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Disability Concerns All, Says Bahamas Parliamentary Secretary

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#Bahamas, December 9, 2017 – Nassau – Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, Vaughn Miller has affirmed The Government’s commitment to creating a Bahamas in which all citizens can participate and benefit including persons with disabilities.   He said the Government cannot do it alone and acknowledged stakeholders including the church, NGOs, and civil society for their involvement in the delivery of services, support, policy implementation and opportunities to empower persons with disabilities.

Mr. Miller addressed an appreciation luncheon in observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Friday, December 1, 2017 at the Department of Physical Planning.   The theme was “Transformation Towards a Sustainable and Resilient Society for All.” International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed on December 3 annually.

Receiving awards for their outstanding work in assisting persons with disabilities were: Olly Mae Knowles, educator; Detrix Hamilton, architect; Maria Deleveaux, principal, William Lightbourne, and Iris Adderley, consultant.

The luncheon was one of several educational and recreational events planned for the week to bring attention to the rights and challenges of persons with disabilities and highlight their achievements and talents.  It was hosted by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development.   The Parliamentary Secretary told the audience that the theme aligned with the agenda of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which promised to ‘leave no one behind’.

“To leave no one behind’ affirms that everyone benefits, but it also implies that every member of our society has a contribution to make.   Indeed everyone, including persons with disabilities, has a critical role to play in national development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

Mr. Miller said disability concerns all, as much as it affects all, and is one of the reasons why The Bahamas enacted the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act in 2014, and ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2015.

“This is why this Ministry continues to be deliberate in addressing the rights and needs of persons with disabilities, particularly through its Disability Affairs Division, its National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and its technical and financial support of many of the disability organizations.

“Our recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities means they must be included, they must not be discriminated against, they must be supported and they must be given the opportunities and the means to participate equally in society,” he said.

Moreover, Mr. Miller remarked that it is important to give attention to implementing measures to avoid preventable disabilities.

“Creating an environment that empowers persons with disabilities involves a commitment to investing in all people, including persons with disabilities by creating employment opportunities, affordable and accessible healthcare and social protection.   “Indeed, as the old adage goes, ‘when the tide rises all boats float’.   A sustainable and resilient society means everyone is better prepared to take advantage of opportunities, become agents of change and can more readily embrace their civic responsibilities,” said Mr. Miller.

He extended appreciation to current and past members of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities for the work given in the past three years.   The present Commission’s term will soon end and a new Commission will begin work within the next two weeks.

By: Kathryn Campbell (BIS)

 

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Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

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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.

 

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RBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos 

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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.

 

 

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Get your laugh on, March On show coming to Turks and Caicos with box office at IGA Friday and Saturday

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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.”

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