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Govt Committed to Science and Technology

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By SIMON LEWIS

Bahamas Information Services

FREEPORT, G.B. – Both Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie and Education Minister the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald are fully committed to science and technology throughout the country, said Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville.

Dr. Darville’s comments came as he officially opened the 15th Annual SECME Mousetrap Car and Bottle Rocket Competition at the St. Georges High School on Thursday, March 28. The event is attracting participants from schools throughout Grand Bahama.

According to one of the event organisers, Dennis Knowles, SECME was established in 1975 as the South Eastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering by the engineering deans at six Southeastern universities.

SECME, according to Mr. Knowles, has since grown into the largest pre-college alliance in the United States, bringing together 40 universities, 70 industries and government agencies, and 107 school systems representing 900 schools and 20,000 students in 17 states plus the District of Columbia.

It now reaches beyond the Southeast to include school systems in New York, Indiana, Jamaica and The Bahamas.

The winning Senior and Junior teams in the competition will travel to Emery-Riddle Aeronautical University and its College of Engineering in Daytona Beach, Florida, where they will compete at the 37th Annual SECME National Student Engineering Competition.  That event is schedule for June 16-23.

Addressing a large group of participants assembled in the St. George’s High School Gymnasium, Dr. Darville who, in addition to his medical career, is also a Canadian trained engineer, said he truly understands the importance of science and technology and what it  means to the overall growth and development of the country, especially Grand Bahama, regarded as the industrial capital of The Bahamas.

“As Minister for Grand Bahama I have seen first hand the importance of technical training and how it is tied directly to our economic growth and development.

“Our vibrant industrial sector is certainly playing a vital role in job creation but now we must all put our best foot forward to ensure that we develop the manpower resources to capitalise on these new and exciting jobs,” he stated.

Minister Darville noted that companies like Grand Bahama Power, the Bahamas Oil Refining Company, Grand Bahama Ship Yard and the Grand Bahama Container Port, are all projecting growth in the industrial sectors over the next 10 to 15 years.

“They are also recommending career paths in science and technology for our high school students is a must, and they are constantly expressing the need for young professionals in all engineering disciplines.

“As public servants, educators, councillors we must capitalise on what is happening in our local economy and encourage our students to choose careers in science and technology and ultimately capitalise on these well paying jobs that will become available,”  he stated.

Dr. Darville to commended the committed organisers of the program me “who have taken the bull by the horn for many years.”

He said about five years ago he was introduced to the programme at the Professional Engineer’s luncheon where one of the mousetrap’s winning design was displayed by one of the competitors and that he was amazed to learn about the level of competition involved.

“Students, your intelligence, your ingenuity, your determination, and your ability to work cooperatively as a group to achieve one common goal are valuable skills that you will carry on into adulthood,” he added.

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SECME OPENING – Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville is pictured with several students from various schools on Grand Bahama competing in the Mousetrap Car event of the Grand Bahama SECME Competition. (BIS Photo/Simon Lewis)

MEDICAL TALK – Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville welcomes Dr. Kevin T. Bowe, Medical Officer/VP Medical Services at the National Insurance Board (Nassau) to Grand Bahama. Dr. Bowe and Minister Darville held talks on matters involving NIB and healthcare assistance on Grand Bahama.  Officials from the Ministry of Labour, Department of Environmental Health Services, and top management for NIB’s Freeport office participated in the meeting. (BIS Photo/Simon Lewis)

 

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Invest TCI Strengthens Regional Investment Connections at Caribbean Investment Forum 2026 in Barbados

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Monday, 19th October 2026: Invest Turks and Caicos Agency (Invest TCI) strengthened its regional presence at the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) 2026, held October 5 – 7, 2026, in Bridgetown, Barbados, participating as both a sponsor of the Forum and representative of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ investment landscape.

The Caribbean Investment Forum brought together regional and international investors, government representatives, business leaders, entrepreneurs, investment promotion agencies, and development partners to explore investment opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and advance sustainable economic development throughout the Caribbean.

The Agency’s sponsorship of CIF 2026 formed part of its continued commitment to strengthening the visibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands within the regional investment community and building relationships with investors, development partners, investment promotion agencies, and businesses across the Caribbean.

The opening of the Forum was attended by the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, who emphasised the importance of scaling regional investment, strengthening economic cooperation, and transforming innovative ideas into commercially viable opportunities. Invest TCI was represented by Ms. Alexa Cooper, Domestic Investment Officer, and Mr. Hezron Henry, Marketing Support Officer. Throughout the Forum, the delegation engaged with stakeholders and promoted the Turks and Caicos Islands as a competitive investment destination while exploring opportunities for greater regional collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Speaking on her experience at the Forum, Ms. Alexa Cooper, Chief Domestic Investment Officer, said:

“CIF 2026 provided another valuable opportunity to engage with donor organisations, investors and Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) from across the Caribbean. A highlight for me was the introduction of an exclusive masterclass for fund managers, investors and support organisations, which offered practical insights into unlocking capital, strengthening investment ecosystems and supporting investment-ready businesses. I was equally impressed with the quality of projects pitched, which showcased the region’s innovation and investment potential. It was encouraging to see projects presented with a clearer understanding of investor expectations, reinforcing the importance of not simply developing projects, but ensuring they are well-structured, investment-ready and positioned to attract the right investment partners.”

