The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Chamber Week with a Visit to Government House - Seated from left to right: Rupert Roberts Jr., Bahamas Chamber of Commerce (BCOC) 2010 Lifetime Achievement Recipient, Governor General, His Excellency, Sir Arthur Foulkes, Khaalis Rolle, President, BCOC. Standing from left to right, BCOC Executives and Directors: Gershan Major, First Vice President, Yvette Sands, Honorary Secretary (2009/10), Odley Aritis, Director (2009-10), Dr. Sophia Rolle, Chamber Week 2010 Chair, Merritt Storr, Director (2000-10) and Philip Simon, Executive Director. Photo by Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

Nassau, Bahamas – Members of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s executive team and special guests paid a courtesy call on His Excellency, Sir Arthur Foulkes, Governor General of The Bahamas on Wednesday, June 25^th as part of the Chamber Week celebrations. During the meeting, the group updated Sir Arthur on the week’s events and discussed topics relating to the Chamber’s Theme, “Business Unusual”. Sir Arthur was not only generous in his hospitality but also delighted his guests with childhood stories of Inagua and the commerce that took place between the family islands and New Providence in the early days.

“Bahamians are entrepreneurial people,” he said. “From the time I was a boy, people on the islands traded with New Providence but they also traded with Cuba for supplies and Haiti for their mangoes.” He reflected on Nassau’s situation citing Bluehill Road and East Street saying, “You just have to look at the commerce that takes place on those streets and understand that all parts of the population get involved.”

Sir Arthur also took the time to congratulate the Chamber’s newest Lifetime Achievement Recipient, Rupert Roberts Jr. on his contributions to The Bahamas, its economy and the various communities he has invested in.

Chamber President Khaalis Rolle also commended Rupert (Junior) Roberts later that day at the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting and Luncheon stating that Mr Roberts made an impression on him. “I am proud to say that I worked for you Mr. Roberts as a young boy at Super Value. When I was 15 I wanted to get a pair of running shoes. My mother told me that I had to work for them. I did so at one of your stores and I admired the way you and your managers walked the store, inspecting it and also speaking with your customers.”

Other events that made up the Chamber Week included the successful Mix ‘N Mingle that had an attendance of just over 400 people and the 39^th Annual Awards Ceremony.