The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company said yesterday that it hopes its sponsorship of the One Bahamas Foundation will inspire unity and social harmony.

The company also announced yesterday that it will sponsor the foundation’s upcoming annual fundraising walk.

At a press conference at Government House yesterday morning, Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling welcomed officials from BTC and One Bahamas as BTC announced the partnership.

Additionally, Dame Marguerite accepted the offer of becoming the event’s patron.

“We anticipate that this is a wonderful opportunity not just being a corporate citizen, but also to create a platform that the governor general has formed it as her platform,” said BTC Chief Executive Officer Leon Williams.

“We’re delighted, all 759 staff members, to join in this promotion of the unity walk and to ensure that we participate and get the flag raising so that from Inagua all the way to Abaco in the north that Bahamians will see this thing nationwide so that the year 2020 will look completely different from what it is today. We will bring some unity to the country.

“I’ve been a participant of One Bahamas since (former Cabinet) Minister Algernon Allen started it, and I think it is something that we must continue. We just can’t kick the can down the road. As a member of civil society and BTC, I’m just delighted that we’ve been asked to participate in it.”

According to a press statement from BTC, One Bahamas was a concept started in 1992 by Mr Allen, then minister of youth, sports and culture, with the purpose of “generating a greater sense of identity, pride, and community among Bahamian youth.”

In 2006, a foundation was established under the leadership of former Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest and legendary sailor and Olympic champion Sir Durward Knowles with a goal of “unifying all persons who live in the Bahamas by walking together in unity and harmony in an annual nationwide walk called the One Bahamas Unity Walk”.

“The sponsorship will allow BTC’s One Bahamas Unity Walk to be held nationwide in an expanded and continuing effort of the One Bahamas mandate to motivate and inspire unity, loyalty, social harmony and friendship among all persons residing in the Bahamas, regardless of nationality, creed, social or economic position or racial origin,” BTC’s statement read.

The walk is held in New Providence and many of the Family Islands in February each year. “The objective of the organisers is to have simultaneous, uniting walks throughout the islands, to spread the message of brotherly love and unity while celebrating the rich and diverse ancestry of all living in the Bahamas,” the statement said.

One Bahamas officials also said that the newly funded initiative can have a positive impact on the crime situation and troubled youth in the country.

The next Unity walk will be held on Saturday, February, 21, 2015. If persons want to support the foundation financially they can make online donations when they register to walk.