Bahamas News

BAHAMAS: Consultations begin towards development of plan for persons with disabilities

Published

5 years ago

February 19, 2019

#Nassau, February 19, 2019 – Bahamas – Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell began consultations towards the development of a comprehensive plan for the community of persons living with disabilities. The plan is expected to include legislation.

Minister Campbell recently held separate discussions with Mrs. Sheila Culmer, a noted disability rights advocate and trailblazer, and former President of the Bahamas National Council for Disability (BNCD), and officials of the Physically Challenged Children’s Committee at the Ministry’s headquarters, located at Aventura Plaza, Bethel Avenue and John F. Kennedy Drive.

The Social Services Minister was joined in the meeting with Mrs. Culmer by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, Sherrylee Smith; Kim Sawyer, Deputy Director, Department of Social Services; Lorraine Duvalier, Assistant Director, Department of Social Services, with responsibility for the Senior Citizens Division, Disability Affairs Division, Research and Planning and Health Social Services; Gillian Bethell, Assistant Director, Disability Affairs Division and Maria Kelley, Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the National Commission for Persons with Disability.

Minister Campbell said discussions will be held with the approximately 17 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are involved in advocacy for persons with disabilities in The Bahamas in order to meet the objective of inclusion in the comprehensive plan.

“We will be meeting with all of our NGOs, individually and/or collectively, as this will enable us to come up with a comprehensive plan which will include the legislation.

“Mrs. Culmer has been a long-time advocate for the community of persons with disabilities in The Bahamas. She has been involved, and in the trenches. She has played a major role in the introduction of the decal that is used for parking in spaces allocated to persons with disabilities. As we contemplate legislation, all of the stakeholders will have some input because the legislation must speak to all persons with or without disabilities and so this meeting was just moving in that direction.”

Minister Campbell then met with officials of the Physically Challenged Children’s Committee (PCCC) headed by Chairman Terrance Bain. The Minister was joined by Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, Michael Foulkes; Permanent Secretary Sherrylee Smith; Deputy Director Sawyer, Assistant Director Bethell and Executive Secretary Kelley.

Chairman Bain headed the delegation from the PCCC and was accompanied by Committee Members, Robin Hayes, and Rosemary Sands. The PCCC was established in 1954 under the banner of the Crippled Children’s Committee.

“Beginning in 1954, the Committee has been assisting persons with disabilities particularly as it relates to mobility,” Minister Campbell said. “As we advance in our discussions relative to the community of persons with disabilities and the need for legislative support and protection, it is only fitting that they are a part of the discussion. We value every partnership, notwithstanding the size of the NGO.

By Matt Maura (BIS)

Photo Caption: Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell held discussions with Mrs. Sheila Culmer on Friday (February 15, 2019) as part of the consultative process towards the development of a comprehensive plan for the community of persons living with disabilities that is expected to include legislation. Minister Campbell said he will meet with representatives of the approximately 17 non-government organizations that serve as advocates for the community of persons with disabilities. Pictured (from left) are: Maria Kelley, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities; Kim Sawyer, Deputy Director, Department of Social Services and Head of Department, Department of Rehabilitative and Welfare Services’ Sherrylee Smith, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development; Minister Campbell; Gillian Bethell, Assistant Director, Disabilities Affairs Division, Department of Social Services; Mrs. Culmer; and Lorraine Duvalier, Assistant Director, Department of Social Services with responsibility for Senior Citizens Division, Disability Affairs Division, Research and Planning and Health Social Services.

(BIS Photo/Matt Mauara)

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

5 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

5 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.”