Bahamas News
Remarks by Minister of Foreign Affairs at OAS General Assembly in Washington, DC
#Washington,DC, June 8, 2018 – United States of America –
Mr. President
Colleague Foreign Ministers,
Mr. Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General,
Ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives,
Other distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
Good afternoon,
Introduction
Mr. President,
The Bahamas also stands in solidarity with the people of Guatemala and assures them of our prayers and thoughts during this time of hardship.
Over a century ago in 1889, 18 American States, nurturing the growing sense of Pan-Americanism, gathered in Washington DC to bring to fruition the vision of a more integrated and cooperative hemisphere through a Pan American Union.
The dialogue that was sparked at that time amongst sovereign States of the Americas and continues today, was focused on mechanisms for peace, pacific settlement of disputes, respect for human rights and democracy, improving economic prosperity and fostering communication amongst States.
Evolution of the OAS
Mr. President,
Despite the individual and unique characteristics that define the countries of the Americas, The Bahamas continues to believe that this organization has a critical role to play in world, hemispheric and regional affairs.
As with any institution, however, change is required over time in order to maintain relevance.
Over the past 70 years, this Organization has weathered many economic and political storms but and has steadily grown in membership from the original 18 to incorporate Caribbean Member States and eventually the 35 independent States of the Hemisphere.
While we hold firm to the tenets upon which this Organization was founded, there now exists a rich diversity within our membership which must be reflected in all facets of the Organization – in its agenda, in the mandates given to the Secretariat and its composition. In doing so, we move towards an organization focused on meeting the real needs of its membership, whether developed or developing.
Development work at the OAS
Mr. President,
For many of the small member States like The Bahamas, the OAS is one of the few global institutions where there is broad accessibility to technical assistance, particularly for development projects. Compared to other multilateral bodies, the OAS maintains comparative advantages and provides value-added in the areas of capacity building, technical cooperation and support for human development. In this regard, The Bahamas will continue to support the Organization’s work on Scholarships and its Training Programme and the Inter American Education Agenda, which we played a role in crafting as Chair of the Inter American Committee on Education. In light of the increasing vulnerability of the region to natural disasters, The Bahamas is also pleased with our agreement to mandate the OAS strengthens its disaster response mechanisms. Similarly, we are pleased to support the mandate on Non-Communicable Diseases.
It is our considered view that the OAS will always have a primary responsibility for hemispheric agenda setting across the Inter-American system and an improved OAS must focus on developing strategic and synergistic partnerships between PAHO, IDB, and IICA and other institutions.
Multidimensional Criteria for Poverty and Development
Mr. President,
The Bahamas joins others in lauding the adoption of the Resolution on ‘Incorporating Multidimensional Criteria for Measuring Poverty and Development’ which also references critical issues for the CARICOM region such as derisking and the loss of correspondent banking relations and, more broadly, vulnerability to the effects of climate change.
We note that there is growing acknowledgement of the inadequacy of the current income-predicated methodology used by many International Financial Institutions (IFIS) to assess development level and need and to make decisions regarding concessional lending and access to aid. We commend reforms underway in this direction, such as the IDB’s introduction of their macro development vulnerability index, which has introduced vulnerability assessments into their lending decision making criteria as a model for other such institutions.
OAS Budgetary Matters
Mr. President,
Every organization, including the OAS, requires adequate funding in order to function. The Organization cannot continue to merely live from one fiscal crisis to the next.
Despite all of the good that the OAS has done, and the immense potential the Organization has to support Member State efforts, the Organization remains underfunded relative to the mandates that we continue to impose upon it.
While each Member State, large and small, developed and developing, must have some skin in the game, there must be balanced and due consideration for country peculiarities and external factors that arise from time to time that can impact the ability to meet financial obligations.
The time is also ripe for meaningful institutional reform to the Organization, including implementation of International Public-Sector Accounting Standards, relevant improvements to the IT infrastructure of the Organization and enhancing the efficacy of the Permanent Council for monitoring and oversight of the Secretariat.
Towards a 21st Century OAS
Mr. President,
The OAS that we all want is one that is staffed with competent and diverse professionals, undergirded by modern infrastructure, governed by best practices for accounting, fiscal controls and human resources management, and that is at the vanguard of helping Member States with the challenges of perfecting democracy, upholding human rights, guaranteeing citizen security and bolstering sustainable development.
The Bahamas believes that this Organization is the vehicle through which our hemisphere can be greater than the sum of its parts. It falls to us as Member States to ensure that the OAS continues to evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century and to ultimately ensure the Americas becomes the most democratic, peaceful, egalitarian and prosperous region of the world.
I thank you.
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.
