Prime Minister Davis says Bahamas’ sovereignty hangs in the balance with the threat of climate change

Prime Minister Davis says Bahamas' sovereignty hangs in the balance with the threat of climate change

Prime Minister Philip Davis was the keynote speaker at the official opening of 2024 Diplomatic Week, held at Grand Lucayan resort on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas -- Prime Minister of the Bahamas, the Hon. Philip Davis says the International Court of Justice is now poised to deliver an advisory opinion on Climate Change - a ruling that he believes will echo across borders and demand accountability.

Officially opening 2024 Diplomatic Week at the Grand Lucayan on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Prime Minister Davis told Consuls, Ambassadors, Cabinet Ministers, Heads of Missions, and others that The Bahamas' aspirations remain unchanged: to stand as a free nation, bound by neither fear nor force, a people free to govern themselves and prosper in the embrace of justice and peace.

"Yet today, as climate change threatens our shores, our very sovereignty hangs in the balance," said Mr. Davis.

"For us, climate change is no distant concern, no matter for future generations alone; it is the here and now, an ever-rising tide that threatens to wash away the home Sir Lynden spoke of so fervently."

The Prime Minister noted that in the struggle for climate justice, The Bahamas stands as a voice for the vulnerable, a champion of those who, like The Bahamas, seek only to secure the lives and futures of their people. Together, he said they fight for a world where those responsible for the climate crisis answer for the loss and damages felt by those who contributed least to its cause.

"We seek not charity but justice - a clear and binding recognition that those who have profited from the destruction of our world must also contribute to its healing," said Mr. Davis.

"And here lies the power and purpose of diplomacy. In every hall of power, every forum, we carry the voices of our people and the stories of our shores. Diplomacy is our shield and our voice - a way to remind the world that we may be small, but our challenges are universal."

As ambassadors, the Prime Minister reminded the Diplomats that they have been called not only to advocate but to educate - to speak plainly of the impacts faced by their nation, and to rally the world toward action. He added that Bahamian diplomats stand not merely as representatives of The Bahamas but as advocates of all who stand to lose everything from inaction.

"To our diplomatic corps, I say this: your work is not only to bridge our borders but to defend the dignity and future of our nation. In you, the Bahamian people see their hopes carried forth, their challenges made known, and their voices amplified.

"Through diplomacy, we insist that The Bahamas and all small island nations shall not be mere bystanders but leaders in crafting a sustainable and equitable future.

"Let it be known: The Bahamas will not be a silent spectator in this struggle. We are neither large in land nor in might, but we are bound by an unyielding resolve. We will wield the law as our shield and justice as our sword, joining hands with other nations who refuse to be casualties of indifference.

"For the duty to protect this world is one we all share, but the responsibility lies heaviest on those who have brought it to the edge."

Students of St. George High School delivered a stirring performance of Bahamian songs during the opening of the 2024 Diplomatic Week on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

(BIS Photos/Mario Duncanson)