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Pandemic, War, China, Climate & Food Security make welcome remarks of Regional CDB Governors

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By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

 

#TurksandCaicos, June 25, 2022 – The 2022 Annual General Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank opened with in style, becoming the first face-to-face meeting for the CDB since 2019. The opening ceremony was held on Wednesday the 15th of June at the Ritz Carlton and attended by dignitaries across the Caribbean.

Board of Governors member for Guyana, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo spoke on behalf of the Borrowing Member countries warning people not to get lulled into a sense of security or think it was business as usual because covid, shipping delays, and the war in Ukraine were all still factors in play.  He explained that not only was growth down in the borrowing countries, but debt was also up.

“The Caribbean needs the CDB, our bank, more than ever before as we tackle long-standing problems of infrastructure gaps, human capital development, access to basic social services, food security, and climate vulnerability.”

The Borrowing Members of the CDB include:  Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos.

Board of Governors Member for Brazil Roberto Fendt Junior delivered remarks on behalf of the regional non-Borrowing Member Countries reminiscing on what the pandemic taught governments in the region and their admirable efforts at resilience.

“We have learned that on this planet political borders cannot fully protect populations from being impacted and most of all we have learned that trustworthy information, knowledge sharing, and co-operation are key to overcoming man-made crises and natural disasters.”

In this vein, he praised the CDB’s efforts in creating a digital Knowledge Hub which will be a consolidated cloud of data that can be shared between member states. He stressed that in this effort the information should be both trustworthy and timely to avoid missed opportunities.

Mr. Sun Ping of China delivered the remarks virtually on behalf of the international Non Borrowing Member Countries.  He expressed understanding of the difficult position Caribbean countries were in at the moment and maintained that China was ready to work with the bank to see how they could alleviate some of those issues.

“China attaches great importance to bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the Caribbean through trade investment and cultural exchanges, we will spare no efforts to support the CDB in key areas such as regional infrastructure, environmental protection, educational transformation, and pandemic response.”

During the keynote address, President of the CDB Dr. Gene Leon explained what the bank was trying to do in the Caribbean.

“The challenge before us is how best to navigate a safe path from legacy structural weaknesses to transformative development while maintaining debt sustainability, enhancing macroeconomic and financial stability and resilience.”

Leon mentioned several ways the bank planned to tackle this in 2022:

By advancing food and nutrition security,

By advancing energy security,

By advancing water security.

He explained that we are too reliant on overseas food noting that at least 2.7 million people in the English-speaking Caribbean were food insecure. Thus CDB has created a plan to reduce imports of food by 25 percent by 2025 food.  In terms of energy, the CDB says member states are aiming to be 55 percent powered by renewable energy by 2939 at a cost of $ 20 billion.

In terms of water, Leon said they were partnering with the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance facility on a Regional Water Utility Insurance company.

By creating access to Access to Adequate and Affordable Finance.  Over the next decade, the Caribbean must drum up over 100 billion dollars in investments to hit all its goals.  He said access to this type of financing would “shape a future where our citizens are able to live quality lives in societies that have embraced digitalization and have robust private sector partnerships with the requisite governmental arrangement to safeguard food and energy security.”

These goals are in line with the region’s aim to become the region of choice to live in and are essential if the Caribbean is to keep up with the rest of the globe.

Bahamas News

Collaborative Efforts to Combat Cyber Crime Begins in the Bahamas

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Defence Headquarters  – The United States Northern Command, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, has officially launched Cyber Shark 25, a pivotal cybersecurity initiative aimed at enhancing collaboration and developing strategies to combat cybercrime. The event commenced today and will run through Thursday, October 24, 2024, at the Training Auditorium aboard HMBS Coral Harbour.

In his opening remarks, the Captain of Coral Harbour, Captain Glenn McPhee welcomed participants from various sectors, emphasizing the critical importance of cooperation in addressing the evolving threats posed by cybercrime. He provided an overview of the course, highlighting its focus on knowledge sharing, skill enhancement, and the establishment of a unified front against cyber threats that transcend national borders.

