The Bahamas welcomed a team of electoral observers from the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to observe its General Elections on May 7, 2012. An agreement was signed between The Bahamas Parliamentary Registration Department and the General Secretariat of the OAS on the Electoral Observation Process. It established the scope and coverage of the electoral observation mission in question.

The Bahamas has guaranteed conditions of security, free access to information and full cooperation with the electoral observation mission. The teams have also been granted permission to visit with leaders of the political parties and members of Civil Society who can give further insight into The Bahamas' electoral process.

On April 26, officials from the Government of The Bahamas and the United States of America began formal negotiations towards defining the maritime borders between both countries. On hand for the opening of the inaugural two-day meeting at the Minister of Foreign Affairs were U.S. Chargè d'Affaires John Dinkelman and Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Hon. Brent Symonette.

Chargé Dinkelman welcomed the Bahamian initiative to begin bilateral discussions on the topic, adding that it only serves to reinforce the strong relationship between The Bahamas and the United States. The Chargé noted that both delegations bring extraordinary experience, technical expertise, and intellectual skills to the proceedings, based on the foundation of friendship and mutual respect. He also highlighted the important role of both countries to be good stewards of the environment.

Due to upcoming elections, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau will offer limited Consular services on Monday, May 7, and Tuesday, May 8, 2012. Visa interviews and children's visa application drop-off will not take place on these days.

Nonimmigrant visa pick-up will take place from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on May 7, as previously arranged with visa applicants. The American Citizen Services Unit will be open for emergency services and, additionally, for U.S. passport pick-up from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on May 7.

The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, (BCCEC) elected a new executive board at their recent Annual General Meeting. The new board consists of prominent businessman, I. Chester Cooper, President & CEO of BAF Financial as Chairman; Robert Meyers of V Trade supply as Vice Chairman; Peter Goudie of PGHJR Consulting, Secretary and Hubert Edwards of the Bank of Bahamas as Treasurer. Mr. Winston Rolle will remain on in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer.

The BCCEC is the successor organisation of the recently merged Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and the Bahamas Employers Confederation. The organisation is the voice and the business community and employers.

Aviation Law specialist Llewellyn Boyer-Cartwright, a 29-year veteran of the aviation industry and senior associate at Callenders & Co., is among 25 lawyers worldwide invited to attend a meeting in Washington, DC May 22 dealing with aircraft leasing and the mushrooming demand for specialized aircraft financing. "It's an honour to be one of only 25 attorneys selected to attend and participate in the Legal Aspects of Aircraft Leasing & Financing," said Cartwright.

In February, Cartwright became the first Bahamian to be admitted to the Lawyer Pilots Bar Association, an international organisation dedicated to airline and aircraft safety and legal issues surrounding the aviation industry.

On March 28 2012, The Pinewood Young Professionals Organization (PYPO) was launched to meet the desires of young professionals with in the Pinewood community. The launch of PYPO, has attracted residents between the ages of 18 to 40 year and to date, members includes construction workers, doctors, lawyers, bankers, customer service reps., and unemployed residents.

Khaalis E. Rolle, the Pinewood PLP Candidate and former Chairman of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation is passionate about developing the youth of our country and continues to do so through the PYPO.

Mother's Day is fast approaching and for most people it means getting together with the special moms in our lives over brunch. Brunch is a term coined to bridge the gap between breakfast and lunch allowing you to choose either style of food or to mix breakfast ingredients and lunch ingredients together into something new! Personally, I'm not much of a breakfast guy but mixing breakfast ingredients into something new is definitely up my alley.

Here are some classic recipes for my favourite brunch dish. Eggs Benedict. You just can't beat the flavour of a good eggs bennie. These are some of my favourite variations.

The children at the Grand Bahama Children's Home are all smiles thanks to a little girl with a big idea. Katelyn Cabral, a fourth grade student at Bishop Michael Eldon School, came up with a thought to collect juice boxes from her school with plans to donate the juice boxes to the Grand Bahama Children's Home. She designed a flyer and with the help of administration, she presented her idea to the school.

"I visited the Children's Home with my family to deliver pizza and everyone wanted juice but there wasn't any. Most of us have juice or milk every day and we take it for granted," Katelyn told her peers during a school assembly. "And so I had an idea to get everyone at BMES to donate juice. If each of us brings in just one juice box, that's 200 juice boxes for the Children's Home."

A Grand Bahamian man was the victim of an early morning hit and run in Ft Lauderdale on Sunday and is now fighting for his life in the ICU. Jonathan Gouthro, son of Boulevard Service Station owner Ambrose Gouthro, has been identified as the victim. According to family members, Jonathan Gouthro remains unconscious in critical condition in the ICU at a South Florida hospital where medical personnel are treating his severe and potentially life threatening head trauma.

The accident happened Sunday, around 1:30 a.m. at the intersection of Poinsettia Street and Sea Breeze Boulevard. Gouthro was crossing the intersection when he was struck by a vehicle which sped off, according to Ft Lauderdale police.

The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) recently announced plans to expand the national park system on Grand Bahama. One of the areas under consideration as part of this expansion initiative is Sweeting's Cay.

