THE Minister for Grand Bahama has asserted that all employees of his newly-created ministry are natives of that island.

For the past week, claims have been circulating that Grand Bahamians were shunned in favour of Nassau natives during the hiring process at a ministry specifically created to resolve the island's high unemployment and economic woes.

In response, Dr Michael Darville said he wanted to "set the record straight", as "some untruths" were being spread about the employment process at his ministry.

He said: "Four the last five weeks, we in the Ministry of Grand Bahama have interviewed in excess of 200 potential applicants on Grand Bahama for some 30 to 40 jobs - that is how bad it is here.

"All of the employees that were selected by my ministry will be reporting to work very shortly."

In addition, a number of persons already engaged in the Public Service on Grand Bahama will be transferred to the ministry, he said.

"I am happy to report that except for my Permanent Secretary, Mr Melvin Seymour, all the other employees are Grand Bahamians, living on Grand Bahama," Dr Darville said.

His comments came as he addressed a graduation ceremony sponsored by the BORCO Foundation Technical Institute on June 22.

Thirteen young men graduated from that institute as certified welders. The ceremony was held at Freeport Bible Church on West Atlantic Drive.

Dr Darville went on to say Grand Bahamians must become passionate about their island.

He said it is important for all residents to be on the same page, so that "we will begin to move the machine that is necessary to begin the growth and development for Grand Bahama."

One of the government's primary mandates, the minister said, is to double the investment in education throughout the Bahamas.

"Now that is a very political statement because a lot of people are misquoting what we said. We are not talking about doubling the budget in education. We are talking about doubling the investment in education," he said.

Dr Darville said his ministry is "working feverishly to set up programmes to allow persons from every sector of Grand Bahama to be involved in the improvement of economic achievement for Grand Bahama".

Emphasising that his ministry cannot do it alone, he said the private sector, churches, and the various settlements in Grand Bahama need to work together.

He reminded the graduates that education is the key to success in life and said they should use their tenure at the BORCO Institute as a stepping stone to further growth.