PLANTATION, Florida, March 6, 2019 — Dr. Leon Rand, an 85-year-old retired otolaryngologist of Hollywood, Florida, was the lucky grand prize winner of a vacation in The Bahamas for two on Silver Airways along with an acrylic painting on canvas by iconic Bahamian artist Jamaal Rolle.
Dr. Rand, who registered for the grand prize with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation’s (MOTA) sales team during the recent Art Fort Lauderdale Show, stopped by the MOTA Plantation office this past Thursday to collect his prize.
Dr. Rand has visited The Bahamas twice before — the first time while on his honeymoon, more than 30 years ago with his now ex-wife. On that visit he recalled a close and surprising encounter in the elevator of the then Nassau Beach Hotel, where he met legendary Bahamian actor, Sir Sidney Poitier. The second visit occurred during a cruise stop in Nassau, a few years later, while he was a physician on Celebrity Cruise Lines.
“The Bahamas is such a beautiful country and its people are so warm, friendly and courteous,” Dr. Rand says. “I am still in shock, but overjoyed about winning this fabulous prize. I look forward to visiting The Bahamas again real soon, and will do so with my fiancé, Carmen, who actually was the one that took me to the Art Fort Lauderdale Show.”
