Bahamas News

Symonette plays the race card

Published

7 years ago

April 27, 2017

Bahamas, April 27, 2017 – Nassau – “Are we saying that a rich, white person shouldn’t run for parliament?” These were the sentiments expressed by Former Deputy Prime Minister and FNM candidate for St. Anne’s, Brent Symonette in a response to a preacher who voiced his disapproval on air, articles posted in the newspaper and other critics who questioned his wealth. He added, “if rich people aren’t suppose to be in politics, then that is a sad day for the Bahamas.” This comes as a result of his financial declarations, which earned him the top spot on the wealthiest list of candidates vying for office in this year’s general election.

Financial disclosures, which were officially submitted to the Parliamentary Registration Department this past week, showed that Symonette has a net worth of $156,235,000. This amount far exceeds that of the other nine candidates on the list of top 10 wealthiest candidates combined.

Symonette said, however, “I’m comfortable with my declaration” despite the backlash he’s been receiving. He added, “I’m a Bahamian so I have that right, and if you want to criticize me for it, fine.”

Many critics have been focusing on the suspicious huge jump in Symonette’s assets from one year to the next. However, he explained that the reason for this was because he inherited his mother’s wealth after she passed way. He also said, “They want to make a lot of issues” but explained that his earnings were due to the fact that, “I’ve been out of government for 5 years, gone back to the private sector.”

Symonette also fired back to critics stating that there were other candidates vying for a parliamentary position who were holders of U.S bank accounts and questioned whether or not they had declared or could explain those accounts.

Also suspicious is Tourism Minister, Hon. Obediah Wilchcombe declaring his net worth to be $1,512,751.14, yet has listed $0 in his savings account. He also listed no insurance, no accounts receivable, and no security, real estate or other income except a salary of $105,000. This has also left citizens questioning his bad saving habits as a government minister. North Andros and Berry Islands’ constituency candidate, Denise Rolle, however, listed the lowest net worth. Rolle listed a net worth of $1,500 with no salary noted.

Symonette’s net worth is 27 times that amount of Prime Minister Perry Christie. Christie, however, was also among the long list of millionaire candidates. According to financial disclosures, the Prime Minister has declared his net worth to be $2, 029,151 which isn’t a big change from his last declaration in 2012. Vying to remove Christie from his Centreville constituency is newbie Bishop James Darling of the Bahamas Constitution Party. Darling ranked #2 on the wealthiest list with a net worth of $48M, listing his occupation as “Minister of religion.” Though it is unclear where Darling’s net worth is derived from, he also listed no salary.

Story By: Kay-Marie Fletcher

#MagneticMediaNews

#FinancialDisclosures

#BrentSymonette

Related Topics:#BrentSymonette #FinancialDisclosures #magneticmedianews

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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.”