Press Statement
Inclusive, people-centred communities must remain at the heart of sustainable urban development, Minister of Urban Renewal and Community Relations, the Hon. Lisa T. Rahming, told world leaders on Thursday as she addressed the United Nations High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda.
Speaking before Heads of State, ministers and senior government officials at United Nations Headquarters, Minister Rahming said the New Urban Agenda must remain focused on improving the lives of those who need it most, particularly vulnerable populations whose well-being depends on safe housing, accessible infrastructure and resilient communities.
“For The Bahamas, the New Urban Agenda is more than a global framework. It is a call to action that recognizes that sustainable urban development must begin with people, particularly those who are most vulnerable,” Minister Rahming said.
The Minister highlighted The Bahamas’ progress since the adoption of the New Urban Agenda in 2016, including integrating climate resilience into urban planning, strengthening sustainable building standards, promoting renewable energy and water-efficient infrastructure, and establishing the Urban Renewal Authority through the Urban Renewal Authority Act, 2024. She said these initiatives reflect the country’s commitment to creating stronger and more resilient communities.
Minister Rahming also used the international forum to showcase the Government’s decision to establish a stand-alone Ministry of Urban Renewal and Community Relations, noting that for the first time in more than two decades, Urban Renewal now operates as a dedicated ministry focused exclusively on neighbourhood revitalization, housing improvement, youth development and support for seniors and persons with disabilities.
She pointed to the Ministry’s Small Home Repair Programme, which has repaired an estimated 900 homes over the past five years at a cost exceeding $11 million, while highlighting the Government’s commitment to eliminate outside toilets in vulnerable communities through a new national initiative announced during the 2026 Budget Debate.
Highlighting the importance of inclusion, Minister Rahming noted that more than 38,500 Bahamians aged five years and older are living with at least one disability, according to the 2022 Census. She said the Ministry has already begun assessing homes for accessibility improvements, including wheelchair ramps, railings and bathroom modifications, to help residents live more safely and independently.
The Minister also reaffirmed The Bahamas’ commitment to working with UN-Habitat, CARICOM, the Inter-American Development Bank and other international partners to mobilize technical expertise, innovative financing and knowledge-sharing that will help Small Island Developing States build stronger, more resilient communities in the face of climate change.
Accompanying Minister Rahming were Montez Williams, Permanent Secretary; Stephen Dean, Managing Director, Urban Renewal Authority; Melony Rahming, Deputy Director for Family Islands; Sharon Martin, Urban Renewal Advisor; Christine Sherman, Minister Attaché; and Terrance Davis, Police Corporal, and Melusa Jean, Communications Unit.
At the conclusion of the High-Level Meeting, Member States voted on a political declaration reaffirming the international community’s commitment to accelerating implementation of the New Urban Agenda through 2036. The Bahamas joined 148 Member States in voting in favour of the declaration, while two countries voted against the measure.
