Bahamas News

BAHAMAS: Parker-Edgecombe Extols Virtues of ICTs

Published

6 years ago

November 29, 2017

#Bahamas, November 29, 2017 – Nassau – Information Communications Technology (ICT) is the engine that is driving global developments in the 21st Century, changing the way countries, businesses and individual citizens communicate, execute business and interact socially, Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe said.

Addressing the Opening Session of the URCA/Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s (CTU) ‘ICT Week’ on Tuesday evening (November 28, 2017) at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe, who has responsibility for Information and Communications, told delegates that the region “must embrace these changing technological dynamics which are influencing the evolution of every sector of global society,” in order to keep pace.

“We must always keep in mind that our global competitiveness depends on our ability to understand and effectively respond to the changing dynamics of the 21st Century world; technology is an integral part of that response,” Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe told participants.

“Doing business in the world today requires Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — like most of CTU’s membership in the Caribbean – to work collaboratively through opportunities like ICT Week to explore how we can more affectively address the challenges we face in the changing global environment.

“During this session, we have an opportunity to evaluate our progress as individual nations and as a region, discuss global standards and best practices, and to help determine our level of compliance with such. We must also be open to exploring new options to empower our individual nations and the region. The single ICT space initiative, the Caribbean Spectrum Planning and Management Project, and the ICT Collaboration Forum, are examples of the kind of collaborative ICT development drive that will position our small nations to compete on the global stage,” Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe added.

Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe said the Government of The Bahamas understands the “intrinsic value of technology” and the need for regional and global collaboration.

“These changing dynamics are indeed fundamental in ensuring transparency and accountability within government, and [are] fully embraced by this new Administration, led by Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minnis.

“We also realize the importance of consultation and need to merge with Bahamian, regional and international expertise to build on existing foundations, while charting a course of the nation’s future. Our active and participatory membership in organizations such as the CTU demonstrates our commitment to this regional and global technological revolution that has changed, and continues to change, the way we communicate, execute business and interact socially,” Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe added.

Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe said less than three weeks ago, The Bahamas welcomed leading technology experts from around the world, including Silicon Valley, for a major Technology Expo in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

“We are optimistic that this initial attempt to expose the international ICT community to possible investment opportunities in The Bahamas, together with the introduction of the appropriate laws and policies, will facilitate the establishment of an industry that will create new opportunities for Bahamians.

“We were encouraged by the number of companies and experts that demonstrated an interest in our country through their presence at the Expo.”

Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe urged ICT policymakers and experts to commit to finding ways to more effectively utilize technology to bridge the geographical gap “that is often used as a divisive force.”

“Let us ensure that we embark on meaningful, realistic and mutually beneficial discussions on this proposed single ICT space,” Mrs. Parker-Edgecombe added.

By: Matt Maura (BIS)

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.”