By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said he will direct government agencies to hire Bahamian influencers to deliver public information campaigns, pledging dedicated funding as part of a broader push to expand opportunities in the digital economy.

He made the announcement yesterday while delivering the keynote address at the 242 Influencers and Creative Conference at Baha Mar, which brought together global tech platforms, industry leaders and Bahamian creators to discuss earning income through digital platforms.

Mr Davis said the government is already engaging companies such as OpenAI, Meta, TikTok and X as it seeks to position Bahamians to benefit from global digital markets.

He said more Bahamians are already monetising their talent online and argued the government must play a role in expanding those opportunities.

"I want to see more of that across this country and government must play its part too,” he said. “So today I say this: I will direct government agencies and ministers to identify Bahamian influencers and creators who can help carry public information and public education messages, and to allocate intentional budgets for that purpose.”

Mr Davis also used the platform to criticise what he described as a culture of gatekeeping, saying access to opportunity has too often depended on connections rather than merit.

“Too many people have treated access like private property,” he said. “Too many gates stayed closed unless you knew the right people. Too many talented Bahamians were left waiting outside rooms they had already earned the right to enter. We have to break that culture. We have to build a gate-opening culture in The Bahamas.”

He said the government would continue to provide training and support, pointing to the Upskill Bahamas initiative, which he said has attracted more than 12,000 participants in free, government-funded courses.

US Ambassador Herschel Walker also addressed the conference, pointing to opportunities for collaboration between American companies and Bahamian talent.

“I'm here to help open doors, to create opportunities for you to invest, to grow and succeed in The Bahamas,” he said. “The United States sees this as a win. Our company can bring the tools the Caribbean can bring the talent together. We grow opportunities on both sides.”