The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Bahamians are being encouraged to attend a Miami Marlins baseball game that will celebrate the country’s heritage this Saturday at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

The game, in which the Miami Marlins will take on the Atlanta Braves, is also expected to highlight The Bahamas’ close relationship with Miami. The celebration will feature a pre-game Junkanoo rush out performance at 3pm, featuring The Bahamas Junkanoo Revue of Miami and legendary Junkanooers Barabbas Woodside, Langston Longley, Ronnie Sands and Pluckers Chipman.

Jasrado “Jazz” Chisolm Jr, the 23 year-old Bahamian and the first to play with the Marlins franchise - and only the seventh to play Major League Baseball (MLB) - will be honoured at the game. A post-game celebration featuring Bahamian songs will also be performed by the Bahamian Steel Band Delight group.

The Heritage Celebration is a collaboration between the Miami Marlins, the Bahamas Consulate General’s Office in Miami, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, Bahamasair, the National Sports Authority (NSA) of The Bahamas and the Bahamas Baseball Association (BBA).

“As a destination, the islands of The Bahamas are known the world over for their sun, sand, sea and sports. Over the years, we have partnered with numerous elite sporting entities, whose players, families and friends have come to experience first-hand our country’s idyllic beauty and warm hospitality,” said Linda Mackey, The Bahamas’ consul general in Miami.

“We remain resolved in our pursuit to ensuring that the unique and rich heritage of The Bahamas, through these partnerships, is heavily promoted and that The Bahamas is known as the premier destination for sports tourism in the Caribbean. Working so successfully with organisations like the Miami Marlins has helped us tremendously.”

The prime minister and other government dignitaries have been invited by the Marlins organisation to participate in the event.

Special promotional links have been created for Bahamians to purchase tickets for the game and receive a Bahamian Heritage Chisolm Jr. t-shirt to be worn at the game. A donation to the BBA, and access to the pre-game Junkanoo band and post-game Steel Band Delight performances, are included in the promotional package.

General game tickets do not grant attendees access to the exclusive Bahamian Heritage Celebration t-shirt. The links are: Bahamian Heritage Celebration - NSA (fevo.com); Bahamian Heritage Celebration - BBA (fevo.com)

Bahamasair has also created special round-trip heritage packages to the game for persons travelling to Florida from Nassau and Freeport. Tickets, using promotional code 00MXDF1F and purchased on bahamasair.com, are $270.09 from Nassau to Miami or Fort Lauderdale and $266.17 from Freeport to Fort Lauderdale. These include round-trip airline transportation, game ticket, heritage t-Shirt, and post-game entertainment.

The Ministry of Tourism encouraged Bahamian to bring their goat skin drums and flags. Noise makers, including cowbells and wind instruments, are prohibited in the stadium.