Bahamas News
Mitchell to diplomats: Climate Change has become number one foreign policy issue for The Bahamas
From: Bahamas Information Services
November 4, 2024
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas — A focus on Climate Change, Climate Change Diplomacy, and A Sustainable Development Agenda for Climate Vulnerable States are among agenda items to be addressed during 2024 Diplomatic Week.
The setting for the focus on Climate Change and its impacts on Small-Island Developing States (SIDS) such as The Bahamas could not have come at a more ideal location or at a more opportune time, as Grand Bahama is one of those areas of The Bahamas said to reside in ‘hurricane alley,” making it susceptible to hurricanes. November marks the final month of the Atlantic Hurricane Season which annually runs June 1 through November 30.
(The Week got underway Sunday [November 3] with a Church Service at First Baptist Church. Diplomats from across the Bahamian Diplomatic Diaspora are in Freeport attending to participate in the Week. Representation is from USA, Canada, CARICOM, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados, Geneva, London, and China, in addition to visiting ambassadors and high commissioners accredited by The Bahamas.)
Early records indicate that Grand Bahama has been impacted by storms and/or hurricanes since official records were undertaken in 1871. Some of the more memorable storms to impact the area include Betsy, Inez, David, Isidore, Floyd, Erin, Bertha, Mitch, Frances, Jeanne, Katrina, Wilma, Irene, Matthew, Irma, Isaias, and more recently Milton and Nicole.
The list also includes the monster, Category 5 Hurricane Dorian. An extremely powerful, deadly, and catastrophic tropical cyclone, Dorian
became the most intense hurricane on record to strike The Bahamas. It is tied with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane for the strongest landfall in the Atlantic basin in terms of maximum sustained winds.
Meteorologists and Forecasters at the Bahamas Department of Meteorology say Hurricane Dorian has been among the most devastating natural disasters ever to hit The Bahamas. The estimated damages and losses from it amount to $3.4 billion (IDB, 2019), a number equivalent to a quarter of the country’s GDP.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Frederick A. Mitchell, during his opening address to diplomats Monday, said Climate Change has become the “number one” Foreign Policy Issue for The Bahamas.
“It is important to our citizens that we make sure that we hold up the flag overseas and you know that the Prime Minister has charged us with the number one Foreign Policy issue which is climate change and so all of our resources in the Foreign Service are being directed towards fighting this issue of climate change,” Mr. Mitchell said.
The focus on climate change was also part of Minister Mitchell’s address during Sunday’s Church Service that launched Diplomatic Week. Part of that focus also centres on climate justice, a type of environmental justice that focuses on the unequal impacts of climate change on marginalized or otherwise vulnerable populations. Climate justice seeks to achieve an equitable distribution of both the burdens of climate change and the efforts to mitigate climate change.
It seeks solutions that address the root causes of climate change and in doing so, simultaneously address a broad range of social, racial, and environmental injustices.
Diplomatic Week opened “in earnest” in Freeport, Monday (November 4) with a charge from Minister Mitchell.
Diplomats from across the Bahamian diplomatic diaspora are attending the annual Bahamian Heads of Missions Retreat (also known as Diplomatic Week), being held at the Grand Lucayan Convention Centre. It marks the third time Freeport has hosted an event of this nature, following on the successes of the 8th COFCOR Conference (June, 2005), and the 9th UK-Caribbean Forum — both under Mr. Mitchell’s watch as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) determines relations between the Community and international organizations and third states, and promotes the development of friendly and mutually beneficial relations among member states.
The UK-Caribbean Forum brings together ministers from the UK and the Caribbean, including representatives of the Overseas Territories. The forum provides the opportunity to discuss bilateral, regional, and global issues at ministerial level.
Minister Mitchell said the decision to host Diplomatic Week in Freeport was part and parcel of the government’s commitment and willingness to “show the Flag so to speak.”
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.
