Bahamas News
Tech Summit adds over half million dollars to Grand Bahama’s economy
#Freeport, GB, November 17, 2018 – Bahamas – According to Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Senator Kwasi Thompson, it has been estimated that the 2nd Grand Bahama Technology Summit has added over a half million dollars to the Grand Bahamian economy.
During his opening remarks at the 2nd Grand Bahama Technology Summit on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at the Grand Lucayan, Minister Thompson noted that the Summit has exceeded expectations, resulting in the Office of the Prime Minister having to close online registration due to spaces filling up quickly.
“For this we are truly thankful,” said Minister Thompson. “Our journey has just begun and we look forward to new initiatives in the coming months.
“As we embark upon these three days (at the Summit) and we chart the way forward I encourage us to move forward with the mindset of ‘go big, or go home’. In Grand Bahama we can’t afford to think small or be small-minded. I believe, way down in my spirit that big things are about to happen but only if we are prepared to think big, believe big and Go big!”
Adding that it levels the playing field, and brings the world’s leading companies to an Island that some said would never recover. Information Technology is a part of business, it is a business and it attracts business.
The Minister of State for Grand Bahama said that the Government is concentrating on the revitalization of Grand Bahama’s economy by giving renewed energy to restoring well-known industries and expanding those newly budding.
“Though we have not yet fully achieved it, make no mistake about it, full restoration is in our grasp,” said Minister Thompson.
“Last year’s Summit led to the formation of the Technology Hub Steering Committee tasked to produce a strategic plan for Grand Bahama. This committee is comprised of various stakeholders with an aim to create a framework for addressing legislative changes, private public partnership, and policy reform. Efforts to engage in the promotion of Grand Bahama as a technology hub for our region also began. This was evident through our direct involvement in international trade missions designed to promote The Bahamas, and Grand Bahama.”
Minister Thompson pointed out that one year later, since the launch of the first GB Tech Summit, Grand Bahama has new partners, new businesses, new jobs and new programs.
He said companies like GIBC Digital, which established an office in Grand Bahama only a few months ago, has invested significantly in Grand Bahama, but more importantly in Grand Bahamians. They have trained and hired 30 Bahamians as well as they continue to be good corporate citizens.
Also, the Minister highlighted Itelbpo, a tech call center, which has been in Grand Bahama since 2013, but which recently announced its expansion and hiring of 100 additional Bahamians, 25 of whom have already been hired.
“We also welcome the principals of international tech companies like Dev Digital and Skyward Techno who have recently applied to the Government to set up offices in Grand Bahama, proving that Grand Bahama remains attractive to international tech companies,” added Minister Thompson.“We welcome all international companies and will shamelessly be courting you for the next three days to come to Grand Bahama.
“We cannot forget, that this Summit is all about highlighting Grand Bahama as a place to live, play, work and Invest. We have brought the world to Grand Bahama to give them a taste of who we are and what we can offer. We are open for business and we want your business.”
Minister Thompson noted that this year’s Summit was bigger and better, not just in terms of numbers of attendees and participants, but in terms of its focus. With education the main focus of this year’s Tech Summit, Minister Thompson welcomed to the Bahamas international learning partners like Cisco Systems and CompTIA (https://www.comptia.org/), who have training modules with Certificates on Corporate Digital Transformation, Cyber Security, Networking and Programming.
He also made special mention of companies like Red Hat, Oracle, Dell, Palo Alto, Veeam, IDB and Cheryl Bayer, all of whom will conduct smaller learning sessions on topics like Next Generation Firewall, Tools to Fund technology and Innovation Projects, Preventing Advance attacks, Cyber Crime, and Solving everyday problems using Technology.
“We also welcome high level Government contributors particularly our Prime Minister who has been the driving force in our digital transformation and the Minister for Education, who has made significant progress in developing our human capacity,” said Minister Thompson.
“We welcome other senior government officials particularly Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Elise Delancy, who is responsible for Modernization, Digitization and E-Government, whom I am privileged to work with. This initiative has the potential to change the Bahamas Government as we know it.
“This Summit has also attracted important Regulators like Christina Rolle of the Securities Commission, who will lead discussions on Crypto Currency Regulation for the Bahamas, a topic which has attracted an enormous amount of attention nationally and internationally.
“This presentation will be highly anticipated given the success of our first Blockchain and Crypto currency conference and the recent release of the draft framework by the Bahamas Central Bank.”
Minister Thompson announced that the government will be partnering with the YMCA and BTVI teaching Coding to 100 young Grand Bahamians in a new youth ICT program.
They are also in the final stages of an App Development program, which will train and fund participants in App development.
By Andrew Coakley
Release: BIS
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.
