By: Eric Rose/BIS
During the Commonwealth Brewery/Kalik signing for a six-figure, multi-year Junkanoo sponsorship, on November 26, 2025, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Mario Bowleg called the event “a proud and significant moment for culture in The Bahamas”.
“This multi-year partnership between the National Junkanoo Committee and Kalik represents not only corporate support, but a deep cultural alignment — one that has grown over decades and continues to shape our national identity,” Minister Bowleg said at the event held at Commonwealth Brewery Head Office on John F. Kennedy Drive.
The sponsorship will be from 2025-2029; and covers the Boxing Day and New Year’s Junkanoo Parades on New Providence, as well as any official festivals and events that surround them.
At the signing, Commonwealth Brewery Limited was represented by Managing Director Etienne Bachellier. Among those present from the Ministry were Permanent Secretary Neil Campbell; Executive Manager Arthur Taylor; and Cultural Officer and Junkanoo Coordinator Ellery Deveaux.
Minister Bowleg added that, long before that day’s signing, Kalik’s brand story was intertwined with the “heartbeat of Bahamian creativity”.
“Much of that was driven by one of our true cultural geniuses: the late Tyrone ‘Dr. Offfff” Fitzgerald,” he noted. “His work during Kalik’s early years helped define the brand’s soul, its sound, and its connection to the Bahamian people.
Minister Bowleg added: “His classic song ‘Junkanoo’ — one of my personal favourites — was the first hit record to bring the energy of Junkanoo onto wax. For many Bahamians, that song was their introduction to hearing Junkanoo in recorded form, and it remains one of the great examples of Bahamian cultural innovation.
“To stand here today, witnessing a long-term investment in Junkanoo from a company whose brand was shaped by creative Bahamians like Dr. Offfff, is truly meaningful.”
Minister Bowleg pointed out that Commonwealth Brewery Limited had long demonstrated that they understood the value of investing in Bahamian culture.
“This agreement is another chapter in that story — one that strengthens our cultural institutions and reinforces the importance of private-sector partnerships in building a stronger Bahamas,” he stated.
Minister Bowleg added: “We are in a transformative period for Junkanoo. The Government, through the Ministry and the NJC, is committed to strengthening the foundation of this art form and developing a true Junkanoo Season — not just a holiday event, but a year-round cultural industry. A 365-day season filled with festivals, training programs, family island shows, junior parades, productions, and new opportunities for our artists and artisans.”
He said that that was why partnerships like the one highlighted, mattered.
“They give us the stability to grow, innovate, and dream bigger,” Minister Bowleg said.
He continued: “And while the NJC has a number of exciting new events and products on the horizon — each with its own sponsorship opportunities — I will say this: Kalik’s longstanding support of Junkanoo puts them in a very enviable position. Not many brands can claim that level of cultural connection.”
To the wider corporate community, Minister Bowleg issued an open invitation to follow the company’s example.
“Align your brand with the empowerment of our creatives, with the storytelling of our people, and with the cultural force that is Junkanoo,” he said. “Support the builders, the musicians, the dancers, and the thousands of Bahamians who make this art form one of the greatest cultural expressions in the world.”
He added: “I thank Commonwealth Brewery Limited and the Kalik team for their continuous faith in our culture and their investment in its future. This partnership helps ensure that Junkanoo remains vibrant, evolving, and firmly rooted in the hearts of our people.
“Thank you, and let’s keep the rhythm alive.”
BIS Photos/Eric Rose
