NASSAU, BAHAMAS- The government is looking to position The Bahamas for the digital economy through a national digital ID system, artificial intelligence legislation and a broad AI skills training initiative, with Minister of Innovation and National Development Sebas Bastian noting that innovation will be critical to boosting productivity, economic growth and opportunities for Bahamians.
Bastian told Parliament the reforms are aimed at removing structural inefficiencies and modernizing how citizens interact with the state, arguing that digital transformation must move beyond digitising existing processes and into full system redesign.
“We are not putting paperwork on a screen. We are reinventing how government works,” he said, underscoring that the objective is not cosmetic reform but structural change in how government delivers services.
He said the proposed national digital ID system would serve as a foundational layer for service delivery across ministries, reducing duplication, improving verification processes, and making access to public services more seamless for citizens and businesses.
“A nation that cannot run, understand, or sustain its own systems is not truly independent,” Bastian told Parliament, framing digital infrastructure as a matter of sovereignty as well as efficiency.
On artificial intelligence, the minister confirmed that government is advancing dedicated AI legislation alongside the creation of governance structures to regulate deployment, manage risks, and establish national standards for responsible use.
“Used well, AI can transform how we teach our children, deliver our healthcare, grow our businesses, and serve our citizens. Used carelessly, it carries real risks — to privacy, to fairness, to truth itself,” he said, stressing the need for balance between innovation and safeguards.
Bastian said the legislation would be supported by a national framework for oversight and accountability, ensuring that adoption of emerging technologies is both responsible and sustainable.
He also announced a nationwide AI skills training initiative aimed at preparing public servants, students and workers for a rapidly changing global labour market.
“The future of work is changing faster than at any time in our history,” he said, adding that skills development must become a national priority rather than a sector-specific effort.
He linked the training drive directly to economic competitiveness, arguing that productivity growth will determine the country’s ability to expand opportunity.
“Innovation raises productivity. Productivity grows the economy. And a growing economy widens the door of opportunity for ordinary Bahamians,” Bastian said.
He added that the ultimate goal of the reforms is to ensure Bahamians are not left behind as global industries evolve, but instead positioned to participate in and benefit from those changes.
“The Bahamas intends to move,” he said, describing the strategy as a deliberate shift toward a more agile, technology-driven state built for long-term resilience and growth.
