BAHAMAS PINE ISLAND PROJECT CONTEST LAUNCHED

A Poetry and Video Contest was launched on April 19 to highlight and promote the Bahamian Cascarilla plant (found in the southern Bahamian islands, e.g. Acklins & Crooked Island, and also on Cat Island) and the Silver Top Palm (found in Andros and other straw islands) that have been traditionally used to sustain Bahamian livelihoods over generations. The Contest is open to Bahamians aged 10 to 21 years and closes on May 20. More information on the Contest can be found at www.creativenassau.com/cascarilla or at www.guanima.com/seawordsfestival

ANDROS ARTISANS REPRESENTED AT TRADE FAIR

Norma Jane Knowles, Chair of the Andros Artisan Association, represented the island of North Andros for the Nassau Cruise Port Limited (NCPL) and Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) AUTHENTICALLY BAHAMIAN TRADE FAIR that was held December 11 and 12 in the Grand Ballroom of Atlantis, Paradise Island.

The AAA Booth showcased and sold the work of several Red Bays artisans and was very well received by the visiting public. NCPL & BAIC outlined the important purpose of the Trade Fair in their Press Release dated December 15, 2021:

Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. (NCPL) and Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) hosted the Authentically Bahamian Trade Fair on December 11 & 12, 2021, marking the first step taken by the Authentically Bahamian Advisory Committee to connect Bahamian artisans with wholesale purchasers and shoppers looking for unique, hand-made Bahamian finds.

The Committee is tasked with infusing authentically Bahamian elements into the Nassau Cruise Port space, as the redevelopment of the Cruise Port continues towards its completion date which is set for 2022. The Committee’s overarching mandate is to develop, implement and maintain organizational infrastructure including operational guidelines, protocols, quality and authenticity standards to ensure the Authentically Bahamian marketplace showcases the best representation of authentic, Bahamian made products and goods.

Well known culturalist, Pam Burnside, an active member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and President of Creative Nassau, is Chairwoman of the committee. Other public and private stakeholders make up the remainder of the Committee members, namely: Ed Fields and Amanda Freedman, Nassau Cruise Port Ltd.; Debbie Strachan, BAIC; Suzanne Pattusch, BHTA/Tru Tru Bahamian; Samantha Rolle, SBDC Access Accelerator; Kirk Deleveaux and Eldena Cartwright, Festival Place Association; Janet Johnson, TDC; and Bernadette Bastian, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation.

Over 80 artisans and entrepreneurs operated booths within The Grand Ballroom of Atlantis at the Authentically Bahamian Trade Fair and showcased a wide variety of high-quality Bahamian-made products including craft beer, rum, artwork, crafts, straw goods, jewelry, woodwork, sundry items, clothing, shell work, jams, pepper sauces, beverages, donuts and popsicles. Entertainment was all Bahamian and even the hand sanitizer on each vendor booth was Bahamian-made.

NCPL Director of Business Development, Ed Fields said “It was important to bring together many facets of the Tourism Industry on this Committee, and to organize the Authentically Bahamian Trade Fair because Nassau Cruise Port Ltd. is creating a destination where there will be no mistaking a visitor is in The Bahamas. The Trade Fair has been a great opportunity to connect wholesalers with retailers, some of whom are within the Port space, to promote the craft cottage industry and authentic Bahamian products that you can only find in The Bahamas. The positive feedback we have received from participants and attendees has been overwhelming”. The Trade Fair hosted 16 Family Island participants from islands all over the archipelago including: Andros, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Acklins, Grand Bahama, Exuma, San Salvador and Abaco. The Trade Fair operated successfully under the health protocols of mask wearing, hand sanitizing, and social distancing as mandated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Committee Chairwoman and President of Creative Nassau, Pam Burnside stated “We were thrilled to receive so much interest from applicants for the Trade Fair. We are especially proud to have hosted so many Family Island participants and this is a step in the right direction for promotion of the valuable Orange Economy in The Bahamas”.

Debbie Strachan, Sr. Deputy General Manager of BAIC shared that “Committee members were thrilled to receive reports from the vendors throughout the weekend saying how excited and grateful they were to have the stellar opportunity the Authentically Bahamian Trade Fair presented to showcase and sell their products following many months of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic”.

The Trade Fair was open to members of the public who capitalized on the opportunity to shop locally and “Buy Bahamian” this Holiday Season.

The BPIP’s third trip to Andros was February 18-19, 2020 by Senior Officer, Taneko Adams BAIC Nassau; Creative Nassau President, Pam Burnside; Department of Forestry Officers, Danielle Hanek-Culmer and Team

The purpose of the third trip to Red Bays was to hold a Town Meeting in Central Andros to apprise the straw artisans in that area of the Pine Islands Project, and also to stress the need for proper palm harvesting techniques as it had been brought to our attention during the second trip, that artisans from Central Andros were frequently traveling to Red Bays to harvest the top due to the loss of silver palm resources in their area.

Norma Jane Knowles represented the Andros Artisans Association on the weekend of the Tru Tru Bahamian Art Festival on February 2 and 3, 2019 at the John Watlings Distillery in Nassau. She experienced avid interest and sales of the exceptional Red Bays’ products from the Creative Nassau booth.

The second trip of the BPIP Team took place on Thursday, January 30 – Saturday February 1, 2020 with Senior Officer, Taneko Adams BAIC Nassau; Creative Nassau President, Pam Burnside, Vice President, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, and member/filmmaker Neko Meicholas; Department of Forestry Officers, Danielle Hanek-Culmer and Team.

The purpose of this second trip to Red Bays was to obtain film footage of the correct straw palm harvesting method, and to interview the various artisans in the community in order to produce marketing information for their use. At this time Norma Jane Knowles was appointed the leader of the Andros Artisans Association.

Photo copyright P. Neko Meicholas, 2020

The first trip of the Bahamas Pine Islands Project Team to Red Bays Andros took place was on September 12-13, 2019. The team consisted of Senior Officers, Taneko Adams and Garry Russell, BAIC Nassau office together with Alfie Stubbs, Abaco office; Pam Burnside, Creative Nassau President; Forestry Officer Danielle Hanek-Culmer and Forestry Assistant 1, Wavell Hanna, Department of Forestry. The purpose was to introduce the artisans to the Project and to discuss strategies to fulfil the mandate