Minister Glover-Rolle Outlines The Bahamas’ Vision for AI

On Tuesday, 9 June 2026, Minister of Labour, Public Service and National

insurance, Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle, outlined The Bahamas’ approach to a1tificial

intelligence and the future of work during an address to delegates at the 114th

Session of the International Labour Conference, positioning the country as an

active participant in shaping how emerging technologies benefit workers, businesses,

and national economies.

Addressing delegates during a plenary session focused on the lLO Director General’s

Repo1t on the influence of Al on labour, Minister Glover-Rolle emphasized

her agreement with I LO Director General Gilbert Houngbo’s view that the

outcomes of the Al revolution are not predetermined but will be shaped by the

choices governments, employers, and workers make today.

Drawing a distinction between previous technological eras and what she

described as the emerging “intelligent age,” Miniter Glover-Rolle noted that

societies are moving beyond simply accessing information toward interpreting

and acting upon it in meaningful ways.

She told the gathered delegates that The Bahamas has already begun preparing

for this transition through legislative reforms, workforce training initiatives, and

investments in education:

“Our approach begins, with responsibility,” she said, pointing to the count1y’s

recently updated data protection legislation and the Government’s commitment

to introducing Al-specific legislation through its Blueprint for Progress.

Minister Glover-Rolle highlighted the success of Upskill Bahamas, the Government’s

free online learning platform, which has already attracted more than

14,000 participants and includes artificial intelligence training opportunities.

She announced that enrollment is expected to expand to 25,000 participants in

coming months and noted plans for a future Bahamas AJ Academy to provide

more advanced training and workforce development opportunities.

The Minister stressed that accessibility and inclusion must remain central to AI

adoption, pa1ticularly for small island developing states:

“AI has deepened the risk of a digital divide that exposes workers to disruption

without allowing them to benefit. We are determined to close that divide.”

She outlined the Government’s broader strategy to prepare workers for a

changing economy through expanded training in Al-resilient areas like technical

and vocational education, including investments in the Bahamas Technical and

Vocational Institute (BTVI) and the introduction of the Bahamas Polytechnic

Accreditation and Training Hub (BPATH), which will allow students to earn

Industlyrecognised certifications before graduating high school.

Minister Glover-Rolle also pointed to practical applications of a1tificial intelligence

already underway across the public sector.

These include the use of AJ by the Minist1y of Tourism to support destination

marketing efforts, leak detection systems at the Water and Sewerage Corporation,

and Al-assisted content creation by Government communications teams.

Throughout her remarks, the Minister emphasized the importance of social

dialogue and The Bahamas’ longstanding triprutite tradition of collaboration

between the government and labour stakeholders:

“As these technologies enter our workplaces, we will continue bringing government,

employers, and workers together to ensure that the benefits of innovation

are broadly shared and that workers remain at the center of the conversation.”

Concluding her address, Minister Glover-Rolle encouraged delegates to move

beyond discussion and focus on practical action, calling on countries to share the experiences and lessons learned as they prepare their workforces for the opportunities and challenges ahead, noting The Bahamas’ commitment to leveraging

the advantages of Al and digital technologies to advance progress:

“The Bahamas intends to embrace the intelligent age for the benefit of our

workers and our future.”

The Minister’s address is one of the highlights of The Bahamas’ participation in

the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, where delegates from governments

and labour organizations are participating in discussions that will

outline the future of work globally, regionally, and nationally for years to come