The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) is now a semi-autonomous body with a nine-member board.
The board, a first for the institution, was established by the 2010 Bahamas Technical and Vocational Act, which came into force in early 2011. Its chairman is Felix Stubbs, general manager of IBM Bahamas Limited; the deputy chairman is Peter Whitehead, consultant at Osprey Construction.
"BTVI students will be supported by a very able-bodied board of visionary and successful leaders in their own right, who will work with the management of BTVI to map out a more progressive future for BTVI," said Minister of Education, Science and Technology Jerome Fitzgerald.
Other members of the board from various industries include Cadwell Pratt, assistant director at the Ministry of Works and Urban Development; Kevin Basden, general manager at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation; Thelma Grimes, retired public servant; Godfrey Forbes, president, Bahamian Contractors Association; Henry Storr, proprietor, Storr's Electric; Sabrina Francis, fashion designer and owner of Se-B Fashion Designs, and Ruby Nottage, retired Supreme Court justice.
With semi-autonomy, BTVI will have its own budget. Previously it was under the Ministry of Education.
According to the education minister, the board's appointment is a leap forward for vocational and technical education in The Bahamas.
"The board will play a critical part in the development of BTVI. It will help to raise the profile of BTVI from a policy and national perspective," said Fitzgerald.
"We want to be able to reduce the number of labor permits and BTVI plays a critical role in that. BTVI is addressing the needs of the country in terms of skilled labor."
Stubbs said the board recognized the significance of BTVI.
"It is important to the advancement of the economy and skilled laborers are needed to help move the economy forward. At BTVI, we want every deserving person to be given the opportunity to enhance their skills," he said.
Sitting as the ex-officio member of the board until the appointment of a president is BTVI's Manager and Consultant Dr. Iva Dahl. Fitzgerald commended Dahl and her team for their hard work and efforts in elevating the quality of programs and training along with local and international partnerships, which have advanced BTVI.
"One program I am particularly impressed with is BTVI's construction trades training, which it has taken to the Family Islands to ensure that scores of Bahamians have an opportunity to obtain skills training in this lucrative field," he said.
Fitzgerald noted that studies show that higher levels of vocational education and training qualifications and workforce development are strongly linked to increased workforce participation and productivity of society.
BTVI offers various programs of study where students are able to obtain diplomas and certificates. The institution also offers associate of science degrees in office administration, business office technology, construction technology, electronics engineering installers and repairs, in addition to information management.
In the past two years enrollment has increased by more than 25 percent at the institution. There are 1,957 students at BTVI, with 1,746 at its New Providence campus and the remainder being at the school's Freeport campus.

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