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Senator Thompson Encourages 63 NTA Trainee Grads in Grand Bahama

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Bahamas, July 27, 2017 – Nassau – The government has a strategy to improve the economy of Grand Bahama by promoting entrepreneurship, said Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. Kwasi Thompson, during the graduation ceremony of the National Training Agency on Wednesday.

The event, where some 63 trainees graduated from Cohort 5, was held at A Social Affair Convention Centre.

The Minister assured the graduates that he had a message of hope that the government is working to get people working.

“We are well aware of the urgent need for jobs and economic stimulus on this island. It is what we were elected to do. For me, it is what I go to bed thinking about; it is what I wake up thinking about. It is why I pray to God for His wisdom, and guidance and His favor.

“A major part of our strategy is first, our major Tourism properties must be brought back to life. We are in continued and urgent dialogue with the principals and potential buyers for the Our Lucaya properties. We know how important these properties are to Grand Bahama. The government will not stand by and let these properties continue to cripple our economy. We will facilitate the best deal in the shortest period of time. One way or another the government will ensure that the property is renovated and opened. It is time that the government becomes the leader of our own successful destiny in this matter. This will allow you to benefit directly through employment or from smaller connected businesses.

“Port Lucaya will get more help and so for the next few months the government will step in and will be bringing activities to Port Lucaya to assist venders. I will be saying more on this on the weekend.”

The Minister also noted that he has met with the owners of Royal Oasis, and advised them that that situation cannot remain as it has.

“We will also be meeting shortly with the Grand Bahama Development Company and the Grand Bahama Port Authority on moving the real estate market and making land available for Bahamians as well as improving the look of Grand Bahama. We must first look like a vibrant city if we want to attract more investment.

“Second, investment must be allowed to freely flow in Grand Bahama. We are seeing good investment interest however; this interest cannot be allowed to bottleneck. Therefore we are opening an investment unit or Grand Bahama unit of the Bahamas Investment Authority to more efficiently process applications. We are also exploring ways of reducing government regulations and red tape in an attempt to open the floodgates of investment for Grand Bahama. The more investment the more jobs for young people like yourselves.

Third the government will develop the Spirit of Entrepreneurship in Grand Bahama. To this end the government will be assisting small businesses through Small Business Development Centres. We must move away from the attitude of finding a job rather than owning a business. I encourage you to develop an entrepreneurial spirit with the skills that you have received.”

“These centres will be located in the New Providence and Grand Bahama campuses of the University of The Bahamas. “Once fully implemented it is our vision that the Centre will be the leading driver of economic growth for small businesses by empowering entrepreneurial development throughout The Bahamas. The government will assist with training, some funding, advice on funding and helping with running the business.”

The Minister continued, “In addition we are actively working to begin the Business to Business Initiative, wherein large corporations on the island will make their daily operations and demands known to aspiring or existing small business owners. Millions of dollars leave this country and I believe we can spend some in Grand Bahama. We are talented and gifted and can provide many of the services that these large companies now export. Foreign does not mean better.

“It is the government’s hope that this information from these businesses will spark ideas in entrepreneurs and create opportunities. Your business or your skill may very well have the capacity to cater to a market or need that you had not previously considered. Just as likely, you may be inspired to create a business based on a need you had no idea existed. The first will be the Grand Bahama Shipyard.

“In the next few months you will also be hearing about our Grand Bahama Tech summit which will bring talented Bahamians from around the world to create a master plan for young entrepreneurs and small businesses to make Grand Bahama a Tech hub.

“We also have plans in Grand Bahama to work with the Bahamas Development Bank to offer funding for trained entrepreneurs for specific projects.

“We will also be supporting and facilitating training in the maritime industry to take advantage of our location and infrastructure.

Bahamas News

Twist To Win Ends in a Grand Style with Four $5,000 Mall at Marathon Shopping Sprees  

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Twist To Win grand finale winners (l-r) Brian Bethel, Taraceta Neely, Ashia Demeritte and Merlin Adams posing along with their winnings from the shopping spree.

NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products concluded their 10 weeklong Twist To Win campaign with four $5,000 Mall at Marathon shopping sprees.

The campaign which was available throughout the entire Bahamas allowed consumers to enter by purchasing a 20oz bottle with a yellow cap from the following brands: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, or Fanta Grape. Each yellow-cap had a unique alpha numeric code underneath which they submitted to the Twist To Win WhatsApp number.

With each qualifying purchase, participants residing in The Bahamas were entered to win instant prizes and into a grand prize draw to win one of four $5,000 shopping sprees at the Mall at Marathon.

Participants also enjoyed exciting instant prizes such as: Airpods, JBL Speakers, premium Coca-Cola merchandise, $500 Visa gift cards and Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music digital gift cards.

Out of 76,000 plus submissions, Brian Bethel, Ashia Demeritte, Merlin Adams, and Taraceta Neely won the coveted Mall at Marathon shopping sprees at the following select stores, Kelly’s House & Home, The Sports Center, John Bull, Brass & Leather, and BTC.

