The ninth annual Old Freetown Fire Hearth Food and Heritage Festival, held on Whit Monday, June 9 2025, brought visitors and residents alike to embrace the stories, traditions, and heritage that define the spirit of the event.

Held in Ole Freetown at the Freetown Heritage Site in East Grand Bahama, the day-long festival kicked off with a watermelon eating competition, beer relay race competition, washboard competition, bingo, a fire "half" cooking competition, and more family friendly activities.  

With a deep sense of pride and reflection, Vice-President, Ole Freetown Heritage Festival Committee Vivian McIntosh shared that the festival is “a celebration of our story, our struggle, our strength and most importantly our heritage. Our motto, ‘From whence we came… this is our heritage,’ invites us to pause and reflect on the remarkable journey that has brought us to this moment.”

Recognising the importance of the festival, Chief Councillor for East GB District Daniel Bain said that it holds a special place in the hearts of the community, bringing people back to their roots — to a time when meals were cooked over a fire hearth, children ran barefoot through the yard and stories were passed down from generation to generation.

“Today, we celebrate all of that and more. Our culture, our food, our music, our people — this is who we are and I am proud to see that even in changing times we are still holding fast to the value that made this community strong,” he said.

With live entertainment by local artists, including Wendi Lewis and the Island Vibes Band, festival-goers gathered around to celebrate and dance to the rhythms of Bahamian music.

The ninth annual Old Freetown Fire Hearth Food and Heritage Festival, held on Whit Monday, June 9 2025, brought visitors and residents alike to embrace the stories, traditions, and heritage that define the spirit of the event. Held in Ole Freetown at the Freetown Heritage Site in East Grand Bahama, the day-long festival kicked off with a watermelon eating competition, beer relay race competition, washboard competition, bingo, a fire "half" cooking competition, and more family friendly activities.   With a deep sense of pride and reflection, Vice-President, Ole Freetown Heritage Festival Committee Vivian McIntosh shared that the festival is “a celebration of our story, our struggle, our strength and most importantly our heritage. Our motto, ‘From whence we came… this is our heritage,’ invites us to pause and reflect on the remarkable journey that has brought us to this moment.” Recognising the importance of the festival, Chief Councillor for East GB District Daniel Bain said that it holds a special place in the hearts of the community, bringing people back to their roots — to a time when meals were cooked over a fire hearth, children ran barefoot through the yard and stories were passed down from generation to generation. “Today, we celebrate all of that and more. Our culture, our food, our music, our people — this is who we are and I am proud to see that even in changing times we are still holding fast to the value that made this community strong,” he said. With live entertainment by local artists, including Wendi Lewis and the Island Vibes Band, festival-goers gathered around to celebrate and dance to the rhythms of Bahamian music.

The highly-anticipated 25th Annual Pelican Point Coconut Festival took place on Easter Monday, April 21 2025, attracting hundreds of visitors and residents, offering a vibrant celebration of Bahamian culture with a unique twist of everything coconut.

The event featured an exciting lineup of live musical performances by Bahamian entertainers, heritage-themed games for attendees to participate in, a variety of coconut-inspired dishes and pastries from local vendors and an energetic Junkanoo performance by the Swingers, providing an unforgettable experience for all in attendance.

During the official opening, Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey congratulated the Coconut Festival Committee on reaching this significant milestone. “This remarkable milestone celebrates your commitment to honouring our Bahamian heritage and history. It is also a testament to the strength and the resilience of the residents of Pelican Point. I commend your hard work, dedication, and the legacy you have built over the past 2.5 decades,” she said.

“The Coconut Festival has become one of Grand Bahama’s most cherished cultural events. It unites residents and visitors across the island in a grand celebration of our Bahamian culture, fostering a sense of belonging and community.”

“I encourage you to support every vendor on this site. Enjoy the delicious coconut food and desserts, the gully wash, authentic food, arts and crafts, and of course, the rake and scrape music,” she added.

Also offering remarks at the festival was Nuvolari Chotoosingh, General Manager of the Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation (MOTIA) in Grand Bahama. He welcomed attendees to Pelican Point and expressed his excitement about the increased turnout. He shared that additional transportation had been arranged to ensure more visitors could attend and enjoy the festival. He encouraged everyone to take part in the celebration, savouring the food, music, and the lively atmosphere.

Kwasi Thompson, Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama expressed, “East Grand Bahama is known as the festival capital, not just in Grand Bahama, but the festival capital in the entire Bahamas. The reason why I say that is because we have the most festivals in East Grand Bahama than any other constituency, and that goes all the way from McLean's Town all the way to Freetown.”

He went on to emphasise that these festivals are more than just celebrations; they are vital to the communities that host them, fostering camaraderie and an expression of local pride and culture.

A highlight of the ceremony was a special tribute to Cathy Laing, the Coconut Festival Committee Chairman, for her exceptional dedication over the years. Her tireless efforts have been instrumental in continuing the community’s legacy of this festival.

