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Royal Caribbean Arrives to Warm Welcome in Grand Bahama

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Island embraces role as newest homeport destination to RCI’s Adventure of the seas

#TheBahamas, June 21, 2021 – With lively Junkanoo performances and celebrations, government officials and key business leaders welcomed Royal Caribbean International with open arms on Friday, June 18 as Adventure of the Seas completed its inaugural homeporting ceremony in Grand Bahama Island, with 1,000 eager passengers.

Following a 16-month hiatus due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions, the return of cruising to Grand Bahama Island marks a pivotal moment for the local community. It signals the commitment to revitalization following the economic challenges first introduced by the devastating impact of Hurricane Dorian and then worsened amid the global pandemic shutdowns. Freeport Harbour is thrilled to serve as the newest homeport destination responsible for major provisioning and refueling before the vessel returns to Nassau.

Delivering the keynote remarks at the inaugural ceremony, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis said, “Following 16 months of anxiety, uncertainty, lockdown and restrictions, people across the world are eager to venture abroad, to new frontiers, not only for escape, but for healing. Grand Bahama is, indeed, most gratified to be a refuge of healing. Its beaches, vast stretches of ecological wonderlands and rich culture will prove to be a healing balm to the thousands of Adventure of the Seas passengers who are expected to embark on Grand Bahama over the next three months.” 

 “We believe this homeporting project will have an immediate impact on the rebound of the Bahamian economy. We express our collective gratitude towards our partners at Royal Caribbean for the long-standing relationship spanning more than 50 years,” said the Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar, Bahamas Minister of Tourism & Aviation. 

Grand Bahama’s proximity to South Florida contributes to its position as a popular tourism destination and a favourite port of call for longer Caribbean cruises. Visitors can enjoy the nation’s second largest city, Freeport, which boasts upscale resorts, life-changing cultural and historic sites, as well as ecological wonders. From the culinary explorations, scenic island taxi tours and crystal-clear water excursions, the adventures are endless for passengers once ashore.

Adventure of the Seas debuted its seven-night getaways from Nassau on June 12, which feature two back-to-back days of thrills at Perfect Day at CocoCay, adventures in Cozumel and a full day of unwinding on Grand Bahama’s white-sand beaches every Saturday throughout the summer.  

Those daydreaming about their next vacation can book a ticket aboard the exciting Adventure of the Seas. The final departure is scheduled for September 11, 2021. Travellers are encouraged to visit Bahamas.com/travelupdates for an overview of The Bahamas’ latest travel and entry protocols before booking.

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ABOUT THE BAHAMAS

With over 700 islands and cays and 16 unique island destinations, The Bahamas lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, offering an easy fly away escape that transports travellers away from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas have world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the earth’s most spectacular water and beaches. The Bahamas is known to have some of the clearest water in the world. It is so clear that NASA astronaut Scott Kelly shared dozens of photographs of the islands while he was orbiting the earth in 2016. He tweeted that The Bahamas was “the most beautiful place from space.” Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram to see why It’s Better in The Bahamas.

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Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

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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.

 

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RBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos 

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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.

 

 

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Get your laugh on, March On show coming to Turks and Caicos with box office at IGA Friday and Saturday

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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.”

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