The management of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) want to assure the Grand Bahamian public and The Bahamas of their commitment to both the island and the country. For over a decade the Mediterranean Shipping Company, one of the world's leading global shipping lines, has called The Bahamas home and over time has tranformed the way that thousands of companies throughout the country do business.

The success of Mediterranean Shipping Company in Grand Bahama has also translated into success for the Freeport Container Port, which is one of Grand Bahama's largest employers. Due to the company's success MSC Geneva opted to expand to Nassau in late 2007, allowing Nassau retailers to connect with over 270 ports worldwide, and able to ship to the five (5) continents under one Bill of Lading, saving the consumer much needed transshipment costs.

In a technology driven age, Computer Science has become a fundamental field of study that drives the world, yet in The Bahamas, it remains an unchartered subject in school curriculums. Now, an e-learning specialist who has just returned from leading a seminar of international experts says it's time to wake up and smell the future.

"The study of Computer Science is just as important as Mathematics and English," said John Bain, the Principal of JSB & Associates and Chairman of the e-Learning Committee of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. "The study of computer science is not a luxury, and should not be an elective, but an integral part of education."

There's nothing like a 'Strong Back' or a 'Sands' especially when former world number one Australian professional tennis player Lleyton Hewitt wear's your brand's t-shirt at an International press conference.

According to the Australian Herald Sun, "Hewitt, Australia's great survivor, has donned the "Strong Back'' and "Sands'' brands on his chest ...
 they are both beers. And beers of choice for Hewitt, who lives in the paradise where the brews are concocted."

Waterway Guide has announced the release of the first four editions of their 2012 cruising guides. The Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Southern, and Bahamas editions made their debut at the Annapolis Sailboat Show and Baltimore Trawlerfest.

The highly detailed and comprehensive guides provide mile-by-mile coverage of the waterways between Cape May, New Jersey and Brownsville, Texas, as well as the entire Bahamas, Turks, and Caicos Islands.

Lyford Cay International School (LCIS) marked the beginning of its 50th anniversary celebrations with a Founders Day Assembly honoring their founder E.P.Taylor, on January 31, 2012.

The Founder's Day service honored past alumni and brought the exciting story of E.P.Taylor's life to everyone gathered. "We learned as much as we could about E.P.Taylor, through contacts with his family members, friends and those who know him in the Lyford Cay Community. We read his biography by Richard Rohmer, interviewed people who knew him or worked for him and spoke to his family members," said Mrs. Rebecca Massey, Development Coordinator who is responsible for the 50th Anniversary.

Over 100 riders have registered for the 7th annual Ride for Hope which will be held on April 14, 2012 in Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera. The registration numbers are climbing every day and donations are rolling in. With less than 75 days until the event, it is time to break out the bicycles and start training!

Participants from Nassau are encouraged to join JAR Cycling in its weekend group rides.

It's not hard to miss when zooming by in cars, but tucked away into the side of the slope at #25 Cumberland Street of downtown Nassau in the midst of abandoned and dilapidated structures is the newly renovated Hillside House.

Once destroyed by fire and abandoned itself, the structure has been given new life by Bahamian artist Antonius Roberts as the Antonius Roberts Studio and Gallery space.

It's hot! It's chic! It's elegant! It's sophistication at its best. It's an evening filled with love, laughter, excitement, dancing and a soulful good time. The atmosphere is so merry, you may think it's Christmas, but it's not. Yet, it is an opportunity to place a smile on a child's face. It's a grand opportunity to celebrate life and love, while helping to preserve a heart. It's The Annual Heart Ball. Your attendance will help to repair the heart of a child, and help to give a gift of life.

The Heart Ball Committee recently met to make final preparations for The 2012 Heart Ball. The Heart Ball is always held on the Saturday closest to Valentine's.

As anyone who follows this column knows, we are about to open a new restaurant. It's called Flying Fish and is the culmination of our combined lives' work. Together, Rebecca and myself have about 40 years experience in food service. We are very happy to finally have a place of our own and hope to make it a home for foodies and wine lovers in Grand Bahama for a long time. The concept of Flying Fish is a blending of traditional food preparations with new modernist cuisine methods. Modernist Cuisine is both a term given by the chefs that use these methods and a book by Nathan Myhrvold. Nathan has mapped out the techniques and methods of a new generation of chefs who are interested in the actual science behind cooking.

