#Abaco,
The Bahamas – September 1, 2020
— They floated almost angelically; the beautiful blossoms tossed onto the
waters buffeting the shores of Great Abaco. Beneath the clear ocean which
carried wreaths away from the still battered wooden dock and the people who
lined the shore, is evidence that something horrible happened here.
The
broken, barnacle-covered debris beneath, and flowers floating above created a dramatic image
– eerily symbolic of the gravity of the moment.
What
Abaco had endured, what the islanders have overcome and what was painfully wrenched
from the people on September 1, 2019 when Hurricane Dorian hit.
Wreaths
were today given to the very same waters which have taken so much… still it is
where countless loved ones spent their final minutes fighting for their lives
and where those left to mourn found it most fitting to say a more formal
farewell.
A
solemn ceremony was held at Friendship Tabernacle in Marsh Harbour on this
September morning; with dignitaries including local government officials,
Members of Parliament and Hon Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs who
represented the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, all attending.
Messages
to the diverse attendees, according to prominent media businessman, pastor and
community leader, Silbert Mills were: “Uplifting,
encouraging, inspiring…”
Rev.
Mills shared, Abaconians were mindful of COVID-19 social distancing protocols
as they filed into the church; and he was pleased with the unity and comforting
tone of the service… some were quiet, he said, others sobbed and yet more were thankful,
somehow.
It
has been one year since Hurricane Dorian brought harrowing conditions which led
to a still untallied death toll.
“We
still do not know how many of our Haitian brothers and sisters were lost in the
hurricane,” explained Rev. Mills in our phone interview earlier today.
The
Royal Bahamas Police and Royal Bahamas Defence Forces brought nobility to the thanksgiving
service; participating most memorably in the finale wreath laying ceremony held
at the water’s edge.
The island’s capital, Marsh Harbour was crushed under the weight and devoured in the fierceness of Hurricane Dorian – strongest Atlantic Hurricane in modern history, which sat for three days over Abaco and Grand Bahama in the northern Bahamas.
Today, power is restored, internet services
are available, reconstruction is underway and temporary housing is embraced.
“Oh
the dome homes are complete and fully occupied; in fact new dome homes are
being built on properties as people work to repair what was structurally lost,”
updated Rev. Mills.
There
is dignity.
As wreaths were laid; the quiet singing of a well-worn gospel hymn of perseverance.
“…Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to knowa It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
Residents are at 5 p.m. called to line the shores from Marsh Harbour to Murphy Town for a drone fly-by in memory of Abaco’s darkest day.
Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.
The Grand Bahama Port Authority has taken note of calls from our licensees, the residents of Grand Bahama and several current investors for a response to Monday’s address by Prime Minister Davis. We take this opportunity to once again reassure these valued stakeholders that GBPA remains laser-focused on the task at hand. We are working every day to deliver the $2B-plus of investments which the GBPA Group of Companies, through its affiliates, either initiated, is invested in, or is contractually involved in creating, and was instrumental in bringing the investors to the table. At the same time, it is important that GBPA corrects any inaccurate, incomplete or selective representations regarding matters that impact our stakeholders. In the near future, therefore, GBPA intends to host a live event with its stakeholders to ensure that all the matters discussed in the public domain are placed in their proper context and the historical record is set straight. In the meantime, we encourage our stakeholders to remain confident in the resilience and potential of Freeport, and in our pledge to continue working diligently to see a prosperous future for Grand Bahama.
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.
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.