Two students receive Caribbean Bottling's first scholarship

Mon, Sep 12th 2016, 01:09 PM


Mrs. Karla Wells-Lisgaris, Caribbean Bottling Company Brand Manager, with the first recipients of the Carleton Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship Award – T’Ron and D’Ron Strapp.

Last week T’Ron and D’Ron Strapp, twin brothers and recent graduates of Garvin Tynes Primary School, had their dreams come true when they started their high school education at Aquinas College on a full academic scholarship. This dream, shared by their parents, came to fruition as a result of years of hard work and countless achievements. From Computer Science to English, Math and Music, the twins dominated both academically, and socially with healthy competition amongst each other. T’Ron and D’Ron Strapp capped off their primary school careers as the 2015 – 2016 Head Boy and Deputy Head Boy respectfully.

Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola, first met these impressive young men via their application for the Bright Minds Scholarship from Wendy’s & Coca-Cola. After interviewing them, the CBC representatives were immediately impressed, and instantly wanted to assist them in achieving their immediate objectives, and long term goals. This was the start of a grand idea that is now the Carleton Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship. The Carleton Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship was established to both celebrate Mr. Carleton Williams’ contribution to Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), and to continue his legacy of investing in the local community. The academic scholarship will rotate annually between New Providence and Grand Bahama to one child graduating from a public primary school seeking attendance to a private high school.

“It is with great pleasure that CBC introduces the Carleton Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship,” said Cara Douglas, Marketing Manager CBC, “we are pleased to honor a gentleman who has done so much for both our company, and this great country. Our first recipients, T’Ron and D’Ron, are both outstanding young men with infinite potential. We look forward to watching them grow from this opportunity to become community-minded men, who can pay this experience forward one day.”

The Strapp brothers are excited to begin this new chapter in the academic careers and have committed to exceling. In response to learning they were awarded the first ever scholarship, the brothers wrote that “this opportunity will permit us to continue working even harder to achieve our future goals in an environment conducive to learning, while we continue to be role models.” CBC is pleased to play a role in their lives and wish them continued success.

Carleton Williams CBE Profile:
Carleton Williams CBE, was born in 1929, the second of eight children, to humble beginnings. After receiving his secondary education at Government High School he began employment with the Government of The Bahamas at the Treasury Department where he learnt the fundamentals of accounting and finance. Mr. Williams transitioned easily into the private sector, taking a position at Navios Corporation, a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation. He later tested his business acumen, becoming an entrepreneur in 1964 as a contractor for a housing development. From there he expanded his business to include retailing building supplies, and later expanded into fast-food when he introduced McDonald’s to The Bahamas.

The manufacturing sector was Mr. Williams’ next undertaking with the purchase of Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producer of Coca-Cola products. With his reputation as a strong business man, he was invited to serve on several prestigious boards, including but not limited to New Providence Development Company Ltd., the Central Bank of The Bahamas, and Automotive Industrial Distributors Ltd. Recognizing the importance of giving back he also served as a Member of the Board for local charities such as the Salvation Army and The Crippled Children’s Committee. Committed to education, at age 50 Williams earned his MBA from the University of Miami. In 2016 at the age of 87, Mr. Carlton Williams CBE resigned as the Chairman of the Board for Caribbean Bottling Company, and in honor of his outstanding contributions to both industry and The Bahamas, the Carleton Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship was created.

Awards include:
-    Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) awarded by Her Majesty the Queen of England
-    Businessman of the Year – Chamber of Commerce
-    Paul Harris Fellow – The Rotary Club
-    Salvation Army Others Award


Mr. Carleton Williams, CBE.

About Caribbean Bottling Company
Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producer of Coca-Cola, is the Bahamas’ premier beverage non-alcoholic manufacturer and distributor. CBC and its predecessor companies have serviced the Bahamas with Coca-Cola products for over 75 years. In addition to the distribution of the Coca-Cola product line, CBC also offers Schweppes, Fanta, Sprite, Barq’s Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, Goombay Punch, Barritt’s Ginger Beer, Canada Dry, Dasani, Minute Maid, Powerade, Vitamin Water, and Flavorful Juices.

Cara Douglas

Caribbean Bottling Company

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