Bahamas News
BAMSI LETTUCE PROJECT
BAMSI OFFICIALS MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM CENTRAL STATE
Nassau, Bahamas, February 22, 2023: THE BAHAMAS Agriculture & Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) has struck gold, the green kind, with a new variety of lettuce, the Dov Romaine. The lush looking vegetable, known for its excellent taste, is thriving in the fields of Andros, and is quickly proving to be a cost-effective variety. This is the first time BAMSI has grown the Dov variety.
“We are yielding even more than we expected and the flavour is excellent by international standards. And even
though it’s getting warm, the lettuce is still thriving so we will see how long it will flourish under these conditions, said Ayrett Lightbourne, BAMSI’s Farm Manager.
Initially planted about nine weeks ago, Mr. Lightbourne said the farm is slowly rolling out the lettuce, with about a third of an acre of lettuce planted each week.
“We plant tomatoes and other produce, but I grew romaine lettuce on my personal farm before joining BAMSI and I wanted to try this variety on a larger scale. Early on we went through different management practices to be able to introduce this crop to the market. Another factor also is that this is a multi-million-dollar crop and I wanted to be able to encourage Bahamian farmers to grow this as well,” Mr. Lightbourne said.
The training of the staff to support this new variety is also going well, Mr. Lightbourne said, adding that this component was a large part of the crop’s success. “A lot of [the staff] are not used to growing this particular crop, so we had to identify certain things, such as at what stage to cut the lettuce, where to cut the leaves, we had to teach them how to package it and take off the outer leaves and leave the pretty inner leaves intact. The lettuce can’t be left out in the field. They must go into the cooler within an hour and a half of being harvested, a cooler set at 42 degrees to keep them nice and crisp while being shipped. Every person must be reliable and dependable so the lettuce arrives in the best condition possible. We had to emphasize that this a more precise crop, and they have to stay on top of the management and care of it.”
The Dov lettuce takes six to seven weeks from planting to harvesting, which makes it a quick maturing plant and enables farmers to earn a significant amount of money in a short period of time. The wholesale market currently sells
the lettuce at about $70 a case. BAMSI however, is selling the lettuce at a much lower cost to the retail consumer.
The success of this variety of lettuce in the warm climate of the Bahamas, means that health conscious Bahamians and backyard farmers can expand their options for healthy foods, while avoiding hefty sticker prices. Persistent rising food costs across the globe has meant that Bahamians are facing not only high prices, but a lower quality of imported produce, including lettuce. With BAMSI’s Dov project and as more farmers opt to include this crop in their rotation, the Bahamian consumer can now purchase produce less than five days from harvest, meaning fresher, better tasting and more nutrient rich foods added to their diet.
Mr. Lightbourne said that for his next specialty project, he is looking at a different variety of iceberg lettuce. “The head is small and soft, I’ve heard of two varieties that will give a better product, they may be more difficult to grow than the traditional variety, but I want to try if for our next season.”
Photo Caption:
Header: Rows of Dov Lettuce at the BAMSI farm in North Andros
Inserts: Workers sort and package lettuce at BAMSI’s Packing House in North Andros
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
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.
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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