NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Carnival Cruise Corporation has announced that Grand Bahamian Philcher Grant-Adderley has been named Director of Public Affairs and Community Engagement, a new role that the company said will be crucial to its ongoing efforts to deepen its relationship with The Bahamas.
Grant Adderley, a well-known and respected figure throughout the Grand Bahama community, is expected to serve as an invaluable asset in strengthening existing ties and building new partnerships with a wide range of Bahamian stakeholders. This increased focus on community engagement comes as construction of the $500 million, world-class Celebration Key cruise destination, the largest project of its kind ever undertaken by Carnival Corporation, is picking up pace on Grand Bahama.
Her role will not be limited to Grand Bahama, however, as the Carnival is continuing to develop and improve aspects of its presence throughout The Bahamas, leading to many new opportunities for the company to support and give back to the local communities that have partnered with it over many years.
"The new position of Director, Public and Community Affairs requires an individual who can interact effectively with the many stakeholders with which we partner closely continuously, while also being able to connect meaningfully and build genuine relationships with the various communities that are positively impacted by Carnival's activities in The Bahamas," said Marie McKenzie, Carnival Corporation's Vice President, Government and Destination Affairs.
"In Philcher, we have all this and more. Her outstanding professional achievements, comprehensive understanding of Bahamian community dynamics, enthusiastic, engaging manner and authentic concern for the well-being of all Bahamians, made her the standout choice in a very competitive slate of candidates."
Philcher comes to the role as an accomplished professional with over 15 years of combined experience in communications, asset management, public affairs, community and stakeholder engagement, utility operations and disaster preparedness and response.
She has held key executive positions throughout her career, including Director, Customer Solutions for the Grand Bahama Power Company; Chief Operations Officer, Grand Bahama Utility Company; and Director of Public Affairs, Port Group Limited. She has served her country with distinction in concurrent appointments as a Director for the Bahamas Development Bank Board and Director on the National Insurance Board.
"I am thrilled to have the honor to join this amazing Carnival Corporation team," Philcher said. "This is more than a job opportunity; it is a chance to work with an organization that truly wants to partner with our community to make a substantive impact on the island of my birth and the country that I love. I am also excited to work with the community and all stakeholders to ensure that Carnival's investment transcends ships and cruise ports, to include investment in people and communities as well."
Philcher's commitment to the communities of Grand Bahama is well-known as over the years, she has helped organize and volunteered with many local charitable organizations. These initiatives have included school breakfast programs, back-to-school giveaways, mentoring programs for young girls, community feeding programs, hurricane relief programs, coastal cleanups, and Christmas toy drives.
The national tragedy of Hurricane Dorian in 2019 severely impacted every community in Grand Bahama. Under the most challenging of circumstances, Philcher successfully led the resource management and community engagement plan for the island's power restoration, as well as the post-Dorian restoration and communications plan for the reestablishment of potable water supply across the island.
McKenzie said: "This new position is a testament to Carnival Corporation's commitment to the people of The Bahamas. For more than half a century, we have been building a mutually-beneficial relationship and as a company, we want to do all we can to ensure that as many Bahamians as possible continue to benefit from this partnership for years to come. Philcher will be a cornerstone of those efforts going forward."
Carnival Corporation has announced that Celebration Key will create 700 permanent jobs - including 300 Bahamians to be hired directly by Carnival Corporation - and bring 2.2 million plus cruise passengers a year to Grand Bahama. The destination is slated to begin operations in 2025.
Click here to read more on the Eye Witness News website
