NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Young Bahamians ages seven to 17 from Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and New Providence are spending the weekend engaged in sessions that are teaching them about cybersecurity, blockchain and the law, how to successfully raise capital and how to start a business in The Bahamas.

The first Youth Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hackathon and conference in The Bahamas officially opened at Windsor School, Frank Watson Highway, Friday, August 23, 2019.

The conference entails panel discussions and workshops on emerging technologies. The objective of the three-day event is to “educate young adults and children of The Bahamas Islands in blockchain and AI technologies, provide them with support and mentorship, inspire them to create and develop their own projects, as well as provide them with the vision for their future in technology.”

In addition to forming teams to create solutions to local problems, youngsters will learn blockchain curriculum online and put their knowledge and skills to the test through projects in friendly competitions for prizes and possible internships at blockchain and finance companies.  

John Rolle, Governor of The Central Bank of The Bahamas, addressed the first day of the conference.

He said in the months ahead, The Bahamas is investing in modernizing payments as part of its financial system dealing with issues such as financial inclusion.

Governor Rolle also expounded on Project Sand Dollar, a digital fiat currency, also known as a digital e-wallet, which will be accessible through a smart phone application. The pilot project will begin in Exuma and then extend to other Family Islands.

Session topics include: Digital Currency, Project Sand Dollar, Making The Bahamas a financial hub via Blockchain, Pitching Techniques, and Why The Bahamas is perfectly poised to lead blockchain technology adoption.