NASSAU, BAHAMAS – As part of his administration’s commitment to invest in education, Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced last night that the top four graduates in economics and/or accounts at the University of The Bahamas will automatically be hired in the Ministry of Finance, and will be funded by the government to undergo a master’s degree abroad following their first year of employment.
“Already we have three such students working in the Ministry of Finance, who will be leaving this year to attend Ivy league schools for their master’s degree, after which they will report home to The Bahamas,” Minnis said during a town meeting at C.V. Bethel Senior High School.
The announcement received applause from attendees.
“Now imagine, just imagine; [these are] facts, facts.
“We have eight more years here; I do. The rest of you have one.
“Eight more for me, more for you.
“At the end of eight years, multiply that by four of the top graduates from UB, that’s 32 young Bahamians who would have obtained master’s qualifications; returning back to our country to prepare our young people for leadership, and prepare and project our country to first world status.
“That’s our program. That’s what we do for the young people.”
As he sought to make the point that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) has waning support, particularly among young people, Minnis said when PLP events
“When you visit PLP events, they utilize all the wheelchairs in PMH,” he said.
“I don’t know which university they would go to.
“Young professionals need more opportunities to succeed.”
According to the prime minister, more Bahamians, who qualify, will attend the University of the Bahamas this September tuition-free.
He also announced that students from the Family Islands, who the government will waive tuition to attend UB, those students will also be provided with a $500 bursary per month to assist with living accommodations.
Quoting prominent American social reformer Frederick Douglas, Minnis said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”.
“The mission of my government and my mission is to build strong children and to build strong young people,” he said.
“This is why we are investing more in preschools.
“This is why we are investing more in education across the board.”
