Bahamas News
Thirty-four Bahamians Conferred Honours at Historic National Honours Investiture Ceremony
#Nassau, October 9, 2018 – Bahamas – In a ceremony befitting royalty, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor-
General and Chancellor, conferred national honours on 34 distinguished Bahamians Monday, October 8, 2018 for their contributions to the development of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
With ladies adorned in classy hats and elegant dresses, men in sharp suits, and classical music perfectly suited to Mount Fitzwilliam, Government House, the “historic” ceremony was conducted as prescribed in the National Honours Act, for National Heroes Day.
In a special ceremony, on August 23, 2018, national honours were conferred upon the Most Honourable Sir Orville Turnquest and the Most Honourable A.D. Hanna, both former Governors-General.
Today, family, friends, well-wishers, members of the religious community and high-ranking government officials witnessed the two-hour ceremony which saw the nation’s highest honours of the Order of National Hero, the Order of Nation, the Order of The Bahamas, the Order of Distinction, and the Order of Merit bestowed on the honourees.
Romel Shearer and Giovanni Clarke, gave cello and flute musical performances respectively; Candace Bostwick, soprano, sang “He’s Got the Whole World”; and the song “God Bless Our Sunny Clime,” written by Rev. Dr. Philip Rahming was performed by various musicians. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band and C.H. Reeves Junior High School Band also provided entertainment.
Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Governor-General, Mrs. Anita Beneby, described the ceremony as a “rite of passage” for the nation. She said the annual event marks “an important step in our transition from a British colony to a sovereign people. But more importantly, I believe that this morning’s ceremony, as well as the many that will follow, will elevate the minds of our people, our own worth and our dignity as a nation.”
Mrs. Beneby said the vision of the late Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, former Prime Minister, has become a reality because of the sacrifice of the country’s finest warriors; “amazons of vision, fighters of courage, warriors of steel … those who did not shrink from dirty hands; those with the imagination to create; persons with the strength of character to stare into the chilly teeth of the raging winds of change; soldiers without fear,” as Sir Lynden called them.
In her remarks, the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite said a national honour is the highest form of recognition and tribute that a sovereign government can bestow on those who have distinguished themselves as nation builders.
She congratulated and commended all of the honourees, some of whom were recognized posthumously. “Their selflessness and high achievement serve as a clarion call to all Bahamians to pattern themselves accordingly so that we can all be of greater service to the nation we hold so dear and whose best interests we are all summoned to serve to the very best of our ability and with steadfast loyalty,” said Most Hon. Dame Marguerite.
The Governor-General called on Bahamians to continue to uphold the virtues of love, mutual respect and goodwill for one another that Bahamians have enjoyed throughout the ages.
“These timeless virtues must continue to guide and direct our best effort as citizens of our Commonwealth.
“We must never set these virtues aside, nor subordinate them to self-centered pursuits that diminish our patriotic pride and deflect us from our 
sense of commitment to service.
“Now more than ever, we need men and women, boys and girls, to join hearts and minds all across our beloved Bahamas so that a spirit of nation-building can flourish as never before, not only for the present, but as a sure foundation for generations of Bahamians yet unborn.”
Following the Investiture of National Honours ceremony, the Most Honourable Dame Marguerite inspected the Guard of Honour during a parade of the Royal Bahamas Police and Defence Forces at the main entrance of Government House.
A reception followed on the terrace and upper gardens of Government House.
The following awards were formally conferred by the Governor-General:
THE ORDER OF NATIONAL HERO (awarded posthumously):
The Rt. Excellent Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, N.H., O.N., K.C.M.G.
The Rt. Excellent Sir Roland Theodore Symonette, N.H., K.B.
The Rt. Excellent Sir Milo Boughton Butler, N.H., G.C.M.G
The Rt. Excellent Sir Cecil Vincent Wallace-Whitfield, N.H., K.B.
THE ORDER OF THE NATION
Former Governors-General:
The Most Honourable Sir Orville Turnquest, O.N., G.C.M.G.
The Most Honourable Dame Ivy Dumont, O.N., G.C.M.G.
The Most Honourable Arthur Hanna, O.N.
The Most Honourable Sir Arthur Foulkes, O.N., G.C.M.G.
Awarded posthumously:
The Most Honourable Sir Milo Butler, O.N., G.C.M.G.
The Most Honourable Sir Gerald Cash, O.N., G.C.M.G.
The Most Honourable Sir Henry Milton Taylor, O.N., K.B.
The Most Honourable Sir Clifford Darling, O.N., G.C.V.O.
Former Prime Minister:
The Most Honourable Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, O.N., K.C.M.G.
Prime Minister:
The Most Honourable Hubert Alexander Minnis, O.N., M.P.
THE ORDER OF THE BAHAMAS
Companions:
The Rt. Honourable Janet Bostwick, C.B.
The Rt. Honourable Maurice Moore, C.B.
Officer:
The Honourable Dame Doris Johnson, O.B., D.B.E. (posthumously)
Member:
Dr. Myles Munroe, M.B. (posthumously)
THE ORDER OF DISTINCTION
Companions:
Mrs. Cynthia Pratt, C.D.
Mrs. Anita Bernard, C.D, C.M.G.
Mrs. Eileen Carron, C.D., C.M.G.
Officers:
Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, O.D.
Mr. Lowell Mortimer, O.D., O.B.E.
Mr. Barry Rassin, O.D.
Mrs. Sandra Dean-Patterson, O.D.
Dr. Patrick David Roberts, O.D.
Members:
Mr. William Sands, D.M.
Mr. Robert Sweeting, D.M.
Dr. Bernard Nottage, D.M. (posthumously)
THE ORDER OF MERIT
Companions:
The Reverend Canon. Sebastian Campbell, C.M.
Mrs. Pauline Davis-Thompson, C.M.
Officers:
Monsignor Preston Moss, O.M.
The Reverend. Dr. J. Emmette Weir, O.M.
Members:
The Reverend Dr. Gary Curry, M.M.
The Reverend Walter Hanchell, M.M.
The Reverend Ervin Clarke, M.M. (posthumously)
By Kathryn Campbell
Release: BIS
Photo Captions:
Header: Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General and Chancellor, is pictured with National Honours recipients and their representatives at Government House following the Investiture Ceremony of National Honours, Monday, October 8, 2018.
First insert: Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling gives remarks during the Investiture Ceremony of National Honours, Monday, October 8, 2018.
Second insert: Sir Lynden Pindling, former Prime Minister, was accorded the Order of National Heroes and the Order of the Nation Awards posthumously. His grandson, Lynden Pindling II, accepted the awards on his behalf. Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor-General, is pictured with Lynden Pindling II holding the awards.
Third insert: Dame Dr. Ivy Dumont, the first female Governor-General, is pictured with HE the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling after being conferred the award of the Order of the Nation for former Governors-General.
Fourth insert: Anita Bernard, who has spent more than 50 years in the Public Service, receives the award of The Order of Distinction (Companion) from Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling.
BIS Photos/Letisha Henderson
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.
