In a setting a world apart from the plush lounges of its luxury ships, the President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, the world’s largest cruise line, today donned gloves, lined up with volunteers and helped serve a different clientele, those who relish the home-cooked hot meals prepared every week at Moseff House, Fox Hill Road.
For RCI chief Michael Bayley being part of the experience of Bahamas Feeding Network was “heart-warming” beyond expectation.
“The connection between Royal Caribbean and The Bahamas is as long as our history. Our first ship ever to sail from the port of Miami made its first stop in Nassau and this year we will bring 1.2 million passengers to the shores of The Bahamas. But today, our connection with the Bahamian people took on new meaning as I was invited to experience first-hand the work that goes on in this historic community of Fox Hill where volunteers give of their time and energy to cook for others, to share friendship and to show they care,” said Bayley, who heads the Miami-based brand with 66,000 employees.
“This is the true meaning of caring and our team members who are here and myself are extremely touched and moved by the work of the Bahamas Feeding Network. It is my pleasure to present a cheque from Royal Caribbean International to the Bahamas Feeding Network in the amount of $25,000 and to offer our congratulations to Mr. Philip Smith, your executive director, to your patron, Mr. Frank Crothers, and all the directors and especially Scully and Solly and the more than 40 other volunteers – you are a living testament to the goodness of people.”
The visit to the bright yellow building next to the Fox Hill police station was a far cry from Mr. Bayley’s last visit to The Bahamas when representing the public company with 60 ships and nearly $20 billion in assets he was treated to performances by the Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band, a Junkanoo rush-out and a visit to Government House. During this year’s visit, he wanted to know more about community efforts. Still, he brought a touch of Royal Caribbean’s style with him, including a cake in the shape of a cruise ship large enough to feed 500. And hosts for his visit put on a show that included a children’s choir from a neighbourhood church.
On hand for the visit were Hon. Frankie Campbell, Minister of Social Services & Urban Development, Hon. Shonel Ferguson, MP for Fox Hill, Dr. Raymond King, Port Controller, board of directors and supporters of the Bahamas Feeding Network. Entertainment was provided by the Believers Faith Outreach Ministries children’s choir.
“Today is evidence that volunteerism and altruism are still alive here in The Bahamas particularly in Fox Hill,” said Hon. Frankie Campbell, Minister of Social Services and Urban Development. “I want to commend the chairman and directors and all of the volunteers of the Bahamas Feeding Network for the work that has been done, is being done and we know will continue being done here. I want to say a very big thank you to Michael and the entire Royal Caribbean family. This is not the first in the involvement of Royal Caribbean in the local affairs of The Bahamas. I am aware that Royal Caribbean approached us and entered into an agreement to employ Bahamians on their ships and there is a memorandum of understanding with the National Training Association to ensure that these Bahamians are properly prepared and will go on their ships.”
Founded in 2013 under the patronage of H.E. Frank Crothers, and with the support of numerous sponsors, The Bahamas Feeding Network has provided nearly one half million hot meals to help ease the pain of hunger in The Bahamas where one in every seven persons reports living below the poverty level of $11.64/day. The feeding network distributes hot meals and grocery coupons through more than 80 churches, feeding centres and soup kitchens, prepping, cooking, plating and distributing some 3,500 hot meals every week. It has provided $450,000 in food coupons to those in need throughout The Bahamas with specific campaigns to ensure that single heads of household do not face empty cupboards and feeding 5,000 over the holidays with sacks of groceries to last a family of four a full week. The program is run entirely by volunteers and its administrative costs are borne by a single anonymous donor so that all funds donated go directly to supplies and distribution. It operates out of a modest building on Fox Hill Road, the former home of the Davis family donated for the cause and the siblings who inherited and donated the property continue to cover costs.
ABOUT ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that controls and operates four global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Silversea Cruises. We are also a 50% joint venture owner of the German brand TUI Cruises, a 49% shareholder in the Spanish brand Pullmantur and a 36% shareholder in the Chinese brand SkySea Cruises. Together, these brands operate a combined total of 60 ships with an additional fourteen on order as of August 31, 2018. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on all seven continents. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebritycruises.com, www.azamaraclubcruises.com, www.silversea.com, www.tuicruises.com, www.pullmantur.es, or www.rclinvestor.com.
Royal Caribbean International presents cheque to BFN
Royal Caribbean International made a $25,000 donation to Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN) during a recent visit to the Fox Hill centre. Pictured holding the cheque are MP for Fox Hill, Hon. Shonel Ferguson; Minister of Social Services & Urban Development, Hon. Frankie Campbell; President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, Michael Bayley; BFN Deputy Chairman, Sean Moree; BFN Executive Director, Philip Smith & BFN Chairman, Felix Stubbs along with other members of Royal Caribbean International and BFN. (Photo by Ronnie Archer for DPA.)
Believers Faith Outreach Ministries Children's Choir
Uplifting spirits – Guests were amazed by the powerful sounds of the Believers Faith Outreach Ministries children’s choir during a special visit by Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International to the Bahamas Feeding Network. (Photo by Ronnie Archer for DPA.)
The assembly line
Let the plating begin. Hon. Frankie Campbell, Minister of Social Services & Urban Development, Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International & Shonel Ferguson, MP for Fox Hill stand ready on the assembly line at the Bahamas Feeding Network to dish up hot meals for distribution to the more than 80 churches, feeding centres and soup kitchens that receive the meals on a weekly basis. (Photo by Ronnie Archer for DPA.)
Cutting of the cake
Cutting of the cake - Shonel Ferguson, MP for Fox Hill; Hon. Frankie Campbell, Minister of Social Services & Urban Development; Philip Smith, Executive Director BFN and Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International slice into the mammoth cake baked by chef’s on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. Looking on are Dr. Raymond King, Port Controller and Dr. & Mrs. Mychal Coleman, Vice President of Human Resources, University of the Bahamas. (Photo by Ronnie Archer for DPA.)
