Madam Speaker,

We are here today with a renewed focus, ready to expedite our legislative and policy agenda to continue to create a better country for all Bahamians.

Thank you to our Governor General, the Honourable Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, for her delivery of the Speech From the Throne outlining our priorities for this legislative session. She continues to be an inspiration to me and to our nation as an exemplary leader and stateswoman who has lived her life in service of others and now continues to serve her people as our Governor General.

As I stand here today in this Honourable House, I feel the absence of the Hon. Obadiah Wilchcombe. We are still a people in mourning after such an irreplaceable loss. This nation is better today because of the contributions made by our Honourable colleague. We must now honour his legacy by ensuring that our conduct and our priorities continue to reflect what is in the best interest of the Bahamian people. That is what Obie was all about as leader of government business in this House. His contributions are now a part of the permanent record of this House with the passage of the Resolution in his honour last week.