Bahamas News
Commonwealth Law Ministers Establish the Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform
#Bahamas, October 19, 2017 – Nassau – After the first day of deliberations, the 2017 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM) yielded its first accord, with establishment of the Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform on October 17, 2017 at the conclave at Baha Mar Convention Centre. It was an idea that the Commonwealth’s Secretary General, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, Q.C. [Baroness], had since she was appointed in April 2016.
The new “Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform” is a high-level crime-fighting vehicle. It is governed by the Declaration of the Charter of the Commonwealth of Nations, signed by H.M. The Queen, Elizabeth II, under which 52 nations are united by language, history, culture, and the shared values of Democracy, Rule of Law, International Peace, Freedom of Expression, Separation of Powers, Good Governance, Protecting the Environment, Access to Health, Education, Food and Shelter, Gender Equality, and Human Rights.
Since 1931, the members of the Commonwealth of Nations have formed a network in a spirit of cooperation, partnership, and understanding.
Baroness Scotland said: “It’s clear that one of the things that joined all of the 52 member states of the Commonwealth — which represents about 2.4 billion people, 60 percent of whom are under the age of 30 — was the Common Law. We have a common language, a common Parliamentary system, and common institutions.
“The question therefore is: Look at the challenges that all of our countries face — the legal challenges, whether in relation to criminal justice, civil justice issues, particularly in terms of trade, but also climate change, and a plethora of other issues; we are all therefore, all our countries, looking at the same issues; none of us have sufficient resources to do it on our own –could we create something which will pool the opportunities to share our best practices and our learning?”
The Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform was created as an answer to the question.
She continued, in this office, which will be on the web: “you will see the laws and the procedures adopted and used by all our 52 member states. The Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform creates a portal which will enable various member states to assist each other in terms of producing toolkits, common legislative programs, frameworks for legislation, but also work in practice. This is a very important moment for us to help save money, save time; and, if we are correct in the way we deliver it, I think we will save lives as well.”
Bahamas Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, the Hon. Carl W. Bethel said the conference was extremely enlightening, covering a plethora of topical issues including, local and international, for example, the application of technology in the fight against crime; issues of combating terrorism and terrorist financing; issues in terms of how do we prevent the radicalization of our young people.
“We live today in a very violent society on the streets with drug gangs, but we’ve had drug gangs for 30 to 40 years, but never had this level of violence. So, how do we prevent the continued radicalization of even distressed young men in depressed communities? …These are problems that other countries in the Commonwealth face as well, and they’re grappling with the same issues.”
The Attorney General further stated that “the Commonwealth has always been a vital tool for those English-speaking or former English dominions or colonies which have embraced the Parliamentary system to share ideas and best practices.”
He continued that with the development of the new website, the ‘Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform’, there is “the ability for real time communication throughout the Commonwealth with our colleagues on critical issues.” The Attorney General explained, “with this website now, I am able to access that portal, make contact in real time, obtain technical assistance with other Commonwealth countries that we also have certain similar initiatives with, and also in the U.K. with their Parliamentary persons.”
By: Gena Gibbs (BIS)
1st insert: Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Baroness Scotland chats with Bahamas Attorney General & Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator the Hon. Carl Bethel during the 2017 Commonwealth Law Ministers Meetings (CLMM) at Baha Mar, October 16-19, 2017. Photos show events on Tuesday – also of the law ministers group and some of the proceedings.
(BIS Photos/Derek Smith)
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.
Bahamas News
The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
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!
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.
