Bahamas News
Education Minister says visit to GB schools was “refreshing”
By Andrew Coakley (BIS)
#TheBahamas, February 15, 2022 – “I truly believe that this generation who has been subjected to this ordeal of the COVID-19 pandemic, they will prove to be the most resilient generation of Bahamians we have ever seen. They are going to excel. I think they are going to be incredible. And we’re seeing it as we move through this country. It’s a very hopeful experience,” said Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin, during a tour of public schools in Grand Bahama on Friday, February 4, 2022.
It was the Education Minister’s first official trip to Grand Bahama since being elected to office and she said she was impressed with the level of resiliency among the teachers, administrators and students within the schools she visited. Accompanying Minister Hanna-Martin was Minister of State for Education, Zane Lightbourne.
Minister Hanna-Martin visited schools in West Grand Bahama and in Freeport, where she spoke with the principals, teachers and even entered a few classes, where she chatted with the students, asking the 12th graders their plans for college and university. Some of the schools which the Minister visited included Eight Mile Rock High, Jack Hayward High, St. George’s High School, Sister Mary Patricia Junior High and the Beacon School.
Minister Hanna-Martin described her trip to Grand Bahama as “refreshing,” noting that in spite of what Grand Bahama has been through in the past few years progress was still being made.
“This has been such an uplifting time for me, because Grand Bahama went through the pandemic and Hurricane Dorian, so they had double whammy and the optimism, the resiliency, the determination I’ve seen in the schools is
so refreshing, so heart-warming and really, engenders a sense of hope for what we’re looking forward to,” said Minister Hanna-Martin.
“To see the focus and determination of the young people at all levels; this has been an excellent experience for me here in Grand Bahama. There are still challenges that some of the schools face, but to see the positive attitudes exhibited by the teachers, the administrators and the students is really refreshing.
This has been a wonderful eye-opener today. It’s been very engendering to me.”
The Education Minister admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic and devastation by Hurricane Dorian have had a negative impact on Grand Bahama. A fact, she said, that cannot be denied. However, she noted that a combination of the parents, the schools, the teachers, and the wider community working together is the formula for students to excel.
She pointed out that students in grade 12 have been most negatively impacted by the pandemic, because it hit during the most critical times in their schooling, forcing students to miss two years of face-to-face learning.
“Actually, its three years they were affected, if you count the Hurricane,” added Minister Hanna-Martin. “But, in speaking with those senior students today, they just seem so determined and focused.
“In the way forward, I think we just have to support our children and support the schools. This is going to take a lot of legwork to catch up for the loss that has occurred during this pandemic, and there has been loss. But I think what I see in Grand Bahama – this shining optimism, I think that it bodes very well for the recovery for Grand Bahama and we hope across the board in this country.”
Photo Caption: Education Minister, Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin (second from left) chats with students of grade 12 at St. George’s High School during her visit there on Friday, February 4, 2022. Accompanying Minister Hanna-Martin was Minister of State for Education, Hon. Zane Lightbourne (second from right)
(BIS Photos/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.
