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Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister tells students The Bahamas will eventually join WTO

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#Bahamas, November 2, 2017 – Nassau – The Bahamas will, eventually join the World Trade Organization and as a result there will be some demands placed on The Bahamas, which will be designed to reduce “artificial barriers to trade”, and cause the free flow of goods and services across borders.   This reality was brought to light to a group of primary and high school students by Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest.

“Traditionally, we earn most of our revenue through border taxes, customs duties and as we join the WTO, they are going to require us to reduce those taxes, either to zero or to the very low administrative rate, and as we do that, we are going to have to figure out how to replace that revenue, because we need money to run the government.

“That will mean that we will have to look at new forms of taxation or how we increase the yield we earn on existing taxes.”

The Finance Minister spent the first part of his morning on Monday, October 30, 2017, with the children at Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic School, where, following the school’s assembly, he presented a student with a special gift for an outstanding accomplishment.

Yana Swain of Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic School, was the National winner of an Essay competition, hosted by the Caribbean Organization of Tax Administrators, which was held in June of 2017. The theme of the essay was “Reformation of Taxes”.

Within the context of her essay, the young, grade eight student offered some suggestions as to how the government can go about implementing the necessary taxes in the country, in order to increase revenue.   Suggestions of income tax, asking those who make more money to pay more taxes, while at the same time increasing the national minimum wage, were among Yana’s ideas.

“Yana, if I had a junior minister of Finance, you probably would qualify,” Minister Turnquest jokingly suggested.   “Some of the ideas you presented are the same which some people may be thinking about and some ideas I dare not even speak about.

“But the truth is, if we are going to compete and continue to keep up with the rest of the world, we’re going to have to be creative about how we address this whole issue of raising Government revenue.”

Minister Turnquest told the student body that the Government must look at ways of making the whole process of paying taxes much simpler. The idea of consolidation of some taxes was one of the suggestions by the Finance Minister.

“Right now we still operate on a system — other than Value Added Tax — that we inherited from our Colonial days,” added Minister Turnquest.   “We have stamp taxes, excise taxes and other kinds of taxes. So we need to consolidate in order to make the tax paying experience smoother, easier and encourage them to comply.”

The Deputy Prime Minister congratulated Yana for her creative ideas and for thinking outside of the box.   He also encouraged the entire student body to continue to set the example for other schools in Grand Bahama and throughout the Bahamas.

“Mary Star has a tremendous legacy of producing successful people,” added Minister Turnquest.   “For years, when it came to the sciences, you have been on top and your performance in the SCEME competition is legendary.   I hope that you will continue to push forward in science, in technology and in engineering, because that is the new frontier and that is where we need to take this country.

“We need to recreate ourselves to being something more than just service oriented.   So, I encourage all of you to continue to be creative and to think outside of the box. And let’s remember, Yana’s accomplishment was not just for Grand Bahama, but she came out on top of all entrants throughout the entire Bahamas.”

Congratulations DsiaBefore going to his office to begin his day in helping to govern the country, Minister Turnquest stopped by the Internal Revenue office to present another student with her third place award for the same essay competition.

D’Asia Russell of Eight Mile Rock High School finished third overall in the National competition. In presenting D’Asia with her gift and certificate, Minister Turnquest said that her accomplishment was special because she represented the public school system.

“As a product of the public school system, this proves that in spite of all the challenges we have in our public school system, there is still hope for success for students in the public school system,” said Minister Turnquest.

By: Andrew Coakley (BIS)

Photo captions:

OUTSTANDING JOB – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest (second from right) presents Yana Swain of Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic School, with her certificate and award for winning the essay competition hosted by the Caribbean Organization of Tax Administrators. Under the theme, “Reformation of Taxes” the essay competition was held in June of this year and Yana won over all of the entrants from The Bahamas. Also on hand for the presentation, which took place on Monday, October 30, 2017 at Mary Star, were Rosemary Pintard-Bowe, Acting Comptroller for the Department of Inland Revenue (second from left); Vice Principal of Mary Star, Mrs. Hanna (left) and Yana’s dad, Denzel Swain (right).  (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

CONGRATULATIONS D’ASIA – D’Asia Russell of Eight Mile Rock High School (third from left) receives her certificate and prize from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest (third from right) for her third place finish in the Caribbean Organization of Tax Administrators essay competition, which was held in June of this year.  D’ Asia finished third nationally. Also on hand for the presentation on Monday, October 30, 2017 at the Department of Internal Revenue were Rosemary Pintard-Bowe, Acting Comptroller for the Department of Inland Revenue (second from left); Chester Cooper, Principal of Eight Mile Rock High (second from right) and Ms. Patricia Ennis, D’Asia’s literary coach (left).  (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

 

 

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Monument Beverage Co. Caribbean Wines & Spirits Uniquely Bahamian Newest Product

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor is proud to announce the launch of Monument Beverage Co., its newest 100% locally produced ready-to-drink alcoholic cocktail.

Monument, “Made to Celebrate”, perfectly encapsulates everything the brand represents. Created and distributed by CWS, Monument is inspired by culture, crafted with excellence and bursting with innovation.

This unique beverage celebrates island living with three bold flavors, Ginger Lime, Peach Passion and Melon Fizz. All of which can be enjoyed at an ABV of five-point-two percent.

The brand’s creativity really shines through each can’s packaging. Bold colored stripes, cherished native flora and fauna and of course, national monuments can all be found on each can.

