Bahamas News

Minister Pintard Gives Report on Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Meeting

Published

6 years ago

November 16, 2017

#Bahamas, November 16, 2017 – Nassau – Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Michael Pintard said in the House of Assembly, on November 15, 2017, that shortly after his appointment as Minister responsible for Youth Affairs, he received an invitation by the Commonwealth Secretariat to attend the 9th Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Meeting, held in Kampala, Uganda.

“This invitation permitted me along with members of my delegation Mr. Darron Turnquest, Director of Youth Affairs, and Ms. Keturah Babb, Youth Delegate – to explore opportunities for strategic partnerships,” Minister Pintard said.

Minister Pintard noted that it was important that public officials and those who are sponsored by the “People’s Money” provide the basis for expenditure on travel to such meetings.

“We are further obligated to report on the outcomes we expect and what the terms of reference were for the meeting,” he added. “Please note that the representation by the Government of The Bahamas in this forum provided an opportunity for my Ministry to develop and adopt, based on the Government’s agenda, clear, transparent and Commonwealth-endorsed approaches to youth participation, youth empowerment and development.”

Minister Pintard said that they also explored how to create youth networks, inclusive of utilizing national youth councils.

“Furthermore, we were able to increase our capacity to improve and/or create guidelines for partnerships between my Ministry, representatives of youth organizations and other youth governing bodies within and outside of The Bahamas,” he stated.

In addition, to the previously stated objectives, Minister Pintard said, the purpose of the meeting was three-fold.

The first objective, he said, was to review and assess programs in national youth development; share, celebrate and adopt good practice strategies, solutions and models; and identify new priorities for action to advance youth development in the Commonwealth – in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015.

The second broad objective, he said, was to explore the holistic potential of youth and their role in national development and in the youth sector.

“Furthermore participants at this conference gathered to consider emerging youth themes, and how they might contribute to the global youth development agenda,” Minister Pintard said.

Thirdly and finally, he said, the meeting gave participants an opportunity to engage with international organizations and the private sector on strategies for technical and financial support for national and regional youth development.

“I am happy to report that this meeting of Youth Ministers, and Youth Stakeholders and International Organizations achieved this,” he said.

Minister Pintard pointed out that during the meetings, members of the Bahamian delegation were able to review current youth development tools used internationally, pursue resources and learn about potential access to professional support available to member states, which are affiliated with Commonwealth Youth Program (CYP).

These meetings, he said, proved to be successful for the entire team.

“We in the Ministry were able to secure numerous professional partnerships and strategic alliances with other Member States and International Organizations,” Minister Pintard said. “The Bahamas delegation had an opportunity to critically assess its own initiatives and the others presented, that we thought might be useful in The Bahamas.

“We were able to determine how we could better equip youth practitioners, young people, themselves, and, of course, how to guide the implementation of the National Youth Policy – which has been entrained for at least a decade.”

“Further opportunities were granted to investigate various avenues for technical assistance from represented agencies and further assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat,” Minister Pintard added. “I am happy to report that significant inroads made during the recent trip to Uganda.”

By: Eric Rose (BIS)

Photo Caption: Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Michael Pintard speaks in the House of Assembly, on November 15, 2017, about The Bahamas delegation’s attendance to the recent 9th Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Meeting, held in Kampala, Uganda.

(BIS Photo/Eric Rose)

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

4 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.”