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Richea Always knew what she wanted, So she calculated her course now her ‘coffers’ are overflowing

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By Rashaed Esson and Deandrea Hamilton

Editorial Staff

 

 

#TheBahamas, March 16, 2023 – The Bahamian native, Richea Haygood, born and raised in Nassau, is among today’s group of women who are breaking the glass ceiling in the professional world.

Richea’s road to excellence is nothing short of inspiring. She tells me that her purpose was relatively clear at a tender age, that is to accomplish great things in all aspects of her life including accounting. She told a short story of her skills in money management as a little girl in light of her early realisation of her place in the world.

“I had great money management skills even as early as 6th grade.  For my graduation trip, we had this week of activities. I literally initiated a payment plan with my teachers, and I covered my entire week’s cost. My parents did not put anything into it.”

Couple this uncommon foresight with parents who consistently told her that life would be what she made of it, that she was gifted with the ability to accomplish whatever it is she wanted . 

Richea grabbed hold of those repeated refrains and took charge in a most uncommon way.  The young woman, just weeks away now from graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree, believes she is living her dream due to old fashioned passion and determination.

After graduating from the Kingsway Academy High in Bahamas in 2019, where she was Head Girl, Richea immediately reached for greater opportunities.  A part of a larger vision was her high school success and in those critical years, a plan was designed.

She easily reflects on the day she attended a college fair where a previous president of the Harris-Stowe State University   captured her attention; it appears the feeling was mutual as Richea next made history, becoming one of the first international students to be flown out to Harris-Stowe’s student acceptance day.

Richea explains that almost instantly, she had a liking for the small, family-oriented university, and decided to enrol.

She was then awarded a full ride scholarship to Harris-Stowe State University.  Harris-Stowe was established by the St. Louis Public Schools in 1857, making it the first public teacher education institution west of the Mississippi River and the 12th such institution overall.  Harris-Stowe has evolved much since the time when segregation was the order of the day, it is now an illustrious institution for ambitious bright minds, of all diversities and ethnicities.

In her freshman year, Richea chose to ease into her new life; this she said allowed her to adjust to university living. By her sophomore year,  she started amped up involvement. Strategically, Richea began to expand her network with the faculty and the Anheuser Busch school of Business, and here the trend for success and outstanding accomplishments continued.

In April of 2021, she was a student worker in the Department of Institutional Advancement and, in the same year, up to 2022, she interned with Deloitte and Touch, LLP Chicago Illinois in Audit and Assurance.

Richea was selected for the internship; beating out dozens of others for a coveted spot in a world class accounting firm.

In that same period, she again took the position of student worker at her university in the Department of Business and Financial Affairs, and today, she is the Accounting Office CFO.

But successful internships were not new for this young stand out.  In 2019, before venturing to the United States,  Richea interned at KPMG in Nassau, Bahamas.

Behind all of that experience at the young age of 21, Richea has a mountain of notable achievements including the National Award for the highest A, in the Bahamas Bookkeeping and Accounting examination.

Also, during her graduation year, Richea Haygood earned and won first place in KPMG’s accounting bowl.

By 2021, she went on to receive the Backpack to Briefcase St. Louis, Missouri, Larry Blue Jr. Leadership Award for exhibiting exceptional leadership qualities and professional development. She even received a scholarship from Wells Fargo, a financial services company in the US, for exemplified outstanding academic achievements and this is no surprise since she got Provost Honors after maintaining a cumulative GPA between 3.5 and 4.0.

Not only that, but she was also a part of Deloitte’s Emerging Leaders programme last April in Texas and was one of the scholarship recipients rewarded with $10,000. Proof that firm commitment to education and purposeful pursuits do pay!

Only this year, Richea was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success, the largest leadership honours’ society in the United States.  Also, regarding her application for an all-expenses paid leadership training session in Washington DC, she was pumped to know that it was successful.  The Association of Government Accountants of the United States selected Bahamian, Richea Haygood, as one of fifteen exceptional, up and coming business professionals from across the collegiate world to attend the conference this past February.

While all of this was happening, Richea was still honing her skills and expanding her experience through voluntary activities. She volunteered at: her University as Sophomore class treasurer in the Student Government Association, the Xavier University in their 3M Case Competition; The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People – HSSU Chapter; the Student Government Association as Executive Board Treasurer; Regional Business Council Mentor Network Programme; St. Louis NAACP 110th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Freedom Fund Dinner; XULA and 3M Partnering for Progress National Sales Case Competition and the Anheuser School of Business Student Ambassador.

Many would wonder where Ms. Haygood finds time for fun.  But unsurprisingly she also has a good balance between work and leisure. Despite all her hard work and accomplishments, she finds time to go out with friends.

As a young successful black woman, Richea’s goals do not only align with her personal dreams. She strives to inspire and encourage more young people to take advantage of opportunities. This has been the biggest lesson she has learned along her journey. She is also a firm believer in the saying “timing is key”, most importantly God’s timing.

