Bahamas News
Tourism Minister tells Washington investors it is still “Better in The Bahamas”
NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS — Addressing an Investment Forum in Washington DC, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Investments and Aviation the Hon. Chester Cooper said it is “Better in The Bahamas” when it comes to doing business.
“If you’re looking to do business and to invest, The Bahamas is better than ever before,” he said as he urged potential investors to take advantage of opportunities being rolled out by the Bahamas Government.
Deputy Prime Minister thanked Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Wendall Jones for organizing this important event.
“This is a most progressive initiative. We are taking a monumental step today to forge progressive partnerships for the prosperity of our country:
Said differently, we are here to do business. We want to do business with you.”
The deputy prime minister, who was a businessman before entering politics, shared first-hand experience of doing business in The Bahamas which he described as “an amazing place” to do so.
“I quickly grasped a few basic principles as an entrepreneur: understand your market, create something of value, then market your product. Now, I carry those principles with me in government, as minister of tourism,” he said.
According to the minister, it is not incredibly difficult to sell a vacation to The Bahamas. He confirmed that the government is committed to providing the necessary support to help ensure investment is a success, through the one-stop facilitation of the Bahamas Investment Authority.
“We have a strong brand, but God has done most of the work in positioning the Islands of The Bahamas.”
He noted that the country’s beauty is incomparable and it’s easily accessible from major tourism markets – two hours from DC and 27 minutes from Miami.
“However, we still sell it and constantly work on strengthening that product. I’m also the minister of Investments. And if you think about it, that makes sense,” he said.
Many of the reasons tourists come to The Bahamas, are the reasons that investors should consider The Bahamas, according to the minister.
He noted the dollar parity with the United States, a stable democracy, and peaceful hospitable people. And, visa-free seamless travel from the US with Pre-Clearance and TSA checks.
“We have a strong growing economy that has allowed us to build modern infrastructure throughout our archipelago,” the minister said, adding that more direct flights are being scheduled between The Bahamas and the US.
The minister touted record tourism arrival numbers: in 2023 arrival of 10 million visitors which was an increase of more than 30 percent ahead of 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Already this year the country is seeing a 15 percent growth in overall arrivals, over the 2023 record.
He then shared recent policy initiatives aimed to make The Bahamas more attractive, reducing carbon footprints and enhancing environmental resilience.
This is being achieved through the National Investment Policy, which is designed to attract investment in alternative energy, green technology, eco-tourism and carbon credits.
“We are also advancing The Bahamas as a digital society, fully embracing smart technology and the digital economy,” he said.
Another area shared by the minister is progressive legislation benchmarked against international best practice including: Digital Assets and Registered Exchange Act, the Longevity and Regenerative Therapies Act, the Climate Change Initiative Act, the Carbon Credit Trading Act, and Cannabis measures.
“All innovative pieces of legislation that demonstrate our commitment to innovation and to revolutionizing our economy that open new vistas for our country, in a secure, transparent and well-regulated way,” he said.
In health care, finance, education, financial services and tourism, he said AI applications are vast and will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Bahamian economy.
The minister said another way to invest in The Bahamas is through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) that have been critical to the success of many government projects, and they remain a key strategy as in the continued building of infrastructure.
Of note, is the keen interest of the US Exim Bank and Chairman Reta Jo Lewis in supporting and funding US companies seeking to do business in The Bahamas, he shared.
“What I am saying is that we are open for business and in the last three years we have attracted more than $10 billion in new foreign direct investments.
“This includes a $600 million ship repair facility in Grand Bahama Island, capable of accommodating the largest ships in the world, and a $600 million cruise port by Carnival Cruise lines.”
He pointed out that the Family Islands Renaissance Project aims to modernize more than a dozen airports across the country, improving connectivity, boosting tourism, and creating jobs.
“We are building new hospitals and clinics, launching wellness and rejuvenation clinics and will have one the best healthcare systems in the Caribbean in the coming years,” the minister said.
(BIS Photos/Kemuel Stubbs)
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.
