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Grand Bahama Police launch technological crime fighting equipment with Bodycams and Shot-Spotter

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By ANDREW COAKLEY

Bahamas Information Services

 

 

#TheBahamas, April 6, 2023 – A promise made by Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clayton Fernander to the district of Grand Bahama was fulfilled on March 31, 2023, when bodycams for police officers and Shot-Spotter went live for the first time in Grand Bahama.

“We would like to thank the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clayton Fernander for keeping his word and blessing Grand Bahama with these technological advantages that will definitely assist us with the prevention, detection and reduction of crime,” said Mr. Theophilus Cunningham, Assistant Commissioner of Police, and Officer in charge of Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas District, during a press conference at police headquarters on Sunday, April 2, 2023.

ACP Cunningham noted that police officers would normally be deployed and equipped with body-worn cameras to provide a detailed recording of police officers’ interactions with members of the public.

“This technological advantage will ensure that police officers understand their legal obligation to the public and that they are accountable for their actions,” added ACP Cunningham. “Additionally, they will also ensure that our community partners understand that we are transparent in the way we execute our duties.”

Close to 200 bodycams have been provided to the officers in Grand Bahama. The provision of the technological equipment to Grand Bahama is a part of the Commissioner’s policing plan, Priority Six, which is linked to optimizing tech and crime prevention and police operations.

Inspector Brian Outten, Officer in Charge of the Communications branch of police in the Northern Bahamas, noted that the Royal Bahamas Police Force is modernizing its information, communication, technology systems with the use of body cams, along with dash board cameras, to accurately document police interaction with the public during arrest and critical incidences.

“At the same time,” he added, “this technology provides corroborating evidence of an event and enhances the accuracy of contentious situations for investigations, as well as for prosecution purposes. The purpose of this policy (Priority Six) is to outline our distribution and management and acceptable use of body-worn cameras. This is to reduce any situation between the public as well as police officers, while providing a first-hand account of these encounters, to aid the transparency and building trust in the public.

“The body-worn and dashboard cameras will also minimize distractions and ensure that police officers are alert. Also, it will ensure that police officers conduct ourselves in a manner which upholds the values, integrity and reputation of our police force.”

Additionally, Shot-Spotter was launched on March 31st as well.  According to Inspector Outten, Shot-Spotter is basically a system used for gunshot detection. It works as a 911 for shots that are fired. The system uses a triangulation method, along with sensors to let police know (by computer) exactly where shots were fired.

“It also improves our evidence collection,” said Inspector Outten. “We recover more casings, locate more witnesses and we identify shootings faster. It also disrupts the shooting cycle. Shot-Spotter itself fills the gap of a network by acoustic sensors that can detect, locate and alert police to nearly all gun incidences.

“The system is used by police to: 1) Be able to respond to a higher percentage of gunfire incidences; 2) Improve the time police arrive on a scene; and 3) Help the police locate the evidence, identify and prosecute suspects.”

Inspector Outten clarified that unlike bodycams that will be worn by police officers, Shot-Spotter is a system that is placed in various communities and connected to a computer system at the police headquarters. He said that they are expanding the number of communities in which Shot-Spotter is being connected.

ACP Cunningham noted that these advancements in policing are an indication that Grand Bahama crime fighting methods have come on par with those used in Nassau, the capital, and as such, Grand Bahamians should feel more confident that the police force is taking additional measures to make communities in Grand Bahama safer.

 

Photo Caption: Assistant Commissioner of Police and Officer in Charge of Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas, Mr. Theophilus Cunningham (second from left), held a press conference on Sunday, April 2, 2023 to announce the use of bodycams and Shot Spotter by the police in Grand Bahama, which will help in the decline of crime on the island. Joining ACP Cunningham during the Presser at Police Headquarters were (from left) Detective Superintendent Darrell Weir; Superintendent Avardo Dames and Inspector Brian Outten. Standing at back are a number of police officers, two of whom are displaying the bodycam worn on their vests.
(BIS Photos/Andrew Coakley)

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

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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.

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

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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!

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CWS Brings a Galore of Bubbles at Annual Jollification Festival  

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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.

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