Bahamasair announced May 22, 2012, that in February, three female pilots were promoted to Dash 8 aircraft captains, a first in the airline's history.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Former Minister of Education, Senator the Hon. Desmond Bannister, was sworn in as Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate on Wednesday, May 23, 2012. A former Member of Parliament for the Carmichael Constituency, Senator Bannister was defeated by Dr. Perry Gomez in the run-off in North Abaco. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Senator the Hon. Sharon Wilson (left) is sworn in as President of the Senate by Christine Brown, First Assistant Secretary, Cabinet Office, who also serves as Assistant Clerk of the Senate during ceremonies, Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Mrs. Wilson was elected to serve as Senate President for a second time, having performed the same function during the first Perry Gladstone Christie Administration from 2007-2012. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

Nassau, The Bahamas - Ministry of Education, Science and Technology officials visited Bahamas Technical Vocational Institute (BTVI) and the College of The Bahamas (COB) to get a first hand look at the tertiary institutions. Education Minister the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald said he is very impressed with the tremendous work that is taking place at BTVI.

He joined Elma Garraway, Permanent Secretary; Dr. Iva Dahl, manager of BTVI and other senior managers on a tour of the school's campus Wednesday, May 17. Sewing, cosmetology, electrical installation, masonry, student affairs are some of the classroom blocks visited on the walkabout.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- On Saturday, May 19, 2012 RBC hosted a select group of media persons at a breakfast with featured speaker Dr. Xernona Clayton, Founder & CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation and US media giant.

The Trumpet Awards recognizes the accomplishments of African Americans and other persons from around the world and is broadcast in 185 countries.

The breakfast, for close to 400 persons, was part of the activities surrounding the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Bethel Baptist Association headed by Rev. Timothy Stewart, Moderator and 2012 Trumpet Award recipient. The audience had the opportunity to hear first hand about the incredible life and times of Dr. Clayton.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes and Lady Foulkes in attendance at St Andrew's Presbyterian Kirk during the Bel Canto Singers presentation "Music for All Times", May 19. (BIS Photo / Patrick Hanna).

NASSAU, Bahamas (Friday, May 18th, 2012) - Dr. Glenn Canterford, the Principal of St Andrew's School, recently unveiled the key points of the School's new Strategic Plan to parents, teachers, faculty and alumni during an evening cocktail reception. Held on the premises of the Palm Cay Development, the School's Community Partner, the cocktail reception was attended by over 150 members of the community, and was widely considered a great success.

Thanks to the generosity of the greater St Andrew's community, the cocktail reception, and its accompanying silent auction, raised a total of $17,439.00 to benefit the highly-valued St Andrew's School Scholarship Programme.

The new Strategic Plan outlines five main goals for the School through the year 2020 and was compiled through the collaborative efforts of every constituency within the school over a 6-month period.

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in conjunction with the United States Northern Command NORTHCOM, conducted a water rescue training course and equipment programme from May 14 - 17, 2012 at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Base, Coral Harbour.The purpose of the exercise was to train and equip individuals in New Providence to effectively respond to a disaster in surrounding waters; and to establish a search and rescue programme.

It was the third in a three-part training course and equipment programme conducted on the islands of Abaco, Grand Bahama and New Providence. An estimated $75,000 worth of equipment have been donated to those islands by the United States Government, to assist with water rescue missions.

More than two dozen of Grand Bahama's top student achievers - dressed in white ball gowns and tuxedos - were formally introduced to society at the 31st Annual Debutante Ball on Saturday. Eight of the participants received scholarship awards.

The ball was the conclusion of a four-month training program where the 26 participants took part in leadership and etiquette sessions, community service, essay writing, waltz lessons and social activities.

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- 12.55 pm May 5th 2012 -- A faint breeze ruffled the leaves of the stately tamarind tree at the Labyrinth as a small group quietly gathered beneath its branches. The wind chimes in the tree stood silent as the group mentally prepared to "Walk as One."

A prayer written for the occasion by Barbara Chester was handed to each participant to be read aloud in unison. At one pm exactly, as the first words of the prayer were spoken, the deep "bong" of the chimes sounded and kept up a measured accompaniment to our words, as if they had been waiting for us to begin.

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- On 19th May, 2012, persons from throughout the community of Grand Bahama hailing from the Ministry of Tourism, Keep Grand Bahama Clean, EARTHCARE, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bank of Canada, FINCO, various students from St. George's and Jack Hayward High Schools, Bishop Michael Eldon High School, Tabernacle Christian Academy, and Mary Star of the Sea School participated in the Coastal Walk & Cleanup hosted by the Ministry of Tourism's Coastal Awareness Committee and the Sustainable Eco-Tourism Committee.

The Coastal Walk is part of the Coastal Awareness month of April's activities. The scheduling was moved into May due to a plethora of activities going on in the month of April leading up to the election.

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- For immediate release, May 23, 2012: Parents, teachers and art enthusiasts were treated to a wonderful evening of fine art, a silent auction, steel pan entertainment, delicious food and refreshments in a successful first edition of the "Art of Warriors" - a unique showcase of tremendously talented young artists.

