"Let Africa and the Caribbean choose each other": The call from the Prime Minister of the Bahamas

On September 25, 2026, in New York, Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis called on Africa and the Caribbean to build and own the infrastructure through which their people, money, and data flow together. He was speaking during a roundtable discussion titled Diaspora and Friends of South Africa, according to the Bahamian newspaper The Tribune.

From remittances to investment

The leader summarized his vision with a phrase: "Remittances are love. Investment is power." He advocated for investments in data centers, payment platforms, air links, and trade corridors connecting African countries to each other and to the Caribbean.

Philip Davis pointed out, according to The Tribune, that Africa is home to 20% of the world's population but holds less than 1% of global data center capacity, and that sub-Saharan Africa remains the most expensive region to send money to. He championed "digital sovereignty," which involves deciding where data resides, who can use it, and under what conditions.

Afreximbank, a bridge between two shores

The Prime Minister presented the Bahamas as a gateway to the Caribbean and the Americas. In February 2025, his country signed a $200 million framework agreement with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), which has raised its financing ceiling for CARICOM countries from $3 billion to $5 billion. He also discussed the specific challenges facing his archipelago, which imports about 90% of its food and aims for 30% renewable electricity by 2030.

A shared history

Philip Davis recalled the 1985 Nassau Accord, through which Commonwealth countries supported the fight against apartheid in South Africa, as well as Nelson Mandela's subsequent visit to the Bahamas. It was a way to emphasize that the ties between Africa and its Caribbean diaspora are long-standing and political.

His final message, "In 2026, let Africa and the Caribbean choose each other," is part of the rapprochement initiated in recent years between the African Union, which considers the diaspora its "sixth region," and the Caribbean Community. The challenge remains to transform these declarations into direct flights, trade exchanges, and joint projects.