A successful 2023 for the Jimmy’s Wines & Spirits (JWS) brand saw continued growth and expansion throughout The Bahamas with the opening of three stores this year.

The December 7th opening of Jimmy’s newest store in Lyford Storage and Commerce Park came at the excitement of the Western New Providence community, amid increased sales and demand for another location on the island.

Earlier this year, Jimmy’s opened the doors of a new location on Abaco as a part of its expansion and restoration plans, which focused on the Northern Bahamas following the devastation from Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Due to increased economic activity and business on Eleuthera, the company also opened a new location in Governor’s Harbour, filling a demand on that island and complementing the company’s North Eleuthera location.

“The expansions have really been a team effort identifying where our brand should go and where it’s needed,” according to Jimmy’s General Manager for Nassau and the Family Islands Gary Sands. “I have a great team that I rely on to help make the best decisions in our growth for the future. It’s truly rewarding to manage a team like the one I have.”

“The openings signified the great potential for growth and forward movement. Our focus is on better servicing our customers and giving the consumers options.”

Sands assumed leadership of the company in 2017 and said a key part in the company’s rapid expansion throughout the country has been the commitment by its staff, ensuring they provide the best service possible and meaningful engagement in communities on various islands.

He said the most recent opening of the company’s second location in Western New Providence signifies the strength of the brand and trust Bahamians have in Jimmy’s to provide the best products and best service.

“We had an amazing turnout at our opening of our new store out west at Lyford Storage and Commerce Park. The community was very excited to receive us in the area showing we are building a strong brand throughout the country. We are excited to announce we have opened three new JWS locations this year throughout The Bahamas totaling 11 stores. This is a great step for JWS in expanding our footprint and distribution through the country.”

Jimmy’s is a subsidiary of Sands Beer, which has been around for 15 years. With 11 retail locations and four distribution centers throughout Nassau, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera, Jimmy’s services all the islands of The Bahamas through call reps where there aren’t distribution centers.

Diane deCardenas, JWS Assistant GM for Nassau and the Family Islands, said with JWS being a fairly young brand, its rapid growth is extraordinary.

“Compared to the other companies in the liquor industry in The Bahamas, Jimmy’s Wines & Spirits is the new kid on the block,” deCardenas said. “I’ve been with the company for the past seven years and even before I began working for the family behind the brand, I heard only great things about them. While Jimmy’s is really happy to expand our locations, we also really appreciate and understand the importance of all the independent liquor stores that sell our products.”

“The availability of our products is very key. So, it’s really important that we’re able to work with all of our partners to carry them.”

Jimmy’s is the proud retailer of truly brands like Sands beer, and the refreshing Radler.

Over the years, Jimmy’s Wines & Spirits, along with its parent company Sands, has supported local community and culture, sponsoring major cultural and sporting events, like annual regattas throughout the Family Islands. Jimmy’s also partners with the Cancer Society of The Bahamas and The Bahamas National Trust, as Sands said the company “strongly believes in these two organizations and the progress they are making within the country.”

The company has also made a commitment to do its part in protecting the environment, supporting sustainable initiatives and implementing programs of its own, like the Bottle Buy Back program, which sees money placed in the hands of every day Bahamians for the return of reusable bottles.

