Bahamas News
More Protection, More Opportunities, More Access for Women & Girls says CARICOM Secretary General in IWD Message
By Deandrea Hamilton and Rashaed Esson
Editorial Staff
March 9, 2023 – When the Secretary General of CARICOM gave her address on International Women’s Day, it was as a ceiling shattering woman herself; she carried those tuned into her five-minute presentation on a journey which shone a bright light on the lingering adversities which prevent women reaching their full potentials.
It is our annual celebration of International Women’s Day and Dr. Carla N. Barnett, the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in her tribute to women, congratulated women who have come a long way through the opportunities being created through Innovation and Technology.
“In celebrating International Women’s Day with a focus on technology and innovation, we must not lose sight of the many issues that stand in the way of achieving women’s equality, such as women’s political participation, unpaid care and domestic work, impact of climate change, and gender-based violence which is a public health crisis in the Region. According to the global average, one in three women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence at some point in her lifetime, usually from an intimate partner,” said Dr. Barnett.
For as far back as we can remember, women have always been marginalized by the socially constructed idea of patriarchy which gave way to issues of gender-bias, leading to gender inequality, and gender-based abuses.
In 1910, Clara Zetkin suggested that on the 8th of March, working women should be celebrated for their achievements at the International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen. Since then, March 8 has been dedicated to celebrating women. In 1911, the first ever Women’s International Day took place; over a million
participated.
Now, modern women have access to greater opportunities but still face insurmountable odds, depending on where they are in the world and what goals they are seeking to achieve. The idea of male domination is old, but alive and kicking.
“Technology and innovation are opening new avenues for women and girls, thus contributing to gender equality in several ways. Through digital platforms and online resources, women and girls are gaining access to educational opportunities and career paths that were previously unavailable to them. This is particularly true in underserved communities where traditional barriers, such as geography, culture and a lack of resources can prevent them from pursuing their dream,” she said.
This year’s IWD theme is: “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.”
Dr. Barnett, who in April 2021 became the first female Secretary General of CARICOM, spoke on the ongoing eradication of gender inequality, one of the recurring issues recognized on International Women’s Day.
She highlighted the effectiveness of this year’s theme in being instrumental in fighting gender inequality by opening doors to females of all ages positioning them to be that driving force in the advancements of their communities, their world.
“Technological advancements are making education and training more accessible to women, particularly in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) fields.
This provides women with more opportunities to participate in the workforce, which can lead to greater economic independence, empowerment, and higher pay.”
And not just better pay for a better life, but improved standards of living and access to quality services.
“Innovations in medical technology also promise to improve women’s health outcome, and access to healthcare services, such as new treatments for reproductive health, remote monitoring of pregnancies and telemedicine services,” said Barnett, who acknowledged the regressive and dangerous conditions for women and girl children in regional Haiti.
“As we observe IWD this year, our thoughts and prayers are with the women and girls in Haiti who are experiencing the most gross violations as they are targeted by gangs who are ravaging and killing them with impunity. Protecting the women and girls must be a priority,” she stated.
Barnett wants to see more women hired at the world’s leading companies for innovation; she wants to see a drastic drop in physical and sexual violence against Caribbean women in particular where studies show one in two are abused and the Sec-Gen is calling for and end to these age-old anguishes, which are barriers to women blossoming fully.
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.
-
Bahamas News1 week agoThe Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
-
Bahamas News1 week agoHome-Court Advantage: Rick Fox Backs Carbon-Negative “Super Reef” for The Bahamas
-
USA5 days ago$7M SNAP and Charity Food Scam: Two Haitians Charged in Massachusetts
-
Bahamas News1 week agoTwist To Win Ends in a Grand Style with Four $5,000 Mall at Marathon Shopping Sprees
-
Bahamas News1 week agoCWS Brings a Galore of Bubbles at Annual Jollification Festival
-
News13 hours agoCommonsense, Not Confrontation: Why Kamla Persad-Bissessar Is Right