Bahamas News
Three Turks & Caicos Islanders, with Bahamian Roots promoted at Grace Bay Resorts, among them a new hotel manager
By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
#TurksandCaicos, November 25, 2022 – Another promotion announcement from Grace Bay Resorts cements their reputation as being welcoming of local Turks and Caicos Islanders at the executive level of the company, which manages award winning, luxury properties across the island of Providenciales.
For the Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas, there is a cause for rejoicing as the trio of elevated staffers have heritage in both nations.
“One of our values and mission for the organization is a brand that we can all be proud of. We provide employment in the local community, we invest in our people and we give back in terms of educational opportunities as well as ensuring that we not only employ Turks and Caicos islanders but that we employ them at every level in our organization,” said Sheba Wilson, HR Director the Grace Bay Resorts Group of resorts.
Wilson, native to South Caicos is among the first Turks and Caicos Islanders to have been promoted to an executive level at the Grace Bay Resort, she is the HR Director for the group and easily agreed that the company’s culture embraces a hands on approach which has opened the door wide to local talent.
Making the spectacular leap is again Lindy Rigby, who is also a TCHTA Star Award winner. Rigby is now on a
second significant promotion with Grace Bay Resorts.
Having always been interested in the hospitality industry Lindy took the plunge around 12 years ago and worked at Beaches Resort Turks & Caicos before migrating to Grace Bay Resorts. In seven short years, Lindy was promoted from Executive Assistant Manager – Rooms at Grace Bay Club to now, the new General Manager at West Bay Club.
Rigby, at the age of 43 years old has been entrusted with one of the more celebrated boutique properties in the country’s tourism mecca, Providenciales. Described as “subtly sophisticated”, the resort has 46 studios and suites settled sweetly on Grace Bay Beach in the Lower Bight.
“I’m excited that Grace Bay Club has allowed me to take over one of their properties, as a local it is always humbling. It puts more pressure on you to be the GM of a property because you’re on stage and people are looking to you to see if you can do this,” said Lindy, his voice brimming with pride as he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and congratulations to others who have been advanced.
Lindy added, “I’m also excited for my two colleagues. My best friend and brother, Almando Rigby for his new step in him being the director of rooms at the new Rock HOuse and for Kendi, as new director of HR at South Bank. I can say that Grace Bay Resorts believes in locals and promoting talent from within and that is such a unique thing…”
Lindy Rigby is a founding team member of Magnetic Media which started in 2008, officially. While mass media was a passion for him, his heart belonged to hospitality and with anticipation we saw him pursue the dream with impressive zeal. Therefore his appointment and refreshing humility at this feat, for a boy who went from running around in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama to now running a world class resort brings our organization tremendous joy. He shared how he continues to achieve such towering accomplishments.
“I also want to thank persons like yourself. Persons like you for always believing in me, you were always telling me that I’m a leader, even when I wasn’t leading people and telling me you have something to offer this world. Those types of encouragements from people like you, Sammy Williams, (the late) Peter Stubbs – all persons who believed in me, all persons who gave me opportunities to lead and who allowed me to display my personality and who I am. I want to say Thank you.”
Almando Rigby and Kendi Jones are also enjoying very successful careers at Grace Bay Resorts. They both leave the
anchor property for newer developments.
Almando was moved up from Executive Housekeeper at Grace Bay Club to Director of Rooms and Senior Leader at the Rock House which is explained as a majestic 14-acre oceanfront site with 600 feet of frontage and peaks soaring up to 95 feet above sea level. It’s considered Capri in the Caribbean.
“I’m excited about the new opportunity given to me by a company that I can say definitely believes in locals, believes in promoting locals. Even before my promotion, as I sat around the table at the mangers’ meetings at Grace Bay Club as I looked around the table, I would always see people that looked like me. And for a company like Grace Bay Club, that runs a luxury five star resort to see that locals are in key positions, it was always appealing to me,” said Almando.
