Bahamas News

‘Nation’s Character’ Riding on its Response to Dominica Devastation

Published

7 years ago

October 1, 2017

#Bahamas, October 1, 2017 – Nassau – The quality of The Bahamas’ character as a nation and its values are riding on how the country responds to the needs of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) partners such as Dominica which was devastated by both Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minnis said Wednesday, September 27, 2017.

“We can either respond with humanitarian and Christian values, or we can close our hearts to those who are now experiencing tremendous suffering and emergency needs.

“Charity, must begin at home, but Charity never stops at the border of a country (and) is rooted in love and compassion and must extend to others beyond ourselves,” Prime Minister Minnis added.

Delivering his communication to the House of Assembly on The Bahamas’ proposed post Hurricanes Irma and Maria assistance to Dominica, Prime Minister Minnis said Dominica experienced “an apocalypse” as a result of the two Super Storms.

Homes are flattened, buildings roofless, water pipes smashed and road infrastructure destroyed. The hospital is without power and schools have disappeared beneath the rubble. Additionally, crops have been uprooted and where there was green, there is now only dust and dirt.

The majority of the country’s population of 75,000 citizens and residents are homeless, and many of the country’s mountainous communities are not accessible by road. Reports suggest that 80 per cent of the buildings have either been destroyed or severely damaged.

Dominica’s beautiful Rain Forest, which gave life to the island-nation’s tourism industry, has been flattened and its agriculture destroyed. The majority of its fishing boats have been lost and the country literally cannot feed itself.

There is no running water, most of the electrical grid has been destroyed, public health is at risk of disease from stagnant water and dead animals, and those in need of dialysis are at-risk of dying because the hospital is without power.

Thus far, 15 persons have been confirmed killed as a result of the monster Hurricanes with the death toll likely to rise.

“The desolation is beyond imagination,” Prime Minister Minnis told House Members. “I could only imagine how I would feel if The Bahamas was devastated in the same way and I had to travel overseas to ask for assistance if we were hit as hard by a monster Category 5 Hurricane.

“Imagine if 80 per cent of the buildings on New Providence were destroyed. Imagine if our electrical and telecommunications grids were destroyed. Imagine if most of the roads in New Providence were uprooted and if PMH (Princess Margaret Hospital) was without power.

“Imagine if every single government-operated school was destroyed and most police stations, clinics and government offices destroyed. Imagine if most people on Grand Bahama or New Providence became homeless overnight.

“So how should we respond to our Caribbean neighbour and CARICOM Partner? We should respond the way we would want others to respond if we were in such dire need and desperation,” Prime Minister Minnis added.

The Prime Minister said there have been many expressions of gratitude (in The Bahamas) about being spared the fury of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, two of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic.

“If our expressions of gratitude do not translate into generosity towards those in dire need because of these killer storms, our gratitude to God is superficial at best. One cannot fully express gratitude to God, yet turn one’s heart away from a neighbour in great need.

“As Caribbean neighbours we share a similar history of overcoming colonialism and slavery. And we share a common destiny now also shaped by the reality of climate change and global warming.

“How should we respond? The Character of our nation and our values are riding on how we respond.”

By: Matt Maura (BIS)

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

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.”