NASSAU, The Bahamas – Prime Minister Philip Davis today hosted an Opportunity Hub roundtable discussion focused on the Notice of Vacancy Enforcement Policy (NOVEP) Unit and its role in strengthening employment opportunities for Bahamians.
The roundtable brought together key stakeholders from the Department of Labour, including Minister of Labour and the Public Service, the Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle, and Director of Labour Howard Thompson, along with employers from the cruise and sporting industries. The discussion focused on improving access to employment opportunities for Bahamians, strengthening collaboration with employers, and continuing to improve the NOVEP process.
“This initiative is about fairness, access, and opportunity,” the Prime Minister said.
“We must ensure that Bahamians are not only considered first, but are also equipped and positioned to succeed in meaningful roles.”
Minister Glover-Rolle noted the progress made in strengthening enforcement and improving transparency and responsiveness within the NOVEP process.
“We have worked to make the NOVEP process more transparent and responsive, ensuring that Bahamians are actively considered and referred for opportunities in a timely manner,” she said.
Representatives from the private sector highlighted the value of collaboration between employers and the Department of Labour. Anna Maria Albury and Carmeisha Cox of MSC shared how the Bahamas Online Skills Portal makes it easier to identify qualified Bahamians and how the relationship with the Department of Labour has been strengthened through the NOVEP Unit’s monitoring and increased communication.
Glenville Pratt, The Bahamas Professional Golfers Federation President, also shared how stronger enforcement of the policy has benefited Bahamians in the golf industry. He noted that in recent years, more Bahamians have been able to access opportunities in an industry that was previously difficult to enter, including the historic hiring of the first Bahamian woman as a Director of Golf at Baha Mar.
Participants engaged in an open and constructive dialogue on the effectiveness of the NOVEP process, identifying opportunities to improve awareness, efficiency, and access for job seekers.
Director Thompson further outlined how the Department monitors and evaluates applications, uses the Skills Portal to match qualified Bahamians with available jobs, and when necessary, ensures that a Bahamian understudy is named to allow for the transfer of skills and knowledge.
A key focus of the discussion was the Bahamas Online Skills Portal, which continues to serve as a central tool for connecting job seekers with employment opportunities. The platform now includes more than 132,000 users and over 400 registered employers.
Both Prime Minister Davis and Minister Glover-Rolle concluded with a call to action for Bahamians and employers alike.
“To every Bahamian – at home or abroad – register your skills. And to our employers, continue to partner with us as we build a workforce that reflects the full potential of our people.”
The Opportunity Hub initiative forms part of the Government’s broader effort to expand opportunities for Bahamians by improving access to training and employment, increasing transparency, and strengthening public-private collaboration.
