BTC announced a comprehensive package today as a goodwill gesture that will add minutes, data or talk time for every customer following the mass interruption that crippled the company's landline, cell and broadband services Monday.

As the investigation into what caused the national disruption continued into the late afternoon, officials released a broad-based package that it called a "goodwill gesture."

Minister of Financial Services the Hon Ryan Pinder right, paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Paul Farquharson, Bahamas High Commissioner to the Court of St James at The Bahamas High Commission, 10 Chesterfield Street, London, England, Monday, June 25, 2012.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie said the Bahamian people must decide whether or not to create a national lottery in The Bahamas.

"Once the people decide, public policy will govern itself accordingly," Prime Minister Christie told participants in the Ministry of Finance Budget 2012/13 Budget Symposium at the Sheraton Cable Beach, Wednesday, June 27, 2012.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie told Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department that they must express their views on how the Ministries and Departments must be directed.He was speaking at the Ministry of Finance Budget 2012/13 Budget Symposium at the Sheraton Cable Beach, Wednesday, June 27, 2012.

Former Member of Parliament Pierre Dupuch urges Bahamians and Government representatives to stop the destruction on Cable Beach by Chinese funded Bahamar hotel project.

When the Crystal Palace was being built, and I was a member of the House of Assembly, I condemned the building of one of the Crystal Palace Towers on the beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in The Bahamas. I said then that the building of such a structure on the beach would cause it to erode and would block the suns rays for those enjoying the beach in the afternoon.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- June 25, 2012 For the 31st consecutive year, RBC Royal Bank and RBC FINCO are sponsoring the RBC Summer Arts Workshop for students, one of the most well-known arts-related events in The Bahamas.

This programme has for many years played a pivotal role in the development of young Bahamian artists. "Some of the leading names in the Caribbean art world have participated in these workshops - often first as students and now as instructors," said Ms. Tanya McCartney, managing director of RBC FINCO.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon. Bernard J. Nottage (right) got an opportunity to re-acquaint himself with employees of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas following a tour of the facilities Thursday (June 21, 2012). The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas falls under the purview of the Minister of National Security. Dr. Nottage met with senior managers of the Corporation prior to taking a tour of the facilities and speaking with staff members.

He was accompanied by Senator, the Hon. Keith Bell, Minister of State, Ministry of National Security, and Mr. Carl Smith, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Security.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Government is aware of the urgent demand for highly skilled workers in various fields and is committed to fulfilling these needs through the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) said the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology.

"The objective is to stimulate economic growth through anchor projects on New Providence and in the family islands and to develop the skills of our people and ultimately, our nation," said Minister Fitzgerald.

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville on June 22 set the record straight with regards to employment in his Ministry. Minister Darville's comments came as he addressed a graduation ceremony sponsored by the BORCO Foundation Technical Institute.

Thirteen young men graduated from that institute as certified welders. The ceremony was held at Freeport Bible Church on West Atlantic Drive.

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- Saturday, 23rd June, 2012 Store owners, operators and vendors, "Could be in for a busy season ahead," said Ian Rolle, President of The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) during a recent walk-about of the newly constructed mini Bahamian Shopping Village, located in Downtown's Churchill Square.

"Since the completion of our Downtown Revitalization Project we have been working vigorously with the Ministry of Tourism (MOT), the interim Downtown Freeport Business Association (DFBA) and local tour companies, to make the area an attraction point for cultural activities and tours.

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- Former FNM Minister of Works and Transport Neko Grant MP for Central Grand Bahama and his Grand Bahama Parliamentary colleagues Peter Turnquest, MP for East Grand Bahama, Senator Kwasi Thompson, former candidates Norris Bain and Pakesia Parker- Edgecombe have all joined their voices with those airing concerns about more than 41 urban renewal workers in Grand Bahama and 35 in New Providence losing their jobs at the end of June 2012

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- To get a true picture of the transport and aviation business as it relates to Grand Bahama, Transport and Aviation Minister the Hon Glenys Hanna-Martin made an official visit to that island on Friday.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation the Hon Hope Strachan; Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr the Hon Michael Darville and the Permanent Secretary, Melvin Seymour accompanied Minister Hanna-Martin.

We are really packing in the fun for our 24 campers this year! On Monday the kids enjoyed a variety of activities.

They were each asked to make a poster about animals which are now hanging in our lobby. They also got very creative in painting/coloring "bobble head" dogs and cats, which they could take home as keepsakes.

Not sure what the highlight of the day was, but judging from the looks on their faces and the comments, their time with our Dr. Gibbs was certainly extra special.

The winners of the first "Youth Express" Essay, Rap and Poetry Contest participated in an Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) helicopter demonstration at the Royal Bahamas Defense Force Base (RBDF) at Coral Harbour the morning of June 27, 2012. The 29 students, aged 11-15, had the opportunity to tour the helicopter and learn about the efforts of OPBAT to combat drug trafficking into and through The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. The group was the first of 600 total children, including those participating in the RBDF summer camp, to witness the demonstration.

The winners of the first "Youth Express" Essay, Rap and Poetry Contest cosponsored by the United States Embassy in partnership with the Bahamas National Drug Council (BNDC) are participating in a National Peer Leadership Camp June 23-30 at the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) Base at Coral Harbour.

The 31 winners ages 12-14 who represent New Providence, Grand Bahama, San Salvador, Exuma, Eleuthera and Andros are participating in a week long program designed to encourage the future leaders to stand up to negative peer pressure and become agents of positive change within their schools and communities. The winners were selected based on their submission of essays, poems and rap songs that focused on the harmful impact of illegal drugs as part of the "Youth Express" competition last spring.

The Rotary Club of GB Sunrise's 2nd Annual Cigar Nights on June 16th was a fun event, very well attended by the Grand Bahama community who came out in support of Rotary Club of GB Sunrise Big Brother/Big Sister programme, and the Safe Swim Zone project-providing buoy markers along the south coast to ensure boater and swimmer safety.

The Grand Bahama Sailing Club was the venue and took on a vintage Havana theme for the evening, where a large cross section of Grand Bahama enjoyed Latin-inspired music, food, drink, dancing and entertainment during the charity event.

It's ten in the morning, "Good evenin' she say
not to correct her I just mutter "Good day"
"Precious Jesus wid me did just talk
may God keep you from de devil fork"
(and she's not done with homilies by a long chalk)
"Praise God" she say, then continues her walk,
ten paces away she continues her prayer "an' God keep ya alls in His great and good care."

The trio of full-time professionals from the Football Association, the governing body of the sport in the UK, was extremely impressed by the skills on show at the Freeport Rugby and Football Club, the host for the event.

Speaking after the first day closed, one of them, Alan Williams, said: "We obviously didn't know what to expect since this is our first year here. Football, as it is called in the UK, is the country's number one sport and you expect to come across good players.

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- Saturday, June 23, 2012, a day that looked like it was shaping up to be filled with inclement weather actually turned out to be a day perfect for a time trial, with almost no wind at all on the entire 12 mile course.

Of course, this may have disappointed those who were looking forward to taking advantage of a tail wind, but it was more than welcome for those who were dreading fighting against a head wind, which was the case in Race 2.