Bahamas News
Munroe to cybersecurity delegates: ‘…to build a better mousetrap’
From: Bahamas Information Services
January 15, 2025
NASSAU, The Bahamas — Cybersecurity is a national security issue for The Bahamas, and indeed the world, Minister of National Security, the Hon. Wayne Munroe, K.C., told local, regional and international delegates attending the Opening Session of the Third Annual Computer Incident Response Team’s (CIRT-BS) three-day Cybersecurity Conference and ITU Regional CyberDrill.
Minister Munroe challenged delegates to continue to build a better mousetrap for those “bad actors” who will change and evolve in an effort to take advantage of new cybersecurity resilience initiatives designed to strengthen digital ecosystems.
The Conference has four key objectives: To enhance The Bahamas’ cybersecurity preparedness through the National Cybersecurity Strategy and associated workshops; To conduct a simulated CyberDrill to test and assess the effectiveness of incident response plans; To foster unit and cooperation among stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector organizations, academia, and civil society in responding to cyber threats, and to strengthen technical expertise in areas such as incident response, threat intelligence, digital forensics, and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), through hands-on training.
Its aims include promoting public awareness by highlighting the importance of cybersecurity at all levels of society and encouraging proactive measures to safeguard personal and organizational data, and to drive policy innovation by facilitating discussions on regulatory frameworks and strategies to “future-proof” the digital ecosystem in The Bahamas and the region.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Mr. Munroe said The Bahamas is committed to building a secure digital ecosystem that safeguards critical infrastructure, businesses, and individuals from cyber threats, making cybersecurity a national priority for the government.
Some of the initiatives undertaken in this regard includes the launch of CIRT-BS and its operational services in January 2024, approval (March 2024) and official launch of the country’s National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS) in December 2024; Drafting of critical cybersecurity legislation; Membership in the prestigious Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), with LAC4 (Latin American and Caribbean Cyber Competence Centre) membership soon to follow; Development of a child online protection strategy, in addition to the hosting of numerous capacity-building events such as the CIRT-BS Cybersecurity Conference.
The National Security Minister had a “bit of advice” for delegates — to build a better mousetrap.
“Change, progress, create opportunities, not just for economic advancement, but for bad actors who seek to exploit them, and so as change is rapid, criminal elements, bad actors, will seek to exploit that change. Cybersecurity and resilience is meant to address that,” Mr. Munroe said.
“Bad actors will evolve, they always do. Once you have found an answer, the will begin to seek another path, you can be assured of that. And so regardless of the exercises you will run, and the success you will have with it, be assured that as soon as you close one door, they will seek another. And so what do you have to do from today out, my advice to you is the same advice I give the security forces in this country, you will always be involved in what we call seeking to build a better mousetrap, because as the mice figure out the one you have built, you will have to build a better one. That should be your objective today. With all of the bright minds involved in this exercise I am confident that will be achieved.”
Bahamian officials say the conference holds “immense significance” for the nation, region, and indeed the global community “as we come together to tackle one of the most critical issues of our time — cybersecurity.”
They add that in a world where technology influences every aspect of life — from governance to commerce, to personal communication — the threats to the country’s digital infrastructure are growing increasingly sophisticated. The conference, with its theme of “Building Shared Cyber Resilience,” is hailed as being both timely and vital, as it “provides opportunities to combine collective knowledge, strengthen defenses, and work together to ensure the security and stability of an interconnected digital world.”
“Achieving the vision of a ‘secure and trusted digital society’ requires collaboration, dedication, and active participation from every corner of society — government, private sector, academia, civil society, and individuals. We cannot rely on a single entity; this is a collective endeavor,” officials add.
(BIS Photo – Conference attendees)/Kristaan Ingraham)
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.
