Using the island of Grand Bahama as an example of building on an idea, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Science and Technology, the Hon. Chester Cooper told a gymnasium filled with potential young innovators that the island of Grand Bahama was built on bold ideas.
“Freeport was a bold idea,” added Minister Cooper. “The industrial sector and fine chemicals were bold ideas. Its emergence as a major maritime and trans-shipment center was a bold idea. Its transformation as the fastest growing tourist destination in The Bahamas, with record breaking arrivals and foreign direct investments was a bold idea.
“So, Grand Bahama is not new to innovation. And Grand Bahamians have never been about thinking small. We don’t want Grand Bahama’s next chapter to be just about recreating the past, we want Grand Bahama to build a future. This future is not something that we will wait for; it’s something we will innovate and something we will create. And you will be the most critical part of building that future.”
The Minister of Education, Science and Technology was the keynote speaker at the pilot launch of the Young Innovators Club, held at St. Georges High School gymnasium on Friday, 25 September 2026.
The Young Innovators Club is a transformative youth platform forged through a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry for Grand Bahama. It is open to youth between the ages of 17-25. The pilot program will feature students from Grand Bahama, New Providence, Abaco and Exuma. Over time, it is expected that the program will be extended to every island in The Bahamas.
Minister Cooper told the excited students gathered for the launch that innovation happens when someone identifies a problem and decide to do something about it.
“I know people often ask you, ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ and that’s why I’m here to ask you ‘what do you want to build? But not when you grow up; what do you want to build now? Right now,” said Minister Cooper.
“Because right now is the season for innovators. I want you to look at the world around you and not only ask how it works, but how you can make it better. What can we make here? What can technology solve? What will be the next big idea? And why can’t I be the one to do it?
“To the innovators in this room, what appear as challenges are really opportunities. I want you, as young Bahamians to understand that an idea can become a product. A solution can become a business, and a successful business can employ other Bahamians, can build wealth and compete beyond our shores.
“What we need now are innovators. What we need are job creators. And I don’t want you just to be satisfied consuming what other people create; I want you to be the one to create it.”
The Young Innovators Club will run for eight weeks, during which time the participating clubs will be challenged to identify various problems, research them, develop ideas to solve the respective problems and then convince other people of the solutions.
A part of the motivation for clubs taking part in the Young Innovators program is a $50,000 prize money. Third place finishers will receive $10,000. Second place finishers will receive $15,000 and the winning club will receive $25,000.
“When I look at you, I see the future of Grand Bahama Island and the future of our country,” said Minister Cooper. “Over the past five years, I’ve said repeatedly that one of the most important missions that we have is to put Grand Bahama in a position to come roaring back.
“A comeback for Grand Bahama must be primarily in making sure that Grand Bahamians are owners of the economy. So, as new opportunities emerge, more Grand Bahamians must be equipped to build the business, to create the opportunity, to develop the technology, to enhance the product, to solve the problem and own a greater share of the wealth that is generated here.
“And that is a part of the next stage of empowerment in the Bahamas. It must be about innovation. It must be about ownership and innovators; it must be about you.”
