Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: Minister Dames Highights Tradewinds Exercise, & Re-Structured RBDF Training
#Nassau, June 13, 2018 – Bahamas – During his Budget Contribution in the House of Assembly, on June 6, 2018, Minister of National Security the Hon. Marvin Dames revealed that the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) was preparing to host the largest regional military training exercise, known as Exercise Tradewinds 2018.
“This initiative will consist of over 800 participants sailing on six naval vessels from 22 nations within the Caribbean Region, the wider Americas and Western Europe,” Minister Dames said. “They will engage in simulated terrorist attacks and military responses during the Exercise taking place from the 14th to the 21st of June.”
According to the RBDF, Tradewinds 2018 is an annual regional military training exercise that will be held in The Bahamas June 14 -21 and this 
year’s exercise will focus on Countering Transnational Organized crime in the region. The Bahamas last hosted the event in 2009. The main objective of the highly-regarded military event is to foster training for security forces that is “tailored for the region by the region”; the annual exercise is sponsored by the United States Southern Command.
According to the RBDF, 22 partner nations from the Caribbean region, the wider Americas and Western Europe representing a total of over 800 troops are expected to participate in the exercise. The Bahamas last hosted the event in 2009.
Minister Dames highlighted the fact that the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Bahamas Customs and Bahamas Immigration Department were invited by the RBDF to participate.
“The Tradewinds Exercise will consist of operations in four different domains: air, land, sea and cyber. Specifically, they will entail specialised dives, intelligence gathering, explosive ordinance disposal, cyber maritime interdiction, military operations and disaster preparedness,” Minister Dames said.
In keeping with the topic of training, Minister Dames pointed out that in order to remain operationally current and proactive against security threats, recruitment and training opportunities geared towards the sustainable development and advancement of personnel within the Royal Bahamas Defence Force will remain a major priority of this government.
“To this end, my Ministry made provisions for the recruitment of the largest entry of marine recruits and the largest graduating class to date under the 2017/18 budget at a cost of $1,172,100,” he said. “During the 18-week programme, the recruits were introduced to a three-phased approach that produced higher levels of leadership, professional competence and fitness.”
“Consequently, Mr. Speaker, under its Operation Transformation Programme, the Defence Force has commenced the revision of its recruitment and training policies, in addition to the re-structuring of its training programmes for the creation of an accredited Maritime Defence Training Institute for the training of Officers and Enlisted personnel,” Minister Dames added. “This military institution will focus on the development of character, leadership, management and supervisory skills, as well as the development of professional and technical skills for members of the Force.”
Minister Dames said that it should also be noted that initial training for young naval officers will continue at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England and the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut during the 2018/19 fiscal period.
However, he pointed out, the limited capacity of those institutions to increase the intake of officer candidates had made it necessary for the RBDF 
to embark on a new training initiative geared towards training of potential naval officer candidates at HMBS Coral Harbour as the first phase of its Maritime Defence Training Institute.
“It is envisioned that this Institute will also become a regional training center for training of young naval and coast guard officers from partner nations within the Caribbean region,” Minister Dames said. “This unprecedented initiative will address the shortage of officers urgently needed to operate and command Defence Force units, assets and departments.”
Minister Dames said that the 2017-2018 fiscal period also afforded Defence Force Officers and Marines the opportunity to participate in a host of local and overseas military training throughout the United States, various parts of Europe, and the Caribbean. Provisions had been made in the 2018/19 budget for Defence Force personnel to continue to engage in those courses, which are mostly sponsored by the US State Department under its International Military Education Training Programme, he added.
“A total of $477,000 has therefore been allocated within this fiscal budget for recruitment and training Officers and Marines locally and abroad,” Minister Dames revealed.
“Also during the 2018/19 fiscal period, the Defence Force will introduce the first phase of its naval-infantry school as a regional center of excellence where Officers and Marines will be trained in amphibious military operations,” he added. “This School will commence with its initial intake of Marines who recently graduated New Entry Training.
“Living in a country that has the largest maritime domain in the region with over 100,000 square miles of water, amphibious training is a natural fit for the Defence Force.”
By: Eric Rose (BIS)
Photo Caption: Minister of National Security the Hon. Marvin Dames speaks, on June 6, 2018, during his Budget Contribution in the House of Assembly.
(BIS Photo/Eric Rose)
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.
