Bahamas News
Grand Bahama Students Join Global Technology Initiative Called “Hour of Code”
#Bahamas, December 14, 2017 – Grand Bahama – With Grand Bahama’s first Tech Summit only a month in the past, already, some positive effects from the Summit are being felt among the students of Freeport.
On Monday, December 11, students from Sunland Baptist Academy and Jack Hayward High School participated in what is called “an Hour of Code,” simultaneously with children around the globe. In fact, Sunland and Jack Hayward were pacesetters in officially establishing Grand Bahama as part of the worldwide Program.
The Global imitative was brought to The Bahamas through the efforts of Kristie Powell, a Bahamian working at Google, who was one of the guest speakers at the first technology summit. The program was taught to over 20 million students around the world on Monday, the same time students in Grand Bahama were going through the program.
The program, “Hour of Code” is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in over 180 countries. One-hour tutorials are available in over 45 languages and is geared towards students from ages four, upward.
On Monday, both Sunland and Jack Hayward were introduced to the program by another guest speaker of the first Tech Summit, Alex Cameron, a programmer. Cameron introduced the students to the world of coding and set the foundation for what is expected to become a future career for many of Grand Bahama’s youngsters.
Harcourt Brown, Permanent Secretary
“This is a program about which the Minister for Grand Bahama is very excited,” said Harcourt Brown, Permanent Secretary in the Office of The Prime Minister, during his visit with the students at Sunland Baptist Academy. “This is one of the suggestions that was put forth during the GB Tech Summit. This is an embodiment of what it is we hope to accomplish here in Grand Bahama in the very near future. As some of you may know the purpose of the Tech Summit was to help establish Grand Bahama as a Tech Hub. This is part of that starting point.
“What you’re about to do this morning is extremely important; during a meeting with the executives of the Steering Committee, one of the discussions that came out of that meeting was what was happening with education in The Bahamas. The question was ‘are young people preparing themselves for what is taking place as it relates to the development of Grand Bahamas a Technology Hub.”
Mr. Brown said that the ‘Hour of Code” program could not come at a better time, as Freeport pushes to follow up on its plans to make GB the Tech Hub for The Bahamas. He encouraged the students to take full advantage of the program. Alex Cameron reminded the students that technology is about making life better for people, while at the same time making a good living by those who are proficient in it. He assured the students that learning how to code was not as difficult as it seemed.
“In fact, coding, technology can help to fix all of the problems Grand Bahama presently face,” said Cameron. “All it takes are people willing to put in the time and begin the process. It’s not about just talking, it’s about doing and making the world better.”
By: Andrew Coakley (BIS)
Photo captions:
Header: IT’S PRETTY SIMPLE – Programmer, Alex Cameron explain to students at Sunland Baptist Academy that coding is not as difficult as some people make it out to be. He helped to launch the Global Initiative in Grand Bahama. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)
Insert: THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM – Permanent Secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Harcourt Brown told students of Sunland Baptist Academy and Jack Hayward High that they are among the first students in Grand Bahama to take part in the Global Initiative, “Hour of Code” on Monday, December 11, 2017. Mr. Brown said that the program was born out of suggestions coming forth from the GB Tech Summit, which was held last month at the Grand Lucayan Resort. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)
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.
