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Bahamas & TCI Meet, concerned on possible cut to US Coast Guard

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Turks and Caicos, March 14, 2017 – Providenciales  –  Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister, Fred Mitchell was in the TCI last week and spoke one on one with Magnetic Media about his visit which was partly to support Bahamas striping securing the job to mark roadways in Grand Turk, but there was a meeting with country leaders about a myriad of issues including a looming possibility that the Trump Administration may cut funding to the US Coast Guard and what that would mean to Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, aka, OPBAT.  Minister Mitchell said both countries are concerned.

“In the discussions with the Premier, there is a lot of concern in this country as there is in the Bahamas  about OPBAT and its future because there appears to be a draw back of resources in the United States.  And one of the things that happens, we find ourselves as countries in a kind of catch 22 with the U.S. accusing us of being conduits for drugs and illegal trafficking and smuggling and all the rest of it, but it’s really in their security interest, we are really paying the price for their security.”

Opbat 1OPBAT was established since 1982 to counter wide-open cocaine smuggling from Columbia, it has since grown into the multi-faceted operation it is today where human and other resources are shared for rescues, illicit drugs, arms and human smuggling interdiction and support in disaster relief efforts.

A recent update on OPBAT revealed that there are 37 Coast Guard members and 21 DEA personnel devoted to the program.   Minister Mitchell said when it comes to what the Trump Administration will do, it is a wait and see situation, but also advised that the Bahamas nor the Caribbean is taking the matter lying down.

Already representation is made with the objective being to keep talking until the US understands that helping us means helping themselves when it comes to interdiction and border control.   “We’re waiting to see who will become the Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, because that’s the person who will really be the key point person in the State Department to deal with policies with the Caribbean.”  .

#MagneticMediaNews #OPBAT #FredMitchell #BahamasTCImeet #USCoastGuardfundingcut

Bahamas News

GBPA’S STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE ADDRESS OF PRIME MINISTER PHILIP DAVIS AT THE G.B. CHAMBER’S BUSINESS MEETING ON MONDAY, MAY 6TH, 2024

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The Grand Bahama Port Authority has taken note of calls from our licensees, the residents of Grand Bahama and several current investors for a response to Monday’s address by Prime Minister Davis.

We take this opportunity to once again reassure these valued stakeholders that GBPA remains laser-focused on the task at hand. We are working every day to deliver the $2B-plus of investments which the GBPA Group of Companies, through its affiliates, either initiated, is invested in, or is contractually involved in creating, and was instrumental in bringing the investors to the table.

At the same time, it is important that GBPA corrects any inaccurate, incomplete or selective representations regarding matters that impact our stakeholders. In the near future, therefore, GBPA intends to host a live event with its stakeholders to ensure that all the matters discussed in the public domain are placed in their proper context and the historical record is set straight.

In the meantime, we encourage our stakeholders to remain confident in the resilience and potential of Freeport, and in our pledge to continue working diligently to see a prosperous future for Grand Bahama.

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Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

The Bahamas’ economy is in good standing according to reports from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute which released the Quarterly Gross Domestic Product Series. They indicate that quarterly GDP trends for 2023 saw increases compared to 2022, a sign of recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic.

The most significant increase was 9.9 percent in the first quarter of 2023, and the industries responsible for the growth include Accommodations and food, construction and Arts.

 

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Bahamas News

RBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos 

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RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.

King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.

King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “

Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.

“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.

 

 

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