#Nassau, July 26, 2019 – Bahamas – Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson declared the technological future is ‘now,’ as he addressed the recent Tech Hub Committee Meeting at British Colonial Hilton.
The committee was
established to advise the government on creation of Grand Bahama as a Tech
Hub.
During the meeting, the
Minister informed the committee of current and future initiatives being taken
to ensure Grand Bahama is established as the Tech Hub of the region.
He said: “We see education
as an endless door of opportunities for Bahamians from all walks of
life. We have incorporated technology in our schools’ infrastructure
through the Ministry of Education’s Digitization Project and have created even
more educational opportunities for Bahamians at the University of The Bahamas
and BTVI.”
ICT Programs at Bahamas
Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) and the YMCA have been designed to
introduce high school students to the world of technology. The ICT Skills
Development Summer Program was created in partnership with BTVI and this year
some 300 students from New Providence, along with 100 from Grand Bahama will
all be ICT-trained and certified.
“As the program continues,
the human capacity will expand to 700 plus. These numbers indicate a strong
ICT-trained Bahamian foundation for potential incoming tech companies.”
The YMCA ICT Program in
Grand Bahama, also designed for high school students, trains in Python
Application, Computer Coding, Robotics, Computer Technology, as well as
Mathematics, Physics and related skills. It is hoped that 70 students will
graduate from the program this year.
Minister Thompson further
stated, “The Bahamas’ approved National Budget opened the window for free tertiary
education for qualifying Bahamians at the University of The Bahamas and BTVI
respectively. Bahamians are encouraged to take full advantage of these
opportunities because education is indeed a privilege that positions us all for
upward mobility in whatever undertaking we pursue.
“Our small business owners
have not been forgotten. We continually seek new tech entrepreneurs to expand
their ideas. These ideas need to be pushed and developed.”
Minister Thompson announced
a new project which is slated to start in September, in which 100 members of
the public will be trained in various areas of technology. The Office of the
Prime Minister will partner with Urban Renewal Grand Bahama and the Department
of Social Services. Five Urban Renewal Centres will be outfitted
with 10 computers each and participants will receive training in the Internet
of Things, Software Development, Website Development and other ICT courses.
This training will assist
with new skills, retrain for different careers and also obtain professional
certificates.
Following Minister
Thompson’s presentation, the Grand Bahama Tech Hub Committee members
collaborated on a number of matters such as a specific location in Grand
Bahama, permanent staffing to continue the initiative, taking advantage of
promotion opportunities for Grand Bahama, and strengthening the committee’s
framework.
Release: BIS
Photo Captions:
Header: Grand Bahama Port Authority President, Ian Rolle, is seen contributing to the GB Tech Hub Committee Meeting held recently in Nassau.
Insert: The Grand Bahama Tech Hub Committee held a meeting in Nassau recently at the British Colonial Hilton: Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson explained a number of initiatives in place to improve ICT capacity.