A successful 2023 for the Jimmy’s Wines & Spirits (JWS) brand saw continued growth and expansion throughout The Bahamas with the opening of three stores this year. The December 7th opening of Jimmy’s newest store in Lyford Storage and Commerce Park came at the excitement of the Western New Providence community, amid increased sales and demand for another location on the island. Earlier this year, Jimmy’s opened the doors of a new location on Abaco as a part of its expansion and restoration plans, which focused on the Northern Bahamas following the devastation from Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Due to increased economic activity and business on Eleuthera, the company also opened a new location in Governor’s Harbour, filling a demand on that island and complementing the company’s North Eleuthera location. “The expansions have really been a team effort identifying where our brand should go and where it’s needed,” according to Jimmy’s General Manager for Nassau and the Family Islands Gary Sands. “I have a great team that I rely on to help make the best decisions in our growth for the future. It’s truly rewarding to manage a team like the one I have.” “The openings signified the great potential for growth and forward movement. Our focus is on better servicing our customers and giving the consumers options.” Sands assumed leadership of the company in 2017 and said a key part in the company’s rapid expansion throughout the country has been the commitment by its staff, ensuring they provide the best service possible and meaningful engagement in communities on various islands. He said the most recent opening of the company’s second location in Western New Providence signifies the strength of the brand and trust Bahamians have in Jimmy’s to provide the best products and best service. “We had an amazing turnout at our opening of our new store out west at Lyford Storage and Commerce Park. The community was very excited to receive us in the area showing we are building a strong brand throughout the country. We are excited to announce we have opened three new JWS locations this year throughout The Bahamas totaling 11 stores. This is a great step for JWS in expanding our footprint and distribution through the country.” Jimmy’s is a subsidiary of Sands Beer, which has been around for 15 years. With 11 retail locations and four distribution centers throughout Nassau, Grand Bahama, Abaco and Eleuthera, Jimmy’s services all the islands of The Bahamas through call reps where there aren’t distribution centers. Diane deCardenas, JWS Assistant GM for Nassau and the Family Islands, said with JWS being a fairly young brand, its rapid growth is extraordinary. “Compared to the other companies in the liquor industry in The Bahamas, Jimmy’s Wines & Spirits is the new kid on the block,” deCardenas said. “I’ve been with the company for the past seven years and even before I began working for the family behind the brand, I heard only great things about them. While Jimmy’s is really happy to expand our locations, we also really appreciate and understand the importance of all the independent liquor stores that sell our products.” “The availability of our products is very key. So, it’s really important that we’re able to work with all of our partners to carry them.” Jimmy’s is the proud retailer of truly brands like Sands beer, and the refreshing Radler. Over the years, Jimmy’s Wines & Spirits, along with its parent company Sands, has supported local community and culture, sponsoring major cultural and sporting events, like annual regattas throughout the Family Islands. Jimmy’s also partners with the Cancer Society of The Bahamas and The Bahamas National Trust, as Sands said the company “strongly believes in these two organizations and the progress they are making within the country.” The company has also made a commitment to do its part in protecting the environment, supporting sustainable initiatives and implementing programs of its own, like the Bottle Buy Back program, which sees money placed in the hands of every day Bahamians for the return of reusable bottles.

Despite bad weather, the passenger cruise line Oceania Insignia pulled into Freeport Harbour on Saturday, December 16, 2023 bringing approximately 1,000 passengers and crew members:

Kingsley Smith, MP for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, along with Ministry of Tourism officials welcomed them.  Mr. Smith is seen presenting a plaque to the vessel’s captain, Stjepan Zuzic. 

DIGNITARIES cut the ribbon to reopen the renovated British Colonial Hotel yesterday after its two-year closure.

“The revival of this iconic landmark speaks to the resilience of our tourism product and our government’s commitment to revitalise downtown,” said Tourism Minister Chester Cooper. “It also signifies a promising new chapter in our journey towards progress and prosperity. It heralds the confidence of our stakeholders and our investors in the economy of The Bahamas.” The hotel comes with 300 new jobs. The renovations cost $50m. “The opulence and charm of the property serve as an attractive draw as it stands next to the energetic fun of Margaritaville and The Pointe, which I understand today is running a 100 per cent occupancy.” Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis discussed the history of the property, saying: “Landmark developments such as this are more than just offerings of investments, more than just additions to tourism. This is not to diminish either of those. Major investments, such as the upgrading of the British Colonial Hotel, bring jobs and other opportunities for Bahamians. “With record numbers of tourists arriving on our shores, we also desperately need more rooms to accommodate them. Let me offer an example: The introduction of new direct flights from Alaska Airlines and from Los Angeles with Jet Blue is a significant milestone in our tourism journey.” Dan McDermott, the hotel’s general manager, highlighted the significance of the partnership. “The belief in the importance of preserving the cultural heritage and boosting tourism has been instrumental in making this renovation a reality. The collaboration between the public and private sectors showcases a shared commitment to the prosperity of The Bahamas,” he said. “A special acknowledgement is due to the broader hotel community, whose camaraderie and support has been invaluable throughout this journey. In the spirit of unity, we celebrate not just the reopening of one hotel, but a collective effort to enhance the allure of The Bahamas as a premier world destination.” Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas Dai Qingli highlighted the work Chinese Construction America has achieved with the support of the Bahamas government. “We are together witnessing an historic moment,” she said. “Not just for this iconic landmark, but also for the renewal of downtown Nassau and tourism development in general for The Bahamas.” “I have come to understand that British Colonial is much more than just another hotel. It has been through a century of sunshine, but also hurricanes, wind, and rain, surviving and thriving and bearing silent witness to modern Bahamian history. In fact, we are just a few weeks away from this grand opening of an old British Colonial Hotel a 100 years ago.”