In early April a team from the BNT led by Lakeshia Anderson, BNT Parks Planner, met with Local Government Officials on Sweeting's Cay to engage in discussions on incorporating areas of high biodiversity on Sweeting's Cay in BNT's National Park system. The BNT team was invited by Mr. Bradley Armbrister, District Administrator for East Grand Bahama.

Well back to Freeport. The almost new City of Freeport is a strange institution. It was the brainchild of Wallace Groves, who became the virtual king of a Bahamian fiefdom. After he retired in 1976 his company, the Grand Bahama Port Authority (more often just called the 'Port' or by its initials, GBPA) was taken over by two men that newspapers quipped were a playboy and a lawyer. With his usual quick wit, Sir Jack Hayward, one of the duo said, 'the newspapers have got it quite wrong ... I am not a lawyer'. The lawyer was actually Malta-born Edward St George who, with Sir Jack's permission, took over the mantle of CEO for a quarter of a century and left a mixed legacy discussed below (extracted from the 3rd edition of the book 'Grand Bahama'):

The decade of the nineteen seventies in Grand Bahama may be summarised as having had a poor start but a happier ending. The Grand Bahama Port Authority underwent a change of ownership and became, once again, a private company. Sir Jack Hayward was the principal shareholder while Edward St George acquired a minority interest believed to be initially 16%. The sale price of the Port Authority from Wallace Groves to the duo was in the region of $42 million (though neither figure was officially made public).

In honor of Earth Day, a group of U.S. Embassy representatives, including the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, John Dinkelman, traveled to Marsh Harbour and Hope Town on April 23 and 24 to meet with Abaconians who are working to preserve the Family Island's natural beauty.

Over the course of two days, Embassy representatives visited the Abaco Neem facility for a briefing on a range of products derived from the local organically grown trees and medicinal plants, toured a nature preserve in southern Abaco that is home to hundreds of Bahama Parrots protected under the Wild Bird Act, and met with the founder of Every Child Counts, Lynn Major, to learn about artist Antonious Roberts' mentoring to students with special needs that draws inspiration from the natural environment.

Earth Day 2012 celebrations in Eleuthera took on a whole new transformation where dreams, vision and collaboration were some of the successful ingredients that made it one, like no other. Six figures were invested into this project and as people learned more about the One Eleuthera Foundation, verbal pledges were committed towards signature projects on the Island. Branding Eleuthera as a cultural and heritage destination with a goal to ensure all development on the Island stays in scale with nature was solidified.

Taking place this past April 20th to 22nd, the "Jammin' For Nature, Earth Day Weekend" was originally started by The Nature Conservancy as we felt that Eleuthera provided the backdrop to celebrate conservation achievements at the local level," said Eleanor Phillips, Program Director of the North Caribbean Program at The Nature Conservancy.

Over the past weekend BTC took its Neighborhood Connect program to Old Bight, Cat Island where hundreds of Cat Islanders were treated to a street party complete with local entertainment, local cuisine and giveaways, while browsing the latest technology and services from BTC and being among the first to sign up for high-speed internet service.

While the adults signed up for service, the youngsters were kept entertained with no shortage of activities which included free face painting, pop corn, cotton candy and hoop-la. Residents enjoyed the sounds of Lassie Doh Boys, Blanche and Jack, The Angels from Zion, Bo-hog and St. John's Native Baptist Church choir.

Bahamas Habitat announced Tuesday the donation of the Beechcarft Baron E55 N63JL aircraft to the organization by Thierry Pouille, President of Air Journey in Jupiter FL, for use by the organization in its Bahamas mission work. Since 1998, Air Journey Directors have shared their joy of adventure with fellow pilots. They have shown them the joy of flying in their own plane in small groups across the World to destinations such as the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Canada, Central America, Europe, South America, and many others.

Air Journey and the Baron aircraft were first involved with Bahamas Habitat last September following the devastation of Hurricane Irene in The Bahamas. Through the direction of Neil Glazer, from Pilot Mall, they teamed up with Bahamas Habitat to bring supplies and help to the devastated Cat Island.

If you missed "Jazz on the Streets" last November, and you missed "Jazz in the Gardens" in March, you don't want to miss "Jazz on the Water" on Friday, May 11, 2012 at Blu Bar and Lounge, Elizabeth on Bay, East Bay Street, 6:30 pm-12:30 pm. Tickets $50 - Drink specials and hors d'oeuvres. Presented by the Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise.

We invite you to join Nassau Sunrise Rotarians in the transformed elegance and exoticism of old New Orleans, birthplace of the richest genre for the heart and soul. If you caught our Jazz Street Party last November then you know the kinds of great live music, eats and drinks to expect from a Sunrise soirée.

With celebrations moved inside at the Rand Nature Centre due to inclement weather on Saturday, April 28th, Grand Bahama joined many people and organisations around the world to observe the 40th anniversary of International Earth Day 2012.

The Grand Bahama Branch of the Bahamas National Trust Earth Day events included fresh market vendors providing fresh fruits and vegetables, exotic plants and tasty cakes and the MOBILIZE THE EARTH Art Exhibition, with artists on hand to discuss their art and present a wood carving demonstration.

