Bahamas News

Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson Accepts Chairmanship of the OCTA While Her Government Flip-Flopped With Supporting One of Its Key Initiatives.

Published

7 years ago

February 28, 2017

Turks and Caicos, February 28, 2017 – According to a TCIG Press Release on February 23, 2017, Premier, Hon. Sharlene CartwrightRobinson, attended the 15th European Union Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTA) Forum in Oranjestad, Aruba. While at the forum, Premier Hon. Cartwright-Robinson accepted the role of Chair of OCTA and signed “…the Programming Documents commissioning the official start of the EDF 11 Program”. Commenting on the forum, Premier Hon. Cartwright-Robinson stated that “The Turks and Caicos has continued to benefit over the years from funding through the EDF program”.

Surprisingly, although the Premier Hon. Cartwright-Robinson accepted the Chairmanship of the OCTA and kicked off the EDF 11 Program, she didn’t inform the forum’s attendees that less than a week before, her government withdrew its support for the EDF 11 program.

On February 17, the Cartwright-Robinson Government sent out a public notice canceling the tender for the “Consultancy for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s EDF 11 Education Sector Reform Strategy, Tender Reference Number TR 16/77”. Having a Consultant working on the deliverables is a key requirement of the EDF 11 program, and the country would become ineligible for the grant if it doesn’t have one. Realizing that she would have had the distinction of being the first Chair of the OCTA whose Government didn’t support its programs, Premier Hon. Cartwright-Robinson’s government on February 24th, rushed out a slightly amended version of the original EDF 11 Tender document, and in doing so, canceled its own cancelation of the EDF 11 Tender document.

Since 2012, under the previous PNP Government, the Turks and Caicos Islands was the recipient of two EDF grants – EDF 9 and EDF 10 (which focused on Strengthening and Improving the Business Sector) – with a total funding of €13.7m (US$14.5m). The EDF 11 program which includes additional funding of €14.6m (US$15.5m), was to have focused on reforming and strengthening the education sector, and the previous PNP government had already advanced it to the programming and financing stage.

In highlighting the country’s stellar performance regarding the EDF programs, Deputy Governor, Anya Williams, who also attended the forum, stated: “The Turks and Caicos has made great strides in its EU program work over the years since being reinstated into the program in 2012. Within a relatively short period of time we have not only seen the completion and closure of the EDF 9 Program, but also the full implementation of EDF 10…”

“The Turks and Caicos is also only one of five territories that have already advanced our EDF 11 program to the programming and financing stage; in the words of the EU Commission, making us a star amongst the EU Overseas Territories. This is quite commendable…”

Leader of the Opposition, and former Minister of Finance in the previous PNP Government, Hon. C. Washington Misick, commenting on the EDF programs, stated that “The EDF programs have benefitted the country tremendously, and I am proud that the previous PNP Government’s accomplishments in rolling them out have been recognized by the Deputy Governor. I was surprised and disappointed when I learned that the current Government had withdrawn its support for the EDF 11 program. Thankfully, even if just to save face with the Premier becoming the new Chair of the OCTA, they have reversed that position and now support it. Assuming that the Government doesn’t change its position again on the EDF 11 program, and I strongly encourage Madam Premier not to do so, the country should again benefit from the great strides made by the previous PNP Government.”

Press Release: PNP

Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

Published

2 days 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

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

Published

2 days 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.

Bahamas News

Get your laugh on, March On show coming to Turks and Caicos with box office at IGA Friday and Saturday

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Shanieka

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

After resounding success in the Bahamas, hit play ‘March On, The Story of Us’ has been inundated with requests to take their show on the road, and the first location they’ll be hitting is Providenciales Turks and Caicos with tickets on sale this weekend from May 3 to 5.

Magnetic Media spoke to Gea Pierre, playwright, who told us the TCI was a natural first choice for the cast and crew.

“We started ‘March On’ in November 2023 and it was really an opportunity for us to tell a story, the story of the Bahamas and to encompass the nations that we have an amazing relationship with like the Turks and Caicos,” she continued “We really got a lot of people calling [for the play] from [the TCI], so much so we really had to pay attention.”

The response to ‘March On’ at home and abroad was overwhelming.

“To say it went well is an understatement, even before we opened we got calls from Canada, from all over the US with people wanting us to come and perform.”

And take the show on the road they did! Gea and her team have launched “March On: The Tour” and will be in Providenciales to perform on May 10th and 11th. It’s the first of a number of stops which include Nassau and several US locations.

A ticket booth will be set up from today, Friday May 3 in the foyer of IGA grocery store beginning at 1 p.m. Friday and then again all day on Saturday, allowing residents to purchase with cash.

Online tickets are available for purchase with credit cards. Then the full team returns on Friday, May 11 for the actual showing at 8 pm and their two showings on Saturday at 4pm and 8 pm. The venue is Brayton Hall, Providenciales under the patronage of Washington Misick, TCI Premier and First Lady Delthia Misick.

Describing the close familial relationships between the TCI and the Bahamas, for many on the crew it will be like coming home Gea told us, for others it will be a treat to visit for the first time, the places that their grandparents described.

Tickets are only $60 for general seating and $75 for VIP seating.

Gea maintained that the team wanted to keep the show as accessible to residents as possible.

As for why you should come out and see the play, other than the great price point:

“The way that people have responded to it is non stoplaughter, people have been moved to tears because there’s some emotion. It does not only lend to Bahamians. It’s a family drama, and anyone who’s ever been a part of a family is going to get something out of it, and something moving.”