Bahamas News

Bahamas Achievements Admirable Says Minister Pintard at 44th Independence Celebrations in Grand Bahama

Published

7 years ago

July 7, 2017

Bahamas, July 7, 2017 – Grand Bahama – As the country celebrates its 44th Independence on July 10 some of the best and brightest Bahamians have made contributions in many spheres internationally, said Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Michael Pintard during the Flag Raising Ceremony on Friday.

The ceremony is part of the 44th Anniversary of Independence celebrations. “Our small national has become the envy, not just of the region but countries around the world who have understudied what we have done in tourism and in financial services. Even in crisis, we continue to prove we are resilient and powerful. In the aftermath of the blacklisting, we produce a cadre of compliance officers who designed one of the sophisticated compliance regimes that assisted this region in getting back on track.

“Therefore, this morning as we raise our flag, we salute all those nation builders on whose shoulders we stand, some with title and many with no name or face recognition but, nevertheless, they played a pivotal role in transforming life as we know it in The Bahamas. So, we salute them. We also acknowledge that there are many unrealized dreams that we have set, and there are some stubborn issues that threaten the gains that we have made thus far. This Minnis led government believes that the collective will and genius of the Bahamian people will enable us to grow our economy once again; reduce the high incidences of crime and the high occurrences of non-communicable and other diseases. We are determined to forge deeper relationships with all Bahamians, regardless of their political persuasion, religious differences, differences in race. All of us have to be on the same page if we are to transform this country for the better.”

Minister Pintard saluted all those who had the insight and courage 44 years ago who felt it was time for the country to govern its own affairs and sit at international tables as equals.

“The pursuit and achievement of Independence on the 10th of July, 1973, was an acknowledgement that we ought to be the main agents, the main architects designing our own future and managing the growth and development of our own country. We accepted the challenge undergirded by our faith in God and the confidence in our collective ability as a people.

“Over the last four decades plus, despite all of our challenges, we’ve accomplished I believe you would agree with me this morning, a great deal as a people. In the international sphere, our voice factored loudly. When we engaged as a global community in the discussion of disarmament, there was a Bahamian chairing many of those sessions, Dr. Davidson Hepburn. In international diplomacy our own Missouri Sherman-Peters impacted the significant work done by the United Nations, and our first Prime Minister, Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling’s voice resonated internationally as we dismantled as a global community Apartheid’s wall and rebuilt in its place, a multiracial South Africa that even today is working to forge a lasting peace.”

The country has made contributions all over the world, he said. “In academics, we continue to produce multiple Rhode’s scholars, scientists that are impacting the world both in technology, just ask NASA and in medicine as we travel throughout particularly Africa assisting on many levels. We have set a standard. Many of our scholars have sat international standardized exams and performed as well, and often better, than their colleagues who hail from around the globe.

“We are good as anyone else, anywhere else in the world.

“Sons and daughters of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas have caused tens of millions around the world to pause and salute The Bahamas as our flag has been raised in numerous stadiums around the world where track and field took place, in aquatic centres where swimming took place, on the shores even in Regattas. Our amateur and elite athletes have made a difference, have made us proud and have made the world take note.”

He added, “This morning, we salute all of you who continue to engage in this nation building exercise. Bahamians, those that have chosen to cast their lot with us and have moved to The Bahamas. Diplomats who have worked with us on an ongoing basis, we look forward to working with you to frame a democracy that will be envied.

“This year’s theme, “One God, One People, One Bahamas” is a most appropriate reminder of the core values that have held us together since Independence.”

Also present for the flag raising ceremony, held at the Harold Degregory Complex were: Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes, Minister of Labour; Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister along with other Members of Parliament, senior government officials and religious leaders.

While the ceremony was taking place in Freeport, Senate president, the Hon. Kay Forbes-Smith was present with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest in East Grand Bahama. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, the Hon. Iram Lewis and Parliamentary Secretary of Information and Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Pakesha Parker-Edgecombe were in West Grand Bahama. All three areas held Flag Raising Ceremonies simultaneously.

