The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the Federal Republic of Nigeria are seeking to forge ties in tourism and other areas of economic development. These areas of development were announced by His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes, Governor-General as he accepted Letters of Commission presented by Her Excellency Laraba Elsie-Bhutto, accrediting her as Non-Resident High Commissioner from the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas during a ceremony at Government House.

Notwithstanding the difference in size, The Bahamas and Nigeria have partnered politically in several major international fora such as the UN, the African Caribbean Pacific Group and, the Commonwealth, Sir Arthur said.

The Defence Force Commander, Commodore Roderick Bowe recently announced the promotions and advancements of a total of two hundred and forty-eight (248) Officers and Marines. Promotions and advancements were approved by the Minister of National Security, the Hon. Tommy Turnquest, with effect from October 1st 2011.

Heading the list of Senior Officers are Lieutenant Commanders Michael Sweeting, Nedley Martinbourgh and Loren Klein, who were all promoted to the rank of Commander. Senior Lieutenants Raymond King, Chappell Whyms, Renhault Darville, Henry Daxon, Frederick Brown and Whitfield Neely were all promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Twenty-one (21) Junior Officers were also promoted.

State Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Zhivargo Laing, and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) representative Astrid H. Wynter have signed a $612,000 technical co-operation grant to support strengthening The Bahamas' fiscal policy.

The resources were provided by the Japan Special Fund to the IDB. Japanese Ambassador to the Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize, Hiroshi Yamaguchi also signed the documents. The government's contribution to the project is $153,000.

Meet Aaron Pratt - a 9 year old heart patient. He had heart surgery 6 months after he was born. His grandmother originally noticed that he was having difficulty breathing. Subsequently he was taken to a private doctor for care. Ms. Brown, Aaron's mother, was told that Aaron appeared to have a heart condition and to prepare to have Aaron admitted to PMH.

The doctor referred Aaron's case to Dr. Jerome Lightbourne, pediatric cardiologist at PMH. Dr. Lightbourne later told Ms. Brown that Aaron had septal defects; holes in his heart and needed urgent surgery. In fact, Aaron had holes in the upper and lower chambers of his heart; he had both ASD and VSD (i.e. atrial and ventricular septal defect).

Bahamian Artist Antonius Roberts has signed on with Baha Mar to hire, train and mentor 12 aspiring craftsmen with the goal of creating benches out of wood discarded from the Baha Mar site. "I have agreed to set up a mentorship programme and will be taking on 12 Bahamians who will be selected through the government's Job Readiness Programme," Roberts told Guardian Business in October when the project was still in its planning stages.

The initial project, according to Roberts, is to produce 20 park benches for the new West Bay Street and Hiking Trail.

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.

Photo: This cheque will be redeemed for 6,355 meals for children! Happy recipients are (left to right): Ms. Yolanda Darville, Hands For Hunger Executive Director; Ms. Courtney Hamm, Volunteer and Corporate Partnership Coordinator for Hands For Hunger; posing with Mrs. Krystynia Lee d'Arville, Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Organizational Development for Furniture Plus and founder of the Charity of Hope Foundation TM; and Mrs. Dawn Forbes, Sales & Store Operations Manager for the Nassau Furniture Plus store.

History has repeated itself as the Mary Star Stingrays have shone brightly in the nation's capital. This is the third time in five years the Mighty Stingrays have won the Catholic Archdiocesan Spelling Bee. The victory was made even sweeter with the runner up also hailing from Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic School.

The school's Spelling Bee Team: Ajhonae Wildgoose, Tonae Farquharson, Xavier Robinson Pateva Curtis along with their coach Mrs. Natalie Marrett and Principal, Mr. Robert Nabb travelled into New Providence this past Friday to participate in the Annual Archdiocesan Spelling Bee. The whole team was on the edge because they were going in as the defending champions. Gabrielle Edwards brought the gold home to Grand Bahama last year. They were reassured by their coach and principal that all that was required of them was to do their best.

"We're very much oriented towards building business ties," stated Kyle Hatcher, Economic Officer, United States Embassy to The Bahamas, during his first official trip to Grand Bahama. His comments were keenly welcomed by executives of The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) who participated in informative discussions with him.

"Part of my portfolio is to do outreach as much as I can outside of Nassau. Freeport is the economic engine and on an economic and political level, it's good for us to get out and build those relationships," he noted.

