Above: Rebekah Maharaj encourages young people to apply for the 2026 Future Leaders Internship Programme while reflecting on her experience as a participant in the 2025 cohort. Photos courtesy TSTT.

bmobile has launched the 2026 edition of its Future Leaders Internship Programme (FLIP), doubling the initiative’s reach to 1,200 young people and introducing new streams focused on technology, digital media and entrepreneurship.

Now in its second year, FLIP 2026 expands on the foundation established in 2025 in response to changing workforce and industry demands. The programme will accommodate 900 participants from Trinidad and 300 from Tobago through a hybrid format combining virtual and in-person learning.

This year’s programme introduces three focused streams: Technology, Innovation and Robotics; Digital Media and Content Creation; and Digital Growth and Technopreneurship.

Speaking at the launch event held on May 21 at the SBCS Global Learning Institute in Champs Fleurs, TSTT Chief Executive Officer (Ag.) Keino Cox stated the programme’s evolution reflects both broader industry shifts and the company’s own transformation from a Telco to a Techco.

“These streams were not selected by chance. They reflect significant shifts already taking place across industries, business and the wider economy,” said Cox.

“Last year, FLIP focused on workplace readiness and introducing young people to professional settings. This year, we have evolved the programme to place greater emphasis on application, collaboration, and practical problem-solving because the demands of today’s economy are changing. As organisations and employers, we have a responsibility to recognise those shifts and respond with intention. At bmobile, we understand that investing in infrastructure and connectivity alone is not enough. We must also invest in people.”

Cox noted that programmes like FLIP remain an important part of how the company contributes to youth development, digital inclusion and national development.

Delivering the feature address, Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Barry Padarath, said FLIP 2026 forms part of a broader vision for the evolution of TSTT and the expansion of opportunities available to young people across Trinidad and Tobago.

“When this programme was first envisioned, it was meant to create opportunities that ordinarily did not exist in the public sector for young people between the ages of 17 and 25, while also instilling an appreciation for work, responsibility and purpose,” said Minister Padarath.

Government officials, the TSTT Board and Executive Team, programme stakeholders and FLIP alumni gather at the launch of the 2026 Future Leaders Internship Programme

“What we are witnessing today is the continued growth of that vision. This programme has grown in ways many of us could not have imagined, and the investment being made in 1,200 young people this year will have a ripple effect and lasting impact. FLIP has been a gift for many young people who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience the inner workings of a company like TSTT. This year’s programme is elevated even further through the partnership with NIHERST, which strengthens the training component because we understand that creating opportunity must involve providing young people with the tools needed to succeed.”

TSTT Chairman Kern Dass noted that programmes such as FLIP reflect the role institutions can play in supporting long-term national development and expanding access to opportunity.

“Strong institutions are measured not only by the services they provide, but also by the opportunities they help create,” said Dass.
FLIP 2026 is being delivered in partnership with the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST), whose involvement supports the programme’s emphasis on science, technology and innovation.

Additional information on the application process will be shared via bmobile’s website and social media platforms. Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a stipend and a certificate of completion.

The launch of FLIP 2026 was also attended by Dr. the Honourable Michael Dowlath, Minister of Education; Senator the Honourable Professor Prakash Persad, Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training; Senator the Honourable Dominic Smith, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence; the Honourable Clyde Elder, Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities; Mrs. Shivanna Sam, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities; and Mr. Hansen Narinesingh, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training.

Email applications here. Applications close on June 12, 2026.