We decided to share this article with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. Grand Bahama 242 News published this article on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The article can be found here.
March 17, 2026 – Carnival Cruise Line is establishing the Carnival Grand Bahama Advisory Council, a new community-focused body designed to deepen local engagement, strengthen collaboration and ensure the company’s initiatives align with the true needs and priorities of the people of Grand Bahama.
The advisory council brings together 12 respected local leaders, each representing a diverse cross-section of interests. Members include environmental advocates, activists, representatives of key stakeholder groups such as straw vendors and transportation operators, small and medium-sized business owners, restauranteurs, artists, and leaders of local nonprofit organizations.
Marie McKenzie, senior vice president of government relations and destination affairs, emphasized the company’s longstanding commitment to genuine community partnership in countries where Carnival operates.
“Carnival’s commitment extends far beyond the ports we visit and destinations we build – it includes the people, culture and communities that make these places unique,” McKenzie said. “We believe in listening first, partnering with intention, and ensuring that our presence delivers meaningful benefits. The Grand Bahama Advisory Council reflects our commitment to consultation, collaboration and resident-guided support.”
The Council’s mandate is to provide informed guidance on a range of topics, including social needs, local concerns and opportunities for meaningful partnership. Members will also help advise on Carnival’s Council Community Giving Budget, identifying projects and organizations that can benefit most from targeted support. While Carnival will retain final approval on all recommendations, the advisory council will play a central role in shaping the company’s local impact.
The inaugural advisory members are:
• Nevar Smith – Community advocate and cultural tourism operator
• Joseph Darville – Sustainability and environmental advocate
• Romal Russell – Restaurateur and local business leader
• Lorenzo McKenzie – Straw vendor and advocate for local vendors
• Nikita Turnquest – Visual storyteller and cultural artist
• Natalya Poitier – Small business entrepreneur and digital influencer
• Preston Knowles – Visual media specialist and performing arts advocate
• Joye Ritchie – Community service leader and president of the Pilot Club of Lucaya
• Christina Geralene Dean – Transportation service professional
• Keith Rolle – Leader in small and medium enterprise development
• Othyneil Pinder – Community advocate, Rotary Club of Freeport
• Collin Cover – Community service leader – Kiwanis Club of Freeport
Meetings will be held bi-monthly, and members will serve two-year terms. The council will be chaired by Philcher Grant, Carnival’s director of public & community affairs, Bahamas and Turks & Caicos.
“Philcher’s leadership is especially meaningful because she is one of Grand Bahama’s own,” McKenzie said. “She understands the island’s resilience, having lived through hurricanes, the pandemic and the economic challenges that have tested this community. Her deep Grand Bahama roots, empathy and firsthand knowledge make her the ideal person to guide this council’s work and ensure that every conversation is grounded in the real experiences of Grand Bahamians.”
Carnival Cruise Line continues to invest in Grand Bahama through job creation, local partnerships, charitable contributions and the development of new opportunities for residents and businesses through its newly-opened flagship destination, Celebration Key. The formation of the advisory council marks the company’s latest step in building a long-term, transparent and inclusive relationship with the island’s various communities.
The establishment of the Grand Bahama Advisory Council follows a series of recent community investments across The Bahamas. Over the past month, Carnival Cruise Line coordinated 17 donations worth about $65,000 to organizations in Nassau and Grand Bahama, supported by nine visiting ships. In Grand Bahama, Carnival also partnered with the Bahamas National Trust on $30,000 in new park infrastructure, donated an ambulance to strengthen emergency response, and expanded its annual back-to-school initiative, providing supplies to hundreds of students in Grand Bahama and South Eleuthera.