He explained to us, the positions were not token, but given with the expectation that these individuals could support decision making and influence the direction of the company in meaningful ways.
“That pushes you and propels you to want to do good because when you do good, you pave the way for others behind you.”
Also raised in the western side of Grand Bahama Island in The Bahamas, specifically Jones Town, Eight Mile Rock, Almando is Lindy’s older brother and has been planted in the land of his heritage – Turks and Caicos Islands – for nearly two decades now.
Seven years ago, Kendi Jones tells us she was just starting out at Grace Bay Resorts. Today, the young woman who is
connected by birth to the Jolly and Hamilton families of the Turks and Caicos and the famous Jones Communications family in The Bahamas is living a dream come true.
Kendi Jones is the new Director of Human Resources at new South Bank, which is a luxury waterfront development offering oceanfront and beachfront homes on the market for up to $7 million. Ms. Jones manages the team that manages the three intimate neighborhoods: The Ocean Estate, the Lagoon, and the Launch.
“I’m very excited about this new chapter in my life,” Kendi, a Johnson & Wales University graduate shared with us in a phone interview.
“I’ve been with the Grace Bay Club for the last seven years and I’ve been able to grow and develop with them from internships, straight up to this stage in my career. I am excited for the new opportunities, new challenges and new victories I am about to embark upon and I am very thankful to the organization for giving me this opportunity.”
Kendi believes this promotion is another stepping stone, noting that she is looking to even more heights being reached with the company.
It is a glowing string of testaments for the resort group. And make no mistake, driving this enviable corporate culture is Sheba Wilson, who was also hailed for her leadership by the newly promoted team. In fact, 12 years ago Wilson was the only local senior manager at the table.
Wilson explained that as a growing business Grace Bay Resorts was already looking for shining stars in the country’s high schools and the community college to take up positions across their companies.
“It is a part of our strategic HR plan— we have a very robust training plan in house” she explained. “We do a lot of facilitation especially in terms of leadership development and also developing emerging leaders in the organization to prepare them for promotions.”
Wilson maintained it was all about building a legacy of creating and developing leaders and empowering and equipping others so that the company’s legacy continues.
Defence Headquarters 28 SEP ’23: HMBS P-45 under the command of Chief Petty Officer Acadia Smith
detained a group of Cuban migrants in Cistern Cay, Exuma on September 27, 2023, due to information received from a Good Samaritan vessel in the area that handed them over to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
Members of HMBS P-45 retrieved twenty-eight (28) Cuban nationals and transported them to HMBS Coral Harbour in New Providence. All individuals appeared to be in good health and will undergo further processing and assessment by Immigration officials.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in guarding our heritage and
appreciates the sharing of information and intelligence provided by the boating community to affect migrants and other unlawful interdictions at sea.
(For additional information, contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our official website at www.rbdf.gov.bs. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and explore our engaging content on our YouTube channel).
RBDF
#BARBADOS (September 26, 2023) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) deeply mourns the loss of distinguished Bahamian leader and former chairman of the inter-regional body, Obediah Wilchcombe.
At the time of his passing, Mr. Wilchcombe was serving as Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting
and Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly of the Bahamas.
“We extend our heartfelt prayers and condolences to Minister Wilchcombe’s family, as well as the government and people of the Bahamas. He was a true champion for the people of the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region,” remarked Kenneth Bryan, CTO Chairman and Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands.
Chairman Bryan recalled Minister Wilchcombe held the position of CTO Chairman twice (2002-2004 and 2016-2017) while serving as Minister of Tourism for the Bahamas, and contributed significantly to the advancement of sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean.
Chairman Bryan noted that the CTO plans to honor the life and legacy of “this eminent Bahamian leader” at the organization’s upcoming business meetings and the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in Turks and Caicos next month.
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, September 26, 2023 – The Bahamas’ Minister for Social Services, the Hon. Obediah Wilchcombe made headlines in a completely unexpected way on Monday September 25; the veteran broadcaster and long-time politician, who passed away suddenly in his home island, Grand Bahama.
