NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Chamber of Commerce today announced the finalists for the 2009 Annual Business Awards to be presented during their 38th Annual Awards Banquet and Silent Auction scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Hotel.

Bahamian businesspersons will vie for the distinguished titles of Outstanding Businessperson of The Year and Developing Entrepreneur of the Year. Two preeminent Bahamian businesses will be designated Outstanding Business of the Year, which is awarded in two categories, businesses with over fifty employees and those with less.

This year, the Chamber?s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award will go to George Myers, chairman of the Myers Group of Companies. Myers will be saluted for his overwhelming contributions to Bahamian enterprise and the community through his accomplishments in the hospitality sector through his restaurant and entertainment holdings.

Nominations for the Annual Business Awards have been accepted over the last several weeks and after much careful deliberation the finalists in each category were announced. In the category of Outstanding Business Person of the Year, the finalists are Dr. Charles Diggiss, The MEDNET Group of Companies; Gus Cartwright, Checker Caf?; and Chris Mortimer, Galleria Cinemas and Bennigan?s Grill & Tavern.

The 2009 Developing Entrepreneur of the Year Award will go to a business pioneer who has successfully established a business in the private sector within the past five years. This year?s award will go to one of the following finalists: Dr. Wendy Stuart, Botani Bath; Kenwood Kerr, Providence Advisors; Deran Thompson/ Farrell Goff, Bahamas Woodworking Studio.

The designation of Outstanding Business of the Year will be given to two leading Bahamian businesses. Mall and Marathon, Furniture Plus and Bahamas Waste will vie for the esteemed title in the category for Outstanding Business of the Year for businesses with over fifty employees.

The award for that thriving Bahamian business with less than fifty employees will go to one of these finalists: Caribbean Civil Group Limited, Bahamas Orthodontic Centre or The Plait Lady.

The Annual Business Awards will culminate Chamber Week, which begins on June 22, 2009. The week?s events also include a courtesy call on Prime Minister Ingraham, the highly anticipated Mix N Mingle business-networking event on Tuesday, June 23 and the Meet the Ministers forum on Thursday, June 25. Twelve Cabinet Ministers will participate in the Forum, which is open to Chamber members. All events will take place at Sandals Royal Bahamian.