Bahamas News
Royal Caribbean International fulfills pledge of 400 backyard farming kits to ADO, 200 more small farmers received seeds to their future food supply today
Philip Smith
#Nassau, December 20, 2023 — With a food import bill topping $1 billion annually and the vivid memory of supply chain shortage, the movement to grow more of what we eat and eat more of what we grow got a boost today when Royal Caribbean International (RCI) presented the last 200 of 400 backyard farming kits to the Agricultural Development Organization (ADO).
Recipients of the kits lined up at St. Thomas More Parish Hall, Centreville, ready to start or expand a garden farm they could manage at home with the aid of a field officer visiting once a month. Each kit was packed with soil, 72 seeds of dozens of varieties, small irrigation tubing and fertilizer.
Among the special guests at the presentation and distribution ceremony were Minister of Agriculture Jomo Campbell, RCI general manager of Bahamian business and president of the Royal Beach Club Philip Simon and ADO Executive Chairman Philip Smith.
This is the second time the agriculture minister participated in the backyard farm distribution of kits provided by a donation from Royal Caribbean International, a collaboration and program, he called “a shining example of corporate responsibility.”
“We cannot thank donors like Royal Caribbean enough,” said Philip Smith. “Without the tremendous outpouring of corporate support by a few key donors like Royal Caribbean, we would not be where we are today and where we are with having provided materials to start 2700 backyard farms in less than two years is just the beginning.”
Smith, who focused on feeding for 17 years including founding and heading up the Bahamas Feeding Network for nearly a decade, says growing what we eat is essential for two reasons.
Agricultural Development Organization and Royal Caribbean International partner for Farming Kit Distribution in Nassau, Bahamas
“First, there is the issue of food security and I fully believe that the answer to that lies right in our own backyards. Our heritage is farming. Our ancestors did not clamber for greens, potatoes, yams, onions, cucumber, even eggs. They walked out into the back yard and picked what they needed that day. And the taste of a home-grown tomato is so much fresher than one picked elsewhere, packaged, trucked, put on a cargo ship, shipped across the seas, then the container trucked to a store before that tomato has been offloaded, labeled and put on a shelf. The stores try hard, but there is a world of difference.”
Smith also cites the nation’s declining health with greater incidences of hypertension, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis. He said the link to an increased dependence on processed and fast foods cannot be ignored.
Agriculture Minister Jomo Campbell cited multiple benefits from the good to grow campaign and the collaboration between ADO and partners – improved food security, economic opportunities, health benefits, environmental sustainability and community building.
“In earlier times, farming was not an unfamiliar profession in The Bahamas,” the minister recalled. “Many of our grandparents, mothers and fathers practiced substance agriculture where they grew crops according to their family’s needs…This program demonstrates that we can do this again and simultaneously cut down on our exorbitant food import bill that continues to be pegged at $1 billion.”
RCI’s Philip Simon explained the cruise company’s reason for strong support.
“Royal Caribbean International is committed to sustainability,” said Simon. “That commitment is evident in everything we do – in investing in the most advanced technology to minimize waste and maximize recycling onboard
Agricultural Development Organization and Royal Caribbean International partner for Farming Kit Distribution in Nassau, Bahamas
our ships, in our commitment for the Royal Beach Club to be landfill waste free by 2030. But creating a sustainable planet takes more than massive recycling. It also involves the things we can do every day, including the nutritional benefits of growing our own food.”
Simon said RCI’s long-time support of the Bahamas Feeding Network lent naturally to supporting ADO.
“We understand that there will always be a need to feed but if we begin to grow more of our own and restore the joy of a farming culture, bringing us closer to the earth, we will all benefit and RCI is proud to be part of this important community initiative.”
In addition to backyard kits, ADO is assisting 26 schools throughout The Bahamas to create farms and on December 9, Smith and team will be in Exuma to help launch the Rolleville Commonage Community Farm with Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper officially opening the half-acre garden of greens and more.
Photo Captions:
Header: Royal Caribbean International General Manager of Bahamas business and president of Royal Beach Club Philip Simon addresses crowd at the distribution of 200 backyard farming kits at a ceremony at St. Thomas More Parish Hall. In the background, l-r, Pastor Pat Paul, Ministry of Agriculture Kendea Smith, Minister of Agriculture Jomo Campbell, and Agricultural Development Organization Executive Chairman Philip Smith. (Cay Focus Photography)
1st insert: ADO Executive Chairman Philip Smith accepts the donation of the last 200 of 400 backyard farming kits from Royal Caribbean International. Since its founding less than two years ago, ADO has helped start more than 2,500 backyard farms and restore what Smith calls the “the joy and pride of farming.” (Cay Focus Photography)
2nd insert: Constituents in the Centreville community register (photo left) and get their starter farming kit with soil, more than 70 seeds, irrigation tubing, fertilizer and the promise of assistance from a trained field officer. (Cay Focus Photography)
3rd insert: (L-R) Former MP Dion Smith; Philip Smith, Executive Chairman of ADO Bahamas; Hon. Jomo Campbell, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources; Nicolette Archer, Executive Assistant & Administrator at Bahamas Feeding Network; Pastor Patrick Paul of Bahamas Assemblies of God and Philip Simon, President of Royal Beach Club and General Manager of Royal Caribbean International Bahamas. (Cay Focus Photography)
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.
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