Bahamas News

BAHAMAS: Unique Coral Restoration Company to Construct Coral Farm Education and Research Centre

Published

5 years ago

December 1, 2018

#East End, GB, December 1, 2018 – Bahamas – Since signing onto the 20/20 Challenge (which commits a country to ensuring that 20 per cent of its marine environment is protected), through Marine Protected Areas, The Bahamas has already covered at least ten per cent of the country’s marine environment.

Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Hon. Michael Pintard said, “It places us in a rare category of countries, who, despite economic challenges, we believe it is absolutely important to protect our environment, because at the end of the day development depends on what extent we, in a very responsible way, benefit present generations, while not compromising the future of future generations.”

Minister Pintard was the keynote speaker during ground breaking ceremonies for the construction of the world’s first land-based commercial Coral Farm Education and Research Centre, in East Grand Bahama on November 29, which is expected to be managed by Coral Vita, a company dedicated to growing corals to restore dying reefs.

Using breakthrough methods developed by advisors at the Mote Marine Lab and Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Coral Vita boasts of the ability to grow corals up to 50 times faster, while strengthening their resiliency to climate change threats.

The company’s commercial land-based farming model offers a viable solution for the large-scale reef restoration crucial to preserving coral reefs for future generations.

In welcoming the Principals of Coral Vita, Minister Pintard said the Government was honoured that they chose to carry out their project in The Bahamas, particularly in Grand Bahama.

“No doubt, you are adding to what is already a very powerful brand in The Bahamas, as a country that is on the cutting edge of conservation in marine and life sciences,” said Minister Pintard.

“You are indeed a part of an initiative by the government to ensure that we behave in a responsible manner, and we are a role model for other countries in the region.”

Minister Pintard also noted that The Bahamas just recently received the Marine Stewardship Council designation, which is significant for the country’s marine sector, as the Bahamas is one of the major exporters of lobsters.

The Minister said the government’s goal is to ensure that it does not lose this prestigious designation, because it demonstrates to the world, as well as multi-national companies who may purchase products from The Bahamas, that country will responsibly harvest marine products, ensure they are processed responsibly way and that at the end of the day, they can trust that The Bahamas is making sure that they are not depleting any species of its marine life.

Also bringing remarks during the ground breaking was Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest.

“The Prime Minister just recently returned from Washington, where he attended a high level meeting with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, talking about climate resilience and how we can build infrastructure to protect our environment,” said DPM Turnquest.

“This project, to me, seems to be a natural option to that, along with the regeneration of the mangroves. These natural defences, while may seem outlandish or scientific from the outset, will provide us with natural defences and cost-effective defences to protect what we have in our country.”

With the Coral Vita project set to be constructed and operated out of East Grand Bahama, DPM Turnquest said that he hopes the project could cause some rejuvenation in the East End community in terms of educational, touristic and economic opportunities in the future.

“This is in line with the Government’s objective with respect to economic development – to diversify our economy and take advantage of the blue economy. This year, we have committed $500,000 towards further exploring opportunities in the blue economy and this project certainly fits within all of that.”

By: Andrew Coakley

Release: BIS

Photo Caption: Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest (second from left) and Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Hon. Michael Pintard (left), joined Principals of Coral Vita in the official ground breaking ceremonies for the establishment of the world’s first land-based commercial coral farm, education and research centre, Thursday, November 29, 2018 in East Grand Bahama. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

Bahamas News

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

Published

3 hours 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.”

Bahamas News

CIBC Caribbean announces the closure of Bay Street Branch

Published

1 day ago

May 2, 2024

Shanieka

CIBC Caribbean today announced that its Bay Street branch will close permanently on 31st May 2024.

CIBC Caribbean’s Managing Director, Dr. Jacqui Bend, in making the announcement said: “We regret this development; however, our bank recognizes that our clients’ needs are changing, and we remain committed to meeting these evolving needs. We are even more focused within the climate of evolving technology advancements on creating product options that focus on security, convenience, and ease of doing business.”

Dr. Bend noted that there will be no job losses as a result of this closure and employees will be redeployed to other branches.

She observed, “Additionally, the closure of the Bay Street branch represents a continuation of the work previously started to repurpose our branch network to serve our clients more efficiently across the region.”

Dr. Bend said the decision to end operations at Bay Street was made with the knowledge that clients will continue to be adequately serviced by a strong branch presence that already exists in The Bahamas. She said the bank has written to its Bay Street clients informing them of the closure and has outlined their future banking options.

“We understand that the closure of Bay Street may be inconvenient to our some of our clients, but we hope that this will be tempered by the knowledge that they have many more avenues available to conduct their banking that are also convenient, safe and practical, using our mobile or online banking platforms or our other branch locations.”

Bahamas News

Freeport Business Expo to connect Grand Bahama businesses and entrepreneurs to expert resources

Published

7 days ago

April 27, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited

April 29, 2024 – Freeport, The Bahamas – In line with its mission to create a stronger, more connected Freeport economy, the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) is pleased to share details of the upcoming Freeport Business Expo: Tourism Edition, taking place on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at the Grand Lucayan Convention Center in Grand Bahama.

“As the GBPA continues its work to attract investors to Freeport, we offer this showcase of local and international businesses offering services and opportunities to potential and existing licensees,” stated Ian Rolle, GBPA President. “This Expo will not only connect unique international service providers with Bahamian entrepreneurs aiming to introduce new tourist attractions, but also bring together financing institutions to support Bahamian-owned start-ups and existing businesses in the industry.”

The emphasis on tourism at the 2024 Expo ensures that those in tourism-focused businesses are certain to benefit. The event will offer opportunities to meet potential business partners, gain insight on financial opportunities, engage with leaders in workshops and one-on-one sessions, and get answers on starting a Freeport business and obtaining a GBPA license.

“We regularly host community business expos,” said Glendia Sweeting, Manager of Quality Assurance and Special Projects. “But we recognize the significant benefit of an expo focused on enhancing tourism business offerings through connecting international service providers and Bahamian entrepreneurs. We have more than thirty local and national exhibitors taking part on May 2^nd, along with several international service providers.”

Multiple investment projects currently in progress and planned in the city of Freeport is creating anticipation for existing and potential entrepreneurs and this expo is geared towards preparing them for these opportunities. “Grand Bahama is going to experience a significant growth spurt in the next one to three years. I would strongly encourage everybody who wants to get involved in business to look at Grand Bahama as one of the top choices, especially over the next three years,” said Mr. Rolle.

The Expo opens on Wednesday, May 1^st with a welcome reception from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A full day of learning and networking opportunities follows on Thursday, May 2^nd. GBPA’s partners in the Freeport Business Expo include:

Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board
Ministry for Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce
Ministry of Tourism
Bahamas Immigration
Bahamas Customs
Five Star Shipping Company
Viva Wyndham Fortuna
Bahamas Air
Grand Lucayan Hotel

Registration for access to the Expo’s exhibitors is free, and all-access passes are available for purchase. Event details and registration information may be found at freeportbusinessexpo.com.