By: Shakara Trott/BIS
The Government of The Bahamas has reaffirmed its commitment to national development through continued investment in technical and vocational education, recognizing its critical role in economic sustainability and workforce readiness.
On December 11, 2025, the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) officially dedicated and opened its newly-constructed auditorium at the Grand Bahama Campus, located at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Settlers Way. The ceremony marked an historic and long-awaited milestone for the institution and the wider Grand Bahama community.
The dedication represents far more than the opening of a new facility. It stands as a powerful symbol of resilience, restoration and collective determination.
The space now housing the auditorium once served as the kitchen and dining area of the former College of The Bahamas. In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in 2019, the ground floor was submerged under six to eight feet of water, rendering the area unusable and forcing administrative operations to relocate upstairs. Today, the transformed facility reflects a renewed vision and a refusal to allow adversity to define the future of the campus.
Addressing attendees, Minister of Education, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin described the former condition of the facility as deeply depressing and commended the unwavering resilience demonstrated by BTVI and the people of Grand Bahama.
“What they’re doing has meaning on so many levels. It’s about the people of Grand Bahama, it’s about the resiliency of the people, it’s about the future of Grand Bahama and the resurgence of Grand Bahama,” she said.
In highlighting the institution’s national impact, the Minister underscored BTVI’s intentional expansion across The Bahamas, with seven campuses nationwide and record enrollment.
She pointed to strategic initiatives such as dual enrollment partnerships with the Ministry of Education, which allow students to begin earning technical certifications early.
According to Minister Hanna-Martin, technical and vocational education is essential to meeting the demands of the 21st-century economy, particularly in specialized areas such as HVAC and other skilled trades that position The Bahamas to both meet local needs and export skilled labor regionally.
The Minister also expressed appreciation to the project’s contractors and praised BTVI’s Board of Directors for its focused, productive and intentional leadership in guiding the institution’s progress.
Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey also brought remarks and highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the Ministry and BTVI, including the recent launch of the Agritech programme. She noted that through initiatives such as Innovate 242, the partnership aims to establish The Bahamas as a regional center for innovation, with Grand Bahama positioned as a hub for sustainability and forward-thinking development.
BTVI President Dr. Linda Davis described the auditorium opening as part of the institution’s broader strategy to expand access to high-quality trades training throughout the country and noted that the Grand Bahama Campus is one of seven accredited BTVI locations.
She expressed gratitude to the Government of The Bahamas on behalf of the BTVI family for its continued investment in the institution and emphasized that BTVI remains laser-focused on its mission to equip a skilled workforce, fuel national growth and meet the evolving needs of the Bahamian economy.
The official dedication and opening ceremony concluded with a guided tour of the fully renovated Grand Bahama Campus.
(BIS Photos/Andrew Miller)
