VZCZCXYZ0019
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBH #0863/01 1522014
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 012014Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 4532
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2675
INFO RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELIZE 1259
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5405
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 3525
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 8340
RUEHPO/AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO 0903
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 3372
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2648
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA

UNCLAS NASSAU 000863 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR WBENT 
CDC FOR GAP/CRO FITZPATRICK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID TBIO KHIV BF
SUBJECT: 2006 AMBASSADOR'S SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR HIV/AIDS 
 
REF: PORT OF SPAIN 417 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  The Bahamas is making continued progress in the 
fight against HIV/AIDS because of the cooperative efforts of 
government and non-governmental organizations.  However, 
persons living with HIV/AIDS face stigma and discrimination 
as a result of their infection.  To address this concern, 
Post is submitting five separate proposals totaling $24,969 
for grants from the 2006 Ambassador's Small Grants Program 
for HIV/AIDS targeting the reduction of HIV-related stigma, 
improved public awareness and the involvement of persons 
living with HIV/AIDS.  END SUMMARY. 
 
AIDS Foundation - Concert for Positive Living 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  The AIDS Foundation is a well-established NGO that works 
closely with the Ministry of Health, the HIV/AIDS Secretariat 
and other NGOs in the Bahamas, and supports a variety of 
causes and activities in the fight against HIV/AIDS..  It 
engages in fund raising activities and holds several major 
events each year.  The AIDS Foundation is well-known and 
well-respected in the community.  One of its current major 
activities is the establishment of a residential facility for 
HIV/AIDS infected and affected orphans. 
 
¶3.  The AIDS Foundation is requesting funding to hold "The 
Concert for Positive Living," an event using music to focus 
on the reduction of stigma and discrimination towards persons 
living with HIV/AIDS and to promote HIV/AIDS awareness in the 
general population.  The concert will feature young Bahamian 
musicians and the band "Andrew Jones and Spirit House."  Mr. 
Jones is a well-known Bahamian singer who is HIV positive and 
is involved with both the AIDS Foundation and the Bahamas 
National Network for Positive Living (BNN ).  The event will 
be recorded on CD and video for distribution to local 
television and radio.  Initial discussion of the proposal 
resulted in immediate community donations of venue, part of 
the entertainment, and event workers. 
 
¶4.  Budget for the Concert for Positive Living: 
 
Poster printing (2,000 b/w and 500 color): $300 
Passes and artwork: $1050 
Print, TV and radio advertising: $2,700 
Promotional T-shirt printing (700@$5): $3,500 
Equipment Rentals: $745 
Entertainment (bands): $1800 
Total Requested:  $10095 
 
New Providence Center - "The Face of AIDS" Campaign 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶5.  The New Providence Community Center is a faith-based NGO 
that has long supported community development projects in The 
Bahamas, including its "HIV/AIDS" rock garden project.  The 
Center is devoted to social justice projects, including 
support of youth development, anti-drug campaigns, 
environmental protection, disaster assistance, housing 
assistance and HIV/AIDS awareness.  It has offered to provide 
its extensive facilities and equipment to the "Concert for 
Positive Living" project at no cost. New Providence Community 
Center is well-known and respected in the community, and 
seeks to increase its HIV/AIDS prevention work. 
 
¶6.  The Center is requesting funding to present a nationwide 
print advertising campaign entitled:  "The Face of AIDS." 
The campaign would place advertisements in the major daily 
newspapers and local magazines showing prominent Bahamian 
politicians, athletes, religious leaders and persons living 
with HIV/AIDS, standing together under the title "The Face of 
AIDS in The Bahamas."  The goal is to show the acceptance of 
HIV/AIDS, including the acceptance of persons living with 
HIV/AIDS, by prominent persons to reduce the stigma of living 
with HIV/AIDS.  During initial discussions of the project, a 
photographer and graphic designer agreed to donate services 
to develop the advertisement and several prominent persons -- 
including a key local religious leader -- expressed interest 
in participating. 
 
¶7.  Budget for "The Face of AIDS" Campaign: 
 
Purchase of print advertising (11 full page spots @ $455): 
$5005 
 
BNN  - Ceramic Quilt Project 
---------------------------- 
 
¶8.  The Bahamas National Network for Positive Living (BNN ) 
is a network and support group for Bahamians living with and 
affected by HIV/AIDS.  It is a developing organization that 
has played a small role in advocacy for persons living with 
HIV/AIDS, but its membership and its potential community role 
is not what it could be due to the stigma of living with 
HIV/AIDS in The Bahamas.  It is a well-respected group within 
the Bahamas HIV/AIDS community, loosely affiliated with the 
AIDS Foundation and focused on support for infected persons. 
 
¶9.  BNN  is requesting funding to prepare a "HIV/AIDS 
Awareness Quilt" and display the quilt throughout The 
Bahamas.  A well-known Bahamian ceramic artist would hold a 
workshop with students from different parts of The Bahamas to 
prepare the ceramic quilt, which will focus on "Living with 
HIV/AIDS."  The goal of the project is to show a student's 
perspective on HIV/AIDS, to increase awareness of persons 
living with HIV/AIDS and to promote BNN .  Initial inquiries 
with Government officials resulted in offers to display the 
finished artwork in various public places in The Bahamas 
including the airport, government offices and the art museum. 
 The location for the workshop has been donated, as have 
supplies, leaving the main costs the logistics of the 
preparatory workshop itself. 
 
¶10.  Budget for BNN  Ceramic Quilt Project 
 
Air transportation workshop participants: $1553 
Hotel accommodations (4 rooms/3 nights): $1680 
Meals (25 participants at $20/day):$500 
Ground transfer: $136 
Print promotion of quilt display (posters and newspaper): 
$1000 
Total Requested: $4869 
 
 
HIV/AIDS Secretariat - "Know Your Status" Campaign 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶11.  The HIV/AIDS Secretariat, a well-established government 
entity within the Ministry of Health, proposes to run a 
two-month television and radio advertising campaign entitled 
"Know Your Status" whereby persons are encouraged to be 
tested for HIV/AIDS and told the process for free testing 
through the Secretariat.  The HIV/AIDS Secretariat has agreed 
to match the small grant award dollar for dollar.  ZNS 
Network, the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, has 
agreed to match both the small grant fund and the HIV/AIDS 
Secretariat dollar for dollar. The advertisements will be 
 
SIPDIS 
produced free of charge by the Secretariat and ZNS Network. 
 
¶12.  Budget for "Know Your Status" Campaign: 
 
Two months television advertising for 2 daily advertisements 
(est.):  $10000 
Two months radio advertising for 4 daily advertisements 
(est.): $10000 
Agreed matching donation by ZNS: -$10000 
Agreed matching donation by HIV/AIDS Secretariat: -$5000 
Total Requested:  $5000 
 
¶13.  Embassy point of contact is Gregory A. Floyd, Pol/Econ 
Officer, 242-322-1181 ext. 4510, floydga@state.gov. 
HARDT