THE HON. MICHAEL PINTARD, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture (BIS Photo/Andrew Coakley)

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Senior government officials and officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Defence Force, are seen during the Flag Raising Ceremony of the 44th Anniversary of Independence ceremony on Friday at the Harold Degregory Complex. Shown in the front row from left are: Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clarence Reckley; Andrew Bowe, Senior Lt./Executive Officer of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and OC of Grand Bahama; and Deputy Commission of Police and OC of Grand Bahama, Emrick Seymour; Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes, Minister of Labour; the Hon. Michael Pintard, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture; Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State

for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister and Rev. Peter Pinder, president, Grand Bahama Christian Council.

Story by: Robyn Adderley

Press Release: BIS

(BIS Photo/Andrew Coakley)

Bahamas News

Sister Province/Island Relationship Agreement Signed between Grand Bahama Island and Hunan Province

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

By LLONELLA GILBERT
Bahamas Information Services

NASSAU, The Bahamas — A significant milestone was made in the development of bilateral relations between the Governments of The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China by the signing of the Sister Province/Island Relationship Agreement between Grand Bahama Island and Hunan Province.

The signing took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The Hon. Ginger Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama; the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness; Kingsley Smith, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama and Joel Lewis, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama represented The Bahamas at the signing.

His Excellency Mao Weiming, Governor of Hunan Provincial People’s Government; Qu Hai, Secretary General of Hunan Provincial People’s Government; Cui Wei, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China; and Yang Peiran, Interpreter represented the People’s Republic of China.

Minister Moxey explained that in February 2022, she and the former Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas, Her Excellency Dai Qingli began discussion on the establishment of a province-island relationship between Hunan Province and Grand Bahama Island because of their “immense synergy”.

“Hunan has a vibrant creative industry and its capital city, Changsha is known as the entertainment capital of China, whilst Grand Bahama is poised to become the home of entertainment in ‘Our Bluepoint for Change’.”

She said Hunan Province boasts 11 industrial sectors and Grand Bahama is the industrial capital of The Bahamas. Further, innovation driven development has been a new driving force for Hunan, while Grand Bahama is poised to become the home of innovation for The Bahamas.

Minister Moxey said she is confident that an exchange of knowledge, ideas and culture will happen between the residents of Hunan Province and Grand Bahama.

“There is potential for robust trade in various sectors, opportunities for tourism promotion and intercultural appreciation, exchanges to support performing arts programs on our island, foster growth within the Orange Economy, and tap into China’s innovation, technology and vast expertise.”

She said that the formal signing aligns with the mission of Sister Cities International, which is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation, one community at a time.

The Minister said, “Through collaborative programs and initiatives, this connection will support the government’s vision to diversity Grand Bahama’s economy to become the Home of Maritime and Logistics, Home of Events and Entertainment and Home of Innovation.”

She noted that in addition to signing the agreement, she looks forward to Grand Bahama residents benefitting from the signing of the Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding between Central South University and University of The Bahamas (UB), which will expand educational and technical cooperation between the two universities. The northern campus of UB is located in Grand Bahama.

His Excellency Mao Weiming said although geographically far apart, China and The Bahamas are friends with mutual respect and understanding as well as sincerity.

He explained that 27 years ago, both countries established diplomatic relations and China and The Bahamas have deepened their cooperation, strengthened their friendship and carried out many activities in the field of economy, trade and people-to-people exchange.

His Excellency recalled that in August 2022, he and Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis had a video conference where they both reached a consensus to cooperate in order to usher a new chapter in the relationship between Hunan and The Bahamas.

“Today, we are here to sign a sister-to-sister relationship between Hunan and Grand Bahama. It is [a] concrete move to implement our consensus reached before and also to embark on a new journey of friendly exchanges.”

He added, “By establishing the relationship of sister cities, I believe the two sides will develop further in terms of economic and trade cooperation, people to people exchange, as well as friendship, and we will embrace new opportunities and deliver concrete benefits for the two peoples.”

