• Anatol Rodgers officially opens
    Anatol Rodgers officially opens
  • Royal Bahamas Defence Force promotes more than 200 Officers and Marines
    Royal Bahamas Defence Force promotes more than 200 Officers and Marines
  • Accolades for visiting chamber musicians Trio Collage and Judith Pearce
    Accolades for visiting chamber musicians Trio Collage and Judith Pearce
  • Cycling enthusiasts invited to participate in BOB Family Fun Ride
    Cycling enthusiasts invited to participate in BOB Family Fun Ride
  • Bahamas and Nigeria to form ties in tourism
    Bahamas and Nigeria to form ties in tourism
  • Governor General presented with sculpture by Bahamian artist Tyler Johnston
    Governor General presented with sculpture by Bahamian artist Tyler Johnston
  • UWI student ambassadors visit from Mona and Cave Hill campuses
    UWI student ambassadors visit from Mona and Cave Hill campuses
  • Furniture Plus presents cheques totalling over $13,000 to children’s charities
    Furniture Plus presents cheques totalling over $13,000 to children’s charities
  • U.S. Chargè d'Affaires John Dinkelman makes first official visit to Turks and Caicos islands
    U.S. Chargè d'Affaires John Dinkelman makes first official visit to Turks and Caicos islands
  • Chinese New Year celebrations in Nassau
    Chinese New Year celebrations in Nassau



World renowned Bahamian musician returns home for concerts
Submitted by Deidre Rahming   

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- During the month of February, the Grand Bahama Youth Choir (GBYC) will celebrate its 3rd year anniversary, featuring world renowned musical artists Jack Foley and Franz Hepburn. While the weekend two-night event, promises to be an evening of classical elegance and diverse vocal styles, it will also feature a son of the soil, Mr. Franz Hepburn.

Artistic Director for the GBYC Program, Mr. Kevin Tomlinson noted that he was excited to hear of Mr. Hepburn’s connection to Freeport, “Having the Foley & Hepburn duo perform here in Freeport was great, but to learn that he is a former scholarship recipient of the The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited, (GBPA) and his many professional accomplishments, sends a clear message to the choir’s young membership, that commitment and hard work pays off,” he said.  “It shows that, if they remain focused and disciplined, opportunities which lie ahead are endless. This will be an immeasurable experience for the group and we are excited.”

Aside from music, Mr. Hepburn’s background is steeped in the nation’s number one industry, and this he shared began in Freeport.  “I have many relatives who are Grand Bahamians and I have fond memories of spending numerous summer holidays in Freeport,” Hepburn commented. “GBPA granted me a scholarship in 1984, which allowed me the opportunity to attend Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada. After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in Marketing & Finance, I went on to work at the National Insurance Board (NIB). Within three years, I was promoted to Senior Inspector, one of the youngest ever promoted to that position at NIB,” he continued.

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Cycling enthusiasts invited to participate in BOB Family Fun Ride
Submitted by DP&A   

Ready, Set, Cheer! - BOB Tour of the Bahamas volunteers pictured at last year’s event with the Bahamas Junior Cycling team. More than 20 volunteers from Bank of The Bahamas including Managing Director Paul McWeeney (far right) and Deputy Managing Director Vaughn Delaney (far left) turned out to lend support during that event and an even larger BOB field of volunteers is on tap for the 9th Annual Tour of The Bahamas this weekend. For the first time, the Tour will feature the BOB Family Fun Ride set for Saturday, January 28 at 4pm. The 10-mile route begins at Caves Point, travels east to Saunders Beach and returns to Caves Point to finish. On-site registration begins at 3pm. All persons age 13 and older are invited to participate regardless of skill level. NASSAU, Bahamas -- The 9th Annual Tour of the Bahamas features a brand new element this year, the Family Fun Ride to be held Saturday, January 28 in Nassau. Sponsored by BOB, the Family Fun Ride is free and open to all cycling enthusiasts 13 years and older regardless of skill level.

The 10-mile circuit will begin at Caves Point at 4pm, travel east along West Bay Street to Saunders Beach and return to Caves Point.

