NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Sandals Foundation donated some much-needed supplies to D.W. Davis Jr High School’s Family and Consumer Sciences Department, just in time for the students to prepare for the practical side of their Bahamas Junior Certificate exams (BJC).

Sandals Royal Bahamian’s Executive Sous Chef Seanette Cooper presented the Sandals Foundation’s donation which included aprons, vegetable peelers, spices, table cloths and much more. D.W. Davis Vice- Principal Sterling McPhee said that the school was very grateful for the donation.

“This is a very timely gift because the children just started their BJC Exams on Monday so we are very excited that the Sandals Foundation was able to offer the assistance that they did today,” Mr. McPhee said.

Photo: (Left to Right) Head of D.W. Davis’ Home Economics Department Patricia McSweeny, D.W. Davis’ Home Economics Teacher Terishka Cleare , Sandals Royal Bahamian’s Executive Sous Chef Seanette Cooper, D.W. Davis’ Home Economics Teacher Keisha Bonimy, D.W. Davis’ Vice Principal  Sterling McPhee, D.W. Davis’ Home Economics Teacher Keneisha Dillian Thompson.

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – New robotic blasting is now being used at the Grand Bahama Shipyard to expedite the work at the yard in Freeport. Training began a few weeks ago, teaching Bahamians to drive the highly technical environmental robot used for hull stripping.

Blaster and Painter Jarvis Pinder, an 11-year employee and Marvin Taylor a 4-year employee, are pictured training on the newest equipment being utilized at the world’s second largest ship repair yard in the Americas. “The new robotic blasting units make our work safer, easier, more efficient, and it goes much quicker than traditional blasting,” said Pinder.

Working besides Pinder is Taylor, who began his on-the-job training over 4 years ago at the yard. “The guys from Chariot Robotics provided in-depth on-the-job training about the operation of the units and also how to accomplish minor adjustments and repairs to keep the units running smoothly.” 

Coordinating the new technology at the yard is Ed Pavey, Director of Technical and Planning, who has over 32 years in the shipyard repair industry. “Robotic blasting is just one of the new modern technologies we have been using here at the shipyard for many years now,” noted Pavey.

“The unit currently being used is of the newest design technology from Chariot Robotics.  Both Jarvis and Marvin were previously trained on the older units, so adapting to the newer unit was an easy transition for both of them.” Pavey went on to add that further training is planned for other Bahamian Blaster/Painters. “We will be looking to Jarvis and Marvin to share their experience and assist with the on-going training efforts.”

NASSAU, Bahamas -- BTC officials today apologized for the disruption in cell service in New Providence over the weekend, explaining it was caused by efforts to complete a step in the GSM network upgrade.

When complete, that upgrade will result in the switch over to a new 2G  & 4G mobile network that will expand wireless service coverage, improve quality and increase 2G data speeds by as much as 300% while providing 'Blazin speeds' on its 4G Mobile Network.

"BTC has an 18-month mobile network improvement program migrating from what is currently in place to a state of the art Ericson 2G & 4G Mobile Network switch that will enable us to improve voice quality, expand coverage and vastly increase data speeds," said Jerome Sawyer, Senior Manager Public Relations. "Technicians tell us that transmission of 2G data is  operating at about 100k and that when the switch is complete, we will be at 300k. In real terms that you and I understand, it means that when the switch is complete we will be able to download a 5-minute video on YouTube 300% faster or three times as fast."

The company has been working on the installation for 14 months and expects to have it completed in another four months.

"The particular switch over that was attempted this weekend has already been successfully completed throughout all of the islands except Andros and New Providence," said Sawyer. "During the migration of New Providence and Andros this weekend technicians ran into barriers and have had to push back the completion date of this stage of the upgrade process." Over the next four months, the entire BTC mobile network will be upgraded, but BTC said it halted the New Providence part of the migration process temporarily to avoid further disruptions on the island.

NASSAU, Bahamas --“The Bahamian Dream” premiered at a screening and reception held at the British Colonial Hilton. The event was hosted by president of Bahamas Striping and Atario Mitchell. The half hour documentary will air on four TV channels ZNS, Cable 12, JCN and BCN this month and in May and June.

The documentary focuses on Mitchell and his company and how they turned a $5,000 grant from the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture into a viable, growing business. The company started in May 2010 and sought to prove itself in the face of established foreign and local competitors. Using Mitchell as an example for Bahamian youth, producer and director Jerome Sawyer sought to portray the challenges and opportunities that face young Bahamians starting in business. The documentary turns out to a message of hope, that with hard work, sound advice from business mentors, ordinary young Bahamians can succeed in the tough world of business.

In the program, Sawyer interviews Bahamas Striping clients and staff, giving their impressions of Mitchell and his company. It records how Mitchell, who has a strong belief that Bahamians should be striping Bahamian roads, was first blocked by JCCC in getting any work on the massive New Providence Road Improvement Project. One major challenge that still confronts the company is the dominance of a foreign-based UK striping competitor called Road Grip. The presence and continued use of the foreign-based multi-national has stunted Bahamas Striping’s growth and makes its future uncertain.

Mitchell believes that the government should find someway to “nurture” small Bahamian businesses until they can stand on their own two feet to compete head to head with larger foreign-based firms. Otherwise, he says, very few locally owned light industries will survive and hundreds of job opportunities will be lost.