Bahamas News

Minister of Works inspects government buildings and projects in Grand Bahama

Published

6 years ago

April 18, 2018

#Bahamas, April 18, 2018 – Grand Bahama – Minister of Works, the Hon. Desmond Bannister said repair of the Garnett Levarity Justice Centre is at the top of the Ministry of Works list of priorities for Grand Bahama.

“The building is in a bad state of disrepair and needs a lot of work,” said Minister Bannister. “I believe that the building had problems in the way it was constructed at the beginning and so it’s going to take a lot to get that building back to where it should be.

“We’re hoping that by next July – depending on if we are not hit with any major hurricanes – the courthouse should be at the place it was designed to be in terms of its construction and operational aspect.”

Minister Bannister, along with a number of executives of the Ministry of Works in Nassau arrived in Grand Bahama on Thursday morning (April 12, 2018) and set out for a tour of a number of facilities and project sites on the island for which the government is responsible.

Following a meeting with staff members at the Ministry of Works in Grand Bahama, Minister Bannister and his team toured the Garnett Levarity Justice Centre before making their way to the local post office, downtown Freeport.

At the post office, Minister Bannister got a first-hand look at some of the damage to the building, which had became more evident following the passing of two major hurricanes through Grand Bahama in 2016.

“This is an old building, and when you look at it, you see the cast iron pipes, so there are issues with respect to the bathrooms, which have to be addressed,” said Minister Bannister. “There has to be a fundamental overhaul of this building.”

The Minister said repairs to the building and mold remediation are important steps and that since coming to office, the government has spent over a million dollars on mold remediation at the Freeport Post Office in the interest of keeping the workers safe. He said there must be a greater appreciation for the need to regularly maintain public buildings like that of the post office, not just in Grand Bahama, but in Nassau and throughout the Family Islands.

Upon leaving the Freeport Post Office, the Minister of Works and his entourage made their way to the newly built police and fire station on Settlers Way, to get a first-hand view of the modern-designed facility.

Minister Bannister was impressed with the project and said that plans are in place to ensure that police and fire officers are moved into the building as soon as possible. The obstacle that had prevented officers from occupying the building since it had been completed over a year ago was the lack of furniture. The Minister assured the media that he had been advised that the furniture has been ordered and that it should be arriving on island in short order, following which immediate action would be taken to have the officers in Grand Bahama occupy the new facility.

Minister Bannister also toured a number of other government buildings and projects throughout the day on Thursday, including the Fishing Hole Bridge, Bartlett Hill Primary School, the new Holmes Rock Primary school (still under construction), the Eight Mile Rock Government Complex (still under construction) and the seawall in West End, Grand Bahama.

By Andrew Coakley (BIS)

Photo captions:

Header: Minister of Works Desmond Bannister (second from right), along with Member of Parliament for Pineridge and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Iram Lewis (right) look up at a hole in the ceiling in part of the building of the Freeport Post Office. During a tour of the facility the Minister was given an update on the state of the facility which had deteriorated over time, combined with damage suffered from hurricanes in 2016.

BIS Photos/Lisa Davis

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM HERE? – Minister of Works, the Hon. Desmond Bannister, along with Assistant Engineer in Grand Bahama, Mrs. Toni Hudson-Bannister look at damage to the courthouse at the Garnett Levarity Justice Center in Freeport, during a tour of the courthouse on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Minister Bannister said that repair of the courthouse is at the top of his Ministry’s priorities.

UPDATE ON BUILDING – Officer in charge of the newly built fire station and police department gave Minister of Works, Desmond Bannister an update on the work to the newly constructed building and the reason why officers have not yet moved into the building.

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.