“Whether you have an older bike you want to dust off and get back on the road or you’re an avid rider, the BOB Family Fun Ride offers a fun and rare opportunity to be a part of the excitement as professional riders whizz by on their route for Tour of the Bahamas,” said Michael Basden, BOB Marketing Manager.

Interested persons can register on-site at Caves Point from 3pm for the event that starts at 4pm. The first 50 cyclists to register receive a free t-shirt and other giveaways.

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Prime Minister Ingraham delivers annual New Year's Address to the Nation
Submitted by BIS   
Prime Minister Ingraham (file photo)New Year’s Address
Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham
Prime Minister
25 January 2012

Investing in the Bahamian People

My Fellow Bahamians:

On behalf of my colleagues in Government, my wife Delores, and on my own behalf, I extend to you and your family warm wishes for a blessed and happy New Year.  I also extend these wishes to visitors to our country and to those listening to this broadcast overseas, especially Bahamian students and public officers in the service of The Bahamas.

As has been my custom, I wish to report to you on our national accomplishments and challenges during the past year.  I wish also to give you a broader sense of the direction of our Bahamas in 2012.

There is a famous quote of which many are familiar.  The poet John Donne reminds us:  “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”

Not only are we connected to one another by bonds of family, friendship and faith; we must also place the days and decades of our lives in the context of our overall life journey.

Likewise, as a nation, we must place 2011 and 2012 in the fuller context of world events.  The Bahamas is a part of “the main” in terms of our regional and international relations.  We are linked to the continents of the world by history and culture, as well as by our commercial and economic relationships.
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UWI student ambassadors visit from Mona and Cave Hill campuses
Written by BIS   

Pictured from left: Earl Alfred, acting head of UWI Bahamas; Mr. Turnquest; and Ms. Kerri-Ann Mew and  Roshane Anderson, UWI STAT ambassadors.  (BIS Photo / Eric Rose) NASSAU, Bahamas -- Director of Youth in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Darron Turnquest poses with representatives from the University of the West Indies (UWI) during a courtesy call at the Ministry, on January 25.  

Two student ambassadors from UWI's Mona and Cave Hill Campuses visited The Bahamas, representing the UWI Vice Chancellor's "Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow" programme (UWI STAT).  The programme has a mission of contributing to youth leadership development, regional interaction and integration and promotion of the UWI as the best choice for tertiary education in the Caribbean.  

Pictured from left: Earl Alfred, acting head of UWI Bahamas; Mr. Turnquest; and Ms. Kerri-Ann Mew and Roshane Anderson, UWI STAT ambassadors.  (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

 

 
Furniture Plus presents cheques totalling over $13,000 to children’s charities, matching customer donations
Submitted by Barefoot Marketing   

This 'giant' cheque will go a long way toward helping children at the Grand Bahama Children’s Home. Pictured are (left to right) Ms. Geneva Rutherford and Ms. Jean Hivert, Grand Bahama Children's Home Executive Committee; Mrs. Victoria Ferguson, Store and Merchandising Manager for Furniture Plus Grand Bahama; and Mr. Scott Ferguson, Managing Director, Furniture Plus Grand Bahama.THE BAHAMAS -- Furniture Plus presented donation cheques to local children’s charities in Nassau, Grand Bahama and Abaco as part of its Candles of Hope and Angels of Hope annual Christmas season of giving campaign. The beneficiaries for October through December were:  Hands for Hunger in Nassau, Grand Bahama Children’s Home in Grand Bahama, and Every Child Counts School in Abaco.

These charities were selected by the employees of Furniture Plus by unanimous vote. “We are passionate about children’s causes and wanted to focus on them at Christmas,” said Mrs. Krystynia Lee d’Arville, Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Organizational Development for Furniture Plus and founder of the Charity of Hope Foundation TM.

Beginning in October and through December, Furniture Plus stores’ Christmas trees quickly filled with Angels of Hope Christmas tree tags designating donations by the national furniture chain’s friends and customers. “The visual impact was just tremendous,” exclaimed Mr. Scott Ferguson, Managing Director of the Grand Bahama store. “We are so very proud of the generous spirit of our beloved Bahamians.”

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