Bahamas News
Canadian & US Intervention taking the long road, Haiti still in dire crisis
By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
#Haiti, January 24, 2023 – On the ground, Haitians are terrified. The gangs they’d thought would be nuetralised by now, are thriving and have enveloped much of the impoverished country in a fog of fear. Kidnappings, targeted killings of law enforcement and others who dare to speak out and raging control over parts of the almost leaderless Caribbean country have inspired even more attempts to flee; Haitian men, women and children are risking it all in an unrelenting flow driven by hope and desperation.
Despite sanctions on so-called elites and allegedly corrupt ex-politicians and promises of military intervention to disarm the gangs terrorizing and threatening the government of Haiti, the occupation of US and Canadian soldiers is having little effect, it seems, on the worsening humanitarian crises, raising questions about the effectiveness of the strategy.
The US, Canada and others stepped up late last year with the intent to send a multinational military force into the Republic after Ariel Henry, Haitian Prime Minister publicly requested it in October 2022.
The request came after gangs demanded Henry’s resignation.
The United Nations reports that at least 60 percent of Haiti is controlled by the country’s 200 gangs; residents
however say the footprint of lawlessness and takeover is much, much higher. Police are afraid and are being slaughtered in the streets.
No one is coming when back-up is called.
Canada took the lead on the combined military charge, described by the UN as a security assistance mission and authenticated by a UN Security Council resolution. Canada, in November, had maintained they would not put significant boots on the ground until all Haitian leaders agreed on the decision.
While politicians fought amongst themselves on this tactic, assistance arrived in the form of Haitian-bought armoured vehicles for the police and sanctions began to be laid against certain Haitians. The list of those to be sanctioned and declared ‘enemies of the state’ was compiled by US and Mexican authorities and included gang leaders and other elites who were summarily placed under travel bans, had their assets frozen and were banned from purchasing arms and doing business in the US and Canada.
But that has not stopped the chaos and mere weeks into 2023, the final cohort of democratically elected leaders dramatically left office; their terms having expired in early January, collapsing the last shreds of democracy.
The US and Canada have met to discuss the situation, but no concrete way forward was announced other than the sanctioning of two more ‘elites’.
Despite Henry’s cry for help and the UN agreement, Bob Ray, Canadian ambassador to the UN, has indicated that major military operations in Haiti would not have a lasting impact on the Caribbean nation and Canada is instead looking at more long-term options.
“We have to admit there’s been a history of what I would call large-scale military interventions that have not worked,” Ray told Canadian media houses. “The question is what form of intervention would be the most sustainable, and that is what we are still discussing.”
The assessment comes as Henry indicated he hoped the multinational force would arrive in the country this year. And as the crisis worsens, Haitians have continued to finance their exodus, even in dangerously small boats, hungry for a taste of a better life, albeit on another shore and without the welcome mat.
Record numbers of migrants have now illegally turned up in countries like the Turks and Caicos, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the United States, exposing a worrying trend mere weeks into the New Year.
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.
