Bahamas News

Another Tech company to open offices in Grand Bahama

Published

5 years ago

January 18, 2019

#Freeport, GB, January 18, 2019 – Bahamas – The Office of the Prime Minister in Grand Bahama has made another step towards its goal of transforming Grand Bahama into a Technology Hub, not just in The Bahamas, but also in the region.

Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Kwasi Thompson welcomed the Principals of DevDigital Software, during a press conference at OPM on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.

“They are in the final step to their operation, which is obtaining a license from the Grand Bahama Port Authority,” said Minister Thompson. “That is in process.”

DevDigital is a leading software and web development company based in Nashville, Tennessee, and although the company is still in the process of finalizing the setting up of their office in Freeport, they have already signed clients, including Global Sun Integration and Carib Nation.

“We are pleased that DevDigital has decided to make this move to The Bahamas,” said Minister Thompson. “The company is a fully and well-established software development firm, which operates in the United States and other countries around the world and we are so pleased that they have chosen The Bahamas as a place in which to invest, but particularly pleased that they have chosen Grand Bahama, as a place to open an office.

“They have stated that they are very interested in continuing to build with the government and with the partners here in Grand Bahama, the concept of the Tech Hub in Grand Bahama. We welcome DevDigital to Freeport and we are sure that we will continue to benefit as a result of DevDigital’s being here in Grand Bahama.”

The Minister noted that DevDigital has taken full advantage of the government’s newly-enacted Commercial Enterprise Act to establish their office in Grand Bahama. He stated the Act was passed by the government to attract investment to The Bahamas, and that Grand Bahama has been receiving its share of interest and applications from a number of companies interested in setting up shop on the island.

“Grand Bahama is experiencing the significant benefits of the Commercial Enterprise Act and we are pleased that a company like DevDigital has been approved by the government under this Act, to operate as a full software development firm in The Bahamas. What’s even more pleasing is the fact that they will be setting up their office here in Grand Bahama,” he said.

Another tech company was one of the first to take advantage of the Commercial Enterprise Act – namely, GIBC Digital, a successful company operating in Grand Bahama.

“The government was also able to approve both within a 30-day period, which we believe is a significant improvement to the ease of doing business in The Bahamas.”

As part of its commitment to further enhance the ease of doing business in Grand Bahama, Minister Thompson highlighted the newly formed Investment Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister in Grand Bahama. He noted that the Unit has been set up to make the process for investment easier, and to provide better service to Bahamians and foreign investors.

“The Unit, which is an arm of the Bahamas Investment Authority, has for the first time in Freeport begun to accept and process applications, and draft papers for approval. DevDigital was one of the companies receiving assistance from one of our officers in Grand Bahama.”

CEO of DevDigital, Peter Marcum said that they are looking forward to the launch of their new offices in Grand Bahama. DevDigital has offices in the United States, India and Zambia. Mr. Marcum said: “We see our role here in Grand Bahama as a jumping off point into other markets throughout the Caribbean. But we see The Bahamas as ideal to set up our regional office.”

By Andrew Coakley

Release: BIS

Photo Caption: During the announcement of DevDigital’s investment in Grand Bahama, Minister of State for Grand Bahama, in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Kwasi Thompson announced the establishment of the Investment Unit within OPM. At right are members of the Investment Unit.

(BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

Published

4 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

4 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

4 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.”