#Nassau, Bahamas – January 6, 2010 —Discussions focus on post-Hurricane Dorian recovery and bilateral relations
During a
courtesy call at the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday, Chinese Ambassador
to The Bahamas H.E. Huang Qinguo and Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis
discussed how the People’s Republic of China may further assist in recovery and
reconstruction efforts on Abaco and Grand Bahama.
The
Prime Minister invited China to partner with The Bahamas by participating in
the upcoming United Nations Development Programme Donor Pledge Conference to
aid the Government’s reconstruction program post-Hurricane Dorian. The
conference is scheduled for 13 January at Baha Mar.
The
pledging conference will leverage resources of domestic and international groups
who want to partner with the Bahamian people and the Government to rebuild
affected areas stronger, and with more resilience, especially in light of the
global climate emergency.
The
Conference is a part of a broader program and strategy for reconstruction led
by the Government of The Bahamas.
Prime
Minister Minnis noted that in addition to the reconstruction of hospitals and
schools, housing remained a key priority for the Government.
“If
affected residents don’t have homes to return to, there will be little use for
hospitals and schools,” said the Prime Minister.
Prime
Minister Minnis also reiterated the Government’s position that all projects in
The Bahamas carried out by international contractors are required to have an
80:20 Bahamian to foreign employment ratio.
As a
part of its reconstruction strategy, the Government will launch a new housing
project that will provide free Crown land complete with infrastructure to
affected residents. It is hoped that funds raised at the Conference will help to
fund the cost of the infrastructure.
Prime
Minister Minnis said the Government also has plans to use some of the funds
raised at the conference to provide sustainable energy to individual homes in
areas affected by Hurricane Dorian.
“We are
being directly impacted by Climate Change. Our response must include rebuilding
smarter and with resilience,” said the Prime Minister.
The
Government has already prepared specific reconstruction delivery plans, which
have been cross-referenced with the damage and loss assessment conducted by the
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC). Total damage, loss
and additional costs in four primary categories on the affected islands is
estimated at approximately $3.4 billion.
The six
sectors identified by the Government include housing, the environment and
debris clean up, education, health, infrastructure and the economy.
Prime
Minister Minnis thanked the Ambassador for China’s assistance in the immediate
aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, and for its continued long-standing partnership
in areas of education, trade and infrastructural development.
Press Release: Office of The Bahamas Prime Minister
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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.
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.”
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.