Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: Prime Minister Minnis – Remarks at Official Opening of the Real Time Crime Centre at Police Headquarters
#BAHAMAS, March 29, 2021 – Ladies and Gentlemen: Good morning.
One of the more solemn obligations of a government is the safety of its citizens, residents and visitors, including protection from criminal activity and violence. In our country, the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) has been a shield and a protector for over 181 years of unbroken law enforcement service.
Over many generations, the Force has had to adapt and to embrace change to address old and emerging threats to public safety and law and order. There is a theory known as the “crime pattern theory” which notes that “crime will occur if an area provides the opportunity for crime…”
With this in mind, the Bahamas Government has invested many millions of dollars in crime prevention and detection initiatives. Today, we are unveiling another major investment with the inauguration of the Real Time Crime Centre.
The mission of the Real Time Crime Centre (RTCC) is to provide the police with the ability to capitalize on its wide and expanding range of technologies for efficient and effective policing.
In The Bahamas, we have integrated emerging technologies into our policing operations with the introduction of: ShotSpotter, Marco’s Alert Digital Billboards, drone technology, closed circuit television (CCTV), body-worn cameras, and dashboard cameras.
We have also upgraded and improved the Force’s information communications technology platform as we seek to deliver the best possible law enforcement policing services for the Bahamian public. There are currently over 500 CCTV cameras spread across the nation’s capital, with over 75 specifically trained on crime hotspots. Such efforts will allow law enforcement officers to respond quickly, or even immediately, to crimes in progress or to those that recently occurred.
ShotSpotter Technology is a revolutionary crime fighting initiative used to detect the exact location of gun fire occurring throughout targeted areas of New Providence. Since its inception in March of 2019, the “ShotSpotter” initiative has performed flawlessly. It has recorded well over 1000 gunshot incidents resulting in the detection of thousands of firearm rounds discharged throughout the Capital.
The Force invested over $700,000 on 200 body-worn and 200 dash cameras to accurately document police interactions with the public during arrests and critical incidents. The technology can be used as evidence for investigative and prosecutorial purposes as well as to provide feedback on best practices during evaluations and training.
Additional measures include a “Marco’s Alert”, which triggers an immediate and mandatory response to rescue a child who has been reported missing and if the Commissioner is satisfied that the child is at risk of harm or death.
Four digital billboards will facilitate the Marco’s Alert System to broadcast important messages about a missing child at the Lynden Pindling International Airport, the junction of Chippingham Road and West Bay Street, R.M. Baily Park, and S.C. McPherson School on Blue Hill Road.
Such technologies allow law enforcement officers to respond to crime events more efficiently, more deliberately, with improved operational intelligence and with a proactive emphasis on citizen, community and officer safety. These investments are geared toward keeping the Police Force on the cutting edge of crime fighting technologies. The Real Time Crime Centre will centralize a broad range of current and evolving technologies.
The Centre will coordinate assets and direct the attention of resources to:
• – high-crime areas;
• – active crimes in progress;
• – large-scale public events that may require law enforcement presence or response; and
• – high profile or highly repeat offenders in the community.
The Real Time Crime Centre will maximize the likelihood that members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force can respond to crimes occurring in real time and do so effectively. The Centre will serve as a launch pad for newly acquired remote controlled drone technology.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Royal Bahamas Police Force was recently recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police with a Leadership in Policing Award. It is our fervent expectation that the Royal Bahamas Police Force will continue to be a trailblazer and to offer world-class standards in policing service and initiatives.
These efforts will ensure that The Bahamas will remain and continue to develop as one of the best small countries in the world. I wish to close by thanking the leadership and officers of the Force for their commitment to duty and service. I especially thank the Force for its service during the COVID-19 pandemic. You have played a leading role as we have sought to reduce the spread of the virus and to protect the lives of our citizens and residents.
As we are gradually emerging from the worst public health crisis in 100 years, we must ever remember all of those who served on the frontlines of this ongoing national emergency.
On behalf of the Bahamian people and the Government of The Bahamas, I express abundant gratitude, and my own personal admiration and gratitude for all that you do.
As Bahamians like to say, we appreciate you!
May God continue to bless you all and may God bless our Bahamas.
Thank you and good morning.
Press 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.
