Connect with us

Bahamas News

The US Government Donates Approx. $600,000 Worth of Emergency Equipment to NEMA

Published

on

By Llonella Gilbert
Bahamas Information Services
#NASSAU, Bahamas, March 13, 2023 –  Minister of State with Responsibility for Disaster Risk Reduction the Hon. Myles Laroda thanked the United States government for its “very generous donation” of 28 generators, which will be installed with automatic transfer switches, carbon monoxide sensors and fire extinguishers.
This support package costs approximately $600,000 and the generators will be deployed to shelters in Abaco, Andros, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Exuma and Mayaguana, the Minister of State said during a ceremony for handover of emergency generators and transportable reverse osmosis systems to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the agency’s headquarters on Monday, March 13, 2023.
“The determination of which islands will be supplied with generators was made following inspections in 2022 of the 143 facilities that served as hurricane and emergency shelters throughout The Bahamas.
“The US Northern Command has also partnered with the Disaster Reconstruction Authority (DRA) to secure a generator for the Hurricane Shelter/Community Centre that is currently under construction in Abaco.”He explained that in addition to the generators that are being donated, the US Northern Command is also donating six easy transportable Reverse Osmosis Systems. These systems will allow for the rapid production of potable water for general use, in remote areas.
The Minister of State said NEMA and agencies of the United States government, such as US Northern Command and USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, have enjoyed a strong partnership for many years. The focus of the partnership has been in programs of capacity building, and knowledge exchange in the areas of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
He explained that the capacity building initiatives have included workshops and seminars for Family Island Administrators, Local Government Council Members and other members of the Disaster Committee.
Additionally, it allowed for training and equipping of teams in 12 Family Islands to be able to conduct Flood Water Rescue operations in various communities, or to conduct rescues for downed aircraft in marsh areas, or boaters in distress in sight of land.
 Further, the programs have allowed for training and equipping teams in seven islands to be in a position to respond to community fires to minimize the chances of their getting out of control and becoming disasters.  Teams have also been trained as first responders and train-the- trainers in Community Emergency Response Teams or CERT.
The Minister of State said in September of 2020 The Bahamas was the recipient of the United States generosity by way of:
·       A mobile shelter facility valued over $3.1 million to provide for rapid and efficient sheltering to affected persons in any community of The Bahamas;·       Twelve – 16 feet medical Whaly rescue boats that are outfitted with 40 HP Yamaha engines, safety stretchers, life vests and 20-foot trailers valued at $151,778.70;·       Emergency Relief Supplies valued at $45,000 to augment supplies in the three Emergency Relief Warehouses that are situated Great Inagua, Grand Bahama and at the Coral Harbour Base. All three of these warehouses were gifts from the United States by way of the US Northern Command; and·       Materials valued at $71,000 have been provided to repair 13 churches in Grand Bahama and Abaco that are used as hurricane shelters and were damaged during hurricane Dorian.
Also in attendance at the handover were Lance Posey, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy; Jon Smart, International Engagement and Acquisition Division Chief US Northern Command; Carl Smith, Permanent Secretary and Captain Stephen Russell, Director of NEMA.
Mr. Posey said, “This a sign of our commitment to preparedness, which will enable effective response and recovery.
“As close friends and partners to The Bahamas, the US government, US North Command and the US people do not believe in simply showing up after disaster strikes.  We know that the work done now is just as important as the work that is yet to come.”
He added, “We are here now and we will always be here ready to help side-by-side with our Bahamian neighbours.”
PHOTO CAPTION: The US government donated approximately $600,000 worth of emergency generators and transportable reverse osmosis systems to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at NEMA’s headquarters on Monday, March 13, 2023.  Attending the handover ceremony were: the Hon. Myles Laroda, Minister of State with Responsibility for Disaster Risk Reduction; Lance Posey, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy; Jon Smart, International Engagement and Acquisition Division Chief US Northern Command; Carl Smith, Permanent Secretary and Captain Stephen Russell, Director of NEMA.  (BIS Photos/Kristaan Ingraham)

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

Twist To Win Ends in a Grand Style with Four $5,000 Mall at Marathon Shopping Sprees  

Published

on

Twist To Win grand finale winners (l-r) Brian Bethel, Taraceta Neely, Ashia Demeritte and Merlin Adams posing along with their winnings from the shopping spree.

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.

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

 The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival  

Published

on

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!

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

CWS Brings a Galore of Bubbles at Annual Jollification Festival  

Published

on

Caribbean Wines & Spirits team members smiling behind one of the company’s two bars at Jollification

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.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING