Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: Government’s overriding immediate priority to bring public finances to a responsible state
#Nassau, June 8, 2018 – Bahamas – The government’s overriding immediate priority must be to bring the public finances to a responsible and sustainable state by: paying off and getting behind it the mountain of arrears and unpaid bills that it has discovered since coming to office, said 
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest.
The government must also fully institute proper budgeting for known commitments, including accrual accounting, such that arrears never again materialise; responsibly finance the highest priority initiatives in its agenda; and finally eliminate the GFS deficit in the shortest time practicable, in effect over three fiscal years, said DPM Turnquest said during his Contribution opening the 2018/19 Budget Debate in the House of Assembly, Wednesday, June 6, 2018.
“To achieve all of that, we have developed a fiscal strategy that, unlike the previous Government’s Medium Term Fiscal Consolidation Plan, comprises concrete and specific actions that will secure the attainment of our objectives.”
He said in 2018/19, the Government held a very tight rein on Recurrent Expenditure – other than allocating $172 million to the payment of a large first tranche of arrears, a further $76 million to the proper budgeting of known spending obligations and $89 million for additional interest payments, essentially kept all other Recurrent Expenditure constant, with reallocations to fund the small number of select priority initiatives that we announced in the Communication totaling some $19 million.
“In fact, 24 of the 53 Heads, excluding interest payments, saw reductions in their budget allocations and 3 were given an increase under 1.5 per cent. Of course, we also cut our spending on both the wage bill and goods and services in the current fiscal year by 10.3 per cent, or $120 million.”
The DPM said the focused Recurrent Expenditure initiatives are targeted at promoting enhanced growth and skills development, such as the $5 million in support for Small and medium Enterprises development, the $4 million for college student recruitment, the $2.6 million for BTVI scholarships and the $5 million for inclusive growth in heritage or foundation communities.
He said the Government is also striving to promote the diversification of the economy through both the digital economy and the blue economy; to enhance trade opportunities through membership in the World Trade Organization; and to provide growth-supportive public infrastructure investments.
DPM Turnqest said the Government is proceeding with the longstanding plans to transform the Ministry of Finance, and re-activating the Inter-American Development project to reform the Public Financial Management system. He said, “We are moving to reform and modernize the State-Owned Enterprises such that they become significantly more efficient and self-sufficient.”
The Finance Minister also noted that the Government is pushing ahead with the fundamental structural reform of Real Property Tax and Customs, both of which are in need of modernization such that they can efficiently serve the public and properly generate the revenue streams that they should. “To that end, we are re-energizing the Revenue Enhancement Unit that had become dormant under the previous Government.”
He said in the interim, the Real Property Tax and Customs administrations have been given direction to shape up their operations to the maximum extent feasible in order to generate an additional $80 million in revenue in the 2018/19 fiscal year.
By: Llonella Gilbert (BIS)
Photo Caption: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest in the House of Assembly, June 6, 2018.
(BIS Photo/Yontalay Bowe)
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.