Driven by the notion of creating generational wealth, Richea, like everyone around her, sees herself going far in life and it has already started. She was recently nominated for membership in Harris-Stowe’s Anheuser-Busch School of Business, Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business. This is yet another fantastic feat.

Within the next five years, Richea plans to have her MBA and soundly passed her CPA exam; the Certified Public Accountant examination which is the highest rank as an accountant sets this young woman up well for her dream of becoming a top executive within Deloitte and Touche.

Landing at the top of one of the world’s most reputable and leading accounting firms was part of the plan and for Richea, it is rapidly, thrillingly becoming a part of her well-earned reality.

 

Bahamas News

Tired of Taking Notes? The new Samsung Galaxy S24 Will Transcribe and Summarize Your Voice Notes In A Snap! 

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NASSAU, Bahamas – Faster, smarter and more convenient than ever before, the new Samsung Galaxy S24 will revolutionize your productivity with its new Transcript Assist and Browsing Assist features. In the continuous pursuit of delivering innovative solutions that enhance productivity and user experience, Samsung Electronics is proud to introduce two groundbreaking features: Transcript Assist and Browsing Assist.

The Transcript Assist feature, powered by Galaxy’s advanced artificial intelligence, takes note-taking to a whole new level by enabling users to easily convert voice notes and conversations into useful and accessible notes. Whether in a business meeting, conference, or casual conversation, the Galaxy S24’s Transcript Assist makes capturing information easier than ever.

By utilizing Transcript Assist, users can effortlessly record any conversation with multiple speakers and transform it into a clear and concise transcript with just a few taps. This feature is particularly useful for those who need to keep a detailed record of discussions and decisions made during important meetings or collaborative work sessions.

“With Transcript Assist, we’re redefining the way people take notes and record information,” said Gianmarco Leri, Product Manager at Samsung Electronics. “No longer do you have to worry about missing important details during a conversation. With the Galaxy S24, you can capture every word and turn it into a useful reference that you can easily review and share.”

In addition to generating accurate transcripts, the Transcript Assist feature also offers the ability to generate quick summaries of conversations, as well as the option to translate the entire transcript into different languages, facilitating communication and collaboration among people from different regions and cultures.

On the other hand, the Browsing Assist feature allows users to navigate more efficiently and conveniently on their Galaxy S24 devices by providing intelligent and contextual suggestions during web browsing and online content exploration.

The Galaxy S24, equipped with Transcript Assist and Browsing Assist, marks the beginning of a new era of productivity and convenience in mobile devices. These innovative features demonstrate Samsung Electronics’ continued commitment to providing advanced tools that help people achieve their goals more effectively and efficiently in everyday life.

So, get ready! The new Samsung Galaxy S24 will be coming soon to tech stores in The Bahamas soon.

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Bahamas News

Weather Systems Affect Cuba and The Bahamas

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#Weather#Cuba#TheBahamas, March 25th, 2024 – Serious weather struck The Bahamas and Cuba over the weekend, both nations receiving warnings from their meteorological entities. The Bahamas was affected by severe thunderstorms.  In fact, an area of the Carnival Freedom Cruise Ship, which was 20 miles off Eleuthera, Bahamas, caught fire and reports say it was possibly due to a lightning strike.  Fortunately no lives were reported lost.

Meanwhile, Cuba had intense rainfall and hailstorms, resulting in damage to surrounding areas, thousands left without electricity amid fallen trees and Flash Floods.

 

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Bahamas News

Reef Rescue Network: Donor Event Charts the Course for Coral Restoration and Sustainable Tourism in The Bahamas

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#TheBahamas, March 26, 2024 – As the world grapples with the urgency of marine conservation, The Bahamas has emerged as a beacon of hope with its latest initiative led by the Reef Rescue Network (RRN). An alliance of dive operators, NGOs and businesses invested in coral restoration, the RRN recently hosted an immersive event for the British High Commissioner and representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to provide a firsthand look—and dive—into the thriving heart of coral nurseries. The gathering served as a vivid testament to the progress achieved by the RRN and its partners in coral restoration efforts over the past two years, thanks to support from the Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility.

Fueled by its vision of harmonizing economic vitality with environmental sustainability, the RRN has strategically harnessed the support of the Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility grant, backed by the IDB, the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (UK FCDO), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Government of Canada. This collaborative effort aims to amplify The Bahamas’ blue economy by integrating eco-tourism with a series of coral restoration projects, poised to transform the archipelago into a magnet for eco-conscious tourists and bolster the local economy with a sustainable model.

As a vanguard of coral conservation and education, the RRN’s expansive network spans over 50 nursery locations across The Bahamas, Aruba, and St. Lucia. Beyond mere conservation, the network offers tourists an array of Reef Rescue Experiences, designed to kindle a profound connection with the marine world. From specialized diving courses to snorkeling and shark conservation education, these programs do more than highlight the ecological significance of coral reefs—they empower participants to actively engage in safeguarding these vital underwater ecosystems, ensuring their preservation for generations to come.

