Bahamas News
DPM Says East End Communities are Ecological Dream Come True
#Bahamas, October 11, 2017 – East End, Grand Bahama – In officially opening the 45th Annual Conch Cracking Festival in McLean’s Town, during the National Heroes Day Holiday, October 9, 2017 Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest remarked that places like McLean’s Town remain an ecological dream – a paradise by many standards.
“Therefore, I want to encourage you to enjoy the beauty of these communities and the surrounding cays,” Deputy Prime Minister Turnquest told the hundreds of participants at the annual festival, which was held at McLean’s Town All-Age school.
The event not only featured an array of Bahamian dishes made from conch, but offered a variety of other Bahamian-made dishes, desserts and drinks, as well as the sounds of Bahamian music throughout the day. The highlight of the festival was the conch-cracking competition, in which locals as well as visitors were invited to participate. Competitions included how quickly one could extract a conch from its shell, a conch eating competition, and a conch cleaning competition.
During his opening and welcome address, DPM Turnquest noted that because McLean’s Town and many communities within the East End area are so far away from the City of Freeport, not that many people bother to make the long trek to visit those communities.
He said this was both a blessing and a curse. “It’s a blessing because it has allowed this community to pretty much stay pristine and genuine – a true reflection of Bahamian culture here on Grand Bahama. It’s a curse because it does not expose as often as we like what is so special and unique about McLean’s Town, Rocky Creek, and the Cays.
“I want to particularly welcome and invite our guests – from abroad and from Nassau and other Family Islands – to not only enjoy the activities and the food here at this festival, but to take time out to enjoy the environment that surrounds you here today.”
DPM Turnquest pointed out that each of the islands within The Bahamas is unique in its own special way, even though Bahamians all share a general culture. He pointed out that if one went from one island to another or, in some cases, from one settlement to another it would be easy to realize that Bahamians are a diverse group of people with diverse cultural customs in the way they cook, the way they dress, and the way they speak.
“I want to encourage that inter-island tourism, particularly among our own citizens, but also among our visitors from abroad; and don’t think that because you’ve been to Grand Bahama that you’ve experienced it all,” added Mr. Turnquest. “I can assure you that this is only but a taste of our 700 islands. So, I want you to think about coming back and getting an opportunity to experience what each of our islands has to offer.”
The East End Member of Parliament said that the 45th Conch Cracking Festival was a celebration of the original event, which distinguishes the community of McLean’s Town as well as celebrates its history as a fishing and conching village, where the people of the community obtained their livelihood from the sea.
“That’s why I’m so happy that the chairman of this committee and members of his team have continued this great tradition, [and] even in the midst of great odds and discouraging events at times, continue to press on to ensure that this tradition lives on and continues to grow,” he said.
By: Andrew Coakley (BIS)
Photo captions:
Header photo: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest officially opened the 45th Annual Conch Cracking Festival at McLean’s Town All Age School on Monday, October 9, 2017 — part of National Heroes Day celebrations. (BIS Photo/Andrew Coakley)
Insert: Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest talks with some of the locals and visitors who attended the Conch Cracking Festival on Monday, October 9, 2017 on the school grounds of McLean’s Town All Age School. Following his official address to open the festival, the Deputy Prime Minister took time to visit all of the stalls at the event and chat with the participants. (BIS Photo/Andrew Coakley)
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.
