Bahamas News

Minnis Administration Fulfills Promise on Wi-Fi Zones

Published

7 years ago

July 25, 2017

Bahamas, July 24, 2017 – Nassau – The Government of The Bahamas has begun piloting free Wi-Fi Zones at certain parks in the Fox Hill, Gambier Village and Bain and Grants Town Communities.

The Free Wi-Fi Zones will allow residents of those areas – particularly school-aged children — access to the worldwide web. Controls have been implemented to block certain content.

The provision of the Free Wi-Fi Zones is part of an overarching plan by the Minnis Administration towards the establishment a modern telecommunications infrastructure for all Bahamians – particularly school-aged children living in the country’s Inner-cities, many of whom attend public schools from preschool to secondary level, and who do not have access to the internet while at home.

As part of the plan, the Government recently allocated $2 million during the 2017/2018 Budget for the purchase of electronic notepads and the supporting training and infrastructure for two of its government-operated preschools in order to provide more Bahamian children with the educational tools they need.

This initiative is geared towards helping preschoolers with literacy, numeracy, speech development and computer literacy.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert Alexander Minnis said under the new initiative allocated for in the 2017/2018 Budget, preschoolers will learn about the responsible use of computers.

“We will further build on this important initiative as we move ahead. It is but one of many innovations we will use in our programme of social development and social inclusion.

“We are committed to bridging the digital divides between government-operated and private schools so that every child has the opportunity to thrive in a modern Bahamas,” Prime Minister Minnis said. “We look forward to ensuring that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education is strengthened from preschool through tertiary and vocational education.”

The establishment of the free Wi-Fi Zones fulfills two promises made by the Minnis Administration for the provision of free WIFI services in certain communities and to ensure greater equity and broader access to technology by all Bahamians, regardless of economic standing.

It is also one of the many innovations Prime Minister Minnis has vowed to use in the Government’s “programme of social development and social inclusion” in The Bahamas.

“The introduction of free Wi-Fi to certain parts of New Providence will help to expand access to communications and Internet Technology for those who cannot easily afford such access,” Prime Minister Minnis said.

“We are working to have widespread access to Wi-Fi services in the parks and public spaces within the inner-city of New Providence with a view to free Wi-Fi in certain communities,” Prime Minister Minnis added.

Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

Published

3 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

3 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

3 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.”