Bahamas News

Groundbreaking ceremony for Golden Yolk Egg Production Project

Published

1 year ago

March 1, 2023

#NASSAU, The Bahamas, 2023 – The Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, with Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC), Golden Yolk, and other stakeholders held groundbreaking

ceremonies for a farming initiative designed to attain national self-sufficiency in egg production. The ‘Golden Yolk’ egg production project will ultimately improve food security, lower import costs, assist farmers and increase employment opportunities. The groundbreaking took place Monday, February 27, 2023 at Gladstone Road Agricultural Centre (GRAC).

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis headed the list of dignitaries and participants. Also present were the Hon. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation; and Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs the Hon. Clay Sweeting who gave an address.

In his remarks, Minister Sweeting said through the Ministry’s partnership with BAIC, the project will usher the “revival” of egg production in the nation.

He described the initiative as a “contract agreement between farmers and the special purpose vehicle.”

He said, “Firstly, the project will see the construction of seven grow houses on New Providence that are turnkey operations. The special purpose vehicle will provide the building, the layers, vet services and other inputs. The

contracted farmer will monitor and care for the investment. Upon production, the contracted farmer will sell all the eggs to the special purpose vehicle, who will deduct the cost of the inputs and pay profits to the farmer.

“The special purpose vehicle will sell the eggs to the wholesalers for distribution on every food store shelf throughout the country.”

In the second phase, there will be 15 grow houses in the south and central Bahamas, 23 grow houses in the northern Bahamas in phase 3 for a total of 38 houses in 12 Family Islands. He said egg production will grow from 700,000 to 28 million per year.

“A project of this magnitude will ensure that the eggs produced will completely reduce the reliance on imports. The Golden Yolk will have an immediate national economic impact, not just on food security, but on growing the economy.”

Minister Sweeting said through the initiative, an energy efficient, semi-automated, easy to maintain, climate smart poultry house will be constructed at GRAC.

He acknowledged BAIC’s Chairman, Leroy Major and the team at BAIC for their work in bringing the project to fruition.

Chairman Major said the aim of the Golden Yolk Egg Production Project is to promote the production and sale of quality and affordable eggs, reduce the import of eggs and make the Bahamas self-sufficient in eggs in the next 18 months.

He informed that a new animal feed mill will be constructed to support layer houses in New Providence and the Family Islands where layer houses will be in operation as this project is in progress.

Chairman Major thanked the team at BAIC including Troy Sampson, General Manager; Justin Sturrup, Lead Consultant; Justin Taylor, Jerad Darville, Dundas Munning and Otaine Woodside for their contribution to the project to date.

Also present were other Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries; Permanent Secretaries; representatives of international partners and government agencies, members of BAIC board, teachers and students, farmers and community and civic minded individuals. The police band provided entertainment.

Following the programme, dignitaries donned hard hats and used ceremonial shovels to broke ground at the site in celebration of the start of the project.

Bahamas News

Bahamas economic growth

Published

3 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

3 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

4 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.”