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Celebrating Employee Appreciation Day

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#Bridgetown, June 7, 2019 – Barbados – Smiles lit up many faces and laughter echoed across the banking halls and offices of regional bank CIBC FirstCaribbean as management toasted its over 3000 employees.

From mouth-watering breakfast spreads and tasty lunches served by executives turned ‘chefs’ for the day, to a myriad of other fun-filled activities, the bank said a rousing “thank you” to staff as part of Employee Appreciation Day celebrations on Tuesday, May 28.

Executives, managers and team leaders also treated their teams to a number of educational and fun activities as well as giveaways and goodies throughout the day. Employees from CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Turks & Caicos branches ended their celebrations with an evening cocktail party.

In a message to staff at the start of the day, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer Colette Delaney thanked employees for their “great ideas, amazing dedication, loyalty and support that have been truly impressive and thoroughly appreciated.” She noted it was their dedication and commitment that have taken CIBC FirstCaribbean to “a remarkable position” in the region.

“As we celebrate together, we your leaders recognize that we are only as good as the teams around us.  Your personal commitment to excellence inspires us every single day. We will continue to foster an environment of mutual respect and to create opportunities for growth that make your professional journey a source of pride and satisfaction,” Ms. Delaney said.

Staff in the Bahamas took a musical journey from the 1950s through to the 90s, displaying the various dress styles that accompanied the particular music genres. Their colleagues in Barbados engaged in a number of activities including a vintage train ride through the countryside while others took in a special showing of the movie Avengers Endgame at one of the island’s cinemas at Limegrove in Holetown on the west coast.

The Jamaican team used the day to celebrate diversity. Using the country’s motto “Out of many one people,” they dressed to reflect the various ethnic groups in the country such as Africans, Chinese, Indians, Europeans and Syrians.

The Bel Jou Hotel was the venue for St. Lucia’s celebration which featured a rooftop sunset cocktail event with karaoke and board games. A tour of the Geothermal Project at Bamboo Range followed by a ‘goat cook’ and lime at Black Point Historic and Recreation Park was the staff in St Vincent celebrated their Employee Appreciation Day.

Release: CIBC FirstCaribbean International

Photo Captions:

Header: The Leeward Highway CIBC FirstCaribbean team had some fun posing for silly group shots on Employee Appreciation Day.

Insert: CIBC FirstCaribbean TCI Country Manager, Larry Lawrence, serves up cake to branch employees during Employee Appreciation Day celebrations.

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Caribbean News

Barbados recognizes Palestine as sovereign

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

Barbados has made a huge diplomatic move, recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state, as announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kerrie Symmonds, according to a report from CBC News Barbados on Saturday April 20. This now aligns Barbados with other UN Member states which also recognise Palestine.

 

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Caribbean News

Haiti death toll rises

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

Haiti’s death toll is now up 53 percent with more than 2,500 people killed from January through March 2024, compared to the same time last year. This was reported by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH),  on Friday April 19. The organization expressed that gangs have changed their tactics, now targeting public institutions and important infrastructure such as the main Airport. Most of the violence is reportedly in the Capital Port Au Prince.

 

 

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U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SHINES AS A PREMIER DESTINATION AT THE 2024 SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL CONFERENCE

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St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) –April 11, 2024—The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, led by Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, Assistant Commissioner Alani Henneman, and Deputy Commissioner RoseAnne Farrington, traveled to Miami, Florida, to support Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and other local partners agencies for the 2024 Seatrade Cruise Global Conference.
To kick off the week-long event, the Department of Tourism sponsored the highly anticipated Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) barbecue, which was hosted by Governor Bryan.
Revered as a steady leader in the Caribbean tourism industry, the USVI delegation, which also included the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Port Authority, West Indian Company Limited, Magens Bay Authority, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Government Employee Retirement System, showcased the territory and its growing accessibility around the cruise industry to key operators and businesses.
“Cruise has been and continues to be a leading entryway for visitors into the territory, and Seatrade allows representatives from the USVI to interface with and share pertinent updates needed to continue fostering positive relationships throughout the industry,” explains Commissioner Boschulte.
Commissioner Boschulte was featured on the Caribbean Spotlight panel moderated by renowned industry leader and FCCA CEO Michelle Paige, who referenced the Commissioner being named the 2023 Caribbean Tourism Executive of the Year by Caribbean Journal and shared how exceptional the publication’s acknowledgment of his accolades are. Paige referenced Caribbean Journal’s spotlight paragraph reading, “No Caribbean destination has seen more growth in the last three years than the U.S. Virgin Islands, which kicked off a full-fledged tourism renaissance just after the onset of the pandemic and hasn’t looked back. And so much of that growth can be directly tied to the expert stewardship of Boschulte, who helped craft an innovative, flexible response to the challenges of the pandemic and has continued to drive the USVI’s performance with a data-driven, creative approach to modern tourism.”
Commissioner Boschulte and Deputy Commissioner Farrington joined Governor Bryan for meetings with leading cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Corporation & plc, amongst others, to discuss continued partnerships, expansion opportunities, and industry updates.
As the global cruise industry continues to restabilize following challenges incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Thomas and St. Croix experienced a 13% growth in 2023 over 2019, with West Indian Company Dock, Crown Bay Dock, and E. Abramson Marine Facility welcoming more than 1,600,000 passengers from 495 total calls for the year. With a 58% year-over-year passenger increase from 2022 to 2023, the USVI continues to grow and is projected to experience another 5% increase in cruise passenger arrivals in 2024.
Commissioner Boschulte also highlighted the remarkable success of the USVI and Caribbean region, stating, “I am proud to see the Caribbean’s appeal continue to captivate travelers. Our collaborative efforts with partners like FCCA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization underscore the unity of our region, ensuring unforgettable experiences for visitors while highlighting the unique strengths of the U.S. Virgin Islands. With a safe, welcoming destination and a shared commitment to tourism, we embrace our role as an integral part of the Caribbean community.”
For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands, please visit https://www.visitusvi.com/.

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