The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Carnival Corporation has hired the former chief operations officer at Grand Bahama’s water supplier to help strengthen local ties prior to its new $500m cruise port opening.

The cruise giant, in a statement, said Philcher Grant-Adderley will take on the role of public and community affairs director. She will be charged with forging partnerships with a wide range of Bahamian stakeholders as Carnival’s Celebration Key cruise destination starts to pick up the construction pace on Grand Bahama.

“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 on a continuous basis, 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 stand-out choice in a very competitive slate of candidates.”

Ms Grant-Adderley has more than 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 executive positions, including director, customer solutions for Grand Bahama Power Company; chief operations officer at Grand Bahama Utility Company; and director of public affairs for Port Group Limited. She has also held posts as a director for the Bahamas Development Bank (BDB) and on the National Insurance Board (NIB).

“I am thrilled to have the honour to join this amazing Carnival Corporation team,” Ms Grant-Adderley said. “This is more than a job opportunity; it is a chance to work with an organisation 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.”

Ms McKenzie added: “This new position is 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 has announced that Celebration Key will create 700 permanent jobs, including 300 Bahamians to be hired directly by the cruise line itself, and bring 2.2m-plus cruise passengers a year to Grand Bahama. The destination is slated to begin operations in 2025.