Accompanying the Invest TCI delegation was Mr. Sean Penn, Chief Executive Officer of Sky Poultry Farm Ltd., the first commercial egg and poultry production facility in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Mr. Penn’s participation provided an opportunity to showcase the development of domestic enterprise within the Turks and Caicos Islands while highlighting the potential of agriculture and food production as part of the country’s broader economic diversification efforts.

Through his participation at CIF 2026, Mr. Penn had the opportunity to engage with regional stakeholders, gain exposure to developments within the Caribbean agricultural sector, and explore potential partnerships and opportunities related to agricultural investment, innovation, and enterprise development.

For Invest TCI, the combination of sponsorship, investment promotion and local business representation provided a multifaceted platform to advance the Agency’s mandate. It allowed Invest TCI not only to promote the Turks and Caicos Islands to prospective investors but also to facilitate greater exposure for a local enterprise operating within an emerging sector of the economy. The Forum also provided opportunities for the Invest TCI delegation to exchange knowledge with regional counterparts, strengthen institutional relationships, and gain insight into investment trends and opportunities affecting Caribbean economies.

As the Caribbean Investment Forum continues to expand its regional reach, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was announced as the destination for the next edition of the Forum, providing another opportunity to bring together investors, policymakers, investment promotion agencies and businesses from across the Caribbean and beyond.

Invest TCI looks forward to the continued growth of the Caribbean Investment Forum and the opportunities it creates to deepen regional partnerships, promote investment, and connect Caribbean businesses with new markets and sources of capital. The Agency remains committed to attracting sustainable investment, supporting domestic enterprise, encouraging economic diversification, and developing partnerships that contribute to the long-term economic development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Energy Minister Delivers Electrifying Keynote Opening Address at CAREC 2026  

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NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas’ Minister of Energy, Utilities and Aviation, The Honourable JoBeth Coleby-Davis, delivered an electrifying address during the opening ceremony of the 2026 CARILEC Resilient/Renewable Energy Community (CAREC) Conference and Exhibition, being held October 18–22, 2026, at the British Colonial Hotel in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Under the theme “Empowering Progress: Strategic Policy and Planning for the Energy Transition,” the event draws more than 200 industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, and energy professionals committed to advancing practical strategies for sustainable and reliable Caribbean power systems through renewable energy and emerging technologies.

During her address, titled “The New Energy Era: Transforming Policy into Progress,” Minister Coleby-Davis reminded attendees that The Bahamas’ national motto, “Forward, Upward, Onward, Together,” aptly describes what the region’s energy transition demands.

“Empowering Progress speaks directly to our national motto. Not waiting for progress, but creating the conditions that allow progress to happen. Meaningful progress, however, does not occur by accident. It requires vision, sound policy, strategic planning, strong institutions, and the determination to turn decisions into results,” said Minister Coleby-Davis.

Participants acknowledged that small island developing states share similar pressures, compounded by geographical challenges, small electricity markets, ageing infrastructure, geopolitical influences, and the growing threat of severe weather.

Tasked with ushering in a new energy era across the islands while addressing the challenges posed by The Bahamas’ unique archipelagic composition, Minister Coleby-Davis said, “Every island needs a different answer, but the same logic. As an archipelagic nation, we must provide electricity across many islands, each with its own demand and infrastructure needs. Our strategy, therefore, must be national in direction, but responsive to individual communities.”

Restating her Ministry’s three core messages—that energy is an economic and security priority, technology must be viewed as a tool to support strong institutional leadership, and natural gas should be considered a bridge, not a destination—Minister Coleby-Davis reiterated that “progress must now be reflected in functioning infrastructure, effective institutions, and better electricity services: from policy commitments to coordinated implementation, and from fragmented investment decisions to long-term planning.”

Organised by CARILEC and co-hosted by Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC), the annual Conference and Exhibition brings together the Caribbean energy community to advance practical solutions to the region’s most pressing energy challenges and accelerate progress towards more resilient, reliable, and sustainable power systems.

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Monument Supports Hands for Hunger With Paradise Plates Debut  

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ leading wine and spirits distributor, proudly supported Paradise Plates, Hands for Hunger annual fundraiser with a flavorful offering of its newest product, Monument Beverage Co.

Monument, which launched this July and is available across six major islands, made its Paradise Plates debut. Guests enjoyed three bold flavors: Peach Passion, Ginger-Lime and Melon Fizz as they socialized throughout the evening.

Monument brand ambassadors engaged guests with knowledge on the ready-to-drink beverage’s unique taste and look. Many attendees were delighted to learn that Monument is 100% Bahamian-made and owned and enjoyed seeing the various national landmarks on the packaging.

The booth was adorned with vibrant brand colors, striped arches, tropical florals and a photo worthy backdrop featuring Monument cans filled with florals cascading down the wall.

At the end of the event, the entire Monument inventory had finished, making Monument’s Paradise Plates debut a huge success.

For more details on Caribbean Wines & Spirits, new products and specials, visit www.cwsbahamas.com today.

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