The highly-anticipated 25th Annual Pelican Point Coconut Festival took place on Easter Monday, April 21 2025, attracting hundreds of visitors and residents, offering a vibrant celebration of Bahamian culture with a unique twist of everything coconut. The event featured an exciting lineup of live musical performances by Bahamian entertainers, heritage-themed games for attendees to participate in, a variety of coconut-inspired dishes and pastries from local vendors and an energetic Junkanoo performance by the Swingers, providing an unforgettable experience for all in attendance. During the official opening, Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey congratulated the Coconut Festival Committee on reaching this significant milestone. “This remarkable milestone celebrates your commitment to honouring our Bahamian heritage and history. It is also a testament to the strength and the resilience of the residents of Pelican Point. I commend your hard work, dedication, and the legacy you have built over the past 2.5 decades,” she said. “The Coconut Festival has become one of Grand Bahama’s most cherished cultural events. It unites residents and visitors across the island in a grand celebration of our Bahamian culture, fostering a sense of belonging and community.” “I encourage you to support every vendor on this site. Enjoy the delicious coconut food and desserts, the gully wash, authentic food, arts and crafts, and of course, the rake and scrape music,” she added. Also offering remarks at the festival was Nuvolari Chotoosingh, General Manager of the Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation (MOTIA) in Grand Bahama. He welcomed attendees to Pelican Point and expressed his excitement about the increased turnout. He shared that additional transportation had been arranged to ensure more visitors could attend and enjoy the festival. He encouraged everyone to take part in the celebration, savouring the food, music, and the lively atmosphere. Kwasi Thompson, Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama expressed, “East Grand Bahama is known as the festival capital, not just in Grand Bahama, but the festival capital in the entire Bahamas. The reason why I say that is because we have the most festivals in East Grand Bahama than any other constituency, and that goes all the way from McLean's Town all the way to Freetown.” He went on to emphasise that these festivals are more than just celebrations; they are vital to the communities that host them, fostering camaraderie and an expression of local pride and culture. A highlight of the ceremony was a special tribute to Cathy Laing, the Coconut Festival Committee Chairman, for her exceptional dedication over the years. Her tireless efforts have been instrumental in continuing the community’s legacy of this festival.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis made a special video call, during the recent E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival Cat Island Adjudications, as it visited the Arthur's Town Comprehensive School, on February 28, 2025.  The students, and adults who took part in the event danced, sang and a small group of first graders recited a poem by Dr. Reginad Eldon.  The adjudications ended with a Junkanoo performance.

Prime Minister Davis gave words of encouragement to the participants, and thanked the parents and teachers for their support.

"Their support should inspire you as participating students to do your best," he said.  "Always remember that it is really good to participate.  Though you may not win, participating does, in some form or fashion, help to shape you and shape your character."

"I am pulling for you," Prime Minister Davis added.  "Let's do very well, and continue to make Cat Island -- and your MP -- proud."

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis made a special video call, during the recent E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival Cat Island Adjudications, as it visited the Arthur's Town Comprehensive School, on February 28, 2025.  The students, and adults who took part in the event danced, sang and a small group of first graders recited a poem by Dr. Reginad Eldon.  The adjudications ended with a Junkanoo performance. Prime Minister Davis gave words of encouragement to the participants, and thanked the parents and teachers for their support. "Their support should inspire you as participating students to do your best," he said.  "Always remember that it is really good to participate.  Though you may not win, participating does, in some form or fashion, help to shape you and shape your character." "I am pulling for you," Prime Minister Davis added.  "Let's do very well, and continue to make Cat Island -- and your MP -- proud."

C&W Communications (CWC), the Caribbean’s leading connectivity and entertainment provider, proudly announces its role as a leading sponsor of this year’s CANTO Connect and 41st Annual General Meeting, taking place from January 26 to 28 at the Renaissance Wind Creek Resort in Curacao.

Themed "Towards a Unified and Sustainable Caribbean Gigabit Society," the AGM will serve as a vibrant platform for discussing key industry trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the region’s telecom and entertainment sectors. Attendees will include regional Ministers, Caribbean Regulators, private-sector leaders, and globally recognised industry experts.

“At C&W Communications, we are committed to driving the evolution of connectivity and empowering organizations to achieve new levels of success through cutting-edge technology. We are honored to support CANTO in its mission to foster collaboration and drive the conversation around the future of telecoms and entertainment,” said Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer, C&W Communications.

Co-hosted by the Regulatory Authority of Curacao, the AGM will feature keynote addresses, expert presentations, and opportunities for networking and collaboration across sectors.

CANTO is a non-profit association made up of operators, industry organizations, regulators, and individuals associated with the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. It advocates for policies, legislation, and rules to advance the creation of an environment that facilitates the deployment of services and technologies across the Caribbean and the Americas.

C&W Communications (CWC), the Caribbean’s leading connectivity and entertainment provider, proudly announces its role as a leading sponsor of this year’s CANTO Connect and 41st Annual General Meeting, taking place from January 26 to 28 at the Renaissance Wind Creek Resort in Curacao. Themed "Towards a Unified and Sustainable Caribbean Gigabit Society," the AGM will serve as a vibrant platform for discussing key industry trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the region’s telecom and entertainment sectors. Attendees will include regional Ministers, Caribbean Regulators, private-sector leaders, and globally recognised industry experts. “At C&W Communications, we are committed to driving the evolution of connectivity and empowering organizations to achieve new levels of success through cutting-edge technology. We are honored to support CANTO in its mission to foster collaboration and drive the conversation around the future of telecoms and entertainment,” said Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer, C&W Communications. Co-hosted by the Regulatory Authority of Curacao, the AGM will feature keynote addresses, expert presentations, and opportunities for networking and collaboration across sectors. CANTO is a non-profit association made up of operators, industry organizations, regulators, and individuals associated with the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. It advocates for policies, legislation, and rules to advance the creation of an environment that facilitates the deployment of services and technologies across the Caribbean and the Americas.