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Ministry of Labour’s Vacancy Notice Services Launched on MyGateway

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By: STIRLING STRACHAN

Bahamas Information Services

 

#NASSAU, The Bahamas, August 21, 2022 –  The Ministry of Labour and Immigration in conjunction with the Ministry of Economic Affairs held a press conference to launch the Department of Labour’s Vacancy Notice Services on MyGateway, Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at the Ministry of Labour.

“I am confident that making the Vacancy Notice Application available online is a sign that we have heard our clients and we are in tune with the vision of the Government of The Bahamas,” said the Hon. Keith Bell, Minister of Labour and Immigration.

“We are not here to simply talk about making a process paperless or extending a service to more islands,” Minister Bell said.  “We are here to herald a moment in time where we have made a government service more easily accessible and its process more transparent.

“The new service will enable employers to apply for a Labour Certificate, upload all of the supporting documents to facilitate the application, pay for the service and obtain a certified labour certificate from any place in the world.  In addition to significantly reducing the time to process and application, the new system will also allow the staff of the Department of Labour to have digital access to date that will reduce fraud and attempts by unscrupulous persons to have multiple applicants applying for the same job.  As this project was completed in conjunction with the staff of the Department of Immigration, the personnel can also authenticate each Labour Certificate that accompanies an application for a work permit,” Minister Bell said.

“The Digital Transformation Unit was created within the Department of Transformation and Digitization in 2019 to focus on the objective of making it easier to do business in The Bahamas. Their work with this Department since November 2021 has been exemplary and made more evident in what we are jointly launching here today. This new digital service signals our collective commitment to build a strong foundation for digital transformation in our nation.

“A great number of employers will reap benefits from taking advantage of this service online, as it saves time and resources, which are both major factors when running a business. It is my hope that they will go on this journey with the Department of Labour and utilize the online option made available.  Moving forward, we will continue to work with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and hopefully onboard more of our service offerings for the benefit of clients near and far. The staff here are excited about this roll-out and have been engaged and trained to work efficiently in this new system. That means when you use it to apply, they will use it to better serve you.

“We are in the midst of a digital revolution and we are ready to work with our clients in new, more progressive ways,” said Minister Bell. “We want to ensure that you are always completely satisfied with our service.  I remind the nation that the Department of Labour remains motivated to encourage the full utilization of Bahamian labourers wherever necessary and will only grant a Labour Certificate when a qualified an available Bahamian is unable to fill the job vacancy. We live and breathe our theme of: “Securing and Safeguarding Decent Work for All.”

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Wayde Watson spoke at the press conference on behalf of Minister of Economic Affairs, Sen. the Hon Michael Halkitis.

Mr. Watson said there is no doubt that Digital transformation will play a key role in fostering the competitiveness of The Bahamas by reducing the costs of conducting business with the government and help to improve the ease of doing business in the country.

The Government Digital Transformation to Strengthen Competitiveness project has achieved numerous groundbreaking accomplishments, implementing a number of ‘firsts’ for The Bahamas.

  1. Developed the Great Bahama Bank – A platform for digital inter-agency connections that allows users to seamlessly register, complete the verification process, and access government services online.
  2. Created and launched MyGateway, the buzzword of the day and a part of the reason we are here celebrating with the Department of Labour.
  3. Formed the country’s first Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) to assess cyber threat vulnerabilities.
  4. Created the first Centralized Collection Center for the collection of government documents.

Mr. Watson said, “We have so much to celebrate as a Government, and coming here today as two Ministries in agreement with the vision for change with the launch of this service, Bahamians everywhere should be proud of the GoB’s digital transformation initiatives, consistent with this administration’s Blue Print for change, Digital 700 Revolution.

 “Since its launch in February 2021 MyGateway now boasts of:

  • Almost 85,000 registered users, based here in The Bahamas and in over 66 countries around the world.
  • We have developed and launched 48 services online for 13 government agencies. Today, The Department of Labour is in that number.
  • The portal has received and processed approximately 86,000 requests for various government services.”

 

(BIS Photos/Ulric Woodside)

Bahamas News

Monument Beverage Co. Caribbean Wines & Spirits Uniquely Bahamian Newest Product

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor is proud to announce the launch of Monument Beverage Co., its newest 100% locally produced ready-to-drink alcoholic cocktail.

Monument, “Made to Celebrate”, perfectly encapsulates everything the brand represents. Created and distributed by CWS, Monument is inspired by culture, crafted with excellence and bursting with innovation.

This unique beverage celebrates island living with three bold flavors, Ginger Lime, Peach Passion and Melon Fizz. All of which can be enjoyed at an ABV of five-point-two percent.

The brand’s creativity really shines through each can’s packaging. Bold colored stripes, cherished native flora and fauna and of course, national monuments can all be found on each can.

The beverage’s two year plus development is a testament to CWS’ dedication to quality and innovation. Countless hours of tastings, reformulations, focus groups and package design reviews all paid off with the creation of Monument.

Karla Wells-Lisgaris, Chief Commercial Officer of Caribbean Wines & Spirits and Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, shared what this authentically Bahamian made product launch means for the company.

