Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: DPM Turnquest: ‘Noise in the market has drowned out the good news and potential of Oban project’
#Bahamas, April 9, 2018 – Grand Bahama – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest said it is important for everyone to understand that the Government of The Bahamas will not approve any project that is not environmentally sound and sustainable, and that Government always strives for symbiotic balance between environmental/community development and economic growth.
“Recent discussions of Oban have brought this into sharp focus,” said Minister Turnquest, during his keynote address at the University of The Bahamas’ ‘Sustainable Grand Bahama’ conference, at Grand Lucayan on Thursday morning.
Tackling the issues surrounding the Oban Energies project, planned for East Grand Bahama, Minister Turnquest said there is an appreciation for the value of the environment from a touristic and fisheries point of view, and therefore he stressed the fact that the government has no intentions of entering into any investment proposal that would cause the livelihood and quality of life for residents and future generations to be compromised.
“As is outlined in the Heads of Agreement, the environmental protection and mitigation protocols are at the forefront of any discussion, any decision, that the Government of The Bahamas will make in regards to this project.
“From an economic point of view, we absolutely see value from the industrial sector and we believe that it is a sustainable model,” Minister Turnquest added. “We appreciate the environmental risk that industrial enterprises bring to a community, but we also appreciate that modern technology has substantially reduced those risks.” There are other mitigation factors, he pointed out, that any responsible government puts in place to ensure the quality of the environment and the welfare of its people are maintained.
Minister Turnquest admonished Bahamians not to be “fooled by the noise” and to listen to every conversation coming out of public discussion about the Oban project.
“I’ve heard people say that the Government of The Bahamas can’t cancel this Agreement, that we’ve signed this Heads of Agreement without any environmental study and as a result we’re locked into this project… nonsense,” added Minister Turnquest.
“The fact of the matter is we’re a sovereign government and we have the ability to stop any project at any time. The fact that we signed a Heads of Agreement does not mean that we are obligated to issue a license to operate. The Heads of Agreement is exactly that… an agreement.
“It says you agree to do X, and if you do X, we agree to do Y. Any of the conditions in that Heads of Agreement that are not completed to our satisfaction renders the Agreement null and void.”
The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that at the end of the day a project does not become concrete and licensed to operate until the Government of The Bahamas has satisfied itself that all of the prerequisites are in play, that they are sound; and they are satisfied that the project would bring benefit to the community.
“All of the noise in the market has drowned out the good news of the potential for this development,” added Minister Turnquest. “I only ask again for us to be open-minded and patient and let the process work.
“While we understand the risks that are involved, inasmuch as we can from a non-scientific point of view, we also understand the development potential of our industrial sector and what that can mean to the lives of ordinary Bahamians, who would not otherwise have an opportunity.”
By: Andrew Coakley (BIS)
Photo caption: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest was the keynote speaker at the opening of the University of The Bahamas’ ‘Sustainable Grand Bahama’ conference, which opened at Grand Lucayan on Thursday morning, April 5, 2018. In his remarks, Minister Turnquest addressed some of the issues surrounding the Oban Energies project.
(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.