The media dubbed the new modern style of cooking "Molecular Gastronomy". All chefs hate this term because in fact, all cooking is molecular. It does not define anything more than the obvious. Chefs do approve of the modernist cuisine moniker as well as the term "avant garde" which was coined by the Spanish masters of the this style of food Ferran and Albert Adria.

Despite their menacing appearance the Scurvy Few Motorcycle Club (SFMC) are all about giving back to their local communities. The Grand Bahama branch of bikers is hosting their first "Biker's Night" at Red Beard's Pub this Saturday, February 11th, to raise funds for the Beacon School.

"We are thankful to Mrs. Sheryl Woods, Principal of the Beacon School, for allowing us to meet her kids and have this event to raise funds for the school," said Lloyd Cheong, President SFMC Grand Bahama. "We visited the kids last week and they were fantastic and really took to the motorcycles. The SFMC members felt very privileged to spend time with the kids. We hope the community will support this event and the Beacon School." Cheong and his fellow bikers are no strangers to helping their community. Having ridden with Santa's Helpers for many years the club's primary focus is giving back to children.

Gemma and Toby Cafferata recently celebrated their 8th birthdays in an extraordinary way: by donating almost $700.00 to the Grand Bahama Children's Home.

"We all know how excited children get about their birthdays ... and a large part of that is often thinking about the presents. When we think of Gemma and Toby asking for donations for the children at the Home instead of gifts for themselves, it just amazes us," says GBCH Administrator Mrs. Brennamae Rolle-Cooper.

Some 150 business leaders, government officials and VIPs are slated to attend the grand opening of BTC's newly renovated retail space on Pioneers Way Friday, February 10 for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The launch -- followed by a celebration for the general public starting at noon Saturday -- marks the culmination of a $200,000 transformation of the company's Grand Bahama administrative headquarters into what executives called "an unrivaled interactive retail store experience that will add immeasurably to Grand Bahama's attractiveness as a place to visit, live and do business."

Mark your calendars and get ready to come out for a great variety of events all benefiting the animals at the HSGB shelter! This Saturday, February 11th at 7 p.m. the place to be is the Canal House at Pelican Bay, for Meeting of Minds; a unique event featuring amazing art (some featuring a few of our shelter animals!), fashion, and music.

On Saturday, February 25th, don't miss A Night of Love starring the popular Apple Elliott Band at the Foster B. Pestaina Centre. HSGB volunteers will be manning the bar and selling tickets for some great raffle prizes.

Photo: This past week, thanks again to two trips by our great friend pilot John Badham, a few more fortunate little souls found their way to new homes and rescues in the U.S. Timid Doberman Tiara is now enjoying her new home in Jupiter, Florida.

After more than a century of service, on January 14th the tall ship, Alexander Von Humboldt sailed out of her homeport of Bremerhaven, Germany, for the last time and set course for the island of Grand Bahama with stops in the Canary Islands and Barbados. A large melancholy crowd of onlookers along with press, radio and television braved the cold winter morning to wave their last farewell to the "Green Lady" as she is fondly known.

On the other side of the world excitement is growing in anticipation of the arrival some two months away. Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, will be the new home of "Alex" where she will host cruise ship passengers, island visitors and residents that want to experience the romance of sailing the way it was in bygone days.

Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic School's campus was transformed into a picnic park for students to enjoy lunch with their parents and friends. An invitation was extended to Mary Star's parents to partake in this communal event.

The student body was divided into their four houses Brendan, Gantley, Groves and Leonard. Everyone got into the action by sporting their house colours (blue, yellow, green and red). Each house was allocated a portion of the campus to picnic on.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth
Hebrews 12 v. 6

Slavery has existed from time immemorial. But, nowhere and at no time, has the transplanting of people been so thorough or so debasing as the transport of black Africans to the 'new world' of the Americas. And it had a further poignant consequence; slavery left a legacy which even today acts as a continuing irritant to social harmony in the Americas.

Slavery was already well established on the continent of Africa before the European nations arrived. Tribes enslaved other tribes and Arabs, among others, had long run a profitable business slave-running sub-Saharan Africans.

The construction of community healthcare centres in various islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has allowed the Government to consolidate access to quality healthcare for Bahamians, including those in the far-flung islands, Minister of Health Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minnis said Friday.

