The Ministry of Labour and the Public Service has entered phase two of its Summer Employment initiative in Grand Bahama, which is summing up to be a successful 2024 program.

Scores of young people are getting the opportunity to learn on-the-job training from a variety of businesses and companies on the island. The initiative is part of the Public Service Professional Engagement Program (PS-PEP) -- a collaborative initiative between the public and private sectors, aimed at providing students with hands-on work experience.

 
A cross section of businesses participating in the program, ranging from service-oriented companies to private law firms and government entities, allows for students with diverse career goals to work on jobs that cater to their individual interests.

 
Natasha Dean, Officer in Charge of the Public Service in Grand Bahama, notes that through these partnerships, participants are placed in both public service and private sector roles.

 
“The PS-PEP Summer Employment program emphasizes workplace etiquette and the development of customer service skills,” said Ms. Dean. “It is open to participants aged 15 to 25 years.”

Now in its second year, Ms. Dean says the summer employment program on Grand Bahama had expanded significantly, with 79 participants this year, comprising 26.58% males and 72.15% females. 

Since starting on Grand Bahama, the program has become a much-anticipated initiative for students during the summer break. Hundreds of applications from students poured into the Ministry of Labor and the Public Service for space in the program. From those applications, only a certain number of students are selected to be a part of the program.

The program goes beyond simply placing students to work at certain companies or businesses for the summer. There have been some on-going successes and networking opportunities between some of the students and the companies for which they worked.

 
For instance, according to Ms. Dean, in the first year of the program (2023), one of the college participants, Christian Hepburn, who majored in Nautical Science, was placed at the Freeport Harbour Company (FHC).

 
“Miss Hepburn, excelled in her role and, upon completing her degree in November 2023, was hired by the Freeport Harbour Company as a Trainee Marine Pilot. She is the third female to be hired into their marine piloting program.”