Acting President of the Exuma Straw Vendors Association Yvonne McKenzie (left) welcomes BTC Senior Manager for Exuma, Sophia Hart-Rolle to the temporary straw vendor site. BTC has installed complimentary landline and internet services for the vendors, who recently lost their permanent location to a fire.

George Town, Exuma - BTC recently made business much easier for the vendors of the recently razed Exuma Straw Market in George Town. The company quickly reinstated much needed telecommunication services at the Straw Market's temporary facility on Regatta Park in George Town following a devastating fire on April 15, 2015.

In addition to landline telephone, BTC also provided straw vendors in George Town with internet services to conduct credit card transactions. The vendors will enjoy these free BTC services for the next six months. Once a new permanent location has been identified BTC has also pledged to work with the vendors to provide further telecommunications solutions. The vendors expressed much gratitude to BTC for assisting in their time of need.

BTC local Senior Manager in Exuma Sophia Hart-Rolle said that helping was the obvious course of action for the company.

“The staff here, at BTC’s Exuma office, was saddened by what happened to the local straw market, especially so close to Regatta, we immediately sought to help” said Sophia Hart-Rolle, BTC’s Senior Manager in Exuma. “Straw Vendors and their work are a celebrated part of the Bahamian cultural fabric and we are very happy and proud to present these women with the tools they need to continue their livelihood. It is a joy to see the smiles return to their faces.”

The timely assistance came just before the National Family Island Regatta held in Exuma, one of the straw vendors’ biggest sales events. BTC is a major sponsor of the National Family Island Regatta providing $10,000 to the cultural event and has supported the event for several decades

BTC is an active corporate citizen in Exuma. The company’s iVolunteers, a group of dedicated BTC employees that donate their time and talent to the community, are deeply rooted in community initiatives on the island including regular volunteerism with the Anglican Diocese’s soup kitchen. Additionally, the company is working to open a community library in the Rolleville Settlement.