“The revival of this iconic landmark speaks to the resilience of our tourism product and our government’s commitment to revitalise downtown,” said Tourism Minister Chester Cooper. “It also signifies a promising new chapter in our journey towards progress and prosperity. It heralds the confidence of our stakeholders and our investors in the economy of The Bahamas.”

The hotel comes with 300 new jobs. The renovations cost $50m.

“The opulence and charm of the property serve as an attractive draw as it stands next to the energetic fun of Margaritaville and The Pointe, which I understand today is running a 100 per cent occupancy.”

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis discussed the history of the property, saying: “Landmark developments such as this are more than just offerings of investments, more than just additions to tourism. This is not to diminish either of those. Major investments, such as the upgrading of the British Colonial Hotel, bring jobs and other opportunities for Bahamians.

“With record numbers of tourists arriving on our shores, we also desperately need more rooms to accommodate them. Let me offer an example: The introduction of new direct flights from Alaska Airlines and from Los Angeles with Jet Blue is a significant milestone in our tourism journey.”

Dan McDermott, the hotel’s general manager, highlighted the significance of the partnership.

“The belief in the importance of preserving the cultural heritage and boosting tourism has been instrumental in making this renovation a reality. The collaboration between the public and private sectors showcases a shared commitment to the prosperity of The Bahamas,” he said.

“A special acknowledgement is due to the broader hotel community, whose camaraderie and support has been invaluable throughout this journey. In the spirit of unity, we celebrate not just the reopening of one hotel, but a collective effort to enhance the allure of The Bahamas as a premier world destination.”

Chinese Ambassador to The Bahamas Dai Qingli highlighted the work Chinese Construction America has achieved with the support of the Bahamas government.

“We are together witnessing an historic moment,” she said. “Not just for this iconic landmark, but also for the renewal of downtown Nassau and tourism development in general for The Bahamas.”

“I have come to understand that British Colonial is much more than just another hotel. It has been through a century of sunshine, but also hurricanes, wind, and rain, surviving and thriving and bearing silent witness to modern Bahamian history. In fact, we are just a few weeks away from this grand opening of an old British Colonial Hotel a 100 years ago.”

Thank you, Mr. President,

First of all, let me thank you and your team, as well as the secretariat, for all of your hard work.

We did not want to interrupt you, but we are a little confused about what just happened.

It seems that you gavelled the decisions, and the small island developing states were not in the room.

We were working hard to coordinate the 39 small island developing states that are disproportionately affected by climate change, and so were delayed in coming here.

So, we will deliver the state that we were going to deliver before this text was adopted without us.

AOSIS at the beginning of this COP had one objective, to ensure that 1.5 is safeguarded in a meaningful way. Our leaders and Ministers have been clear. We cannot afford to return to our islands with the message that this process has failed us. This first GST is of particular significance. It is the only GST that matters for ensuring that we can still limit global warming to 1.5C.

The draft text you have presented to us contains many good elements. We see strong references to the science complemented by a clear runway with milestones for strengthening Party efforts to prepare and submit enhanced NDCs through to 2025. We also welcome the establishment of the technology implementation programme. These elements are important.

