The young lady who will represent The Bahamas at the 2024 Miss Bahamas Universe pageant will be crowned on Sunday during the pageant at which Cyprianna Munnings-McWeeney, a former Miss Bahamas, will serve as patron.

The pageant finale takes place at Atlantis.

During her reign, the then-19-year-old Munnings chose to forgo attending the 1973 Miss Universe pageant in Greece that year.

Munnings was the first runner-up in the 1972 Miss Bahamas pageant and was later named the successor to the original winner who left The Bahamas to engage in other pursuits, a move which paved the way for Munnings to reign in an independent Bahamas.

Anthony Smith, Miss Bahamas Universe pageant president and national director, said the organization chose to celebrate Munnings-McWeeney for requesting to stay at home in anticipation of The Bahamas' impending 1973 independence celebration and festivities in her capacity as the reigning Miss Bahamas.

Munnings later crowned Agatha Watson as her successor in the fall of 1973.

And in preparation for Sunday's finale, the contestants were engaged in modeling, communication and public speaking sessions, dance rehearsal and media training, as well as dining etiquette.

Smith has dubbed this year's production as a "Love Letter to The Bahamas" as The Bahamas celebrates its 50th year of independence.

In the fray for the coveted title will be Patranique Lamb, Miss Paradise Island; Taja Hudson, Miss Cat Island; Robyn Rahming, Miss Exuma; Beyonce Forbes, Miss Grand Bahama; Randeika Foulkes-Cartwright, Miss New Providence; Iheoma Nwankwo, Miss Abaco; Lakeisa Saunders, Miss Rum Cay; Melissa Ingraham, Miss Long Island; Danielle Dean, Miss Acklins; and Andria Gardiner, Miss Eleuthera.

Leader of the Opposition the Hon. Michael Pintard signs the Book of Condolence and pays last respects to the late Warren Rolle, former Financial Secretary, at Lying-in-Respose Ceremonies at Butlers Funeral Home and Crematorium on Thursday, June 15, 2023.  A State-Recognized Funeral Service will be held on Friday morning, June 16, at Christ the King Anglican Church, Ridgeland Park. 

Royal Caribbean International has announced that longtime Bahamian business and land development executive Philip Simon will lead its next chapter of growth and partnership with The Bahamas. Simon begins his new role as president of the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island and general manager of Royal Caribbean International Bahamas on July 1, in which he will oversee every aspect of the proposed beach club and be the local chief executive collaborating with the government of The Bahamas, regulatory agencies, businesses and fellow residents to ensure Bahamian expertise and influence are cornerstones of the beach club. 

“Welcoming a leader who is as well-respected and accomplished in The Bahamas as Philip Simon is the start of an exciting chapter,” said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer, Royal Caribbean International. “With a project as significant as the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island that will introduce a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership, we are committed to maximizing Bahamian participation and building a development that will set new standards in environmental design and operation in The Bahamas. Philip, a resident and native of The Bahamas, has the experience and reputation to ensure that.” 

With Simon as president and general manager, Bahamian influence in Royal Caribbean’s operations within The Bahamas begins at the top of the organization. He will lead executive staff and a team based in Nassau and oversee everything from the responsible development of the beach club to the recruitment of local Bahamians and businesses for its construction and eventual operation.  

A key part of this role will be collaborating with Royal Caribbean’s equity partner to bring a new public-private partnership to life, which invites Bahamians to own up to 49% equity in the beach club. Simon will also drive the cruise line’s efforts in supporting the development of partners, businesses and entrepreneurs to maximize the local sector’s opportunities to operate the beach experience. 

“I am excited to represent both Royal Caribbean International and the country in what will be a very unique opportunity for all sides, with the new beach club and the tremendous potential for extended growth and partnership for years to come,” Simon said.  

A leader with extensive experience in managing projects of varying scales in The Bahamas, Simon has a 20-year track record of responsible development and management. He was most recently managing partner at PMR Bahamas Realty Ltd. (Torch Cay), overseeing the company’s business in The Bahamas, and president of The New Providence Development Company Ltd. before that. Simon’s background also includes serving as a voice and key supporter of local businesses during his time as CEO of The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce from 2002-2010, where he managed its daily affairs with a special emphasis on trade and business development.  

The new Royal Caribbean executive holds a degree in physics and mathematics from The College of The Bahamas and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University, cum laude. He also has a master’s degree in business administration with concentrations in entrepreneurship and finance from the University of Maryland. 

Simon has served on the boards of Bahamas Ferries, the Bahamas Venture Capital Fund, The Regional Management Consultancy Task Force, Civil Society Advisory Group, The Bahamas National Pride Association and The Bahamas Trade Commission. He is also the former chairman of the Self-Starter Youth Entrepreneurial Grant Program, an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Old Fort Bay and a former membership officer of YPO Bahamas. He is the current chairman of Junior Achievement Bahamas and deputy chair of The Bahamas Primary School Student of The Year Foundation. 

The Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island is a proposed 17-acre beach experience coming to the western end of Paradise Island in Nassau, The Bahamas. It will combine the island’s striking beaches with Royal Caribbean International’s signature experiences to create the ultimate beach day. Crafted in close collaboration with the Bahamian government, The Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island will feature a unique public-private partnership in which Bahamians will be invited to own up to 49% equity. Local businesses and entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to manage the vast majority of the experience. Overall, the new venture will generate hundreds of jobs across its construction and long-term operation. 

 The beach club will be made up of 13 acres of land owned by the cruise line and 4 acres of Crown Land. The Crown Land will be contributed as equity in the new venture to ensure a share of the profits return to the government and the Bahamian people in a first-of-its-kind agreement in The Bahamas. This, in addition to a new tourism levy, will go into reinvesting in the local community. The collaboration between the government, the community and Royal Caribbean will continue as the development moves through the stages of planning and completion.  

