The Tribune

By ANDREW COAKLEY

Bahamas Information Services


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 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,” he said 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 centre, for grandparents who will use the waters for therapy, for the teachers and instructors who will conduct “learn to swim” programmes and for training of life guards.


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 programme.


“As an adjunct to that programme, we started a programme 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 programme here in Grand Bahama.

“A country built on the sea should never be a place where fear of the water holds anyone back. This centre 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 Centre is being built with those swimmers in mind.


“One day you will walk into this Aquatics centre 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.