Leading up to the grand finale shopping spree, Coca-Cola hosted a Trivia Showdown with the eight finalists to determine the four winners. Finalists were tested on their knowledge of World History, Pop Culture, Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Facts!

After a few rousing rounds of trivia, the four winners were declared after each winning their spot in the shopping spree by answering their questions correctly and choosing the “Grand Prize” Coca-Cola labeled bottles at random.

The morning of the shopping spree Coca-Cola gave the winners exclusive access to the Mall at Marathon and its participating stores before their usual operating hours. Grand prize winners were greeted with wide smiles from Coca-Cola brand representatives and morning bites before the big event.

At the start of the thirty-minute clock the grand prize winners along with each of their Coca-Cola shopping assistants ran to the various stores collecting items in their arms and carts.

Merlin Adams, a husband and father of four was proud to have executed his game-plan at the end of the shopping spree. With toys, a new phone and materials for his home from Kelly’s, Adams felt accomplished in what he gathered.

Taraceta Neely, a winner from Eleuthera collected beautiful bags for herself and relatives from Brass and Leather and Brian Bethel bought matching athletic and outdoor wear from The Sports Center for his family.

The final winner Ashia Demeritte bought linens and household items in addition to a new phone from BTC right in time for Christmas.

Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to share the real magic of Coca-Cola with the grand prize winners and the may instant prize winners across the Twist To Win campaign. For more updates on new products, promotions, and events follow www.cbcbahamas.com.

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 The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival  

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products displayed their astonishing Coca-Cola Art Project (CCAP), during Baha Mar’s five-day Culinary & Arts Festival.                                                                                                                                                                              Earlier this year, Coca-Cola partnered with The University of The Bahamas’ Visual Art and Design Department for a culturally rich art competition. UB’s art students were challenged to create pieces surrounding the theme, Bahamian music.

As a result, 20 student works of art were made, with four students declared as winners at the CCAP exhibit opening in Baha Mar’s ECCHO: Art Gallery in August. To recreate the culturally stimulating magic felt at the exhibit’s premiere, the CCAP was featured at the FUZE Art Tent during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.

Nine incredible pieces of art lined the walls of the Coca-Cola Art Project, four of which included the winning pieces from Jhanaisia Cole, with ‘Gaulin Bride’; Alyssa Pinder, with ‘Shotgun Wedding’; Nelson Gray, with ‘Untitled’; and Jaela Bowe, with the piece ‘Whims of Obeah, a Folktail’.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Additionally, an intimate listening room was built. It displayed students’ artistic processes, UB Visual Art and Design representatives, and a recap of the exhibit opening for audiences.

Art enthusiasts also enjoyed premium limited-edition CCAP keepsakes at the booth. Journals which featured a collage of all 20 student submissions on the front and back cover, postcards with an art piece on the cover along with the student’s name, title, dimension and materials on the back and pens designed with the CCAP’s dynamic logo.

Throughout the art festival diverse groups of people visited the art tent taking in the displays while enjoying the artistic insights from the listening booth.

Community and culture are always at the forefront of Caribbean Bottling Community, and it was boldly showcased during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for the third consecutive year.

For more details on the Coca-Cola Art Project, events and new products visit www.cbcbahamas.com today!

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Bahamas News

CWS Brings a Galore of Bubbles at Annual Jollification Festival  

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Caribbean Wines & Spirits team members smiling behind one of the company’s two bars at Jollification

NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor delighted Jollification attendees with bubbles from their Bottega and Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne lines.

Located in the Monument Circle on The Retreat grounds, CWS transformed The Retreat Garden into a lush lounge with Besserat, Bouvet and their latest product addition, Bottega, during the two-day affair.

The festivities kicked off Friday during BNT Member’s Night. Guests enjoyed exclusive offerings from CWS’s catalogue, offered exclusively to members.  Complimentary mixes or glasses on the rocks included El Tequileno tequila, Hard Truth whiskey, House of Angostura rum, Cross Keys gin, Nemiroff vodka and a slew of wines such as Fonesca Bin, Bottega and Besserat.

Guests also savored the ‘Jolly Paloma’ cocktail, an instant favorite made with El Tequileno tequila, Schweppes Grapefruit and Domaine de Paris rose wine.  To end the night, guests were treated to branded limited-edition wine tumblers as keepsakes.

On Saturday and Sunday, Jollification attendees delighted in glasses or bottles of champagne and sparkling brut or rosé wines while taking in the comfort of the chic lounge.  In addition to purchasing bottles for onsite consumption, consumers were also able to purchase bottles as gifts whether for themselves or someone special.

The sophisticated “bubble lounge” lounge was decked with velvet couches, gold rimmed cocktail tables, blue and pink pillows, and a white floral branded backdrop created for capturing the perfect picture.

Caribbean Wines & Spirits, a historic partner of the Bahamas National Trust was pleased to support Jollification 2025 to kick off the festive season and share their expansive range of spirits.

To keep up to date with all CWS products and events, visit their website at www.cwsbahamas.com today.

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