FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas -- The Ministry for Grand Bahama has joined the efforts of ELNET Maritime Agency to encourage more Bahamians to become involved in the Maritime Industry and develop additional career opportunities for themselves.

“Today is another grand day for Grand Bahama Island and I am so excited about Elnet Maritime 101,” said Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon. Ginger Moxey. “I congratulate Mr. Elbert Hepburn on his vision for this program.”

Announcement of the new “Elnet Maritime 101 Cadet” training program took place during a press conference on Monday, October 3, 2022 in Elnet’s executive offices.

Minister Moxey noted that modernizing and creating employment opportunities for industries operating in the Blue Economy is a part of the Davis Administration’s ‘Blueprint for change’.

“In our Blueprint for change, we look at Grand Bahama as the home of maritime and logistics. And we know that there are enormous opportunities for our people in this industry that have yet to be tapped into.

“Grand Bahama island has a robust Maritime industry which includes trans-shipment and logistics, and the government sees the potential for more jobs and spin off opportunities to be created for Bahamians in the sector.”

The Elnet Maritime 101 Cadet program is not only being supported by the Ministry for Grand Bahama, but a number of other government agencies are involved, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transport and Housing, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, along with the assistance of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force.

The program will initially be offered to students in grades 12, who have an interest in the industry. It will be a six-week program, and some 100 students will be able to participate. Each class will have 20 students for six weeks, after which time a new set of cadets will join the program. The first class will commence on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at Elnet, located on Queen’s Highway.

“Mr. Hepburn has always been there giving back to this community, but this program, which will be free to all of the students, is a big give back by Mr. Hepburn, because of what it means for our young people,” said Minister Moxey.

“We’re going to work hand-in-hand with Elnet to ensure that as many students as possible are able to participate in this program. I would also like to thank all of the other private sector stake-holders who will be a part of it.”

President of Elnet Maritime Agency, Mr. Elbert Hepburn said the vision for the Maritime Cadet training program came about in 2018, when he awoke one morning to a persistent thought to build a maritime center.

“The reason this thought kept coming back to me was because I fell in love with the maritime industry when I was in the eleventh grade,” said Mr. Hepburn. “So, at the age of 16, I entered this industry, I’m now forty-two and I have never left this industry.

“So, this dream has sat with me from 2018 to this current moment. Over the years, we’ve had Hurricane Dorian, which was a delay and then there was the Covid-19 pandemic, which was another delay, and of course those of us as business people kept moving forward. But the one thing that stuck with me was that we were going to finish the maritime center and develop the program maritime 101.”

Mr. Hepburn noted that as the program progresses, it would be extended to students in grade 11 as well.

UNITED FOR CADET PROGRAM – The Elnet Maritime 101 Cadet Program was officially launched on Monday, October 3, 2022 in the executive boardroom of Elnet Maritime Agency on Queen’s Highway. The program will open up career opportunities for Grand Bahamians in the maritime industry. The program will be supported by the Ministry for Grand Bahama, along with other government agencies. On hand for the press conference on Monday were (from left) Mr. Ivan Butler, Education District Superintendent for the Northern Bahamas; Ms. Lonna Bethel, Assistant Port Controller (Ministry of Housing and Transport); Sr. Commander Berne Wright, Acting Port Controller (Ministry of Housing and Transport); Mr. Melvin Seymour, Permanent Secretary (MOGB); Mr. Elbert Hepburn, President and CEO of Elnet Maritime Agency; Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon. Ginger Moxey; Mrs. Janet Shepherd, vice-president of Elnet Maritime Agency; Commodore Stephen Rolle, Royal Bahamas Defense Force (GB); Mrs. Yvonne Ward, Ministry of Education; Mr. Norris Bain, Deputy Director of Youth, Sports and Culture (Northern division) and Mrs. Carla Roker-Brown, Youth Coordinator, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

CHECKING OUT TRAINING ROOM – Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon. Ginger Moxey (right), along with Mr. Elbert Hepburn, President and CEO of Elnet Maritime Agency, hold a discussion with an employee of Elnet and Sr. Commander Berne Wright, Acting Port Controller in the training room for the newly launched Maritime 101 Cadet Program, on Monday, October 3, 2022.

(BIS Photos/Lisa Davis)