The beverage’s two year plus development is a testament to CWS’ dedication to quality and innovation. Countless hours of tastings, reformulations, focus groups and package design reviews all paid off with the creation of Monument.

Karla Wells-Lisgaris, Chief Commercial Officer of Caribbean Wines & Spirits and Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, shared what this authentically Bahamian made product launch means for the company.

“When we were conceptualizing Monument, we wanted to create a product that not only tasted like The Bahamas but would be an ode to the nation as well. With those two thoughts in mind, I, along with a team of experts, created three incredible flavors we believe really connect with and celebrate the essence of island living,” she said.

“Additionally, being that Monument is the first product to be 100% manufactured by Caribbean Wines & Spirits, we really wanted to ensure that both the flavors and packaging honored our rich heritage. On each of the cans, you can find various monuments such as the Nassau Public Library in New Providence, the Garden of the Grove in Grand Bahama and the Hatchet Bay Silos in Eleuthera; all of which pay homage to our diverse Bahamian heritage.” Wells-Lisgaris concluded.”

The historic monuments found throughout our islands are more than places we pass every day; they are reminders of who we are, where we’ve come from and the stories that connect us as Bahamians.

Monument is perfectly formulated with quality ingredients, and each can celebrates a collection of these cultural icons from across The Bahamas.

Whether chilling solo beachside, gathered around a family table or backyard a grill with friends, make Monument your sip of choice.  Monument is made to celebrate, visit  www.cwsbahamas.com today for more details.

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Lady Kayla Crowned Goombay Punch Cup Sailing Champion of 2025/2026

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L–R: Joss Knowles, Kianno Hutchinson, Jazmin Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager at Caribbean Bottling Company and Dallas Knowles receiving a donation on behalf of the Exuma Sailing Club at the Long Island Regatta awards ceremony.

NASSAU, Bahamas —– Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, is proud to crown Lady Kayla of Exuma as this year’s annual Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup winner.

CBC created the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup to further the advancement of sailing and Bahamian culture through monetary and social support. The competition judges the skipper’s performance across three regattas, The Best of the Best, the National Family Island and Long Island Regattas.

The winning sloop led by Kianno Hutchinson and Joss Knowles showcased their skillmanship in the E-Class category across each round of competition. In addition to winning the trophy, the skippers were awarded a $5,000 donation, an $8,000 stipend to the junior sailing club of their island and a limited-edition Lady Kayla Bahamas Goombay Punch commemorative can, which will be released soon.

Jonathan Thronebury, Marketing Director of CBC shared the significance behind The Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup.

“The Bahamas Goombay Punch is more than a beloved local brand; it’s a vibrant part of our cultural fabric. Just like sailing, our national sport, it carries a rich legacy that spans generations. Recognizing this shared history, we’re proud to support initiatives that celebrate and advance Bahamian culture,” he said.

Hutchinson and Knowles shared what this win meant for them.

“I felt super proud when I realized we won. I am grateful and thankful to God, for good coaches and Joss. It was really an honor winning the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup,” Hutchinson expressed.

“I am very honored to have been able to compete in the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup, I think it is a great concept and idea for a competition and really adds a new motive throughout the regattas. The whole championship was super competitive, and every single race was a fight. Alvington McKenzie was extremely competitive and had us until the Long Island regatta, which made it a very fun and tough competition. Very excited to have been the winner of a super close championship,” Knowles revealed.

Lady Kayla’s owner, Dallas Knowles, shared the team’s winning strategy.

“In sailing consistency is key and our guys in Lady Kayla are some of the best in the business at staying near the top.  In the end, that was enough to secure their first Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup win. We are so proud of Joss and Kianno for what they have done in Lady Kayla.  Thank you to Caribbean Bottling Company for such an amazing and forward-thinking initiative,” Knowles shared.

The Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup is proud to continue its impact on sailing and community building through clean and fair competition.

For more updates on the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup and Caribbean Bottling Company visit the website www.cbcbahamas.com today.

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Caribbean Bottling Supports the 27th Basketball Smiles Week  

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, is proud to once again support Basketball Smiles for their 27th year.

Upholding its corporate pillar of community outreach, CBC proudly donated $2,000, over 75 cases of Dasani, Powerade and Sprite, reusable Powerade water bottles and numerous marketing materials.

The annual sporting summer camp offers free basketball and life skills training to Junior and High School students.

Basketball Smiles’ mission of developing leadership qualities while fostering children’s academic achievement and self-esteem aligns perfectly with CBC’s commitment to supporting and empowering youth.

Jazmin Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager for Caribbean Bottling Company shared why the company continues to support this program each year.

“At CBC, we believe investing in our youth is one of the greatest ways to strengthen our communities. We’re proud to support Basketball Smiles each year because it goes beyond the game. This program champions healthy lifestyles, positive values and brighter futures. It’s a privilege to play a role in helping these young athletes reach their full potential each year,” she shared.

Sam Nicholls, Basketball Smiles Camp President and Founder expressed.

“Caribbean Bottling Company is an incredible partner. We are truly grateful for their generous support, which will go a long way in making a positive impact on the lives of our campers,” Nicholls expressed.

CBC is always ready to lend its support toward initiatives and programs that uplift young Bahamians. The impact Basketball Smiles makes on the community is undeniable and is why CBC remains a historic sponsor.

For more information on sponsorship, events and new products, visit www.cbcbahamas.com today.

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