A student’s innovative new app has drawn praise from the Progressive Labour Party.

Rolfe Commissiong, the Shadow Minister for Human Affairs with responsibility for workforce development, has congratulated Ethan Humphrey for his work on the “Saltus Student” computer application.

The 13 year old’s app allows students to organise their time and can now be downloaded from platforms such as Google Play Store and via Apple’s App Store.”

“We in the Progressive Labour Party celebrate innovation and young Mr. Humphrey has demonstrated it,” said Mr Commissiong.

“In our Vision 2025 document, presented to the House in response to the 2015-16 budget statement it noted that a future PLP government would promote app development in collaboration with the Bermuda College.

“These apps — largely developed, maintained and enhanced by the students themselves — would be utilised to make government and the dissemination of its services more accessible, and critically; more efficient.

Mr Commissiong said the apps could be monetised by making licensing agreements with other governments throughout the world.

He added: “We will not stop there as we have also made a commitment to deliver on a pledge by way of the Shadow Minister’s Outreach 2025 programme to ensure that a national target of 400 to 500 youngsters annually between the ages of 7 to 15 years of age are exposed to the wonders of computer coding.

“We are committed to establishing a technology incubator at Southside that with the proper tax and regulatory incentives can attract cutting edge companies such as in the emerging Fin tech industry and beyond.

“We, in the PLP, believe that a focus on STEM with respect to education and training along with an immersion in Information and Communications technology, besides providing a global passport to relatively high paying jobs and great careers; can be a pathway to entrepreneurship and business ownership in the 21st century context, for our young people.”