The event has drawn representatives from various organizations, including the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), the Central Bank of the Bahamas, the U.S. Coast Guard, and various law enforcement agencies from both the Bahamas and the United States. These stakeholders engaged in discussions aimed at identifying innovative approaches to prevent cybercrime and bolster the security of digital infrastructures.

Cyber Shark 25 serves as a vital platform for fostering dialogue and collaboration among experts and practitioners. By leveraging the expertise of both American and Bahamian representatives, the initiative seeks to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of the challenges posed by cybercrime, while also developing actionable solutions that can be implemented across jurisdictions.

As the event unfolds over the next three days, participants will engage in workshops, training sessions, and collaborative discussions designed to enhance their capabilities in combating cyber threats. The insights gained during Cyber Shark 25 are expected to contribute significantly to ongoing efforts to safeguard the cyber landscape for both nations.

Under the leadership of Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond E. King, the RBDF is dedicated to exploring advanced technology and fostering innovation. We value the passion and talent within our organization’s human capital, and through these efforts, we aim to unlock their potential. By embracing modern technology and encouraging creative thinking, we empower our personnel to contribute to the ongoing success of the RBDF.

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Experience Turks and Caicos Hosts Two-Day Workshop on Product Development and Vendor Excellence in Grand Turk

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PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS  – Experience Turks and Caicos hosted a successful two-day workshop on October 18th and 19th, 2024, with tour operators and vendors, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to enhance their product offerings and guest experiences.

The workshops were held in collaboration with the Aquila Centre for Cruise Excellence with facilitators Ms. Marie Berthe Hatt and Ms. Melanie Colpitts leading the discussions. Experience Turks and Caicos and Aquila are Platinum Partners with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

The workshops took place at the Yellowman and Sons auditorium in Grand Turk and focused on two critical areas: Product Development and Vendor Excellence, with an emphasis on creating and delivering innovative experiences that respond to today’s travel trends.

As cruise destinations continuously evolve to stay competitive, the Product Development Workshop provided participants with a roadmap to ensure their destination remains fresh and appealing to both cruise lines with the theme: “What’s New in Your Destination?” Key topics included identifying market opportunities and emerging trends, crafting unique and memorable guest experiences, marketing strategies to get experiences noticed and ensuring product sustainability.

The Vendor Excellence workshop, held on the second day, highlighted the pivotal role vendors play in shaping the overall cruise guest experience. This half-day workshop was designed to empower vendors with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide exceptional service, improve sales, and enhance their contribution to the destination’s success. Key topics covered during the Vendor Excellence workshop included understanding the critical role of vendors in the success of cruise tourism, optimising products and services for maximum impact, sales mastery and improving revenue-generating capabilities and developing a guest-centric approach to service

Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Josephine Connolly, applauded the Product Development Team, led by Product Development Manager Mrs. Candesha Mills, for creating an opportunity for tour operators and vendors to enhance their offerings.

“Developing our products to increase visitation and spend on island is a very important aspect of the work of Experience Turks and Caicos. These workshops will go a long way to spark new ideas and new businesses, to improve the way business is conducted, enhance the product development on the island and to affirm our commitment to ensuring that everyone across the Turks and Caicos Islands benefit from the tourism industry. I applaud the team for this initiative and I thank everyone who attended and participated in these workshops,” the Minister said.

Mrs Mills said: “The two-day workshop was incredibly informative and facilitated great discussions among the participants. Tour operators and vendors walked away with a wealth of knowledge on how to enhance their existing products and services and were inspired to create new ones based on current market trends. This training equipped them with the tools they need to stay competitive and continue delivering exceptional experiences to our cruise guests.”

Ms. Berthe Hatt, shared her enthusiasm following the two-day workshops: “Grand Turk is such a special community, and Melanie and I are so grateful to Experience Turks and Caicos for this opportunity to work with the tour operators and vendors here. Over the last two days, we’ve had such engaged participants and great discussions around new product ideas and raising the level of service. We’re excited and cheering you on.”

