Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: Government’s Private Pre-School Partnership initiative launched
#Nassau, November 20, 2018 – Bahamas – Marcellus Taylor, Director in the Ministry of Education (MOE) termed the Government’s Private Pre-School Partnership (PPP), an “extra” important initiative as it symbolizes the union of persons who, prior to now, operated separately.
“Today is the crowning moment of our relationship together,” said Mr. Taylor. “It’s been a long time to get to this point…. We’re here now. Thank you for being faithful partners all over the years.”
Mr. Taylor outlined the purpose of the launch of the PPP, the second component of Universal Pre-Primary Education, officially launched by the early Childhood Education Section of the Ministry and Department of Education Wednesday, November 14, 2018 during a ceremony at the Learning Resources Unit, Mackey Street.
A representative of the Office of the Attorney General presented and outlined the terms of the contract between the Government of The Bahamas and private pre-school providers.
In the first phase, the number of 3 and 4-year-olds enrolled in public pre-schools was increased. This phase seeks to increase the number of free spaces available to families who are challenged to pay for pre-school education. Based on the contractual agreement, vouchers of up to $2,000 per child will be provided to secure the enrollment of children in approved, private pre-primary schools.
Mr. Taylor explained the importance of the contract as throughout the years the MOE has systematically worked to improve the relationship between the Ministry and the pre-school providers by introducing training, ongoing professional development opportunities and registering facilities.
He told the operators that the work they do, and the Ministry does, is to get pre-schoolers to the level which requires a deeper level of partnership, which is manifested in the contractual agreement.
“Today symbolizes the formalization of it. As we move forward we know we will continue to work to improve this program so we can get more children enrolled because at the end of the day we want all of our children to have a quality pre-primary education so they enter grade one ready to learn.”
The Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, Minister of Education, said he is enthralled for the occasion to officialize the relationship between the providers of early childhood education in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Government of The Bahamas through the Ministry of Education.
“Based on our 10-year census there are approximately 12,000 3/4 year-olds in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Today, less than one half of those are enrolled in a MOE registered pre-school programme,” said Minister Lloyd.
“Understand the implications of that. It means that half of our children, or more than half, enter the first grade of the formal education establishment ill-equipped to negotiate those very important academic, vocational, social, emotional, intellectual skills and that in a world where the pace of knowledge acquisition or knowledge development is accelerating at a frenetic pace.”
Minister Lloyd shared a recent experience at a technology conference in Grand Bahama with the pre-school providers and education officials.
“It is mind-blowing what is now today the operating paradigms of the universe in terms of our own lives. 
Augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics and the like are not futuristic. This is no longer Star Wars, this is today the reality of the world in which we live.
“This is a different world that is moving at a pace that is even beyond our imagination of just a few years ago. I am greatly impressed that you have come forward to partner with us to enable us over the next years to facilitate the ambitions and aspirations of our people particularly those who cannot speak for themselves – our three and four-year-olds.”
Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Leja Burrows, Senior Education Officer and Bishop Perry E. Newton, Director, Little Professor’s Academy also participated in the ceremony.
Release: BIS
Photo Captions:
Header: The Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, Minister of Education, gives remarks at the ceremony.
Marcellus Taylor, Director of Education, gives an outline of the purpose of the launch of Private Preschool Partnership.
Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary, presides over the contract signing between pre-primary education providers and the Government of The Bahamas.
Minister Jeff Lloyd.
(Photos/Edgar Arnette, Ministry of Education Communications Department)
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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.