The event, held earlier this month, was graced by the presence of distinguished participants including Thomas Hartley, British High Commissioner to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Claire Nichols, Deputy British High Commissioner, Daniela Carrera-Marquis, Country Representative for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in The Bahamas, and Claudia Stevenson, IDB specialist and team leader of the project. The day commenced with an insightful presentation on the RRN’s milestones, buoyed by the vital funding from Compete Caribbean and other donors, followed by a hands-on experience at one of the network’s coral nurseries located off the Southwest coast of New Providence.

Daniela Carrera-Marquis, an enthusiastic advocate for coral restoration, expressed her excitement about the innovative concept of coral restoration tourism. She said: “I am looking forward to completing my PADI Reef Rescue Diver certification and diving more to assist with coral restoration efforts in The Bahamas,” echoing the sentiment of engagement and direct action that the RRN aims to foster among its partners and the community. At the event, Daniela participated in scuba diving and performed maintenance on an underwater coral nursery while the others snorkeled and viewed the nursery from above.

The event not only served as a platform for appreciation but also as an eye-opener to the real-world challenges reefs face, as highlighted by Thomas Hartley’s reflections on witnessing the impacts of climate change firsthand. He said: “It was devastating to see the effects of coral bleaching on the reefs.” Coral bleaching is the process where stressed corals expel their colorful and life-sustaining algae, turning them white and leading to starvation, increased susceptibility to disease, and potentially death if the stress continues.

Over the past two years, with the support from Compete Caribbean and other donors, the RRN has made commendable progress in expanding and developing coral nurseries, enhancing the capacity of its human resources, and promoting coral restoration standards throughout the Bahamian archipelago. This includes the installation of 14 new coral nurseries, expansion of 4 existing ones, and the addition of 3,450 coral fragments to nursery units, significantly increasing the ecological benefits to local reefs.

Moreover, the RRN has successfully developed shallow water experiences for non-divers, introducing 35 “coral domes” across 10 dive sites, populated with 943 coral fragments. The living coral domes not only diversify the experience for RRN partners but also educates a broader audience on coral reef conservation.

The network’s efforts have also extended to education and community engagement over the last two years, with 81 Bahamian high school children educated on coral reefs and restoration activities. This engagement aims to instill stewardship behaviors among the youth, ensuring the longevity of marine conservation efforts.

Despite the setbacks faced due to the 2023 summer bleaching crisis, which hampered outplanting activities, the RRN remains steadfast in its mission. Coral reefs form the bedrock of The Bahamas’ tourism sector, contributing significantly to the nation’s $2.6 billion annual tourism revenue. With over two million tourists engaging in snorkeling activities annually, coral reefs serve not only as a magnet for visitors but as a sanctuary for diverse marine life, supporting over 25% of ocean species. The vitality of these ecosystems is also underscored by the lucrative shark diving sector, which generates $113.8 million each year.

However, these invaluable ecosystems are under severe threat from coral bleaching, primarily driven by climate change-induced ocean heatwaves. Significant coral loss was reported throughout The Bahamas in 2023, marking a distressing trend that could foresee the demise of coral reefs by mid-century without decisive and innovative conservation strategies. Hayley-Jo Carr, director of the Reef Rescue Network, said: “By harnessing resilient coral species and employing advanced restoration techniques, the RRN, along with its partners and the global scientific community, is at the forefront of a critical battle to preserve these natural treasures for future generations.”

As the RRN continues to navigate the challenges and opportunities in coral conservation, the support and involvement of its partners, donors, and the community remain crucial. The recent donor event not only celebrated the achievements but also reinforced the collective resolve to restore and protect the vibrant coral ecosystems that are vital to the marine life and communities of The Bahamas.

The Reef Rescue Network’s development and outputs over the last two years have been made possible thanks to the support of The Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility (CCPF) which is a private sector development programme that delivers innovative and practical solutions that stimulate economic growth, increase productivity, and foster innovation and competitiveness. The CCPF works across 13 countries and is a partnership between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Government of Canada. Further support has been provided by Disney Conservation Fund, Moore Bahamas Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and the Global Funds for Coral Reefs (GFCR), the latter of which is a blended finance instrument to mobilise action and resources to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems.

For more information on the Reef Rescue Network and how to get involved, visit https://www.PerryInstitute.org/.

 

Photo Captions: 

Header: Leaders in conservation and international delegates, including representatives from the IDB and the British High Commission, unite aboard with the Reef Rescue Network team, embodying a powerful coalition for coral restoration and sustainable development in The Bahamas.

1st insert: A highlight of the event, guests were treated to the rare sight of a spotted eagle ray, a reminder of the precious marine life the Reef Rescue Network strives to protect in The Bahamas’ pristine waters.

2nd insert: Daniela Carrera-Marquis, InterAmerican Development Bank Representative, meticulously tends to a coral nursery as part of the Reef Rescue Network’s hands-on approach to coral conservation, illustrating the powerful synergy between human effort and marine restoration in The Bahamas.

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