We decided to share this article with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. The Nassau Guardian posted this article by Chester Robards on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Chester Robards
Senior Business Reporter
chester@nasguard.com
The Bahamas has submitted an expression of interest to join a new United Nations (UN) program aimed at using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve disaster preparedness and recovery, with the government seeking local technical training and Bahamian control over data-sharing arrangements, the Ministry of Innovation and National Development (MIND) said in a statement released yesterday.
The ministry said participation could support earlier storm warnings, faster damage assessments, more efficient delivery of assistance, and the continued operation of essential government services during disasters.
The program, a partnership between the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, was launched on September 21 on UN Digital Cooperation Day in New York.
Minister of Innovation and National Development Sebastian Bastian participated in the launch panel, “Technology at the Frontlines of Disaster Resilience”.
The initiative aims to apply AI responsibly across disaster risk assessment, early warning, response, recovery and reconstruction.
“When Dorian struck in 2019, government offices were destroyed, evacuated families were left without identification documents, and the damage ran to US$3.4 billion, more than a quarter of our economy,” Bastian said.
“This new UN program will help us test the tools that can address the unique challenges we face during disasters as an archipelagic nation. Can we warn Bahamians sooner, render aid faster and recover more quickly after a storm? With new technologies as tools, that is what we are aiming for.”
If selected, The Bahamas would work with the UN on forecasting that reaches every inhabited island, assessing storm damage to direct relief and repairs, and connecting assistance to verified identities so that people who lose their documents can access help.
The government also wants to explore ways to maintain essential public services when the islands from which they operate are disrupted.
The ministry said any cooperation must build domestic capability, including training for Bahamian technical staff and public officers.
It is also seeking data-sharing arrangements consistent with Bahamian law and under Bahamian control.
The Disaster Risk Management Authority DRM) would lead the operational work, supported by the Department of Meteorology and the Ministry of Innovation and National Development.
Minister of State McKell Bonaby, who has responsibility for the authority, said improved technology could help officials identify needs and deliver assistance more quickly.
“Technology does not replace preparation, shelters or the people who do this work. But better forecasting, faster assessment and a clearer picture of who needs help and where, all of that saves time,” Bonaby said.
“In a disaster, time is the difference between a family waiting and a family recovering. We welcome this partnership with the Ministry of Innovation and National Development, and we welcome the support of the United Nations.”
The ministry expects technical discussions with the two UN offices to begin in the coming weeks, and said it will report publicly on progress.