NASSAU, BAHAMAS- More than 1,000 Bahamians have completed courses under the Upskill Bahamas initiative in just one month, marking a major milestone in the government’s push to expand access to free skills training across the country.
Prime Minister Philip Davis said the program is helping to close what he described as the “possibility gap” between talent and opportunity, and reflected on the diversity of participants.
“The youngest graduate, I am told, is 16 – and the oldest is 67. The range of Bahamians participating – the range of ages, the different islands you come from, the range of your talents and your dreams – is something that moves me deeply,” Davis said.
He said the program demonstrates a national shift toward lifelong learning and skills development.
“Every one of you, every graduate here today, decided to build a bridge across that gap,” he added. “Skills are not the finish line. They are the starting point.”
Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said the program has seen strong participation since its launch, with thousands of applications and wide engagement across the country.
“Today, we are graduating 1,000 Bahamians who have completed this training journey since the end of March 2026,” she said.
She noted that more than 14,000 applications were received, with over 8,000 people showing interest early in the rollout.
Hanna-Martin also highlighted the demographic spread of graduates, saying approximately 25 percent are male and 75 percent are female, with participants ranging in age from 16 to 67 and an average age of 35.
The program offers courses in construction management, business finance, business communication, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence, which the government says are key to building a more competitive workforce.
Businessman HE Ambassador Sebas Bastian also addressed the graduation, calling the initiative a transformation in how access to opportunity is distributed in The Bahamas.
“In a very short month, we have a thousand graduates here this morning. I mean, that is something that we should cherish,” Bastian said.
He said the program removes financial barriers to education and makes training accessible across all islands and backgrounds.
“You’ve taken world-class educational courses and removed the cost barrier from them and placed it directly in the hands of Bahamians across every island, across every background, across every stage of life,” he said.
Bastian added that the initiative reflects the widespread talent in the country and the importance of continued investment in skills development.
The Upskill Bahamas program is part of a broader national strategy to expand technical education, digital training, and workforce development as the country adapts to rapid global economic change.
