Nassau, Bahamas — Continuing with its promise to present to the Bahamian people a new generation of leaders for the upcoming general elections, the PLP unanimously ratified two local businessmen and first time candidates at the monthly meeting of its National General Council and officially introduced its candidate for Bamboo Town. This brings the slate of PLP candidates to Thirty-One.
Former Chamber of Commerce President and Marketing Executive Khaalis Rolle will contest for Pinewood; Petroleum Retailer Gregory Burrows is tipped to carry the party banner in Montague and former athletic star and Mechanical Engineer Renward Wells will battle for the party in Bamboo Town.
Mr. Khaalis Rolle – Pinewood
Khaalis Rolle holds a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc.) from Grambling State University, an MBA from the University of Miami, a Certificate in Management Studies from the University of Miami and a Certificate in International Trade Policy and Negotiations from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados.
Mr. Rolle is the Immediate Past Chairman of the newly merge Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation and former President of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce.
Khaalis served as the Caribbean Region President of the Organization of American States Inter-America Private Sector Organization, the Hemispheric Private Sector Organization located in Washington, D.C. from 2007 to 2009.
He is also a part-time lecturer at the College of The Bahamas and is the former President of the college’s Job Placement Advisory Board. Khaalis also serves as the former Chairman of the Government’s 1st National Training Program Implementation Advisory Committee and former Co-Chair of the Bahamas Trade Commission.
Khaalis Rolle is a Principal in Nassau Water Ferries Services Ltd, the company he founded in 2005 to provide Marine related Tours and Excursions & Yacht Charters, to the tourism industry. He serves as its Chief Marketing Officer.
Mr. Rolle is a former member of The Nassau Tourism & Development Board and the Business Service Organization Task Force for Caribbean Export Development Agency in Barbados and is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Bank of The Bahamas.
He is married to Nadia McHardy-Rolle and the couple has a son Kerrington and a daughter Kayleigh. His hobbies include boating and basketball.
Mr. Gregory Burrows – Montaqu
Mr. Burrows is a graduate of R.M. Bailey High School. After securing extensive management experience in the private sector, coupled with business leadership training in the United States, Mr. Burrows became an entrepreneur in the petroleum industry. He currently operates the Esso on the Run, South Beach location and owns the Cleaning Center, Prince Charles Drive.
Being innovative and community minded, Greg engaged himself in music through the Royal Ambassadors and Scout Bands and was a proud member of the Happy Youths and the Roots Junkanoo Groups. Greg’s passion has always been Youth Development through Sports & Culture. This accounts for his involvement in Junkanoo, American Football, Baseball, Soccer, Softball, Track & Field. Despite all of the contributions Greg would have made at a very young age in the area of Youth Sports development, it was not until 1989 that he took the challenge to invite young men from throughout New Providence teaching them basic life learning skills and the fundamentals of baseball. It was here that Freedom Farm Baseball Program was born. The Program is now regarded as one of the primary baseball programs in the country with over 800 boys and girls. The Program has achieved international successes with the placement of young men in high schools and colleges in the United States. A number of these young men are currently playing in Baseball’s Minor & Major Leagues.
Greg is also the Founding President of the Bahamas Baseball Federation, a member of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Baseball League International and a Commissioner for the Babe Ruth Baseball Inc for The Bahamas.
Mr. Burrows is married to the former Elizabeth Hilton and they have two sons, Greg Jr. and Adam.
Mr. Renward Wells – Bamboo Town
Renward Wells was ratified on the 14th September 2011. Mr. Wells is a 1987 graduate of the R. M. Bailey Senior High School and a 1995 graduate of Oral Roberts University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also holds a Masters Degree in Divinity.
Many Bahamians remember Mr. Wells as a world-class sprinter who represented the Bahamas in the Carifta Games, the Central American and Caribbean Games, the World Track and Field Championships and the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He held the 100 meters national record for ten years and currents holds the national record at 60 meters.
A Mechanical Engineer, Mr. Wells has vast experience in the field of engineering, having managed multi-million dollar projects while employed at the Ministry of Works. He fought for the establishment of the local Engineer’s Bill and the governing board. He is currently the owner of L.I.F.E. Designs, an engineering firm.
Mr. Wells is the immediate past president of the Bahamas Homeschool Association and a member of the Bahamas Society of Engineers.
He is married to Sarah Cathleen and they have five children: Sethra, Sasha, Sierra, Soren and Soraya.
Party Leader, The Rt. Hon. Perry Christie stated that Renward, Khaalis, and Gregory represent a generation of young, educated and professionally trained Bahamians who firstly, Believe in The Bahamas; posses diverse skill sets; have a vision for this country and a passion for public service. He added that their contributions will serve both the PLP and The Bahamas well.
The PLP is proud to present these fine young men to the Bahamian people and is confident that their contribution in public life will positively impact the future growth and development of The Bahamas.
