The Tribune

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the world is currently facing a period of “uncertainty” due to economic instability, geopolitical realignments, and shifting power dynamics.

Speaking at RF Bahamas Economic Outlook yesterday, Mr Davis said although the global landscape has “particularly high stakes” for small island states it also presents an opportunity to define this nation’s place in the world.

“In every era of history, the world has confronted moments of uncertainty, times when the established order appeared to fray, when the assumptions of one generation no longer served the realities of the next. Today, we find ourselves at such a juncture,” said Mr Davis.

“For small island states such as ours, the stakes of this new global reality are particularly high. We do not have the luxury of retreating behind vast industrial economies or self-sufficient markets. Our prosperity has always been intertwined with the global order—our financial sector, our tourism industry, and our trade partnerships. So, our task is not to lament uncertainty but to recognise the opportunity to define our own place in the world.”

Mr Davis said many of our “economic pressures” are external and our prosperity depends on accessing international markets and engaging with global partners to ensure the nation is at the forefront of discussions such as climate change and global tax policy.

“The economic pressures we face, from inflation to supply chain disruptions, are not born within our borders. They are the consequences of a world in flux, where economic decisions made in distant boardrooms and capitals shape the realities of our people,” said Mr Davis.

“Our prosperity depends on access — to markets, to investment, to technological progress. And access is only secured through engagement. Through engagement, we have positioned ourselves as leaders in the global discussions most relevant to our future as a nation.”

He said while The Bahamas will engage with international partners the well being of Bahamians will always be the priority and we will not be “pressured into choices that do not serve the best interests of our people”.

“We’ve always believed that we are the best little country in the world. That belief is what fuels our high expectations for ourselves. We will not allow our voices to be dulled. Our national interests are not served by silence. They are served by engagement,” said Mr Davis.

“But let me be equally clear: engagement does not mean compromise. We will not abandon our national priorities to fit neatly within the designs of others. We will not be pressured into choices that do not serve the best interests of our people.

“Within our strategic development framework, we must ensure that our solutions, even when reliant on international support and partnerships, always prioritise the well-being of our people first. The Bahamas has made its choice. We embrace international opportunities as a partnership between equals. We will not be dictated to, and we will not be sidelined.”