Bahamas News
Grocery Shopping Hours extended in The Bahamas, Family Islands exempt from schedule
#TheBahamas – April 8, 2020 — Grocery store hours have been extended for the general public until 10pm on Tuesday 7 April and Wednesday 8 April, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis announced today in a statement to the press.
On Thursday 9 April, food stores will also open from 6am to 10pm to accommodate essential workers only.
Health professionals, and members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force may shop from 6am to 12pm on Thursday.
From 12pm to 10pm Thursday, other essential workers may shop, including, corrections officers, NIB, social services, environmental health services, immigration, customs, waste disposal and sanitation companies.
Essential workers of core utilities, such as water and electricity or any other sector encompassing the provision of electronic communications including print and electronic media, may also shop from 12pm to 10pm on Thursday.
The announcement was made to address long lines at grocery stores.
The shopping schedule and physical distancing requirements remain in effect. Individuals must maintain a distance of at least six feet from others when out in public.
During the statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Minnis urged members of the public to wear a mask when shopping.
Shoppers should also identify a designated shopper for each household and take a shopping list to the food store to cut down on the amount of time spent inside and as a courtesy to those waiting in line, said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister also announced that pharmacies will be allowed to operate until 3pm on Thursday 9 April.
Wholesale bakeries and water producers will be allowed to operate during the lockdown period to ensure the availability of bread and water when stores re-open on Tuesday 14 April.
Prime Minister Minnis assured the public that the country’s food stocks are healthy and that there is enough food for all residents.
“I know that these are very difficult and painful times but the decisions that we are making are to save lives,” said the Prime Minister.
“This situation is very fluid and therefore adjustments will have to be made as needed.”
Family Island communities exempted from shopping schedule
During a virtual meeting with Family Island administrators on Monday afternoon, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis exempted island communities from the food shopping schedule that went into effect on 6 April.
Family Island store owners may manage shoppers based on strict physical distancing protocols already in place under the Emergency Powers Order 2020.
All Family Island food stores will also be allowed to operate until 7pm on Thursday to accommodate the delivery of food and supplies via mailboat and other shipping services.
The Prime Minister also extended special exceptions to certain islands based on specific needs related to fuel, cargo and inter-island ferry service.
During the meeting the Prime Minister also received an update from each administrator on the readiness of health care facilities and food and fuel supplies and other matters.
During his contribution in the House of Assembly on Monday, the Prime Minister said the shopping schedule was agreed after widespread consultation and discussion, including with the National Coordinating Committee.
The schedule will regularly allow all residents access to food shopping three times per week. It also allows for a specially designated time for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
The schedule also ensures that each group has access to at least one afternoon slot to accommodate essential workers.
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.