He explained that Hunan, which is the home town of Chairman Mao, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, has developed very advanced industries of manufacturing, agriculture, education, culture as well as tourism.

His Excellency said he believes that Hunan and Grand Bahama enjoy very broad room for cooperation.

He said, “More efforts should be made to conduct cooperation in the fields of agriculture, tourism, culture, education and the film industry so as to realize a connectivity between our two sides in terms of logistics and the platform cooperation; so as to deliver concrete benefits for the people and to make our due contribution to the bilateral relationship between China and The Bahamas.”

PHOTO CAPTION

A significant milestone was made in the development of bilateral relations between the Governments of The Bahamas and the People’s Republic of China by the signing of the Sister Province/Island Relationship Agreement between Grand Bahama Island and Hunan Province. The signing took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Shown from left: Qu Hai, Secretary General of Hunan Provincial People’s Government; Cui Wei, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China; Yang Peiran, Interpreter H.E. Mao Weiming, Governor of Hunan Provincial People’s Government; the Hon. Ginger Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama; the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness; Kingsley Smith, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama and Joel Lewis, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama.

(BIS Photos/Anthon Thompson)

Bahamas News

Nassau Cruise Port Donates Nearly $2 Million Towards Food Security

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

Nassau, Bahamas: The Nassau Cruise Port has donated $1.95 million towards projects that will assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources in its aim to increase food security for The Bahamas.

The donation officially occurred at the Ministry’s offices recently, where Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Hon. Jomo Campbell, Minister of Labour Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle, Permanent Secretary Neil Campbell and Nassau Cruise Port CEO Mike Maura listened to a number of presentations including one for a poultry programme for schools, a chicken broiler production programme, the redevelopment of the Blue Hill Road Farmers Market and an Authentic Bahamian Cultural Concept Store,

Mr. Maura said he was impressed by the presentations.

“I had the privilege to listen to the presentations and review presentations that touched on food security and the need for us to be self-sufficient, which as a Bahamian I support completely. At the Nassau Cruise Port, we get excited about the prospects of offering more authentic food to the millions of visitors that we have each year,” he said.

“And then, in addition to that, we had presentations around the further development of our artisans, which is so important to us as well. The guests visiting our shores are looking for something that really touches The Bahamas and can’t be found somewhere else. The Nassau Cruise Port has made a pledge to BAIC and its affiliates. We will be supporting the projects that were presented and we can’t wait to get started.”

Minister Glover-Rolle, who is also the Member of Parliament for Golden Gates, hailed Nassau Cruise Port as a “great community partner.”

“Thank you for the opportunity to not only present but agreeing to participate. Our Minister of Agriculture has a goal of reducing food imports by 25 percent by the year 2025 and our project in the Golden Gates Community speaks to that,” she said.

“We have a number of backyard farmers, farmers and fishers in our community in Golden Gates. Being able to use the Blue Hill Road Farmers Market, which is going to be dubbed the ‘Fish Fry of the South,’ as a hub for food security but also a hub where artisans and handicraft persons can come and sell their wares is wonderful. So, we are happy that you have agreed to partner with us and we look forward to a partnership and we hope to welcome some of your visitors when this amazing renovation is done.”

Minister Campbell also lauded the Nassau Cruise Port for its efforts.

“I would like to say thank you to the presenters for the presentations that are several steps in the right direction for our country, to Mr. Maura and his board at the Nassau Cruise Port and I would like to say thanks to God for this partnership and bringing us all together as we move forward, upward, together in building a better, brighter, future for The Bahamas,” he said.

Bahamas News

Royal Caribbean Club in The Bahamas started after delays

Published

20 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas#RoyalCaribbean, April 23, 2024- After being delayed following its announcement in 2020, Royal Caribbean’s new 17 acre Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, is now in the works and is scheduled to be ready for 2025, according to reports. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday April 22, signifying the start of construction in the next few months. This project is huge for The Bahamas as it’s a first of kind for the nation, with a unique public private partnership allowing Bahamians to hold up to 49 percent in equity.