Bahamas News

C&W Foundation released Additional Funding for Bahamas

Published

5 years ago

October 23, 2019

Miami, FL, October 23, 2019 – USA – The Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation (CWCF), is continuing its commitment to support the recovery and restoration efforts in The Bahamas; and announced that they have donated US$75,000 to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and US$50,000 to the Rotary Club of Grand Bahama to support the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco, the two islands devastated by Hurricanes Dorian just a few weeks ago. The funding from the Foundation will be used by both organizations to bring some relief to the people and communities in the impacted islands.

Inge Smidts, CEO of C&W Communications (parent company of The Bahamas Telecommunications Company), and Chair of the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation, said “The aim of the Foundation is to make an immediate difference in the lives of those affected by disaster. Our first concern is always people. As soon as the all clear was given our teams were on the ground to ascertain the damage and advise on the assistance needed in terms of what our colleagues and the communities in general urgently required, and to also assess how quickly we could begin to reconnect communications services. We know it will take many hands over time to return these islands to normalcy and so we were delighted to also partner with NEMA and Rotary to get urgent relief to those communities that need it most. They have both been doing a super job with restoration and recovery efforts and we will continue to work with them to rebuild these communities.”

NEMA is the Disaster Management Committee within the Government of The Bahamas established several years ago to assist victims in times of disaster. Their focus is on the importance of being properly prepared for a hurricanes and other disasters. Director of NEMA, Captain Stephen Russell said, “This monetary donation from the CWCF is very much appreciated at this time. We have had a massive outpouring of kindness from regional and international organizations including governments who have provided us with enough food to last a year. And for that we are grateful. However, given the large number of evacuees that we now have to care for, we are in need of funds to cover additional resources that are urgently required.”

The Rotary Club of Grand Bahama is a network of business, leaders, and problem-solvers who come together to make positive, lasting change in the local communities. Area Governor of Rotary Clubs of Grand Bahama Island, Lisbeth Knowles expressed her gratitude to CWCF saying “The damage caused by Hurricane Dorian is unprecedented and many families have lost everything. This grant will enable Rotary to distribute critical supplies to impacted persons and allow us to begin our building material program to Re-Build Grand Bahama Island. We welcome every level of assistance that allows us to provide hope to many vulnerable families as we help them to recover and rebuild their lives.”

Since the hurricane, the CWCF hasissued US$500,000 in humanitarian aid. This includes 5,000 care packages comprising Smartphones, Prepaid SIM Cards and personal care items. Packages were distributed in New Providence from the Odyssey Airport, Bahamas Fast Ferries Dock, Sir Kendall Isaacs Gym, the Fox Hill Community Center and in Eleuthera and Andros. In addition, the Foundation shipped and airlifted 64 generators, 30 cases of waters to hospitals, churches and emergency care centers. Ten of the generators were donated to the Emergency Room Doctors from the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama. The Foundation also recently donated US$25,000 to World Central Kitchen to support their food program.

Garry Sinclair, BTC CEO also weighed in on his company’s support for The Bahamas and said, “The journey to rebuild these islands will be a long one and we want the people of The Bahamas to know that we are with them every step of the way. BTC has been a part of the community for over 100 years and we are not going anywhere. The hurricane has passed but we will be here for the long term. We will work to rebuild our communities and networks and we will #comebackstronger!”

Release: Cable & Wireless Communications

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

2 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.”