Building the Future on Bold Realities: Reflections on Senator Jerome Fitzgerald’s Address at Breezes

Addressing a packed, enthusiastic room of supporters at the Killarney Branch meeting at the Breezes Hotel, Senator Jerome Fitzgerald delivered a masterclass in candid governance. Moving past polished political talking points, Senator Fitzgerald laid out a meticulous, unvarnished portrait of the critical challenges facing The Bahamas today, presenting clear-eyed, realistic solutions to navigate our economic and infrastructure evolution.

Confronting Infrastructure Realities: The Energy Grid

At the forefront of public concern is the nation’s electrical system, which has been severely strained by a massive surge in energy demand. This economic and development boom outpaced official expectations by nearly three full years. Senator Fitzgerald directly confronted the technical roots of this crisis, detailing the “underground cable dilemma” that has plagued New Providence.

Years ago, power lines were buried underground to shield them from hurricane damage. However, because they were laid directly into the ground without protective casings, the surrounding soil and sand acted as thermal insulators. As energy demand skyrocketed, this trapped heat caused severe thermal overloads, leading to cascading failures across the system. Compounding the problem, these early lines were never properly mapped, requiring specialized equipment and external contractors simply to locate faults.

Rather than offering quick fixes, Senator Fitzgerald outlined a structural solution: a reconfigured national energy plan backed by a historic $1.1 billion joint public-private investment. With grid modernizations targeting key Family Island hubs like Abaco and Eleuthera, energy conditions across the archipelago are projected to stabilize fully over the next 18 months to two years.

Expanding the Economic Pie Without Raising Taxes

The Senator’s economic address tackled our stark trade imbalance. The Bahamas currently imports between $7 billion and $8 billion in goods annually while exporting just over $1 billion. On a per-capita basis, Bahamians carry an extraordinary import burden—spending roughly $13,000 per person on American goods each year, while U.S. citizens spend less than $5 per person on Bahamian exports.

Despite past fiscal targets being stifled by staff and contract cuts, the government’s economic philosophy rejects the traditional playbook of public spending cuts or property tax hikes. Instead, the strategy focuses on expanding economic activity, maintaining a stable tax environment, and empowering Bahamians to extract far greater value from our visitor base.

With national tourism projected to reach 15 to 16 million visitors, the priority is creating direct linkages between local entrepreneurs and major operators. Inspired by Jamaica’s JAMPRO model—a statutory body that integrates local agriculturalists and artisans directly into cruise and resort supply chains—plans are underway for a ministerial delegation to visit Jamaica to adapt the model locally.

This growth is already visible across the Family Islands, where local revenue growth is outpacing New Providence. Grand Bahama, in particular, is experiencing a major transformation through private port expansions in Freeport and Free Town. With berths designed to host up to 10 cruise ships simultaneously, Grand Bahama is poised to rival or surpass Nassau’s cruise volume within the next two to three years.

Solving the Housing Crisis: Speed, Scale, and Price

Senator Fitzgerald also highlighted the severe housing affordability crisis affecting families in New Providence and the Family Islands alike. Driven up by high demand, elevated construction costs, and the rapid spread of short-term vacation rentals (Airbnbs), rental and mortgage costs have placed immense pressure on working Bahamians.

Coordinating with Minister Keith Bell via a newly formed housing sub-committee, the administration is moving beyond traditional single-family home development. Taking notes from high-density models like Singapore, the government is shifting toward multi-level housing delivered at speed, scale, and accessible price points. Through direct intervention in rental unit construction and updated rent controls, the state is moving decisively to restore affordability.

A Vision Grounded in Action

Senator Fitzgerald’s address to the Killarney Branch served as a clear roadmap for structural reform. From overhauling power grids and healthcare infrastructure to scaling multi-family housing and capturing local wealth from tourism, the path forward relies on clear diagnostics and sustained investment.

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