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Government to break ground for new GB airport in early 2023 

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By LEDEDRA MARCHE
Bahamas Information Services

#GrandBahama, The Bahamas, January 8, 2023 – Government is in the final phase of negotiations with the selected bidder for a new international airport for Grand Bahama with a groundbreaking scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper making the announcement Monday, January 2, 2023 at the rededication of the Domestic Terminal of the Grand Bahama International Airport.

“I am happy to tell you that we have selected the winning bidder for the new airport development, which includes a consortium of Bahamians and a world-class international airport operator. We are currently in the final phase of negotiations and we will be in a position to make an announcement very soon,” Minister Cooper said.

The terminal was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

DPM Cooper flew into the nation’s second city on Monday for the official reopening and rededication ceremony.

United Orca Construction Company was awarded the $1.2million contract to perform the airport renovations.

Representatives from the Freeport Airport Development Company (FADC), Ministry of Tourism, Bahamas Customs, Ministry for Grand Bahama and the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Minister Cooper said the refurbished terminal will serve as a sign of what is to come for the island.

“Since coming to office, we have worked assiduously to put Grand Bahama on a path for rebound after Dorian and after COVID and after many years of a depressed economy,” he said.

Grand Bahama has a great product, Minister Cooper said, while pointing out, however, that its entryways and accommodations need to be in place to truly make the island shine as one of the country’s finest destinations.

Since the formation of the FADC, government has made significant progress on the redevelopment of the international airport and has set in place covenants to have Phase I completed by early 2025.

The minister of tourism said the government has worked tirelessly to increase cruise and aircraft arrivals to Grand Bahama and airlift and cruise arrivals have dramatically increased over the past year.

“We believe that 2023 is going to be a great year,” Minister Cooper said, while revealing that international seat capacity for Grand Bahama had increased by 80 percent in November 2022, compared to the same time period in 2019.

International direct flights have been added to Grand Bahama from Charlotte via American Airlines; Ft. Lauderdale via Bahamasair and Silver Airways; Miami via American Airlines; Orlando and Raleigh/Durham via Bahamasair; and Montreal and Toronto via Sunwing.

New airlift from Atlanta, Tampa, and Italy is also projected for Grand Bahama.

Cruise arrivals have also seen a more than150 percent increase in comparison to 2019.

“I bore you with the details because I want you to appreciate that the recovery is real. We have the evidence and we see no sign of slowing down. We have new developments and we’re working every day to tell the world about Grand Bahama and to direct them here as one of our 15 magnificent island destinations,” Minister Cooper said.

Armed with evidence of a tourism and investment rebound, the minister pointed out that the goal is for that rebound to be consistent with what residents in Grand Bahama see on the ground and vendors feel in their pockets.

“We are sensitive to your needs and the fact that your expectations have been dashed before,” he said. “I come with the evidence to tell you that we continue to work to ensure that we deliver for you. You deserve the very best and we will spare no effort to see that you have just that.”

Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey, while bringing remarks, said the airport is a key component in the recovery and rebuilding of Grand Bahama’s economy and a gateway to the island for residents and visitors.

She added that the refurbishment of the terminal is a step in the right direction, illustrates progress and is another win for the nation’s second city.

“We should be celebrating small wins. We should celebrate every win because for a very long time there was little to brag about,” Minister Moxey said.

The delegation was given a tour of the refurbished facility following the brief ceremony.

 

Captions:

Header: The renovated Domestic Terminal at the Grand Bahama International Airport is now open for business following the rededication ceremony on Monday, January 2, 2023. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper travelled to Grand Bahama for the event. Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey and representatives from the Freeport Airport Development Company (FADC), Ministry of Tourism, Bahamas Customs, Ministry for Grand Bahama and the Grand Bahama Port Authority were also in attendance.

1st insert: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper said on Monday, January 2, 2023 the renovated Domestic Terminal and the Grand Bahama International Airport is a sign of what is to come for the island.

2nd insert:  President of the Grand Bahama Christian Council Rev. Kenneth Lewis performing the blessing on the refurbished Domestic Terminal and the Grand Bahama International Airport during the rededication ceremony on Monday, January 2, 2023.

3rd insert: Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey said the refurbishment and reopening of the Domestic Terminal and the Grand Bahama International Airport on Monday, January 2, 2023 signifies another win for Grand Bahama.

 

BIS Photos/Andrew Miller

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Twist To Win Ends in a Grand Style with Four $5,000 Mall at Marathon Shopping Sprees  

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Twist To Win grand finale winners (l-r) Brian Bethel, Taraceta Neely, Ashia Demeritte and Merlin Adams posing along with their winnings from the shopping spree.

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.

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 The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival  

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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!

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CWS Brings a Galore of Bubbles at Annual Jollification Festival  

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Caribbean Wines & Spirits team members smiling behind one of the company’s two bars at Jollification

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.

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