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.

NASSAU, Bahamas, December 18, 2025 – Marine scientists at the Perry Institute for Marine Science have partnered with NBA champion Rick Fox and his climate-tech company, Partanna, to build a 100-square-meter demonstration “super reef” in Bahamian waters.

The Holiday Reef campaign uses Partanna’s carbon-negative concrete, which absorbs CO₂ as it cures and strengthens in seawater, unlike traditional cement that contributes to reef loss.

Designed as an underwater biodiversity hub, the reef will be built using Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures seeded on healthy reefs, then planted with heat-resilient “super corals” bred to survive warming oceans. The project responds to severe Caribbean coral losses following recent mass bleaching events.

The Holiday Reef project follows a rigorous five-point scientific restoration plan developed by the Perry Institute for Marine Science to ensure the reef functions as a living ecosystem, not just an artificial structure.

1. Foundation: Scientists will deploy carbon-negative Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) made from Partanna’s cement-free material. These structures act as the physical base of the reef while avoiding the environmental harm associated with traditional concrete.
2. Seeding: The ARMS are first placed on healthy natural reefs, where they are left to “season.” During this phase, sponges, crabs, microbes, and other cryptic marine organisms naturally colonize the structures, forming the biological building blocks of a functioning reef.
3. Assembly: Once seeded, the ARMS are relocated to the Holiday Reef site—an area currently without living reef—and assembled into a complex three-dimensional structure that mimics the architecture of a natural coral reef.
4. Coral Planting: PIMS’ Reef Rescue Network then introduces thermally tolerant coral genotypes, often called “super corals,” selected for their ability to withstand rising ocean temperatures.
5. Monitoring: Scientists track reef growth and health using drones and underwater photogrammetry, creating high-resolution 3D maps to measure coral survival, growth, and biodiversity over time.

To accelerate deployment, Partanna is offering a $25,000 dollar-for-dollar public donation match. Organizers say the reef will protect food security, tourism, and coastal resilience for generations.

By Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media

The United States and The Bahamas share more than proximity — they share a bond of history, trade, and culture that Washington’s newest diplomat calls “part of America’s extended community.”

Now, for the first time in 14 years, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau will again be led by a Senate-confirmed ambassador. Herschel Walker, the Heisman-winning football legend turned entrepreneur, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as America’s official envoy to The Bahamas.

Walker, who will oversee one of the Caribbean’s most strategically positioned U.S. missions, told senators during his confirmation hearing that The Bahamas will play a key role in upcoming U.S. 250th Independence celebrations. “The Bahamian people,” he said, “will be included in this milestone year, because our stories are intertwined — through family, trade, and friendship.”

While his nomination was unconventional, his priorities are anything but vague. Walker vowed to counter growing Chinese influence in the Caribbean, calling Beijing’s investments in Bahamian deep-water ports “a direct threat to U.S. national security.” He pledged to work closely with Bahamian authorities to ensure American interests remain the region’s cornerstone.

“There’s a rise in drug smuggling in The Bahamas, and this is a real danger to the United States,” Walker said, referring to the Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) partnership. He promised to strengthen intelligence sharing, joint patrols, and law enforcement coordination to disrupt trafficking routes that have grown increasingly sophisticated.

But Walker also emphasized opportunity over fear — signaling that his ambassadorship will not only focus on security, but on strengthening The Bahamas as a gateway for U.S. investment, trade, and tourism.

“I will advise the American business community of the vast investment opportunities that exist in The Bahamas,” he said. “And I will make sure the Bahamian government maintains an environment where U.S. companies can invest confidently — because America must prove it is still great as an investor.”

For a small island nation sitting less than 50 miles off the coast of Florida, this renewed diplomatic attention carries weight. Since 2011, the post of U.S. ambassador had remained vacant — a gap that many observers say weakened direct ties, delayed joint security initiatives, and allowed other powers to move in.

Walker’s confirmation — approved 51 to 47 — ends that silence. And with it comes the expectation that this former Olympian and business owner will translate his discipline, charisma, and resilience into diplomatic results.

Critics question his lack of foreign policy experience, but Walker counters with confidence: “Throughout my life, people have underestimated me. I’ve always proved them wrong — by outworking everyone.”

As he prepares to take up residence in Nassau, Walker says his mission is simple: rebuild trust, deepen cooperation, and remind both nations that their futures are tied not just by geography — but by shared purpose, mutual respect, and the enduring ties of community.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.