The Minister of Innovation and National Development the Hon. Sebastian Bastian explained that no technology will shape the future more than artificial intelligence (AI).
“Used well, AI can transform how we teach our children, deliver our healthcare, grow our businesses, and serve our citizens. Used carelessly, it carries real risks — to privacy, to fairness, to truth itself,” Minister Bastian said during his Contribution to the 2026/2027 Budget Debate in the House of Assembly on Monday, June 15, 2026.
He said, “The Bahamas will not stand on the sidelines of this revolution. But nor will we walk into it blindly. We will embrace AI for good — ambitiously, responsibly, and safely.”
The Minister explained that to achieve this, the foundations must be built right from the start. “So, I am pleased to announce that this Ministry will establish a national Artificial Intelligence Committee — bringing together expertise from our public service, our private sector, our legal community, and leading international voices.”
He said their charge will be to help draft The Bahamas’ first artificial intelligence legislation: a framework built for the country, and grounded in its values.
The Innovation Minister said, “That legislation will, in turn, establish a permanent Artificial Intelligence Authority — a standing institution to govern the safe and responsible use of this technology, to set the guardrails that protect our people, and to ensure that as AI grows more powerful, our oversight grows with it.
“We will harness the very best of what AI offers. And we will guard, deliberately and vigilantly, against its harms. That is the balance a responsible nation must strike — and we intend to strike it. This is not work we are waiting to begin. We have already been engaging with several of the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies and technology partners.”
Minister Bastisan said this Government’s Administration conversations have focused on what matters most to Bahamians — workforce development, government modernization, digital services, innovation ecosystems, and new opportunities for Bahamian entrepreneurs and businesses.
He said, “I am not yet in a position to announce all of these partnerships today. But I can tell this House that significant progress has been made — and that we look forward to sharing major announcements in the near future.”