"Art of Warriors" showcased great artistic talents of students of both the primary and secondary departments of Bishop Michael Eldon School - with student entries ranging from watercolours and acrylics to digital art and photography along with incredible class group art pieces from the primary grades. A wide range of subject matter was displayed and the event goers enjoyed good-natured bidding on the impressive works of art from the students along with pieces from artists Eddie Minnis, Tiffany Barret, Dr. Kevin Bethel and Del Foxton.

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- 77 people matched wits in the HSGB's first ever Quiz Night held at Redbeard's Saturday, May 12th! Competing both individually and in teams, the competitors were challenged by a dazzling variety of trivia and general knowledge quiz questions in various categories.

In the relaxing and convivial atmosphere on the deck at Redbeard's, great food and drink was enjoyed in between and during the quiz rounds.

TREASURE CAY, Bahamas -- The leisurely pace in Abaco has been cranked up several notches with the arrival of BTC's blazing 4G network on Saturday, May 19 as faster download speeds, better call service and enhanced browsing capabilities made their way to the island via BTC's state-of-the-art cellular network. The official launch ceremony took place during a 4G Fun Day at BTC's Marsh Harbour store beginning at 10am.

"Residents and visitors will both be pleasantly surprised at the improvements we've made over the last few months, completing phase one coverage of the northern island's expansive land and surrounding cays with the most advanced telecommunications network available," said Marlon Johnson, Vice President, Brand & Communications. "With many of the cell sites in Abaco now completed, customers will certainly notice a dramatic difference in their cellular speeds."

FREEPORT, Bahamas - It's been a busy year so far for the Grand Bahama Performing Arts Society, but before taking a break for the summer, the Society is treating the island to an evening of classic jazz starring Toronto jazz pianist, Steve Koven on Friday, May 25th at the Canal House at Pelican Bay. This world class musician, composer and teacher has traveled the world, performing with his trio and in solo concerts, and conducting workshops for musicians where ever he goes.

‪This is not the first time Steve has performed in The Bahamas, but it is his first visit to Grand Bahama, and he couldn't be more excited. Not only will he get to enjoy some of what the island has to offer, and do what he loves best, but he gets a chance to perform with some of the islands most talented local musicians, Ozzie Hall, Patrick Russell and Clarence Green.

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- "I'm Gonna Live Forever, I'm Gonna Learn How To Fly.."

Everyone knows the famous song from 'Fame, The Musical' and now is your chance to catch some fame for yourself. So you think you can dance, sing, act or play an instrument?

Prove It! Audition for a role in the Freeport Players' Guild production of 'Fame, The Musical' on June 2nd and 3rd at the Regency Theatre.

Saturday, June 2nd, 9 am to 5 pm - Singers, Musicians & Actors.

Sunday, June 3rd, 2 pm to 5 pm - Dancers and Call-backs

Minimum Age 14 Years, 4 Adult Roles (Teachers)

Contact Gloria McGlone 727-9198 or Ivy Elden 727-0811 for more information.

EIGHT MILE ROCK, Grand Bahama - Saturday, May 26th, 2012, the Eight Mile Rock Community will once again celebrate the diverse cultures that have come to call Grand Bahama 'home'.

The international festival highlight the customs, traditions, and cuisine of the various non-Bahamian countries represented, in addition to highlighting cultural variants from some islands within The Bahamas. In addition to the various cuisine offerings, the event will also feature multimedia presentations, games, music, and dance performances that reflect the culture of each country represented

Besides the 'way out', and to some the 'preposterous', idea of building a bridge in the northern Bahamas there is another aspect of transportation in the Bahamas that should be discussed. It has been mentioned already that the longest distance one can drive in the Bahamas is about 100 miles (from the north to the south of Abaco).

Yet the average trip length by private vehicle in most places in the Bahamas is probably less than five miles and the islands have no hills to speak of and a total absence of snow or ice - all of which would make it a perfect venue for electric vehicles (ev's).

The electricity incidentally, could be obtained fairly easily from locally derived wind, solar and tidal power.

NASSAU, Bahamas --The Hon. Dr. Danny Johnson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture meeting with ministry staff in a "getting to know you" meeting at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs Gymnasium on Friday, May 18. (BIS Photo / Raymond A. Bethel

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- The weekend of May 12th & 13th was set up for a wonderful event. The first annual Tri Nations Junior rugby Festival with teams from the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and the Bahamas competing for the chance to be crowned the Junior Champions of rugby.

It was obvious from the outset that Bermuda had come to win the competition as they arrived in Grand Bahama two days before the tournament was due to kick off to get settled and put in a couple of practice sessions. The tournament was set up by The Freeport Rugby & Football club who had hosted the Cayman Islands the previous year.

Saturday morning saw the festival part of the weekend with teams being split into size categories thereby allowing for a fair and safe competition. There was also a Barbarians side that comprised of players from all three countries who worked and played together in the true spirit of the sport.

They have an awesome responsibility given the many pressing national challenges that must be dealt with urgently particularly the high unemployment rate, high serious crime rate, housing crisis, education and healthcare issues.

In attempting to bring relief this government must give the best of their service, remain focused, accountable and transparent in its conduct of the people's business. PM Christie, as leader, must articulate his vision and plans to the Nation on a regular basis to ensure understanding and compliance of the populace.Improved public relations are crucial to this end.The Leadership must exhibit enhanced managerial skills, decisiveness, compassion, respect and intolerance of corruption.