Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: Zhivargo Laing, Appointed Country’s Chief Negotiator for WTO Accession
#Nassau, September 11, 2018 – Bahamas – The government has appointed Zhivargo Laing to lead the country’s negotiation team for accession 
to World Trade Organization (WTO) membership. The announcement was made September 9, 2018 during a press conference held at the Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration.
Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration, the Hon. Brent Symonette said the government is confident that Mr. Laing is well-suited to lead accession negotiations and ensure that the terms of WTO membership would be mutually beneficial to The Bahamas and WTO members.
“Mr. Laing, who is trained in economics and finance, once had responsibility for international trade policy and during his tenure as Minister of State for Finance led The Bahamas’ application to accede to the WTO in 2001,” said Minister Symonette.
Thanking the government for the appointment and extending gratitude to Ray Winder, who preceded him as Chief Negotiator for WTO, Mr. Laing said that the appointment comes at a ‘unique’ time as he currently leads the Government and Public Policy Institute at the University of The Bahamas (UB).
“The presence today of UB President, Dr. Rodney Smith and Provost Dr. Linda A. Davis, signals the university’s support of my appointment as Chief Negotiator,” said Mr. Laing. “The university will bring to bear its substantial resources to ensure that these kinds of undertakings are grounded in informed expertise. In fact, we at the university invite the government to consider other areas in which UB faculty and researchers can add value and build capacity within the country by serving as consultants where necessary.”
As the Chief Negotiator, Mr. Laing has been mandated to lead efforts to ensure that the strategic intent of the country’s attempt to join WTO is effectively fulfilled. To this end, Mr. Laing will lead a delegation to the third meeting of the Working Party on the accession of The Bahamas to the WTO on 21st September 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland.
In November 2017, the government committed to accelerating efforts to finalize the country’s accession to WTO membership by December 2019. As a result, several consultations have been held with stakeholders representing a cross-section of economic areas in order to acquire private sector input.
The Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration has now submitted all necessary negotiation inputs required by the WTO Secretariat to formally recommence negotiations. The Bahamas’ delegation will be led by the Hon. Brent Symonette, accompanied by Zhivargo Laing; Acting Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson; and other senior technical officers from the Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration and the Ministry of Agriculture & Marine Resources.
If the accession negotiations and terms of WTO membership prove to be mutually beneficial, The Bahamas intends to join the WTO in late 2019 or mid-2020.
By Betty Vedrine
Released: BIS
Photo Caption:
Header: The government has announced the appointment of Zhivargo Laing as Chief Negotiator for the country’s accession to WTO membership. Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration, the Hon. Brent Symonette will lead a delegation including Mr. Laing to the third meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of The Bahamas to WTO, Geneva Switzerland, on September 21, 2018. Mr. Laing currently leads the Government and Public Policy Institute at the University of the Bahamas (UB). Pictured l-r: Ava Rodland, Project Manager, Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration; UB Provost, Dr. Linda Davis; Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration Cora Colebrooke; Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration, the Hon. Brent Symonette; newly appointed Chief WTO Negotiator Zhivargo Laing; UB President, Dr. Rodney Smith; and Legal Advisor and Acting Director of Trade, Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration Keva Bain.
Insert: Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration, the Hon. Brent Symonette speaking during a press conference announcing Mr. Zhivargo Laing as Chief Negotiator for The Bahamas’ accession to World Trade Organization (WTO) membership. The press conference was held on September 9, 2018 at the Ministry of Financial Services.
(BIS Photo/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.
