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Enrollment of Meteorological Cadets, almost double that of last year’s inaugural cohort

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From: Bahamas Information Services

 

NASSAU, The Bahamas —  The Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme was launched in 2023 with nine cadets; and now, in 2024 it boasts installation of 17 cadets.

Energy and Transport Minister, the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis at the Baha Mar Closing and Recognition Ceremony for this year’s Meteorology Cadet  Programme, August 22, commended the young cadets’ achievement and, also, the service to the nation of past and present meteorologists.

Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis

She said: “The Bahamas Department of Meteorology is an important agency of the Government of The Bahamas.  Its work is truly invaluable and touches every facet of our lives.  Led by the Acting Director, Jeffrey Simmons, the Department of Meteorology has worked tirelessly over the years to provide a critical service to our country and the Bahamian people.

“I publicly express my sincere gratitude for the tremendous work that the Department of Meteorology does every day.”

She noted, “It is no secret that climate change is leading to more extreme weather and climate events such as longer and more intense heat waves, heavier rainfall, and severe hurricanes.

“Our vulnerability to the adverse impacts of weather events is increasing in many areas. It is a fact that our islands are low-lying, and that many Bahamians live near the sea.

“By investing in the Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme, the Government of The Bahamas is giving young Bahamians an opportunity to become meteorological scientists and foster a sense of environmental stewardship.   We launched the Programme in 2023 with 9 cadets. Today, in our second installment there are 17 cadets – all young Bahamians who represent the future of our nation.”

Minister Coleby-Davis spoke to the dedication and service of former and Met trail blazers and department directors: “As the Acting Meteorology Director indicated in his speech, the Department of Meteorology has provided dedicated service to our nation over the years.

“As Minister with responsibility for the Department, I am acutely aware of some of the personal sacrifices made by past and current staff members of the Department of Meteorology in the fulfillment of keeping our country updated on weather systems and Bahamians safe.

“In far too many instances, the work of these individuals has gone unnoticed and unrewarded. I intend to change this observation.

“Last year, we recognized the work of former Director, Kenneth ‘Ken’ Lightbourne and the first female meteorologist, Donna Duncombe.

“This year we acknowledge the work of former Directors, Arthur Rolle, and Trevor Basden, as well as the current Acting Director of the Department, Jeffrey Simmons.

“Mr. Arthur Rolle became the third Director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology. Under his directorship, Family Island Weather Stations went fully automated. With the assistance of the United States of America Voluntary Co-operative Programme, Mr. Rolle developed a storm surge atlas for the Northwest Bahamas. In 2009, Mr. Rolle was elected President of the World Meteorological Regional Association IV.

“Mr. Trevor Basden was the fourth director of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology. Under his directorship, the Government of The Bahamas invested over twenty million dollars for acquisition and installation of four doppler weather radars to effectively cover the entire island chain. During his career, Mr. Basden was a member of The Bahamas Hurricane Forecasting Team and the principal officer from the Department of Meteorology attached to the then Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). He has given numerous talks and lectures on hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and disaster preparedness to schools, civic groups, and disaster preparedness officials.

“Mr. Jeffrey Simmons joined The Bahamas Department of Meteorology in 1979 as Meteorological Trainee and now serves as the Acting Director. Mr. Simmons has more than 44 years of experience in tropical meteorology forecasting with emphasis on hurricane tracking and forecasting. He has also been actively involved with climate change for more than 25 years contributing to many documents on global climate change issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  Mr. Simmons is The Bahamas’ Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organization. Under his directorship, the Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme was established.

“In the future editions of the Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme, we will recognize other Bahamian pioneers in the field of meteorology and their contributions to the development of our nation.”

The Minister declared that she was proud of the young men and women in the second edition of the Niccolo P. Small Meteorology Cadet Programme, and encouraged other young Bahamians to enroll.  It was in 2016, under the leadership of then Minister of Transport and Aviation the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, she said, that the capabilities of the Bahamas Department of Meteorology were expanded.

 

(BIS Photos/Anthon Thompson)

Bahamas News

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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Bahamas News

 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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Bahamas News

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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