The opening ceremony, held Friday, January 30, 2026, brought together government officials, clergy, community leaders and residents to witness the launch of the ten-unit facility, which is expected to become fully operational in the coming weeks.
Delivering the keynote address, Myles K. LaRoda, Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, emphasized that the shelter represents far more than a physical structure.
“This facility represents far more than walls and roofs; it is a place that symbolizes restoration, hope, and renewed purpose,” Minister LaRoda said. “What happens while individuals are accommodated here matters just as much as where they go next.”
He explained that the shelter is intentionally designed as a temporary intervention, built around a comprehensive support model that ensures residents receive structured guidance, referrals to training opportunities, and pathways toward self-sufficiency.
“This is not temporary relief without direction,” Minister LaRoda said. “This is a process of rebuilding, of regaining footing, and of preparing for independence.”
Residents will have access to practical learning sessions in budgeting, workforce preparation, personal development and retooling, with referrals to national initiatives such as UpSkill Bahamas and technical and vocational opportunities through the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute.
Minister for Grand Bahama and Member of Parliament for Pineridge, Ginger Moxey, underscored the importance of collaboration in responding to hardship, noting that the opening marked an important day for West Grand Bahama and the wider island.
She said the facility will provide targeted support for the most vulnerable and discouraged in society, offering a safe haven with direct impact on those facing hardship, displacement and crisis, while strengthening social service capacity across Grand Bahama.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini, Kingsley Smith Jr, described the shelter as a tangible commitment to protecting human dignity.
“This facility is a physical manifestation of our refusal to leave anyone behind,” Smith said. “By opening these doors, we are narrowing the gap between stability and struggle. We are saying to the people of this community that their dignity is not negotiable.”
The ceremony was moderated by journalist Ricardo Lightbourne. Also in attendance were Phedra Rahming-Turnquest, Permanent Secretary in MOSSIB; Kenneth Lewis, President of the Grand Bahama Christian Council; Jodie Burrows, Assistant Director of Social Services, Head of Grand Bahama Office; and Dorothea Gomez, a veteran retired social worker who will manage the shelter.
A blessing of the building was led by Bishop Kermit Saunders, Reverend Paul Mullings, and Bishop Ricardo Grant.
Minister LaRoda noted that the Pine Forest Temporary Shelter reflects the Government’s commitment to meeting people where they are, while equipping them with the tools to rise in confidence, skill, responsibility and hope.
The Pine Forest Temporary Shelter is expected to become known not only as a place of refuge, but as a space where lives are redirected toward stability, dignity and renewed purpose.