More details about Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island, set to open in 2025, will be revealed in the coming months. 

 

About Royal Caribbean International 

Royal Caribbean International, owned by Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel that features the latest technology and guest experiences for today’s adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to 240 destinations in 61 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 20 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards. 

Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN. 

Royal Caribbean International has announced that longtime Bahamian business and land development executive Philip Simon will lead its next chapter of growth and partnership with The Bahamas. Simon begins his new role as president of the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island and general manager of Royal Caribbean International Bahamas on July 1, in which he will oversee every aspect of the proposed beach club and be the local chief executive collaborating with the government of The Bahamas, regulatory agencies, businesses and fellow residents to ensure Bahamian expertise and influence are cornerstones of the beach club.  “Welcoming a leader who is as well-respected and accomplished in The Bahamas as Philip Simon is the start of an exciting chapter,” said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer, Royal Caribbean International. “With a project as significant as the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island that will introduce a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership, we are committed to maximizing Bahamian participation and building a development that will set new standards in environmental design and operation in The Bahamas. Philip, a resident and native of The Bahamas, has the experience and reputation to ensure that.”  With Simon as president and general manager, Bahamian influence in Royal Caribbean’s operations within The Bahamas begins at the top of the organization. He will lead executive staff and a team based in Nassau and oversee everything from the responsible development of the beach club to the recruitment of local Bahamians and businesses for its construction and eventual operation.   A key part of this role will be collaborating with Royal Caribbean’s equity partner to bring a new public-private partnership to life, which invites Bahamians to own up to 49% equity in the beach club. Simon will also drive the cruise line’s efforts in supporting the development of partners, businesses and entrepreneurs to maximize the local sector’s opportunities to operate the beach experience.  “I am excited to represent both Royal Caribbean International and the country in what will be a very unique opportunity for all sides, with the new beach club and the tremendous potential for extended growth and partnership for years to come,” Simon said.   A leader with extensive experience in managing projects of varying scales in The Bahamas, Simon has a 20-year track record of responsible development and management. He was most recently managing partner at PMR Bahamas Realty Ltd. (Torch Cay), overseeing the company’s business in The Bahamas, and president of The New Providence Development Company Ltd. before that. Simon’s background also includes serving as a voice and key supporter of local businesses during his time as CEO of The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce from 2002-2010, where he managed its daily affairs with a special emphasis on trade and business development.   The new Royal Caribbean executive holds a degree in physics and mathematics from The College of The Bahamas and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University, cum laude. He also has a master’s degree in business administration with concentrations in entrepreneurship and finance from the University of Maryland.  Simon has served on the boards of Bahamas Ferries, the Bahamas Venture Capital Fund, The Regional Management Consultancy Task Force, Civil Society Advisory Group, The Bahamas National Pride Association and The Bahamas Trade Commission. He is also the former chairman of the Self-Starter Youth Entrepreneurial Grant Program, an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Old Fort Bay and a former membership officer of YPO Bahamas. He is the current chairman of Junior Achievement Bahamas and deputy chair of The Bahamas Primary School Student of The Year Foundation.  The Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island is a proposed 17-acre beach experience coming to the western end of Paradise Island in Nassau, The Bahamas. It will combine the island’s striking beaches with Royal Caribbean International’s signature experiences to create the ultimate beach day. Crafted in close collaboration with the Bahamian government, The Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island will feature a unique public-private partnership in which Bahamians will be invited to own up to 49% equity. Local businesses and entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to manage the vast majority of the experience. Overall, the new venture will generate hundreds of jobs across its construction and long-term operation.    The beach club will be made up of 13 acres of land owned by the cruise line and 4 acres of Crown Land. The Crown Land will be contributed as equity in the new venture to ensure a share of the profits return to the government and the Bahamian people in a first-of-its-kind agreement in The Bahamas. This, in addition to a new tourism levy, will go into reinvesting in the local community. The collaboration between the government, the community and Royal Caribbean will continue as the development moves through the stages of planning and completion.   More details about Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island, set to open in 2025, will be revealed in the coming months.    About Royal Caribbean International  Royal Caribbean International, owned by Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel that features the latest technology and guest experiences for today’s adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to 240 destinations in 61 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 20 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.  Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN. 

 

Bahamian rocket scientist and entrepreneur Aisha Bowe has landed an almost $1 billion contract with the US government's National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), according to an article on the website of media company Black Enterprise.

The NGA's website explains that it "is a combat support agency within the United States Department of Defense whose primary mission is collecting, analyzing, and distributing geospatial intelligence in support of national security".

Bowe is also set to be the first black woman to travel with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin Space program into Earth's atmosphere where outer space begins.

Bowe has launched several successful businesses, including LINGO, a teaching tool that brings coding to even the smallest child.

She is no stranger to winning government contracts through her companies.

"The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency announced it had awarded a $947 million contract to Exacta Solutions, a joint venture with STEMBoard, of which Bowe is founder and CEO," the Black Enterprise article said.

"STEMBoard is a tech company that creates smart systems and solutions for large-scale US federal and private sector clients. The grant is designed to provide support to NGA's total life cycle acquisition management, strategic financial management, and strategic business management activities to Exacta Solutions."

Bowe told Guardian Business in 2020 that she originally hoped STEMBoard would be a Silicon Valley success story amidst the technology firms resting comfortably within the bosom of a venture capital firm. But there were no takers.

She has therefore grown the company organically since 2013, without outside funding.

"Bowe's extraordinary achievements are truly an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, as she paves the way for increased representation in tech and aerospace," the Black Enterprise article states.

"Her visionary leadership, relentless pursuit of excellence, and dedication to empowering the next generation make her a trailblazer and a role model for individuals from all walks of life."