Bahamas News

Journalist Gladstone Thurston to Receive The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award

Published

6 years ago

November 15, 2017

#Bahamas, November 15, 2017 – Nassau – The Bahamas Press Club is pleased to announced that noted veteran Journalist Gladstone Thurston is the Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Mr. Thurston will receive this prestigious honour during The Bahamas Press Club Media Awards banquet on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at the British Colonial Hilton.

The Black Tie event is being held under the patronage of Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Dr the Hon Hubert A Minnis, Prime Minister, will deliver the keynote address.

Rising from a cub reporter at The Tribune to the first managing editor of The Nassau Guardian, Gladstone Charles Thurston has left an indelible mark in Bahamian media. This veteran reporter has written for many international and Bahamian newspapers and magazines. Although retired from the profession, Mr. Thurston still writes from his home in Salt Pond, Long Island.

Mr. Thurston’s journalism profession began in 1974 following an interview with Eileen Carron, editor and publisher of The Tribune. At that time, he was in search of a challenging career, one that he can be proud of and devoted to.

Mrs. Carron saw Mr. Thurston’s potential and tutored him in the art of gathering, presenting and disseminating information. He became a sports reporter at The Tribune, covering many sporting events such as basketball, baseball, chess and pool. He became known as “Mr. Sports” and was ringside when Bahamian boxer Elisha Obed won the world boxing title in Paris, France.

Also during the early days of his career, Mr. Thurston drew on the expertise of The Tribune’s senior reporters Nikki Kelly and Mike Lothian and the newspaper’s British editors, who were all anxious to assist anyone interested in learning the art of news reporting. He later advanced as The Tribune’s court reporter and diligently covered the landmark Thomas D’Arcy Ryan citizenship case and the political fallout from the justices’ rulings.

As his reporting skills grew, his assignments did too, and during the 1977 general elections, Mr. Thurston entered the realm of political reporting. This leap in his career introduced him to parliamentary reporting where he covered the House of Assembly and the Senate, documenting the country’s legislative business.

In an effort to provide the same mentoring that was given to him as a cub reporter, Mr. Thurston taught other upcoming journalists who entered The Tribune’s newsroom and in a de facto fashion, he was placed in charge of the newspaper’s training program. After almost 20 years at The Tribune, Mr. Thurston left his home base and traveled to The Nassau Guardian and its subsidiary The Freeport News. He provided exemplary service and as a result, former Nassau Guardian publisher Kenneth Francis promoted Mr. Thurston as the newspaper’s first managing editor.

Later, Mr. Thurston and veteran journalist Dudley N. Byfield launched The Grand Bahama Sun. Then 10 years later, Mr. Thurston was hired as a Senior Information Officer at Bahamas Information Services (BIS). He remained at BIS until he was offered early retirement after taking a stand against cronyism in government. A widower, Mr. Thurston was married to Naomi Helen, née Moss, and he is the father of four sons – Stanley, Patrick, Earl and Arthur.

Some 40 nominees have submitted their work to win awards in 14 categories. For more information contact: Lindsay Thompson, Secretary, The Bahamas Press Club 2014 at: (242) 434-5643. For Ticket sales: (242) 824-2924. Facebook: The Bahamas Press Club 2014. Website: bahamaspressclub.org

Release: Bahamas Press Club

Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.