Bahamas News

BAHAMAS: ALIV Art and STEAM Education

Published

6 years ago

April 28, 2018

#Bahamas, April 28, 2018 – Nassau – ALIV has successfully completed the production of its first ever “Believe in Best Art Competition” mural at the St. Cecilia’s Catholic School, officially unveiling the piece during a ceremony Monday (April 23) on school premises. ALIV’s educational mission is to support advancement through the use of innovation and technology while focusing on the S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) pillars.

St. Cecilia’s was also the first school to join ALIV’s Schools Plus Program back in September of 2017. During the ceremony on Monday, ALIV Brand & Inventory Champion Anissa Adderley spoke to those in attendance about ALIV’s commitment to the promotion and the advancement of education through various mediums.

“The Believe in Best Art Competition serves as an outlet for students to express themselves visually and provide a real-life experience of the possibilities that exists in the arts. The purpose of the competition is to bring awareness to the importance of art education. The art competition promotes teamwork, exploration and the sharing of ideas and opinions. We believe in empowering the next generation and we are giving them the opportunity to believe in themselves by creating this platform for them.”

Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Barnabas and Chairman of the Public Parks and Beaches Authority Shanendon Cartwright said the initiative from ALIV is so timely and the “Believe in Best” theme is so profound.

“This initiative that focuses on the arts is important because all forms of art and communication are important to the development of all of us as individuals. I also want to emphasize to all of you today that as you think about your dreams and aspirations understand that it starts with you and the belief in yourself, the belief in the possibilities of what you can achieve, and the support of your parents, teachers and friends. Congratulations to St. Cecilia’s and ALIV.”

Over the weekend the winners, third grade students Caliea Taylor and Rihanna Evans along with peers, teachers, parents, ALIV staff and other volunteers came together to complete the mural in time for the official unveiling ceremony. The mural took five days from beginning to end and was done by Avenii Johnson, Giovanni Errisson-Johnson.

The competition was launched back in December 2017 and allowed students at all participating schools – St Cecilia’s and St. John’s College – to form teams of two to four to present a painting that represents what they “Believe In”. The winning art piece will then be enlarged and placed on a space of their choosing on the school’s campus.

ALIV also rewarded the art program at the school with a $1,000 and Virtual Reality Goggles which they continue to use and learn from. Special thanks go to St. Cecilia’s Catholic School Principal Denise Louis, Art Teacher Candice King, The Paint Place, The National Art Gallery and the Catholic School Board of Education for their assistance throughout the process.

Meanwhile in keeping with educational partnerships that step outside the realm of traditional education, five schools participated in the 2017/2018 LEGO Tournament – St. John’s College, The T.G Glover Primary School Aquabots, Woodcock Primary School Aqua Dynamic Stars, The Lyford Cay International School Dragons and The Martin Town Primary School Knights (Freeport). The challenge this year tasked teams with figuring out how to find, transport, use or dispose of water.

The Bahamas FIRST LEGO League Challenge Director, Laurena Finlayson said having ALIV as a corporate sponsor was incredibly crucial as without corporate sponsors generally, the competition would not be possible.

“I think it’s important for us to have these kinds of tournaments for students because it introduces them to STEM, Science Technology Engineering and Math and it opens their minds to other possibilities of career paths. The tournament is only made possible by corporate sponsors worldwide so being able to have ALIV as a sponsor is vital as it tremendously helps us put the tournament on which opens our students to better opportunities of achieving scholarships in those areas.”

Host school, T.G Glover Primary School Aquabots walked away as this year’s overall winner.

Bahamas News

Royal Caribbean Club in The Bahamas started after delays

Published

12 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas#RoyalCaribbean, April 23, 2024- After being delayed following its announcement in 2020, Royal Caribbean’s new 17 acre Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, is now in the works and is scheduled to be ready for 2025, according to reports. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday April 22, signifying the start of construction in the next few months. This project is huge for The Bahamas as it’s a first of kind for the nation, with a unique public private partnership allowing Bahamians to hold up to 49 percent in equity.

Bahamas News

Nassau Cruise Port Donates Nearly $2 Million Towards Food Security

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 2024

Shanieka

Nassau, Bahamas: The Nassau Cruise Port has donated $1.95 million towards
projects that will assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources in its aim
to increase food security for The Bahamas.

The donation officially occurred at the Ministry’s offices recently, where Minister
of Agriculture and Marine Resources Hon. Jomo Campbell, Minister of Labour
Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle, Permanent Secretary Neil Campbell and Nassau Cruise
Port CEO Mike Maura listened to a number of presentations including one for a
poultry programme for schools, a chicken broiler production programme, the
redevelopment of the Blue Hill Road Farmers Market and an Authentic
Bahamian Cultural Concept Store,

Mr. Maura said he was impressed by the presentations.

“I had the privilege to listen the presentations and review presentations that
touched on food security and the need for us to be self-sufficient, which as a
Bahamian I support completely. At the Nassau Cruise Port, we get excited
about the prospects of offering more authentic food to the millions of visitors
that we have each year,” he said.

