K. Kaiya Pinder wins a full scholarship from Coca-Cola

Tue, Jun 27th 2017, 03:54 PM

“I understand and appreciate the significance of receiving the Carleton Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship,” says K. Kaiya Pinder, a recent graduate of Maurice Moore Primary School.

“I hope to use this as a platform to encourage other children to set goals, work hard, and stay focused to achieve them.”

Gaidina Pinder, Kaiya’s mother, added “On the first day of grade 6, Kaiya told me ‘Mummy, I want to go to BMES for grade 7. Please take me there for the form.”

Kaiya’s hard work and determination to attend Bishop Michael Eldon High School for grade 7, and the rest of her high school career, paid off during the first week of May.

She completed a solo interview with a full panel of interviewers selected by Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola.

With the start of the school year Kaiya will become the third recipient of the Carleton Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship. The first two winners were selected last year, twin boys T’Ron and D’Ron Strapp who currently attend Aquinas College.

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.

“We are so thankful for the Carleton W. Williams Caribbean Bottling Scholarship!” proclaimed Gaidina Pinder.

“Words can hardly express our gratitude to the company. As an entrepreneur in the process of trying to officially open and grow my small business, things would have been extremely hard for us to take on Kayia’s tuition alone.

We had no clue how we would have afforded the tuition but, we worked hard every day and kept faith in God.”

“Kaiya is a well-rounded, self-motivated, intelligent and poised child,” continued Ms. Pinder. “She makes my family and me very proud.

What impresses me most about Kaiya is her self-motivation.

She carries out homework, chores or activities without anyone having to tell her to do so. Kaiya has such a bright mind and big personality.

She’s enthusiastic and excels in all that she does.”

“It is with great pleasure that CBC introduced the Carleton Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship last year,” said Cara Douglas, Marketing Manager CBC, “and we are pleased to honor our third recipient – Kayia Pinder who is an outstanding young lady with infinite potential.

CBC, is pleased to play a role in their lives and wish them continued success.”

Carleton Williams CBE Profile:
Mr. 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

Ms. Joyann Stuart, Caribbean Bottling Company Grand Bahama General Manager, with the third Carleton Williams Caribbean Bottling Company Scholarship Award recipient – Kaiya Pinder, and her mother Gaidina Pinder.

 

Mr. Carleton Williams, CBE. 

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.

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