Fashion designers won't be the only ones in the spotlight at the much anticipated Islands of the World Fashion Showcase (IWFS) this May. Four artisans from very different design fields have accepted the challenge of taking materials they would traditionally use to build and accessorize homes, offices and other buildings and make them fit on a new kind of canvas - the human body.

Val Pintard, Apryl Burrows and the team of Reuno Pratt and Elizabeth Clarke are the first official class of the newly created category of IWFS, the Jackson L. Burnside Fashion and Design Presentation.

The Grand Bahama Performing Arts Society (GBPAS) is pleased to announce the winners of their scholarship competition for high school students in Grand Bahama. 16 year old Eden Gaitor and 15 year old Alicia Storr are the two talented and lucky students who have won an all expenses paid trip to French Woods Summer Camp for the Performing Arts.

The representative from French Woods was impressed with the auditions and offered a scholarship to Eric Grigoroff, therefore three students from Grand Bahama will be enjoying this year's camp in New York.

The Bureau of Women's Affairs is celebrating the 50th Year of the Suffrage Movement. Cia Monet Fashions, an online shopping company run by Patricia Chatti presents Beauties @ Brunch, this Sunday, May 6th, 2012 at Compass Point. The event is under the patronage of Mrs. Sandra Dean Patterson of the Bahamas Crisis Center, which is celebrating 30 years of service to the Bahamian People. Beauties @ Brunch will be hosted by Phyllis Albury Garraway and part proceeds will be donated to a the Bahamas Crisis Center.

While you enjoy a scrumptious brunch, local models will take to the runway wearing designer and accessory couture pieces from Cia Monet which include Herve Leger, Emilio Pucci, Gucci and more. Each fashion season: spring, summer-swimsuits, fall and winter, including casual, resort, career and social wear will be presented.

Lucaya International School (LIS) is proud to announce its annual favourite fundraiser, the Fishing Fling Tournament on Saturday, May 26th. Fishing begins at 6:00am, weigh-in from 6:30-8:30pm, followed by a celebration of the day's catches at the Splash Bash! Come to fish, party, or both.

This year's festivities will take place at the GB Sailing Club, and will include a cash bar, dinner and dancing. Bring your party shoes along with your rod and reel! May is peak tuna season in the Bahamas, so that will be the focus of local trolling. Prizes will also be awarded for snapper, mackerel and barracuda, among others.

Miamian, Alex Vazquez led team Fish Tales to an impressive victory at the Bahamas Billfish Championship's first tournament of the 2012 season at Great Guana Cay, Abaco. Vazquez and teammate Joey Souto caught and released four blue marlin and a white marlin to earn 2,600 points for the win.

The BBC's new format allows teams to fish three out of four days with a required 'captain's choice' lay-day. Like most of the twenty-one boat fleet, Fish Tales took day one as their lay-day.

Change? My FOOT!

I am all about competition, having your opinion and CHANGE. So I wanted to give Branville McCartney his chance and hear about his CHANGE concept - who knew, he could be the next Obama. But just like a quick "Reality Celebrity" he shone for a few minutes and quickly disappointed his audience.

It was not the dressing up in fatigues and trying to send Haitians home after a massive earthquake! It was not his tantrum with his learned senior Edison Key and former cabinet colleague. It was not even his RANT at his former leader the Prime Minister.

But the "straw that broke the camel's back" for me were his comments on the marital rape law or his lack of care to CHANGE it.

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We Deliver?

We Deliver?

Cliches roll off the lips of some people so easily that I often wonder if some sort of jelly has been put on their lips. People should understand that when one says "we deliver" it must mean that something is in fact being delivered.

It does not mean that what is being delivered is necessarily good, so the FNM is not really lying when they say, "we deliver." However, an intelligent person would ask himself, "What are they delivering?" The Chinese supervised the road out west, and they are good, well laid out, well landscaped and marked. The Prime Minister, Hubert Ingraham, takes credit for that. So he must also take credit for the road works his government supervised and botched up.

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Drilling for oil in The Bahamas, Perry Christie, Brave Davis, and the Progressive Liberal Party's dirty conflicting ways

The response of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) deputy leader; Mr. Philip "Brave" Davis - to the question of conflict of interest in relations to his law firm's connection to the Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC), instigates more questions than answers.

Mr. Davis was quoted as saying the following in an article by one Dana Smith in The Tribune of April 27, 2012 entitled - DNA Demand Christie's Resignation: "How does it become a conflict? I'm not in government. When I'm there, then the question might arise, then I'll know what I have to do."

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In praise of Norris Bain

Each child, regardless of gender, needs the influence and teaching of both parents in their lives, however, the unfortunate circumstance of having a parent or parents absent in one's life is an experience common to many children; including me. God knew this and in Psalm 27:10 promised that if your mother and father abandon you, He (the Lord) will take you up."

Looking back over my life, I can emphatically declare that through men like Mr. Norris Bain, God has been faithful in keeping His promise. In 1995, when I moved to Freeport Grand Bahama to attend Tabernacle Baptist Academy, I had no idea the significant impact academically and spiritually sitting under the tutelage of Mr. Bain would have on my life.

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