The Tribune

Twenty-five Bahamians will this week attend a two-day blockchain developers course being staged by a partnership involving the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The IDB has partnered with Blockgeeks, The Caribbean Blockchain Alliance (CBA) and the University of The Bahamas (UB) to provide the course, which will be held from November 30 to December 1 at IDB House.

Besides a coding bootcamp that uses live online training with facilitators, students will participate in a weekend-long hackathon and final exam at the end of the course. Students who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate that is recorded on a blockchain.

“We are pleased to collaborate with organisations such as CBA and UB in helping young professionals become proficient in blockchain technology, and understand the importance of equipping citizens with the tools and knowledge required to remain on the cutting edge,” said Michael Nelson, the IDB’s chief of operations.

The initiative’s goal is to increase the awareness and capacity of blockchain development in The Bahamas. “Blockchain technology is seen as the next step in Internet and financial technology, in what many describe as Web 3.0,” said Stefen Deleveaux, the CBA’s founder.

“There is a huge opportunity to use this technology to improve public and private services in this country. In addition, competent blockchain developers are in high demand in an industry that almost guarantees access to a high-income job or potential project.”

The Caribbean Blockchain Alliance (CBA) is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting the use and adoption of blockchain technology in the Caribbean region through education and advocacy.

“One of our goals is to build a cohort, and eventually multiple cohorts, of proficient blockchain developers. This is primarily because the technology itself will be extremely important in terms of software infrastructure,” Mr Deleveaux said.

“In the years to come, developers will be at the forefront of everything that’s happening with this technology. It will definitely open up opportunities for skilled workers and high-skilled jobs.”

The CBA’s first goal is to build a large number of blockchain developers in The Bahamas before expanding this to the wider Caribbean region.