Senator Rahming calls for 30% youth leadership in public service roles

Senator Latrae Rahming has called for a structured increase in youth representation in senior public sector roles, urging the government to create clearer pathways for young Bahamians to enter leadership positions within the public service.

Speaking during the Senate’s budget debate on Wednesday, Rahming said he would advocate for what he described as a “serious youth leadership agenda,” anchored by a target for greater inclusion of younger professionals in decision-making roles.

“I will advocate for a serious youth leadership agenda: a target of at least 30 percent of senior public sector roles, board appointments, and national leadership opportunities to be filled by qualified, prepared young Bahamians,” he said.

He also proposed the introduction of a “Bahamian Fast Stream” programme, modelled in part on systems used in other jurisdictions, to identify high-potential graduates and young professionals for accelerated training and placement across government.

“I will also advocate for a Bahamian Fast Stream programme, modelled on the best features of the United Kingdom’s approach, to identify our best and brightest, bring them into public service, train them across policy, finance, diplomacy, technology, administration, and delivery, and prepare them to lead the country with competence and care,” Rahming said.

Rahming pointed to the presence of young senators in the chamber as progress, but said representation at that level should not be viewed as the endpoint of youth inclusion.

“It is admirable that young Bahamians such as Keenan, Dasante, Trevor Johnson, and I can sit in this Senate Chamber. But that cannot be the finish line,” he said. “It must be the beginning of a wider opening.”

He argued that broader systemic change is needed to ensure more young people are able to access leadership opportunities across the public sector.

“There are many more young Bahamians who must be pulled forward. They are ready for more. And the country must be ready for them,” he said.

Rahming added that public policy should focus on widening access to opportunity beyond networks and connections, emphasizing merit and preparedness.

“Our mandate is to expand opportunity until it reaches the Bahamian who has the talent but lacks the connection, the discipline but lacks the pathway, the dream but lacks the support, the ability but lacks the chance,” he said.