Bahamas News
DPM on rebuilding of GB airport
By Andrew Coakley
Bahamas Information Services
#TheBahamas, January 7, 2022 – Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, Hon. Chester Cooper says that something has to be and will be done in the shortest time possible to revive and reconstruct the Grand Bahama International Airport.
Following a tour of both the national and International sections of the Grand Bahama Airport on Thursday, January 6, 2022, the Deputy Prime Minister called his trips to the airport distressing and embarrassing.
“I am embarrassed by what I see at the Grand Bahama airport,” said the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also responsible for aviation. “That is a part of my ministry and you can be assured that something is going to happen here very quickly. Perhaps cosmetically in the early stages, to make sure that we patch some of the damage that we see, which is a constant reminder of Hurricane Dorian two years ago.”
Minister Cooper said that he has already spoken with officials from the Airport Authority to see what can be done to cause there to be some immediate shift at the Grand Bahama International Airport.
“The reality at the moment is that we need to maintain the operation in a safe manner, and so that what we will seek to do,” said Minister Cooper.
“You will be aware that we are looking at private public partnerships for nine airports in the Bahamas and Grand Bahama’s Airport is priority number one, in terms of causing there to be a significant development here, that will cause investors to the island to be proud and for visitors to the island to feel welcomed at a new gateway.”
The Deputy Prime Minister said this has become a priority in terms of airport developments and they are hoping to move forward with plans for the refurbishment of the Grand Bahama International and national airports within this year.
He said the development of the airport is opened for private participation.
During a press conference earlier in the day at the Grand Lucayan Resort, where the Deputy Prime Minister introduced new members of the Board responsible for the sale of the Grand Lucayan, the Deputy Prime Minister was asked how the refurbishment of the International airport will fit into the Government’s plans to sell the Grand Lucayan.
He said that the Government is set “to keep an open mind” in terms of how they approach the redevelopment of the airport, noting that there is a possibility that the investors for the Grand Lucayan Resort might be opened to the idea of also investing in the airport.
The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the staff at the GB airport for the work that they have been doing, under the circumstances, to keep the operation running smoothly and safely. They were able to tour the tower and inspected equipment to make sure that it was safe for the public and visitors alike.
“We are very concerned about the working conditions of the people at this airport,” said Deputy Prime Minister Cooper. “Many of these people still operate five or six at a time in a small trailer, using out-houses.
“This is the gateway to our second city and we’re hoping to attract big investors here to the island of Grand Bahama, so it is not a welcoming experience for investors to Grand Bahama.”
In the meantime, he added that while the airport in its present state is running safely, there is some investments that needs to be made in the short term, inclusive of a generator and some enhancements to the tower.
“Those are going to happen in the shortest possible timeframe,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. “The Minister for Grand Bahama has made her displeasure known in relation to recent events at the airport. So, it will be done.
“But the reality is we recognize that something has to be done and done swiftly.”
Photo Captions:
Header – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Investments and Aviation, Hon. Chester Cooper (right) talks about what he’s seen at the GB airport, following a tour of the facilities and some of the plans to rebuild the airport. Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon. Ginger Moxey is at left.
Insert – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Investments and Aviation, Hon. Chester Cooper (left), Minister for Grand Bahama, hon. Ginger Moxey (second from right), along with Government and airport officials take a look at some of the damage in the national section of the Grand Bahama Airport, during a tour of the facilities on Thursday, January 6, 2022.
(BIS photos by Lisa Davis)
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.