Dr. Minnis said the completion of the new Inagua Community Health Centre at Mathew Town will have the same impact on the delivery of efficient and effective healthcare in the southern Bahamas.

Fiction writing with Richard Bausch will be offered April 8-15, 2012 at the Island School, Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas. The week-long workshop sponsored by the Cape Eleuthera Writers & Artist Workshop Series will bring together a small group of adults interested in fiction writing to the Cape Eleuthera Island School campus to work with celebrated author, Richard Bausch.

Participants will further develop their writing by receiving expert feedback on their own manuscripts in a safe and constructive environment as well as by engaging in writing exercises, by considering issues of craft and of the writing life, and ultimately by cultivating a community based upon the shared love of writing.

Everyone is invited! Come meet the artists of the Grand Bahama Artists Association this Thursday, February 9th, at 7pm in the Rand Nature Centre's Glory Banks Art Gallery and peruse their annual Valentine Art Exhibition.

The association will be presenting an eclectic collection of artworks from both professional and emerging artists. Admission is FREE and light refreshments will be served. The artists look forward to seeing you.

The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas is pleased to announce that we have extended our hours to allow the Bahamian public and our international visitors more opportunities to engage and experience our wonderful Gallery and the art within.

In addition to the extended hours, the Gallery has now instituted a "Free Gallery Day for Bahamians" to take place one Sunday each month affording Bahamians, specifically, the chance to learn through the visual arts at the NAGB about the diverse artistic history and culture that is their own. The first "Free Gallery Day for Bahamians" will take place Sunday, February 19th, 2012.

Aspiring models and singers are asked to attend the screening for the 2012 Supermodel of the Bahamas and Super Talent of the Bahamas competition event. Freeport, Grand Bahama open calls are Friday, February 10th, and Saturday, February 11th, from 12 noon to 5pm at the International Bazaar.

Male / female models should be 15 to 30 years. Males / females ages 6 - 12 years for applications for Little Supermodel of the Bahamas. Persons attending must wear all black or all white casual attire or a combination of both. Bring a photo, and passport.

Prince Lewis Projects, Grand Bahama's latest start-up business by young entrepreneur Nathaniel P. Lewis is hosting its launch gala benefit and live talk show on March 2nd, 2012 at the Grand Lucayan at 7:30pm.

Under the theme "A night at the Oscars" the elegant, star-studded evening will allow guests to walk the red carpet, mix and mingle, and feature an entertaining and engaging live stage show including musical numbers, comedy, and interviews with brilliant artists in the world of entertainment.

With over 1500 photographs and postcards ranging as far back as the 1880s, OldBahamas.com has amassed a treasure trove of historical images of The Bahamas and Bahamiana from many aspects of our story as a people in the last 150 years that one would be hard pressed to find in such abundance elsewhere.

All photographs and postcards are in The Rumelier Collection owned by Bob Davies. They are priceless images that document a bygone era - the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Grand Bahama American Women's Club (GBAWC) is on countdown to one of Grand Bahama Island's most FUN golf tournaments - the 9th Annual Golf Classic, to be held on Saturday, February 25, at the Reef Golf Course, and again the Grand Lucayan Hotel has donated the use of the course.

All proceeds from the day's activities go to the GBAWC's youth scholarship fund and local charitable organizations. GBAWC volunteers, assisted by Scholarship Students, are determined that the 9th Annual Golf Classic will be a FUN fundraiser.

Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company is extremely pleased to be a part of the 25th St. Valentine Regatta, in honour of a great Bahamian, Sir Durward Knowles. For the first time in modern times, Sands beer will reintroduce The Man in Boat Sculling Race. Boats are: Sands, Sands Light, Strong Back and High Rock (pictured).

So, if you think you can scull, we will see you at the St. Valentine Regatta on Saturday February 18th, 1:00pm sharp.

Scotia Bank Pee Wee League: This is a reminder to parents, you are scheduled to play against our little darlings on Saturday February 11th, 2012. Kick off time 10:00 a.m. Awards presentation and lunch will follow the game immediately. Coach Elcott has summoned all parents.

Mini League: Cup Champions for the 2011/12 Mini League are the Bellevue Business Blue Jays who defeated the Waugh Warriors, League Winners, 4 goals to 1 goal. The game was tough and exciting as parents and fans cheered on both teams. Congratulations to the teams and their coaches on a job well done.