Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama Technology Summit Highlights
By Andrew Conway
Nov 11, 2017 - 11:50:38 AM

(VIDEO ABOVE: Day 2 - Grand Bahama Tech Summit Live From Grand Lucayan, Freeport Grand Bahama. Morning Session)

Panel discussion on Developing Grand Bahama into a Tech Hub (Part 1: Logistics, Infrastructure & Policy) From left to right, Mr. Iram Lewis, Bahamas MP & Parliamentary, Secretary Ministry of Works (Facilitator); Sebastian Tickle, Ibetel IBO; Dr. Gadryn Higgs, Silicon Valley; Archie Collins, CEO Grand Bahama Power Company; Damian Blackburn, Aliv; Kristie Powell, Google; Xerxes Beharry, Microsoft. (Photo: Andrew Conway for The Bahamas Weekly)

Freeport, Bahamas - The Grand Bahama Technology Summit was held from November 9-10, 2017 in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

The Summit saw approximately five hundred Bahamians, from high school students to the Prime Minister, coming together to discuss the future of Grand Bahama as a technology hub for The Bahamas and the Caribbean region.

Here are some of the highlights:

• The Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Hubert A. Minnis, promised that legislation that would streamline business applications and immigration policy for international businesses.

• A blockchain based crypto coin called conch coin is planned to raise millions of dollars to fund a high tech incubator in the Bahamas.

• The Carnival Ocean Medallion will be manufactured on Grand Bahama providing employment for IT and electronic technicians. This is an automated concierge system that will revolutionize the cruise industry.

• The Grand Bahama Port Authority’s Smart City initiative includes a phone app called Freeport Report which you can use to report issues like potholes, litter, fallen street signs and failed street lamps directly to the Port Authority.

• Grand Bahama Power Company is working with Tesla on a pilot solar power project, which could lead to greener and more reliable power – and mean our electricity bills are not dependent on the price of oil!

• Ian Rolle of the Grand Bahama Port Authority and Senator J. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama committed to cooperate on a single web portal to facilitate all the Port Authority and Government requirements for international businesses wishing to operate in Freeport.

• The University of The Bahamas is planning a to launch a tech incubator for new business.

• The University of the Bahamas’ B.Sc. in Computer Information Systems will be made available in Freeport as well as Nassau.

• Senator Thompson will be forming a Technology Hub Steering Committee within the next thirty days to produce a strategic plan with clear goals and milestones got the technological future of Grand Bahama.

(Photo: Andrew Conway for The Bahamas Weekly)

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