Bahamas News
UNDP introduces new Country Programme for the Bahamas at regional ‘Partnership Roundtable’ series debut in Nassau
Invites local, regional and international partnerships for sustainable development
#TheBahamas, May 5, 2023 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has unveiled a number of development solutions aligned to The Bahamas’ national priorities and opened the door for further cooperation on new solutions, under its 2022 – 2026 Country Programme.
UNDP Resident Representative, Denise E Antonio, urged local, regional, and international organizations, as well as
donor countries, to partner with the UNDP in enhancing existing initiatives and creating new innovative solutions that align with the developmental goals and aspirations of the Bahamian people.
UNDP introduced its five-year Country Programme in Bahamas along with its development services to government officials, civil society, diplomatic corps, and development partners during the debut of UNDP’s sub regional Partnership Roundtable series on Monday 17th April 2023, at The Balmoral.
The new Country Programme will prioritize development solutions that focus on social resilience and inclusion, citizen safety and security and rule of law, climate change resilience, and sustainable natural resource management over the next five years. These priorities were developed following consultations under the regional Multi Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework led by the United Nations Resident Coordination team.
“We are committed to supporting the goals and aspirations of our host countries. Our role is to provide technical assistance and to leverage our resources, networks, facilities, and partnerships to support national priorities. Our Country Programme pillars serve as a framework to guide our collaborative efforts with countries towards achieving sustainable development outcomes,” she said.
In a keynote address delivered by the Honourable Jamahl Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Strachan said that the Region looks to the UNDP to serve as an interlocutor, and to provide that advocacy support in the meeting halls of the international financial institutions regarding the acceptance of a multi-dimensional vulnerability index.
He also applauded the UNDP for the creation of the Mobile App for persons with disabilities as well as for the significant support rendered to the UNDP Abaco Hurricane Shelter/Community Centre Project.
“UNDP’s universal presence, commitment to transparency, world-leading operational standards, and global knowledge networks and expertise enable us to bring significant value to any partnership we form,” said Linda Maguire, Deputy Regional Director for UNDP in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Under the 2022 – 2026 Country Programme, UNDP is actively supporting the government in the implementation of several initiatives in The Bahamas including projects that aim to strengthen public debt management frameworks promote innovative financing tools for women and youth; establish a hurricane shelter in Abaco; and prepare Bahamas for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. UNDP is also partnering with communities and NGOs to advance climate change adaptation and mitigation through the UNDP-implemented Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme. Ms Antonio expressed her gratitude to UNDP’s current donor partners including Government of India, the Joint SDG Fund, GEF and UN agencies. 
UNDP has collaborated with various local partners, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Works, Disaster Reconstruction Authority, Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, and National Council for Persons with Disabilities, on both past and current development solutions. Under the previous country programme (2017-2021), UNDP worked alongside government and civil society to support The Bahamas’ recovery, relief, and resilience agenda in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.
The Bahamas is one of 42 countries served by UNDP’s Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. The UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica serves Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. On 12th July 1974, the Government of The Bahamas became the first among the UNDP Multi Country Office’s five partner countries and territories to formally establish an agreement with UNDP.
Photo Captions
Header: Following the UNDP‘s Partnership Roundtable, evet organizers and invited guests mingled. They include, from left From left, event moderator Krissy Hanna, Vice Chancellor, Bahamas Alrae Ramsey Institute of Foreign Service; Chinese Ambassador Dai Qingli; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Bahamas, Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands, Denise E Antonio; Linda Maguire, Deputy Director, UNDP in Latin America and the Caribbean; Jamahl Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Honourable Vaughan Miller, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources; Kirk Cornish, Member of Parliament for North Abaco; Thomas Hartley, British High Commissioner ; Phedra Rahming Turnquest, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources; Phyllis Baron, Country Representative, Organization of American States (OAS)
1st insert: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Bahamas, Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands, Denise E Antonio.
2nd insert: Jamahl Strachan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
3rd insert: Linda Maguire, Deputy Director, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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.