“When we were conceptualizing Monument, we wanted to create a product that not only tasted like The Bahamas but would be an ode to the nation as well. With those two thoughts in mind, I, along with a team of experts, created three incredible flavors we believe really connect with and celebrate the essence of island living,” she said.

“Additionally, being that Monument is the first product to be 100% manufactured by Caribbean Wines & Spirits, we really wanted to ensure that both the flavors and packaging honored our rich heritage. On each of the cans, you can find various monuments such as the Nassau Public Library in New Providence, the Garden of the Grove in Grand Bahama and the Hatchet Bay Silos in Eleuthera; all of which pay homage to our diverse Bahamian heritage.” Wells-Lisgaris concluded.”

The historic monuments found throughout our islands are more than places we pass every day; they are reminders of who we are, where we’ve come from and the stories that connect us as Bahamians.

Monument is perfectly formulated with quality ingredients, and each can celebrates a collection of these cultural icons from across The Bahamas.

Whether chilling solo beachside, gathered around a family table or backyard a grill with friends, make Monument your sip of choice.  Monument is made to celebrate, visit  www.cwsbahamas.com today for more details.

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Bahamas News

Lady Kayla Crowned Goombay Punch Cup Sailing Champion of 2025/2026

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L–R: Joss Knowles, Kianno Hutchinson, Jazmin Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager at Caribbean Bottling Company and Dallas Knowles receiving a donation on behalf of the Exuma Sailing Club at the Long Island Regatta awards ceremony.

NASSAU, Bahamas —– Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, is proud to crown Lady Kayla of Exuma as this year’s annual Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup winner.

CBC created the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup to further the advancement of sailing and Bahamian culture through monetary and social support. The competition judges the skipper’s performance across three regattas, The Best of the Best, the National Family Island and Long Island Regattas.

The winning sloop led by Kianno Hutchinson and Joss Knowles showcased their skillmanship in the E-Class category across each round of competition. In addition to winning the trophy, the skippers were awarded a $5,000 donation, an $8,000 stipend to the junior sailing club of their island and a limited-edition Lady Kayla Bahamas Goombay Punch commemorative can, which will be released soon.

Jonathan Thronebury, Marketing Director of CBC shared the significance behind The Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup.

“The Bahamas Goombay Punch is more than a beloved local brand; it’s a vibrant part of our cultural fabric. Just like sailing, our national sport, it carries a rich legacy that spans generations. Recognizing this shared history, we’re proud to support initiatives that celebrate and advance Bahamian culture,” he said.

Hutchinson and Knowles shared what this win meant for them.

“I felt super proud when I realized we won. I am grateful and thankful to God, for good coaches and Joss. It was really an honor winning the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup,” Hutchinson expressed.

“I am very honored to have been able to compete in the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup, I think it is a great concept and idea for a competition and really adds a new motive throughout the regattas. The whole championship was super competitive, and every single race was a fight. Alvington McKenzie was extremely competitive and had us until the Long Island regatta, which made it a very fun and tough competition. Very excited to have been the winner of a super close championship,” Knowles revealed.

Lady Kayla’s owner, Dallas Knowles, shared the team’s winning strategy.

“In sailing consistency is key and our guys in Lady Kayla are some of the best in the business at staying near the top.  In the end, that was enough to secure their first Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup win. We are so proud of Joss and Kianno for what they have done in Lady Kayla.  Thank you to Caribbean Bottling Company for such an amazing and forward-thinking initiative,” Knowles shared.

The Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup is proud to continue its impact on sailing and community building through clean and fair competition.

For more updates on the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup and Caribbean Bottling Company visit the website www.cbcbahamas.com today.

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Bahamas News

Caribbean Bottling Supports the 27th Basketball Smiles Week  

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NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, is proud to once again support Basketball Smiles for their 27th year.

Upholding its corporate pillar of community outreach, CBC proudly donated $2,000, over 75 cases of Dasani, Powerade and Sprite, reusable Powerade water bottles and numerous marketing materials.

The annual sporting summer camp offers free basketball and life skills training to Junior and High School students.

Basketball Smiles’ mission of developing leadership qualities while fostering children’s academic achievement and self-esteem aligns perfectly with CBC’s commitment to supporting and empowering youth.

Jazmin Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager for Caribbean Bottling Company shared why the company continues to support this program each year.

“At CBC, we believe investing in our youth is one of the greatest ways to strengthen our communities. We’re proud to support Basketball Smiles each year because it goes beyond the game. This program champions healthy lifestyles, positive values and brighter futures. It’s a privilege to play a role in helping these young athletes reach their full potential each year,” she shared.

Sam Nicholls, Basketball Smiles Camp President and Founder expressed.

“Caribbean Bottling Company is an incredible partner. We are truly grateful for their generous support, which will go a long way in making a positive impact on the lives of our campers,” Nicholls expressed.

CBC is always ready to lend its support toward initiatives and programs that uplift young Bahamians. The impact Basketball Smiles makes on the community is undeniable and is why CBC remains a historic sponsor.

For more information on sponsorship, events and new products, visit www.cbcbahamas.com today.

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