The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

FIVE students with developmental or intellectual disabilities have been offered jobs at Cable Beach mega-resort Baha Mar after graduating from the resort’s Leadership Development Institute yesterday.

The five students were a part of the Best Buddy programme, an international programme that has been endorsed by the mega resort.

The five students were a part of the largest class of the LDI to date, with 350 persons graduating yesterday. Like the two classes before them, yesterday’s graduates will receive job opportunities at the resort.

One of the students, 17-year-old Ashanti Rolle, who suffered from Sickle Cell disease growing up, has been offered a job as a uniform co-ordinator at the resort’s Rosewood Hotel.

“The doctors had told my mother that I may not walk, talk or sing again,” she said tearfully. “My family didn’t give up on me. Family comes in all different shapes and sizes. There is no good love like my family.

“...LDI taught me discipline. It also taught me how to be myself. It also taught me how to be kind to others, how to share, play and love and express my feelings freely.”

Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of Government and External Affairs Robert Sands said yesterday’s commencement was “the manifestation of the opportunities Baha Mar is bringing to the fore in tourism”.

“We have a wide net, and the opportunities are available to all Bahamians from all islands, from all types of disabilities, opportunities, for them to succeed in this environment,” he said.

Graduating with Ms Rolle in the Best Buddies programme were 19-year-old Danier Rolle, 20-year-old Jonathan Gaitor, 21-year-old Amber Dames, and 20-year-old Bruce Roberts.

According to Mr Sands, Baha Mar is about to start its culinary institute.

Currently, he said, there are 350 persons on staff at the resort.