Last week the HSGB hosted kindergarten students from three primary schools: Bartlett Hill, Lewis Yard, and Maurice Moore. A total of 79 children were given a brief tour of the shelter, a talk about kindness to animals, and some play time with puppies and kittens. Each child was also given a booklet with animal-related activity sheets and information to take home to their parents.

The children and their teachers and chaperones really enjoyed themselves and the animals enjoyed the extra attention! Volunteers are needed to help us schedule more humane education initiatives - please call the HSGB at 352-2477 or email info@hs-gb.org if you'd like to help.

I wish to make the following statement in response to remarks made by Prime Minister Ingraham at the opening ceremony of the Rand Hospital extension of Wednesday 18th January 2012 during which he referenced "the lack of performance of the Minister of Health who lives in Freeport and served in the Christie Cabinet." The Prime Minister referred to the Dorsett Report and the absence of any action by the said Minister.

The following facts were not forthcoming from the Prime Minister namely:
1. The Dorsett Consulting firm recommended along with other business, civic and social partners that the preferred action would be to construct a new green site hospital in Freeport because the existing facility was aged and inadequate for the anticipated growth of Freeport and Grand Bahama, and did not possess the land for adequate growth at its present site in the downtown area.

There are many "perfect" wine and food combinations that are hard to ignore if you are a "foodie" however there are lots of combinations that are lesser known but equally intriguing. Most people have trouble pairing wines with spicy, salty or robust dishes, but there are answers to those predicaments!

Chinese food, with its sweet, sour and spicy elements makes for a challenge to find a good wine and food pairing. My suggestion is to stick with an off dry Riesling. There is a natural acidity that remains in Riesling wines regardless of its sweetness level, and this acidity will help to keep the palate fresh with spicy food. The off dry versions (Rieslings can vary from bone dry to semi sweet to sweet) provide the sweetness needed to soften the perception of spice in a dish.

U.S. marine biologists reported at the Abaco Science Alliance conference this month that reef-killing fertilizers are seeping from a controversial, shoreline golf megadevelopment on Great Guana Cay, and are causing coral disease and reef-smothering algae blooms on one of the Bahamas' most pristine coral reefs Scientists in January 2012 surveyed the reefs on Great Guana Cay, and confirmed residents' worst nightmare: coral diseases and algae had risen dramatically on the reefs nearest the sprawling Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club since its 2010 construction.

Golf courses require heavy doses of fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides to remain green and attractive. Scientists say this toxic dose of chemicals is seeping through the island's porous limestone foundation, speeding growth of algae on the fragile reef, and weakening corals, making them much more susceptible to disease.

The Governor General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes recently visited the Johnston Art Studios in Little Harbour, Abaco and was given a tour of the Bronze casting foundry and studio. The Bahamas National Monuments of "Sir Milo Butler" and "The Bahamian Woman and Child" were sculpted at the Little Harbour Art Studio.

Presenting the Bust is Bahamian Artist and Filmmaker Tyler Johnston, Grandson of the International known sculptor Randolph Johnston. Recently Tyler Johnston's short Movie '5 Bones' won the 'First Look' award at the Bahamas International Film Festival. Mr. Tyler Johnston is presenting the sculpture on behalf of his father Mr. Peter Johnston.

The Abaco Marine Flea Market is patterned after the world famous Dania Marine Flea Market. Unlike a boat show, the Abaco Marine Flea Market will offer an informal, almost party-like, atmosphere where shoppers can enjoy a wide variety of Bahamian food and drinks while they wander the market in search of a wind scoop or spare propeller.

If you are a sailor, fisherman, diver, cruiser or just like 'tings' nautical, you won't want to miss the inaugural Abaco Marine Flea Market, February 25th at the Treasure Cay Primary School. The school's athletic field will be transformed into a huge nautical 'swap shop.'

Triathletes get ready, the 2012 Great Abaco Family Fitness Weekend is being planned for March 23-25! The Treasure Cay Beach, Marina & Golf Resort is the host and a sponsor of the event. Visit www.gaffw.com for updates as the date draws closer to this exciting weekend of events for all ages.

According to the website competitions scheduled include:

Farming ventures in North Andros are inspiring two Bahamian women professionals toward national economic empowerment. Lateisha Dean, marketing representative with the National Workers Credit Union, and Chavara Roker, Gaming Board auditor, are convinced that Andros is key to solving much of the nation's economic challenges.

In collaboration with Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) they are set to embark on citrus production in San Andros and tap into the nation's $500 million food import bill.