The question we have considered as AOSIS is whether they are enough. Zoning in on paragraphs 26-29of this draft decision we have come to the conclusion that the course correction that is needed has not yet been secured. We have made an incremental advancement over business as usual when what we really needed is an exponential step-change in our actions and support.

Mr. President,

In paragraph 26 we do not see any commitment or even an invitation for Parties to peak emissions by 2025. We reference the science throughout the text and even in this paragraph but then we refrain from an agreement to take the relevant action in order to act in line with what the science says we have to do.  

It is not enough for us to reference the science and then make agreements that ignore what the science is telling us we need to do. This is not an approach that we should be asked to defend.

Mr. President,

On paragraph 28,we are exceptionally concerned that this does not do what we need.

In sub para 28 (d)the exclusive focus on energy systems is disappointing. We are concerned that paragraphs 28 (e) and (h) potentially take us backward rather than forward. In sub para (e) We are being asked to endorse technologies that could result inactions that undermine our efforts. In sub para (h) we see a litany of loopholes. It does not deliver on a subsidy phaseout, and it does not advance us beyond the status quo.

Mr. President,

On paragraph 11,we have requested repeatedly that this be moved to the preamble to be in line with the Paris Agreement. We do not want to renegotiate the Paris Agreement. This reasonable request has been ignored. AOSIS does not consider para. 11 to have any effect on the obligations and benefits contained in the Paris Agreement and Convention on the special circumstances of SIDS and LDCs.

Mr. President,

We must leave here with a set of decisions that meet the magnitude of the climate crisis, that meet the expectations that the world has of us and that meet what is needed to secure the future of the coming generations.

Thank you, Mr. President, First of all, let me thank you and your team, as well as the secretariat, for all of your hard work. We did not want to interrupt you, but we are a little confused about what just happened. It seems that you gavelled the decisions, and the small island developing states were not in the room. We were working hard to coordinate the 39 small island developing states that are disproportionately affected by climate change, and so were delayed in coming here. So, we will deliver the state that we were going to deliver before this text was adopted without us. AOSIS at the beginning of this COP had one objective, to ensure that 1.5 is safeguarded in a meaningful way. Our leaders and Ministers have been clear. We cannot afford to return to our islands with the message that this process has failed us. This first GST is of particular significance. It is the only GST that matters for ensuring that we can still limit global warming to 1.5C. The draft text you have presented to us contains many good elements. We see strong references to the science complemented by a clear runway with milestones for strengthening Party efforts to prepare and submit enhanced NDCs through to 2025. We also welcome the establishment of the technology implementation programme. These elements are important. The question we have considered as AOSIS is whether they are enough. Zoning in on paragraphs 26-29of this draft decision we have come to the conclusion that the course correction that is needed has not yet been secured. We have made an incremental advancement over business as usual when what we really needed is an exponential step-change in our actions and support. Mr. President, In paragraph 26 we do not see any commitment or even an invitation for Parties to peak emissions by 2025. We reference the science throughout the text and even in this paragraph but then we refrain from an agreement to take the relevant action in order to act in line with what the science says we have to do.   It is not enough for us to reference the science and then make agreements that ignore what the science is telling us we need to do. This is not an approach that we should be asked to defend. Mr. President, On paragraph 28,we are exceptionally concerned that this does not do what we need. In sub para 28 (d)the exclusive focus on energy systems is disappointing. We are concerned that paragraphs 28 (e) and (h) potentially take us backward rather than forward. In sub para (e) We are being asked to endorse technologies that could result inactions that undermine our efforts. In sub para (h) we see a litany of loopholes. It does not deliver on a subsidy phaseout, and it does not advance us beyond the status quo. Mr. President, On paragraph 11,we have requested repeatedly that this be moved to the preamble to be in line with the Paris Agreement. We do not want to renegotiate the Paris Agreement. This reasonable request has been ignored. AOSIS does not consider para. 11 to have any effect on the obligations and benefits contained in the Paris Agreement and Convention on the special circumstances of SIDS and LDCs. Mr. President, We must leave here with a set of decisions that meet the magnitude of the climate crisis, that meet the expectations that the world has of us and that meet what is needed to secure the future of the coming generations.