand maternity protections, provide leave for mental health and wellness,  and establish new safeguards for working parents,” she said.

“My Government also intends to reform and modernise the National Insurance system through stronger anti-fraud measures, improved digital systems, enhanced oversight, and expanded inclusion of informal workers,” Governor-General Pratt added.  “My Government will establish a Public Sector Pension Plan creating the framework for contributory pension coverage for public servants.” 

She pointed out that her Government also intended to establish a National Productivity Council with clear public benchmarks, to improve public sector performance and national efficiency.  

Governor-General Pratt stated that food security remained “an issue of national importance”.

“My Government believes a stronger Bahamas must produce more of what it consumes,” she said.  “Accordingly, my Government intends to establish a National Import Substitution framework with clear national production targets for key agricultural products and stronger sourcing requirements for government food programmes.”

“My Government will also introduce tourism agriculture incentives, to encourage hotels and tourism operators to increase local sourcing from Bahamian farmers and producers,” she added. 

Reliable and affordable energy remained central to economic competitiveness and the quality of life enjoyed by Bahamian families, Governor-General Pratt said.

She noted that her Government intended to introduce an Electricity Consumer Protection Code empowering URCA to enforce service standards, billing transparency, and consumer safeguards.  Her Government would also introduce Energy Equity legislation to ensure that Family Island residents were not penalised by higher electricity costs simply because of geography.

“My Government intends to embed mandatory local-content and training obligations into major energy contracts, to ensure Bahamians benefit from the national energy transition,” Governor-General Pratt said.  “My Government will also reduce or eliminate import duties on energy-efficient appliances and renewable energy systems.” 

She stated that her Government believed every Bahamian deserved access to safe and dignified housing.

“Accordingly, my Government intends to establish a National Rental Property Registration System with enforceable living standards and stronger protections for tenants,” Governor-General Pratt said.

“Expanding our existing Affordable Homes and Rent-to-Own initiatives, my Government will also establish a Residential Tenancy Authority with powers to inspect, investigate, and enforce rental standards across the Commonwealth,” she added.  

Turning her attention to education, Governor-General Pratt said that it remained “among the highest priorities of my Government”.

“Every Bahamian child deserves access to modern, high-quality education regardless of geography or circumstance,” she stated.  “My Government will continue to implement the Education Act, the most significant legislative reform in Bahamian education in a generation, anchoring curriculum reform, accountability, teacher standards, and school governance in law.”

Governor-General Pratt added:  “My Government also intends to make pre-primary education universal and compulsory from age four.  My Government will continue our commitment to lifelong learning through Upskill Bahamas, and other programmes.”

Speaking on health, she said that her Government believed that access to quality healthcare must be strengthened across the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

“My Government will continue to implement the Dental Professions Bill while modernising dental regulation within The Bahamas,” she said.  “My Government also intends to strengthen legal protections and support systems for elderly Bahamians through a new elder abandonment framework empowering social services to intervene and assist families before situations reach crisis point.”

She added:  “My Government will further extend contributory health insurance coverage to public servants, including contract workers.  My Government will continue to advance the infrastructural development programme already underway, including the Health Campus in Freeport, the new hospital in New Providence, and other clinics throughout the islands.”

The safety and security of the Bahamian people remained among the highest obligations of the State, Governor-General Pratt said.  She added that her Government will continue to fully implement the Protection Against Violence Act and expand domestic violence support services throughout the country.  

“My Government intends to strengthen gun laws and expand specialist firearm courts to support a zero-tolerance approach toward illegal firearms,” Governor-General Pratt said.  “In collaboration with Court Services, my Government will support the establishment of a Backlog Reduction Court and a dedicated Sexual Offences Court to improve the administration of justice and reduce delays.”

She added:  “My Government will also ensure the Independent Commission of Investigations is fully functioning and properly resourced.  My Government will continue to build on the success of its ‘Five Pillar Crime Strategy’ to improve Prevention, strengthen Policing, improve Prosecution and Punishment, and expand Rehabilitation Programmes.

“The successful ‘Clear Hold and Build’ approach will also remain.”

Speaking about immigration, Governor-General Pratt said that her Government believed that strong borders and lawful immigration systems were essential to national stability and sovereignty.

“Accordingly, my Government intends to introduce the Employer Immigration Compliance Act imposing stronger penalties for abuse of the work permit system and other unlawful employment practices,” she said.  “My Government will establish a Bahamian E-Verify Portal to confirm work eligibility before employment.”  

Governor-General Pratt added:  “My Government also intends to introduce daily overstay fines for unlawful overstay, and strengthen re-entry ban enforcement.  My Government will establish a National Biometric Immigration System with overstay alerts, biometric e-gates, and enhanced fraud detection capabilities.  My Government will also establish an Immigration Fraud Intelligence Unit dedicated to investigating and prosecuting immigration fraud.  

“My Government intends to introduce mandatory sentencing provisions for public officers found facilitating immigration or passport fraud.

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