From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
$1 Million BTC Title Sponsorship for Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival
By Jerome Sawyer, Senior Manager, Public Relations
Nov 17, 2014 - 12:07:02 PM
NASSAU, New Providence -
BTC’s community support in youth, sports
and culture continues with the announcement that they are the one million
dollar title sponsor of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival and the first corporate
partner to join the newly developed tourism initiative.
In a joint press
conference, BTC CEO Leon Williams said they had been in discussions with the Bahamas
Junkanoo Carnival and
a
split between cash and in-kind services for a mutually beneficial $1M sponsorship
was agreed.
“$750,000 will
be in cash and $250,000 will be in-kind services to consist of joint marketing
and branding opportunities. The Junkanoo Carnival will feature on the cover of
the BTC’s 2015 Telephone Directories which include white and yellow pages for
Nassau, Grand Bahama, and Abaco. The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival will also have
articles within the Directories. Furthermore, Carnival will feature on BTC prepaid
phone cards and buildings.”
Thanking BTC for
its partnership, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Chairman Paul Major stated that the
event is strategic to the development of Bahamian cultural tourism.
“This event is
key for the evolution of culture in the Bahamas,” said Mr. Major. “For BTC to
step up to the plate to the extent that they have speaks volume about the
company’s belief in our culture and in The Bahamas. The Prime Minister made it
clear that he wanted this to be a primer for a more culture driven economy.”
“Most other
tourist destinations are using culture to catapult them ahead in a very
competitive environment. Sun, sand and sea has become old. We need something
that sets us apart and I think we are well on the way to making that happen.”
Mr. Major also
stated that the festival presents many opportunities for local artisans.
“We hope to
bring some economic relief to those who have laboured long and hard in Junkanoo
and other forms of culture and yet have little to show for it materially. In Trinidad
there are multiple millionaires from Carnival. I do not know of millionaires
from Junkanoo, but with this festival there will be thousands of people, buying
thousands of costumes and putting thousands of Bahamians to work.”
The Bahamas Junkanoo
Carnival will be a series of events starting on Easter Monday 2015 in Nassau and
ending May 7th with the “Road Fever” parade. Anchor events include “Junkamania,”
a concert of Bahamian orchestras featuring Junkanoo musicians in collaboration
with philharmonic musicians; and “Music Masters,” a major concert featuring a
Grammy-award winning artist and ten finalists from 172 entries in a related
song competition.
Bahamas Junkanoo
Carnival CEO Roscoe Dames explained the involvement of the Family islands. In
the proposed Carnival Cultural Village – an enclosed festival space at the Western
Esplanade featuring food stalls and three entertainment stages – he said that each
Family Island will be allotted a pavilion to represent its local culture. Many
of the island regattas will become involved and Grand Bahama will have its own
celebratory weekend in April, inclusive of a concert featuring the song
competition semi-finalists, a Junkanoo Carnival beach party, and a midnight
rush.
With such a wide
target, Mr. Dames stated that BTC was the perfect partner. “We are involving
all of the islands with our activities and BTC covers The Bahamas like no other
could, so what a great marriage!”
Mr. Williams responded
that BTC is no stranger to supporting Bahamian culture, citing a long-lasting
relationship with youth, sports and culture and high prioritisation of
corporate citizenship.
“BTC has always
had an alliance with sports and culture in The Bahamas. We have been primary
sponsors for the CAC games, CARIFTA track and swimming - the events and the
travelling teams – the Golden Knights, several individual track stars, championship
winning swimmer Arianna Vanderpool Wallace, Volleyball and Basketball
tournaments throughout the Bahamas, and the IAAF World Relays, which we will
partner with again for 2015. We are
large proponents of Bahamian cultural activities and continue with annual
sponsorship of Junkanoo at Christmas and New Year to the tune of $850,000
through 2016.”
“I think that it
is important that BTC has a relationship with culture, we want to put our
entire efforts into making Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival a success.”
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