FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas --  Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis (on stage, right) gave the keynote address at a graduation ceremony of the First Cohort of National Youth Guards on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Grand Lucayan Resort Ballroom.  Prime Minister Davis told the 64 graduates that he was proud of them, and thankful that they had taken up the call to serve their country. The National Youth Guard programme was implemented by Prime Minister Davis as a means to have more young Bahamian men and women trained with the necessary skills to ably assist local authorities in the event of a national disaster.  The participants hailed from 10 islands in The Bahamas, including New Providence, Grand Bahama, Exuma, Cat Island, Abaco, Long Island, Andros, Bimini, Eleuthera and Inagua.  Prime Minister Davis thanked the graduates for their future service in their communities as National Youth Guards.