By LEDEDRA MARCHE

Senior FN Reporter

In 2006, James Sands, a firm believer in Grand Bahama's potential, an-nounced plans to build a $15 million beer brewery in Freeport and last week he christened that dream with the official opening of the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage (BBB) Company.

The move signified his return to his mother's birthplace and his former home to build a fully Bahamian-owned business.

Designed by architect Burton Miller and constructed by FreeCon Company Ltd., the BBB sits on 20 acres of land and is located at the intersection of Queens Highway and Grand Bahama Way.

Proud of her husband's accomplishment, Claire Sands said she has lived the dream with the man affectionately called Jimmy, pointing out that such an aspiration takes vision, imagination and creativity to conceive.

It is, she said, an old-fashioned, rock solid entrepreneurship.

Sands, who is president of BBB, spoke Thursday of what tremendous history was being made

"Here it is we have created a project that is 100 percent Bahamian owned," he said. "It was built by Bahamians, financed by Bahamians, designed by Bahamians and the employment is Bahamian."

He also congratulated Brew Tech, a German firm, which assisted the brewery in providing the expertise in putting the machinery together.

"They have done a fabulous job and they produced a fabulous beer said Sands. This beer, I'm sure, everybody will find to be most, most enjoyable," he added.

Earlier this year, BBB held a "Name Those Beers" contest, the competition gave Grand Bahamians the chance to win thousands by coming up with a winning name for the new brewery's beers.

BBB launched the competition to afford Grand Bahamians the opportunity of helping to name two of the beers that the new company will create.

Only residents in Grand Bahama could play and they were allowed three chances to enter the competition with two original names to be selected.

In December 2006, the first of the two names was chosen, with 11 contestants winning with the name "Sands," they walked away with $500 each. Then in June of this year, two lucky contenders won $1,500 each when they conjured up the name "High Rock."

Next year, the brewery will be coming out with other beers, Sands assured.

Before declaring the BBB officially open, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham expressed how pleased he was that the brewery is a 100 percent Bahamian-owned en-terprise and congratulated Sands for a job well done.

He also thanked Sands for increasing the employment statistics in Grand Bahama and congratulated all of the investors involved in the venture.

"So while we have dark clouds hanging over this island, there are some light at the end of the tunnel," the prime minister said.

"This is a good shot in the arm for Freeport, Grand Bahama. Jobs are needed very badly in this city and Jimmy, we thank you very much for providing decent jobs here."

Prime Minister Ingraham also revealed how proud he is that Sands was able to take a risk and open a business in Grand Bahama to produce a beer which he hopes, expects and trusts will become very popular throughout the country.

"Sands, as you know, is an old Bahamian name, beautiful, powdery, clear, white and pink sand has made our beaches world famous and it's only fitting that the new beer should be called Sands," he said.

The nation's chief executive took the opportunity to remind Grand Bahamians of opportunities coming on line in this economy which they should prepare themselves to take advantage of.

"I also believe that the spin-off business and employment opportunities for Bahamians made possible with the likes of large Bahamian investments such as this and/or foreign investment in our economy ought not be minimized by any of us," he said.

"It takes a lot to decide to invest $15 million or so in an undertaking such as this in Freeport, Grand Bahama and to know that you have to transfer that product throughout The Bahamas and outside and to expect a return."

The prime minister, other government officials and special invited guests were given a tour of the facility while other guests took in the sound of the goat skin drums, horns, cowbells and whistles being played outside and were ushered in to the cocktail area by the Harbour Boys in a Junkanoo rush out to sip on a Sands Beer or two.

Let's Sip a Sands – James 'JImmy' Sands, owner and president of the Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Co., is pictured enjoying the night along with his Sands Babes during the official opening of the brewery last Thursday.(Photo courtesy of Keen I Media)