Groundbreaking for an Aquatics Center in Grand Bahama - the fulfillment of a promise said the Prime Minister

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas -- "When our Grand Bahama swimmers brought home victory after victory at CARIFTA: when they stood on those podiums and carried the Bahamian Flag high, I made a promise. I told them that your efforts, your early mornings and your sacrifices deserve a home that matches your ambition," said Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Hon. Philip Davis.

That promise, made years ago, brought Prime Minister Davis to Grand Bahama for a groundbreaking ceremony for a world-class Aquatics Center, at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex, on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

"This facility will match international standards, it will be capable of hosting major regional and international meets and it will give Bahamian swimmers a chance to train at home in a pool that will prepare them to compete in the fastest lanes in the world," added Prime Minister Davis, during his address at the groundbreaking ceremony.

"I know that to get to this day has taken time, and I want to thank you for your patience. There were surveys and soil tests, there were discussions with planning departments, with engineers and architects.

"We had to secure the land, design the facility to ensure that what we build here stands strong, serve long and meet the expectations of both athletes and the wider community."

Prime Minister Davis said the proposed Aquatics Center will not be constructed for a small circle of competitive swimmers, but also for children who will learn to swim at the center, for grandparents who will use the waters for therapy, for the teachers and instructors who will conduct "learn to swim" programs and for training of life guards.

Mr. Davis, who himself was a regular swimmer and even taught swimming, noted how important it was for all Bahamian children to learn how to swim. Simply because The Bahamas is "an ocean state", the islands are surrounded with some of the most beautiful waters on earth. Yet, he pointed out that too many Bahamians do not know how to swim.

He recalled when Scottish actor, Sean Connery, created a foundation, of which part of the proceeds were to provide university scholarships for Bahamian and Scottish students in the discipline of marine sciences. Prime Minister Davis said that recently he was advised by Mr. Connery's son that they had taken a group of 30 Bahamian students to Scotland for a semester of studies in marine science. Because of the number of them who could not swim, said PM Davis, the foundation fully supports the government's learn to swim program.

"As an adjunct to that program, we started a program called 'pools and schools', where we're putting swimming pools in some of the public schools in New Providence. And there is no reason why we can't start that same program here in Grand Bahama.

"A country built on the sea should never be a place where fear of the water holds anyone back. This center will help to change that story. Here in Grand Bahama young people will gain a skill that can save their lives, open doors to scholarships and lead them to represent The Bahamas on the regional and global stage."

The Prime Minister spoke directly to the swimmers who were present at the groundbreaking, encouraging them to continue the disciplines of training persistently, day after day, even when tired. He said the new Aquatics Center is being built with those swimmers in mind.

"One day you will walk into this Aquatics center for an early morning practice, the sun will just be rising, the water will be still and waiting and you will know that your country believed in you enough to build this place.

"When you travel to race abroad, you would know that you've trained in a facility that matches the pools overseas. And when you come home with medals, records and personal best, you will know that your success grew from the work you did here."

Prime Minister Davis thanked all of the partners who played a role in helping to bring the project thus far, including the Grand Bahama Port Authority, which transferred the land to the government for the facility.

Groundbreaking for the Aquatics Center
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis (fourth from right), Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Chester Cooper (fifth from right), Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg (third from left) and Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey (third from right), along with executives from the Grand Bahama Port Authority and Grand Bahama Swimming Federation tilled soil, as the official groundbreaking for an Aquatics Center at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

Grand Bahama swimmers
Prime Minister, Hon. Philip Davis (center) stands next to Karon Pinder-Johnson, executive director of the YMCA, surrounded by young Grand Bahama swimmers, following an official groundbreaking ceremony for an Aquatics Complex at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

(BIS Photos/Andrew Miller)