Bahamas News
$64 million school of medicine will help Grand Bahama to rebuild
#Freeport, GB, October 23, 2019 – Bahamas – A $64 million Heads of Agreement was signed on Monday, October 21, between the Government of The Bahamas and Western Atlantic University School of Medicine.
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis, was accompanied to Freeport by Minister of Education, the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd and Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Duane Sands. Also present was Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson; Ian Rolle, president of the Grand Bahama Port Authority; senior government officials as well as Peter Goetz, CEO and Managing Member of Western Atlantic University and staff members from Western Atlantic.
Western Atlantic University will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in allopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, osteopathy and nursing, and nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant programmes.
Prime Minister Minnis said that over the past two months, since the devastation of Hurricane Dorian in Abaco and Grand Bahama, the government and international partners have focused on rebuilding the communities and lives of those affected. “Today’s signing is an important part of the recovery effort. In order to rebuild Grand Bahama and Abaco, we must spur economic development and job-creation.
“This development represents a significant investment in Grand Bahama, the country’s second largest economy. It is estimated that in the University’s first 10 years of operation, student and faculty spending on housing, food, entertainment, goods and on-island transportation, will provide a combined $200 million in revenue for Grand Bahama. At the peak of construction, 150 jobs will be created. During the full operation of the campus, approximately 200 permanent jobs will be created for Bahamians.”
The development is expected to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the Grand Bahama community while also providing direct and indirect opportunities for residents.
“It will help Grand Bahama to rebuild.”
It is expected that the facility will include university-owned housing for faculty, staff and students on campus. Also expected onsite will be on-campus businesses, including a bookstore, cafeteria and a student center providing music, food, beverages, a copy center and related services. Western Atlantic intends to build its own campus on land to be leased from the Public Hospitals Authority.
The 50 acres are located south of Jack Hayward High School and will be developed in multiple phases over the next 10 years. A $64 million investment is expected during the first phase, which will involve the construction of 98,000 square feet of classrooms, offices, lab facilities, maintenance, security and related spaces.
Construction will begin on the first phase by the end of this year.
Western Atlantic, said the Prime Minister, has agreed to have an 80 percent Bahamian workforce during the construction phase. “The University is committed to recruiting qualified Bahamians for all posts, including faculty positions. Whenever possible, and when candidates present nearly identical skills, experience and qualifications, the University will adopt a “Bahamians First” mantra. The primary purpose of this mantra is if everything is equal between multiple candidates for a position, the University, at its discretion, will seek to hire Bahamians before any ex-pats applying for the same position.
The University will offer employment positions to Bahamians for all non-faculty staff that encompass a breadth of disciplines. This includes management positions and opportunities for advancement at a ratio of 80 percent Bahamian to 20 percent non-Bahamian. Western Atlantic will also work closely with the Government and local communities to develop training and professional development programs for Bahamians who want to work during the operation of the campus.”
In order for the campus to become operational, they must obtain accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), or an equivalent body.
Five scholarships will be available to Bahamians through the Ministry of Education.
In closing, the Prime Minister added, “Grand Bahama has started to rebuild. Essential services are being restored. Clean-up efforts continue. A number of businesses and restaurants are back up and running. Cruise ships have started to call again. Port Lucaya has re-opened. Earlier this month, the Grand Lucayan started to welcome guests back to the property. In September, the Government signed an agreement for the development of a $100 million cruise port in Freeport.
“All of Grand Bahama is now designated as a Special Economic Recovery Zone. And small businesses have started the process of receiving assistance from the Small Business Development Centre. Grand Bahama has re-opened for business. But there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done to restore and to rebuild Grand Bahama. Many Grand Bahamians lost their homes and livelihoods. Many are still mourning the loss of loved ones. We have a long road ahead of us for recovery and reconstruction. But we are making progress. Today’s signing is yet another indication of the progress we are making together.”
Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson noted, “The Prime Minister has made it clear that a significant part of our rebuilding process is to accelerate the progress of investments which will bring economic activity, critical mass of residents, and jobs for Bahamians.”
Through partnerships such as this, he said, Grand Bahama will not only recover, “but grow stronger than ever before.”
By Robyn Adderley
Release: BIS
Photo Caption: A Heads of Agreement was signed on Monday, October 21, 2019 between the Government of The Bahamas and Western Atlantic University School of Medicine. Construction on the first phase of the $64 million project is expected to begin at the end of the year. Shown following the ceremony in the foyer of the Office of the Prime Minister in Freeport from left are: the Hon. Dr. Duane Sands, Minister of Health; Dr. Tom Shepherd, Senior Executive Policy Advisor, WAUSM; the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, Minister of Education; Peter Goetz, CEO and Managing Member, WAUSM; the Most Hon. Dr. Hubert Minnis, Prime Minister; Terrance Gape, attorney, Dupuch and Turnquest; Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister; Dr. John Flaherty, President, WAUSM; Senator Jasmin Dareus; and Ian Rolle, President, Grand Bahama Port Authority.
(BIS Photo/Yontalay Bowe)
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.