Reports to our newsroom were that Wilchcombe was found unresponsive and rushed to the Rand Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Reports say the Minister passed due to heart failure at 64 years old.
The Office of the Prime Minister informed the prime minister would immediately travel to Freeport, Grand Bahama to be with loved ones of his Cabinet colleague.
The office offered this: Expressing condolences to the family, friends, loved ones and colleagues of Minister Wilchcombe, a true patriot, visionary leader and his cherished friend, the nation’s leader, in his official statement, said he was doing so with the heaviest of hearts.
“Obie’s untimely passing is very shocking and very sad. Even though he has achieved much in his many years of public service, he still had so much more to offer,” Prime Minister Davis said.
The Minister, affectionately called Obie Wilchcombe, was a fierce Member of Parliament who has been serving in politics for about 28 years, starting in 1994, according to the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP).
Not only did he serve as Senator and Cabinet Minister, but he was also the former Minister of Tourism and a National Chairman of the PLP.
“Our party is reeling this morning,” said Minister Fred Mitchell, current PLP National Chairman in a statement, “The party joins in those expressions. We have a deep sense of loss from one we have known over the decades of public life.
On behalf of the PLP, our leader and the entire team, supporters and friends, we can extend condolences to his family.”
Former prime minister and PLP party leader, Rt Hon Perry Christie said, “Obie served with distinction as Minister of Tourism. He was a dedicated servant of the people and a chief steward of our nation’s number one industry for some ten years. Any student of the tourism industry for the period of Obie’s ministerial tenure will be left in no doubt as to the magnitude and importance of his numerous accomplishments in relation to the growth and development of Bahamian tourism.”
In fact, as Tourism Minister, his notable accomplishments, according to party leader and prime minister, Davis included the introduction of sports tourism and the creation of a policy which helped to cement The Bahamas as an ideal film destination; two of the top three films of 2006 were shot in The Bahamas.
Additionally, the late Minister was a sportsman.
Wilchcombe served as former President of the Grand Bahama Basketball Association and the Commonwealth American Football League (CAFL).
His career in journalism is legendary. Having worked with the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas as a reporter, anchorman and eventually taking on leadership roles including Deputy General Manager. At the time of his death, Minister Wilchcombe was holder of the Information and Broadcast portfolios of the Davis Administration.
“This is a very sad occasion for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas as you’d be aware one of our Frontline soldiers who would have labored very long in the public service Vineyard had passed, we learned early this morning the Honorable Obie Wilchcombe passed away the free national movement wishes is to extend condolences to his immediate and extended family and to members of the Progressive Liberal Party and to members of the journalism fraternity, having lost someone who has played an integral role in the development of this country,” said Michael Pintard, fellow Grand Bahamian and Leader of the Official Opposition, Free National Movement.
From the region, there is also reflection and condolences. From the Caribbean Tourism Organization: The CTO
deeply mourns the loss of distinguished Bahamian leader and former chairman of the inter-regional body, Obediah Wilchcombe.
At the time of his passing, Mr. Wilchcombe was serving as Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, and Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly of the Bahamas.
“We extend our heartfelt prayers and condolences to Minister Wilchcombe’s family, as well as the government and people of the Bahamas. He was a true champion for the people of the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean region,” remarked Kenneth Bryan, CTO Chairman and Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands.
“The Premier and Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands sends its condolences to the family, friends, government, and people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas on the sudden passing of the late Hon. Obediah Wilchcombe, Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, MP.
May his soul rest in peace,” said Hon Washington Misick, TCI Premier.
The death of Minister Obediah Wilchcombe is the first; a cabinet minister dying while still in office has no place in recent memory for many. It will mean a by-election for The Bahamas and a mournful experience when parliament reopens on October 4; Hon Wilchcombe with his vast experience and eloquence was also the Government Leader of Business in the House of Assembly, which is currently prorogued.
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