NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Davis has pledged to ensure Bahamians take centre stage in the country’s historic construction boom, unveiling a series of initiatives aimed at closing the skills gap and equipping locals for high-demand trades.
Speaking during a visit to the Water Tower Construction Site, the Prime Minister highlighted that while investment in construction has reached record levels, there remains a shortage of Bahamian workers in critical areas. “The construction boom is real,” he said. “But so too is the need to make sure Bahamians are at the centre of it. We will not write people off. We will invest in their training, expand opportunities, and change the system so that more Bahamians can take ownership of our economy and build a life of stability and pride.”
Central to the government’s plan is the development of a new Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) campus, which will expand capacity to train Bahamians in trades such as electrical work, welding, HVAC, and masonry. The Prime Minister also confirmed the expansion of the apprenticeship programme, which will pay Bahamians while they gain on-the-job experience, and emphasised stronger collaboration with the private sector to ensure training meets industry demand.
Departments of Labour and Immigration have been directed to work together to prioritise Bahamians for jobs in the sector, while a national skills database is being created to better align workers with available opportunities. These measures are designed to ensure that the benefits of the construction boom are accessible to Bahamians across the country.
PM Davis stressed that the initiative is part of a broader mission to expand opportunities island by island. “This government is determined to ensure that economic growth reaches every community. Progress must not be measured only in buildings or investment levels, but in how many Bahamians are given the chance to share in it,” he said.
Rejecting claims that Bahamians are “not trained,” the Prime Minister signalled a proactive approach to workforce development as a central component of the government’s economic strategy. He underscored that the administration’s focus is not only on growth in construction but also on building sustainable careers, empowering locals to fully participate in the country’s economic expansion.
“This is what progress looks like when it is done right. Not just GDP growth, but people growth. Not just foreign investment, but local empowerment,” Prime Minister Davis said. “And we are not stopping at construction. We are investing in agriculture, renewable energy, and digital services. We are upgrading roads, docks, and airports so Bahamian businesses can grow in every island. We are modernising the energy grid so your bills come down and your lights stay on. And we are creating new partnerships that bring global opportunity to our shores while making sure Bahamians are at the front of the line.”
The Prime Minister emphasized the government’s broader mission of expanding opportunities “island by island,” ensuring that economic growth is widely shared. “We want to build a 21st-century economy where Bahamians are trained, working, and thriving. Where growth is not a statistic, but a shared experience. That is why this new BTVI campus matters. That is why the apprenticeships matter. That is why these construction sites matter. Because they are not just signs of economic activity. They are signs of a country regaining its confidence.”
