“I know that many Bahamians have been watching the news from the Middle East, and wondering what this moment means for the cost of living here at home.

The conflict has disrupted one of the world’s most important energy transit points, through which a large percentage of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments normally pass. As a result, international oil prices have surged from around the 70 dollar range earlier this year to well over 100 dollars a barrel, one of the sharpest energy price shocks the world has seen since the Ukraine crisis.

This increase, and the uncertainties about what will come next, are putting pressure on oil prices, shipping, and supply chains.

For a small island country like ours, that matters. When fuel prices rise in a global market, that has an impact on electricity costs, freight costs, transport costs, and, in time, prices at the grocery store.

People want to know what this means for their light bill, what it means at the pump, and what it means for food prices.

We have been closely monitoring developments, engaging with our energy partners, and planning for various scenarios.

I am grateful to be able to say that policy changes we began to make early in our term have built more resilience into our system. In particular, the major energy reforms we’ve put in place, which include major efficiencies and improvements, and risk mitigation strategies, have left us in better shape. That work is still ongoing, but it means we are able to say that your electricity bills, which are lower already from the changes, will not be impacted by the current crisis.

This afternoon I will meet with the Retailers Association.

That meeting is focused on one thing: how we work together ahead of the April 1 VAT reduction on food to bring costs down for Bahamian families. I want to hear their concerns directly, hear what they are seeing in the market, and hear what practical steps can help ensure that relief reaches the people who need it.

Because that is the focus.

Bringing costs down for Bahamian families is the focus.

Giving people relief at the grocery store is the focus.

And nothing will get in the way of that.

My government will stay close to this issue. We will work with retailers, we will listen carefully, and we will keep pushing for results that people can feel in their everyday lives.

The second matter is security.

Periods of instability can create pressure far beyond the original conflict zone. That includes illegal migration, maritime smuggling, and other unlawful activity across this region. So we are watching that situation very carefully in Cuba.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains on alert.

From Great Bahama Bank to Cay Sal Bank and to Anguilla Cay, we are actively monitoring our maritime space. Our assets remain in the southern Bahamas, and we are working closely with the United States Coast Guard and other partners.

That presence is active and it is producing results.

Over the past two days, RBDF personnel intercepted fifty-seven migrants in the Little Inagua area. Twenty-nine were apprehended on Monday, and a further twenty-eight were apprehended on Tuesday morning. They were transported safely to Great Inagua, and investigations are continuing.

That operation is a reminder that border security is daily work. It requires investment, coordination, readiness, and strong partnerships.

That is why, when we came to office, we invested in strengthening the capacity of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. We understood that in an uncertain world, a country like ours must have the ability to monitor, respond, and protect its territorial integrity.

I have also directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell, to remain engaged with his regional colleagues. I am in contact with partners as well, because this is a moment for close communication, close monitoring, and steady cooperation.

Over the past few years, we have worked hard to restore The Bahamas’ standing in the world. We have made serious decisions on energy. We have made serious investments in national security. And we have used diplomacy with purpose, because for a country like ours, diplomatic leadership matters.

When uncertainty rises, a country must have strong relationships, a credible voice, and the standing to engage seriously with regional and international partners. We have done the work to strengthen that standing. We have done the work to ensure that The Bahamas is heard, respected, and well positioned in moments like this.

These are serious times.

But this is also a time for calm heads, steady hands, and a responsible united team in government.

Your government is watching these developments closely, and your government is responding.

All options are on the table to protect the livelihoods of Bahamians.

We will keep working to protect families from the worst effects of global instability.

We will keep working to secure our borders and our waters.

We will keep working with partners at home and abroad.

And we will keep making decisions with the country’s long-term interest in mind.

That is the work before us. And that is the work we are doing.”

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