Minister of National Security, the Hon. O.A.T. "Tommy" Turnquest unveiled a newly refurbished Rock Sound Police Station last week, much to the delight of residents and police officers stationed in the quaint island settlement.

The ceremonies were adjusted so that the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band could give some passing cruiseship visitors a "taste" of Bahamian music.

The first European colony in America was conceived as a means of converting infidels and acquiring gold; in practice the higher object became completely submerged by the lower.
- Samuel E. Morison

The Spanish explorers may have left the Bahamian islands to settle the larger Caribbean islands to the south but one terrible aspect of their visit remained: disease. The Lucayans had no immunity to diseases brought by the Europeans and soon they were swept by fierce epidemics. Over one half of the population perished.

And, as if that was not enough, other Spaniards returned. This time, not as explorers, but as conquistadores (conquerors). The Spanish were now, with the sanction of Church and State, embarked on creating an empire in the new world.

The Regency Theatre was built in 1971 by a group of amateur thespians who had been entertaining audiences in the Seacraft Building on the Fishing Hole Road for many years. Despite its tin roof, which made it difficult for audiences to hear when it rained and when aircraft flew overhead, this became part of the character of the performances there. Today, the Freeport Players' Guild is the descendant of this original actors' group and now performs from the beautiful, purpose-built Regency Theatre in Freeport.

To celebrate this important and exciting milestone, the Freeport Players' Guild presents a grand Twirp Ball and Anniversary Show on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

February is the month where we all have the opportunity to acknowledge publically the love we feel for one another. The members of the Grand Bahama Artists Association are no exception. Once again on February 9th this active group of local and international artists present their annual Valentine Art Exhibition at the Rand Nature Centre's Glory Banks Art Gallery.

Each year the GBAA presents artistic offerings from the Grand Bahama community of professional and emerging artists giving many their first gallery exposure. Many artists will be in attendance opening night to discuss their work and visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to purchase a lasting gift for their special someone.

Empty Bowls Bahamas is hosting this exciting event to raise funds to feed the hungry people in our community on Sunday, February 26, 2012 from 1pm to 6pm at Queen's College Auditorium on Village Road opposite the National Trust.

The Empty Bowls Bahamas Committee would appreciate the assistance of the nation's artists with any items that you are willing to donate to them. They will accept bowls made from other materials as well as paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, quilts, sculptures, straw work, poetry, drama, singing, etc. For more information, please contact Mrs. Joann Behagg at JB Pottery, Tel: 327-8109.

The Caribbean Arts and Crafts Festival is the flagship annual event of the Caribbean Artisan Network (CAN) and it has become the biggest Artisan Festival of its kind in the region. For the eighth year in a row, this increasingly popular cultural event brings together artisans from throughout the entire Caribbean to display, sell and demonstrate their crafts at a variety of locations in the British Virgin Islands from March 9th - 14th, 2012.

The Festival is keen to include Bahamian artists and artisans and would like for any interested persons to contact Aragorn Dick-Read at dreadeye@surfbvi.com.

It is almost Valentine's Day again which always brings a flurry of sailing activity on Montagu Bay spearheaded by Eleazor Johnson and the Bahamas Sloop Association. This year on February 18th as in the past, The Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA) junior sailors will be on parade with the "big boys" showing off their sailing skills. These are kids from the ages of 8 to 15 who come from a variety of social backgrounds with just one thing in mind - SAILING.

The youngsters will be racing around a very short but fun course close to the Montagu Beach shore. The event promises to be interesting and fun for spectators to view and helps bring awareness to the fact that their kids could be out there on the water taking part in the racing.

Registration has begun and donations are rolling in for the 7th annual Ride for Hope. The flagship event of Ride for Hope Bahamas - a bike-a-thon held in Eleuthera that supports Bahamians with cancer - will be held on April 14, 2012.

An estimated 600 riders are expected to pedal thousands of miles to raise money for cancer education, research, and treatment programs in The Bahamas. In six years, 1,600 participants have taken to the streets of Eleuthera and pedaled over 40,000 miles to raise $1.7 million.

By Mario Carey

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), every house sold in the USA equates to three full time jobs. This is as a result of the obvious domino effect. Let us assume this statistic applies to the Bahamas.

As noted in 2010, the Government reported that funds collected from conveyance stamp duty had reduced by approximately $41 million. Let us assume that this number has gotten worse given the current worldwide economic crisis.