“And then, in addition to that, we had presentations around the further
development of our artisans, which is so important to us as well. The guests
visiting our shores are looking for something that really touches The Bahamas
and can’t be found somewhere else. The Nassau Cruise Port has made a pledge to BAIC and its affiliates. We will be supporting the projects that were presented and we can’t wait to get started.”

Minister Glover-Rolle, who is also the Member of Parliament for Golden Gates,
hailed Nassau Cruise Port as a “great community partner.”

“Thank you for the opportunity to not only present but agreeing to participate.
Our Minister of Agriculture has a goal of reducing food imports by 25 percent by
the year 2025 and our project in the Golden Gates Community speaks to that,”
she said.

“We have a number of backyard farmers, farmers and fishers in our community
in Golden Gates. Being able to use the Blue Hill Road Farmers Market, which is
going to be dubbed the ‘Fish Fry of the South,’ as a hub for food security but
also a hub where artisans and handicraft persons can come and sell their wares
is wonderful. So, we are happy that you have agreed to partner with us and we
look forward to a partnership and we hope to welcome some of your visitors
when this amazing renovation is done.”

Minister Campbell also lauded the Nassau Cruise Port for its efforts.

“I would like to say thank you to the presenters for the presentations that are
several steps in the right direction for our country, to Mr. Maura and his board at
the Nassau Cruise Port and I would like to say thanks to God for this partnership
and bringing us all together as we move forward, upward, together in building a
better, brighter, future for The Bahamas,” he said.

Bahamas News

Career Symposium 2024 Connects University Students with Successful Professionals

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

Nassau, THE BAHAMAS — Some of the most successful and accomplished professionals and business leaders in the country recently shared their experiences and nuggets of wisdom with students at University of The Bahamas (UB) about thriving in a wide range of careers.

The University Centre for Counselling and Career Services and the Career and Job Placement Advisory Unit collaborated to host the 2024 Career Symposium which brought students face to face with leaders in the careers to which they aspire.

Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Maria Oriakhi, said the symposium was key to developing potential as university students strive to leave their mark on the world.

Ms. Rickell Curry

“In the spirit of collaboration and growth, let us engage in meaningful dialogue, cultivate relationships, and harness the power of collective wisdom to shape our futures,” said Dr. Oriakhi. “Together, let us embark on this journey of exploration and discovery, united in our commitment to realizing our fullest potential and making meaningful contributions to our communities and beyond.”

Promoting careers in psychology, Ms. Curry noted that psychologists are equipped with the ability to help others, troubleshoot areas of weakness within themselves, and become better people and professionals in the process.

“The floor is yours to be able to explore. There’s no job where you don’t have to deal with people, so learning, even if you get a bachelor’s in psychology, is a great grounding,” she said.

Dr. Darville, one of few interventional radiologists in The Bahamas, offered another nugget of advice on choosing an area of study.

Dr. Elizabeth Darville

“It is important to know enough about yourself in order to make the decisions you want to make,” said Dr. Darville. “You have to work on yourself first and know what you want to do. Radiology gives you a chance to have fun. It gives you a chance to mold your career closer to your personal life than other medical specialties might.”

Another growing field is project management which Mr. Hepburn called a life skill. He also urged a commitment to lifelong learning.

“Individuals that continue to learn become unstoppable, period,” said Mr. Hepburn. “It is so true. When you learn, you become unstoppable because nothing can stop you in your process of development.

Mr. Wellington Hepburn

“The more you know, the more valuable you are. We need individuals who are cross functional—that can operate in different capacities. So please understand that your learning should never stop.”

With small and medium-sized businesses helping to drive the economy at an incredible rate, Ms. Rolle affirmed the importance of entrepreneurship in any economy.

“When we talk about entrepreneurship, we usually look at it from a myopic standpoint,” she said. Ms. Rolle. “What do I mean by that? Small, but usually about self: ‘how do I make more money?’ And in some cases, some look at entrepreneurship as a way of survival. ‘I need to make a couple extra dollars, I have this bill to pay’. Those types of things.

Ms. Samantha Rolle

“But entrepreneurship really, in its truest form, is about innovation, whether it’s a new concept or any existing concept that you innovate new ways, or help expand the economy.”

The career symposium was held at the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre and is held every academic year.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Career Symposium 1: UB Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Maria Oriakhi, delivers the opening address at the 2024 Career Symposium.
Career Symposium 2: Students and guest speakers enjoy a lighthearted moment during the 2024 Career Symposium.
Career Symposium 3: Ms. Rickell Curry speaks to students during the 2024 Career Symposium.
Career Symposium 4: Dr. Elizabeth Darville delivers remarks during the 2024 Career Symposium.
Career Symposium 5: Mr. Wellington Hepburn educates students on the importance of project management during the 2024 Career Symposium.
Career Symposium 6: Ms. Samantha Rolle talks about the role and importance of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in any economy.