NASSAU, Jan 28, 2010 – Publicly held commercial real estate and automated ticketing company RND Holdings Limited today announced that it has sold majority interest in the company to Colina Insurance Limited, the country’s largest life and health insurer. Colina, which has owned shares in RND since the latter’s initial public offering in 1998, now holds in excess of 50% of the equity in RND Holdings Limited, whose principal subsidiary, RND Properties Limited, manages the rental of commercial facilities RND Plaza West, RND Plaza Freeport and RND Plaza Abaco.

RND Chairman Jerome Fitzgerald says the move is a shot in the arm that will establish certain synergies to increase the company’s cash flow and bolster investor confidence. “We saw this move to expand our relationship with Colina as being particularly opportune during these difficult economic times,” says Fitzgerald. “Linking RND with Colina, a respected financial services institution with a long term view of investments, will bring value to shareholders and ensure that this company, which is strong now, will get even stronger in the future.”

Colina Executive Vice President, Emanuel Alexiou added, “Colina has had a long and favourable relationship with Mr. Fitzgerald. The RND properties are strong assets and we are pleased to expand our strategic and financial ties to RND through this real estate investment.”

Both RND and Colina advise that the transaction will not affect staffing levels at the company as no redundancies are expected to take place as a result of the new ownership structure.

NASSAU, January 20, 2010 РToday, Colina Insurance Limited and its affiliate companies donated $50K to The Bahamas Red Cross Society to mobilize relief efforts to Haiti after the country was struck by a 7.0 scale earthquake on Tuesday January 12. The group of companies, including Colina, CFAL, Ansbacher Bahamas Ltd, Genesis Fund Services Ltd, The Nassau Guardian and The Walk in Medical Clinic along with staff and agents of the respective businesses, collectively raised donations in response to a global plea for aid. The earthquake left hundreds of thousands of Haitians in need of food, clothing, and medical attention, and the country’s capital in ruins.

Melanie Hutcheson, Corporate Communications Officer at Colina, says it is times like these when Corporate Bahamas can really make invaluable contributions to the lives of its neighbours. “When you have lost your hospitals, police stations, and practically your government, one is likely to feel hopeless and confused” she says. “Colina and its affiliate companies understand that it is our corporate responsibility to provide assistance in the capacity we are able during this global disaster. Food and clothing are a necessity, however, cash donations will help to organize these goods quicker to the people who need it. We are happy to do what we can in the global plight to address some of the humanitarian needs of the Haitians right now.”

Colina made its donation to the Bahamas Red Cross Society through an established relief fund. Caroline Turnquest, Director General Bahamas Red Cross, expressed her gratitude on behalf of the Society. “It is responsible corporate citizens like Colina that make the difference in bringing quick relief to those unfortunate individuals affected by this unexpected disaster” she said. “The Bahamas Red Cross is thankful to know that we have corporate partnerships in our society who join us in our fight to provide help to those who really can’t afford to fight for themselves. Their efforts should be applauded.”

The Bahamas Red Cross is a branch of the International Red Cross Society established in 1939 under the support of the British Red Cross. The Society is a nonprofit organization that offers a wide range of assistance to members of the community who suffer loss as a result of fire, hurricane, or any other form of natural disaster. The local branch has created a relief fund for Haiti accessible at any Royal Bank of Canada, account number (05165 2893865). Persons interested in donating can eithercall the hotline at 380.2222, visit any RBC banking location or visit the Society’s Facebook page online.

NASSAU, January 15, 2010 Р Colina Insurance Limited embarked upon a new creative project this year to highlight the contributions of local artists who have helped to shape the Bahamian cultural identity. “Generations of Bahamian Culture”, the 2010 concept calendar developed by Colina with Cacique Award winning photographer Wendell Cleare, features artists across the cultural landscape of Bahamian society.  Each month showcases a different niche of the Bahamian visual and performing arts scene and juxtaposes venerable cultural icons alongside contemporary rising stars. The calendar images can be viewed here.

This venture is the second concept calendar for Colina, a follow-up to last year’s “Bahamas Sacred Sanctuaries”, which featured historically and architecturally important churches throughout The Bahamas.   Melanie Hutcheson, Corporate Communications Officer at Colina says of the 2010 initiative, “We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with so many artists on one project. The quality of talent reflected in the calendar is a virtual Who’s Who of local entertainment and art. There are many people out there who say that The Bahamas has no culture of its own but this calendar proves them wrong. The “Generations” project is our way of drawing more attention to the role these great Bahamians play in our everyday nation building.”

For more than 50 years Bahamians and visitors to these Islands have been touched by the inimitable tenor of Bahamian singer Ronnie Butler, featured in February with TaDa, a contemporary singer/songwriter making a name for herself on the world stage.  At age 72, with an enviable catalogue of hit songs, Butler’s favourite recording is still Burma Road, a 1960s musical interpretation of one of Nassau’s most famous cases of unrest. Butler has a fan in TaDa, a 21st-century crooner who got her start, as many do, singing in church. “It was a privilege to work on this project alongside Ronnie Butler who is a mentor of mine” she says. “He is truly a Bahamian icon, and has done so much for up and coming artists like myself.  Ronnie and I represent the entertainment industry of the past paralleled with the present. We both share the same hopes, dreams and aspirations for a much bigger, brighter, developed and supported music industry in our country. Kudos to Colina for being a pioneer by supporting Bahamian artists who are trying to enhance what we know to be culture.”

In the November image, actress Claudette “Cookie” Allens is pictured with newcomer Renel Brown who, at 14 made her debut on the silver screen in 2008 playing the title role in the movie Rain, the edgy coming-of-age film written, produced and directed by Bahamian filmmaker Maria Govan. Allens is herself a prominent stage actress recognized for her stellar performances in many traditional folk comedic plays. Her voice first rang out in the theatre in the 1960s when, as a member of the University Players, she performed Bahamian and Caribbean plays to audiences only recently accustomed to hearing their dialect spoken on stage. An actress for more than four decades, Allens was honoured in 2006 by the National Independence Committee for her prolific and groundbreaking work in theatre, film and radio.

‚ÄúFor 40 years I have witnessed the art of acting grow in this country,‚Äù says Allens. ‚ÄúI am humbled by the fact that Colina has chosen to honour me in this way. This significantly encourages those aspiring artists to continue their quest for excellence…I am encouraged to perform at my best for another 40 years.‚Äù

Marion Bethel, a lawyer by profession, and a poet by nature, has published two volumes of poetry ‚Äì Guanahani, My Love and Bougainviella Ringplay.¬† She makes an appearance in October‚Äôs homage to poetry alongside Ishmael Smith and Andrew Burrows of Ruff Kutz. ‚ÄúThis is a wonderful time for artists to be working in our various crafts,‚Äù says Bethel.¬† ‚ÄúThe support of Bahamian private enterprise in our creative endeavours is necessary and vital.¬†¬†This collaboration must be deepened and Colina’s production of¬†this calendar is indeed commendable. The calendar is absolutely beautiful and should be circulated far & wide throughout The Bahamas.‚Äù

The calendar also features sculptors Antonius Roberts and Kelley Knowles; artists John Cox and Heino Schmid; chefs Tracey Sweeting and Jamall Petty; artisans Telator Strachan and Nadia Campbell; junkanooers Winston “Gus” Cooper and Chris Justilien; writers Patricia Glinton-Meicholas and Garth Bucker; filmmakers Gavin McKinney and Kareem Mortimer; dancers Robert Bain and Simone Davies; and playwrights James Catalyn and Cleveland Eneas III (aka Anku Sa Ra) who appear on the cover.