National

Nearly One Hundred Moore’s Island Residents Receive Deeds

MOORE’S ISLAND, BAHAMAS – Hundreds of residents of Moore’s Island received their deeds of conveyance Friday, attaining proper documentation for land. Many residents waited decades to receive their official documents.

Published

4 months ago

January 10, 2026

Denielle Miller

Keith Bell – Minister of Housing & Urban Renewal

“Today is a day of fulfilment, a day for families who’ve waited for decades finally receive what they were promised long ago”

These were the remarks delivered by Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal, Keith Bell, at the Official Deeds of Conveyance Ceremony on Moore’s Island Friday morning.

Attaining proper documentation for land is a vexing issue for many Bahamians.

In an effort to address the problem, the Minnis administration passed the Property Execution of Deeds and Documents Act in 2020.

However, in 2025, it was the Davis administration making amendments to the act that gave the process a second wind.

Now in 2026, residents of the Moore’s island community receive their long-awaited deeds, like former boat builder Jonathan Dean.

At age 93, Mr. Dean is now getting the papers to the property his family has lived on for generations.

Jonathan Dean – Resident, Moore’s Island

“I meet my daddy them there, and they dead and leave me on that property by the hill.”

Dean’s grand-daughter, Josette Thompson, told us that she and her grandfather spoke about this moment for years, and the news of him finally receiving his family’s deed was surreal for him.

Josette Thompson – Resident, Moore’s Island

“He’s been talking to us a long time that we need our papers, just yesterday he was saying he wonder if he will truly have the papers in his hand.”

On Friday, 96 out of the more than 200 deeds of conveyance were distributed.

In attendance at the ceremony was Prime Minister Philip Davis, Deputy Prime Chester Cooper, and several members of Parliament.

Cooper expressed the importance of having land papers, stating it is about expansion, access to education, and economic opportunities.

Chester Cooper – Deputy Prime Minister

“It means the ability to expand, to start businesses, to improve homes, to create generational wealth. Land means empowerment, land may be leverage to send children to college, and some of us know about that. So land is empowerment, and that empowerment will drive much needed development here in Moore’s Island.”