Bahamas News

Opening of the Legal Year – Grand Bahama

Published

6 years ago

January 16, 2018

#Bahamas, January 16, 2018 – Grand Bahama – A timeline has been set to have the courthouse in Freeport, Grand Bahama at the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre repaired: this was stated during the official opening of the 2018 Legal Year in Grand Bahama, which took place on Friday, January 12. The event started with a solemn march to Christ, the King Anglican Church, where a service was held, with Canon Harry Bain giving the sermon.

Following the service, Acting Chief Justice, Stephen Isaacs, and the legal community along with the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl Bethel; Minister of State for Legal Affairs, the Hon. Elsworth Johnson and Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson marched to the courthouse, where the police band and the colour guard performed, before being inspected by the Acting Chief Justice.

During a short ceremony in the Supreme Court, the Acting Chief Justice, along with the Attorney General delivered remarks, focused on the repairs needed for the court. “This whole issue of repairs for this courthouse is something the Chief Justice is very concerned about and he has my full support in this matter,” said Mr. Bethel.

The Garnett Levarity Justice Center in Freeport has been in a state of disrepair for close to three years, only becoming worse following the passing of several hurricanes through Grand Bahama during that period.

“One of the problems that Freeport has is with the building itself (the courthouse) and I can say that is going to be a top priority this year,” said Justice Isaacs. “As soon as we get all of the details and the estimates, myself and those who hold the funds and purse strings, we have already begun discussing this very serious issue.”

Attorney General Carl Bethel acknowledged that the Acting Chief Justice addressed the most pressing issue facing the legal system in Grand Bahama. However, Mr. Bethel said he, himself, would like to have a timeline to have the project carried out.

“We know that the second week of February is when a supplementary budget is presented,” said Mr. Bethel. “According to the information that I’ve received, the government may do a supplementary budget. I’m not certain, but if they do, I would like to get a cost for this project in before then, so that we can budget for it in the main budget within the next six months.

“We will try to expedite that as quickly as possible and hopefully, if we need to get some extra allocation, we will get it in the mid-term budget; that is what we are racing towards, which ought to be tabled in or about the middle of February.

“So, expedition is called for and we hope that the Deputy Registrar, along with the cooperation of all the staff here in this office would make sure that you get three quotes and get them to the Permanent Secretary, so that we can have something in writing and so that we can proceed as soon as possible.”

By: Andrew Coakley (BIS)

Photo Captions:

Header: Acting Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs (front, fourth left), along with Attorney General, Senator Carl Bethel (fifth left) stand with Supreme Court Justices and Lawyers during the official opening of the 2018 Legal year in Grand Bahama, which took place on Friday, January 12, 2018.

First Insert: Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl Bethel (right), Minister of State for Legal Affairs the Hon. Elsworth Johnson, along with Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson, participate in the church service which was a part of the Opening of the 2018 Legal Year in Grand Bahama, Friday, January 12, 2018. The church service took place at Christ, the King Anglican Church.

Second Insert: Acting Chief Justice Stephen Isaacs is escorted during his Inspection of the Guard as a part of the ceremony to commemorate the Opening of the 2018 Legal Year in Grand Bahama.

BIS Photos/Lisa Davis and Andrew Miller

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

2 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.”