Each attendee received a certificate of completion, symbolising their readiness to contribute to the success of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier cruise destination.

Experience Turks and Caicos continues to lead efforts in enhancing the destination’s offerings and empowering local stakeholders, ensuring the islands remain a top choice for cruise lines and their guests.

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Bahamas News

Partnership between BPL and Bahamas Utilities Holdings Limited (BUC) to allow greater BPL generation capacity and improved service

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From: Bahamas Information Services

 

 

NASSAU, The Bahamas —  The Ministry of Energy and Transport, in collaboration with Bahamas Power and Light and Bahamas Utilities Holdings Ltd. held a Commissioning Ceremony for Dual Fuel Turbine Engines, October 15, 2024 at Sun Oil Headquarters, Clifton Pier.

Minister of Energy and Transport, the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis said: “Today, we are commissioning two dual-fuel turbine engines, because of a public-private partnership between BPL and Bahamas Utilities Holdings Limited (BUC).

“The partnership is guided by a Power Purchase Agreement, commonly referred to as a PPA. PPA’s are standard practice in the energy field.

The PPA for this project includes clearly defined key performance indicators and penalties for nonperformance. Provisions have also been included to lock down rates, which will protect Bahamian households and businesses from large cost fluctuations.”

She noted, “In many countries, including the United States, PPAs have been successful in positively transforming the energy system, delivering consistent electricity supply, reducing carbon emissions, and providing cost-savings.

“The partnership with Bahamas Utilities Holdings Limited will allow for BPL to increase its generation capacity, with direct benefits for households and businesses in New Providence such as improved reliability in electricity service.

“Currently, the available electricity capacity on New Providence is 256 megawatts.  At full capacity, these engines will add 62 megawatts of electricity to the grid.

“The engines allow for dual fuel technology which will enhance operational flexibility, however by June 2025, the engines will run on LNG.

“The LNG fuel will be provided by Shell North America.”

The Minister explained that for over 60 years, Shell has been a pioneer in LNG and today has a leading integrated gas and LNG business, from producing gas, liquefying gas, trading and shipping it, then turning the LNG back into gas and distributing it to customers.  Further, she said, Shell is one of the world’s leading LNG suppliers, trading 67 million tonnes of LNG in 2023, around 16 percent of the global LNG market.

Continuing: “The partnership between BPL and Bahamas Utilities Holdings Limited is representative of a strategic solution that has proven to be effective and successful in transforming the energy market.

“As a small island developing nation, we must embrace partnerships to grow and deliver meaningful benefits for the Bahamian people. And if we are to be honest, several of our nation’s most successful projects have been birthed through partnerships – Atlantis, Baha Mar, and Lynden Pindling International Airport all stand as testaments to the value of positive partnerships.

“By partnering with reputable companies – those with international experience and proven track records of success, we firmly believe that a brighter energy future for our nation will be secured.

“And let there be no doubt, that as we partner with international companies, we are also resolute on creating opportunities for Bahamian businesses.

“We are proud that all the successful partners for the renewable projects in New Providence and the Family Islands are at least 51 percent Bahamian owned – and in some instances 100 percent Bahamian owned.”

Minister Coleby-Davis said more of the energy vision and plans will be shared in the near future, and pointed out some significant steps that have already been taken, including:  “the passage of the Electricity and Natural Gas Acts, the implementation of the Equity Rate Adjustment initiative at BPL which zero rated the base rate for the first 200 kilowatts of electricity for all residential consumers, the expansion of renewable energy projects in Schools, and the selection of independent power producers to build utility scale renewable energy power in the Family Islands.”

The energy transformation is a journey towards positive and meaningful lasting results, she said, and promise of a brighter energy future, eliciting for households, lower power bills; for large businesses inventory expansion and the hiring of additional staff, and for small and medium sized businesses, improved cash flows and profits.

 

(BIS Photos/Anthon Thompson)

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