Bahamas News

11th International Road Federation (Caribbean) Congress Opens in The Bahamas – developing ‘transport system resilience’

Published

11 months ago

June 22, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

By KATHRYN CAMPBELL

Bahamas Information Services

#TheBahamas, June 22, 2023 – Road safety, climate resilience and the infrastructure needs for a new and electrified vehicle fleet are among the discussions that engage transportation professionals during the 11th International Road Federation (IRF) Caribbean Regional Congress.

The Congress opened Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at Atlantis, Paradise Island to the theme “A Roadmap to a Safe, Inclusive and Resilient Transport System”. Attendees include IRF delegates, representatives of supporting organizations including the IDB, World Bank Group and Caribbean Development Bank, representatives of public works and road agencies; regional institutions, major road contractors and design consultancies, civil society and transportation faculties and research institutes among others.

Present at the opening were: the Hon. Alfred Sears, Minister of Works and Utilities; the Hon. Jobeth Coleby, Minister of Transport and Housing; Bacchus Rolle, Parliamentary Secretary; Public Works ministers of the region; Luther Smith, Permanent Secretary; representatives of NEMA, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force and officials from the Ministry of Works and Utilities.

Participants included C. Patrick Sankey, President and CEO, IRF Global; Dr. Lisa Fitz-Charles, Under Secretary who gave welcome address on behalf of Her Excellency Ambassador Leslia Miller-Brice. Jean Todt, UN Secretary, General Special Envoy for Road Safety gave the keynote address which was recorded.

In remarks, Minister Sears emphasized the urgent need for sustainable roads and infrastructure in the face of the existential threat of climate change.

Minister Sears highlighted the impact of Hurricane Dorian on The Bahamas. He said the most “horrific” hurricane of September 2019 resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and thousands of persons were made homeless.

“According to the IDB, The Bahamas sustained an economic loss of US$3.4 billion equivalent to 1/5 of GDP of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Therefore the issue about sustainability and resilience is not an academic exercise in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and indeed within the Caribbean because even though the carbon footprint is relatively small, the United Nations has declared island nation states to be the most vulnerable in the world.”

Minister Sears urged attendees to collaborate and explore how countries can collectively address the critical needs of citizens while strengthening the entire Caribbean. “How our countries can incentivize drivers who purchase hybrid and electric vehicles; how our countries can design roadways that accommodate all of our residents riding bicycles to school or work and how we can use more renewable energy in the production of asphalt and the construction and maintenance of roadways.

“Our solutions will not only help to stimulate economic development and reduce pollution which contribute to climate change, global warming and catastrophic hurricanes but also our solutions may help to address the rising cases of obesity and non-communicable disease throughout our region. Indeed, let us together achieve the goal of developing a roadmap to a safe, inclusive and resilient transport system,” he said.

Minister Sears extended appreciation to participants, speakers and sponsors and informed them that their presence and expertise are vital in shaping the discourse and paving the way for transformative change in the transportation sector.

He encouraged the delegates to seize the opportunity to learn, collaborate and forge partnerships that will accelerate their journey towards sustainable, resilient and inclusive road infrastructure.

Among the themes for the congress, June 13-16: decarbonization of road transport/clean energy, delivering resilient road infrastructure/disaster recovery and response, innovative and climate friendly materials for resilience and low cost road surveys and inspections.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

BIS Photos/Mark Ford

Header – Attendees at the 11^th IRF Caribbean Regional Congress are pictured during a break following the opening ceremony at Atlantis, Paradise Island on June 14, 2023.

1st insert– Pictured are some of the delegates in attendance at the opening of the 11^th IRF Caribbean Regional Congress at Atlantis, Paradise Island.

2nd insert – The Hon. Alfred Sears Minister of Works and Utilities delivers remarks at the opening ceremony of the 11^th IRF Regional Congress on June 14, 2023.

3rd insert – ROADQUAKE SAFETY SYSTEM BOOTH

4th insert – LUTHER SMITH, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works and Utilities gives the Opening Ceremony Vote of Thanks at the 11^th IRF Caribbean Regional Congress on June 14, 2023.

5th insert – Patrick Sankey, President and CEO, IRF Global, welcomes delegates at the opening of the 11^thIRF Caribbean Regional Congress on June 14, 2023 at Atlantis, Paradise Island.

Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

Published

10 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

The Bahamas’ economy is in good standing according to reports from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute which released the Quarterly Gross Domestic Product Series. They indicate that quarterly GDP trends for 2023 saw increases compared to 2022, a sign of recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic.

The most significant increase was 9.9 percent in the first quarter of 2023, and the industries responsible for the growth include Accommodations and food, construction and Arts.

Bahamas News

C&W COMMUNICATIONS PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED AS ATHLETES “CHASE THE SUN”

Published

15 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Shanieka

World Relays to be title sponsored by BTC, one of C&W’s local brands.

In just a few days, athletes from over fifty countries will converge in The Bahamas for the BTC World Athletic Relays Bahamas 24. C&W Communications, the parent company of BTC, is proud to be associated with this major event, which will see athletes from The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago competing for a place in the upcoming Olympic games in Paris.

Inge Smidts, CEO of C&W Communications, who also serves as Chair of the BTC Board of Directors will be in the stands to witness the highly anticipated relays. Smidts says, this was an event that she simply could not miss. “We are proud to support our Caribbean athletes, and we wish them well as they vie for a spot in the Olympic games.

The relays will be held one of in our markets, The Bahamas, and we are honoured to be the title sponsor of the event. The world relays represent the spirit of relentless courage and the willingness to succeed of the Caribbean people and of our business. Through partnerships like this we demonstrate our unwavering commitment to connect communities and change lives.”

In addition to its sponsorship of the event, Smidts says it was important that athletes, officials, and fans stayed connected during the games. “As a business we are focused on ensuring that our customers have access to faster, stronger, and more reliable connectivity, and we worked with our partners to make certain that athletes and guests remain connected.

We have offered e-sim cards, and we also worked with the major hotels to set up care centers to ensure that we address any connectivity concerns on the spot. Additionally, I am pleased to announce that BTC will provide free Wi-Fi at the stadium giving patrons and athletes the opportunity to share every riveting moment.”

BTC has hosted a special event just for the Caribbean athletes, at the newly renovated Queen’s Staircase in Nassau, a recently renovated historic landmark visited by thousands of tourists each day. This event gave athletes the opportunity to unwind, mingle, and to learn more about each other right before the competition.

This is the fourth time that BTC and its parent company C&W Communications have title sponsored the world relays. The BTC World Athletic Relays will be held at the Thomas A. Robinson Track & Field Stadium from May 4-5, under the theme, “Chase the Sun, from Paradise to Paris.”

Bahamas News

RBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos

Published

15 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Shanieka

RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.

King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.

King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “

Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.

“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.