The Tribune

GORDON Soles, the only man in a group of 11 sweepstakes finalists, won the BTC grand prize – a 2014 Ford Explorer – in front of a packed crowd in Pompey Square over weekend.

Mr Soles also walked away with car insurance and Rubis gas for a year, a Furniture Plus living room set and $25,000 to spend at will.

Hundreds had gathered for a fun evening of prize-winning games and musical entertainment where contestants vied for prizes including phones, data and phone cards or packages, BTC products and even a flat screen Samsung TV.

At the end of the evening, the finalists – Jillian Jones, Decker Munnings, Debra Skippings, Loneice Pawar, Gordon Soles, Halcie Hanna, Evangeline Bethel, Lisa Farrington, Bethsada Jones, Mary Dean Nairn and Val Turnquest – were introduced on stage and each selected a number representing a corresponding Ford key with a remote car alarm pad.

The winning key enabled the user to trigger the alarm on the shiny new Ford Escape.

Onlookers did not have long to wait. Contestant number three, Gordon Soles, threw his hands in the air as the activated alarm signalled his win. Fireworks lit the sky and a Junkanoo rush-out elevated the excitement of the crowd.

Hugged by both his daughter Greer and partner, Tasha Major, Gordon Soles expressed his love for God and his appreciation for the big win.

“I don’t pray or ask God for this kind of thing. What I’ve learnt from God is that He answers my needs – if I need something He answers, and He teaches me, I have learnt faith that He will answer my needs,” said a fervent Mr Soles. “Just a couple of weeks ago, my partner and I sat down and discussed our needs – school fees, furniture, and a new car,” said the winner of the prize package that met those very same needs. “Through my life, He has taught me to have faith.”

All finalists received a new Samsung smartphone, travel expenses and accommodations at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel.