NASSAU, Bahamas -- On Tuesday, July 3, officials from the U.S. Embassy and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) participated in a handover ceremony at the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) Base, to present the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas with floodwater rescue equipment to increase the capacity to prepare for and respond to flood-related disasters associated with hurricanes and tropical storms.

ASSAU, Bahamas -- The Government of The Bahamas remains committed to the strategic acquisition of surface assets and aerial support assets (boats, etcetera) to augment the operational capability and effectiveness of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon. Bernard J. Nottage said.

Dr. Nottage said initiatives are also "ongoing" to ensure the proper maintenance of the Force's assets thereby increasing the rate of operational availability.

NASSAU, Bahamas - The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) has completed a busy eight day schedule of events and meetings with private banks, independent asset managers, lawyers, accountants and family offices in Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The tour of major financial centres began in Zurich, continued in Geneva and concluded in London each highlighted by a Bahamas Landfall event, BFSB's highly successful platform for conveying The Bahamas Advantage for private wealth management, asset management, residency and international business.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Officials of the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development Monday re-launched the Ministry's National Hotline as part of the Government of The Bahamas' Safe Families, Safe Communities, Safe Homes campaign. Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie S. Griffin, said the re-launch is expected to make more people aware of the many usages of the hotline.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- The expansion of the Intra-Mural Scheme Programme at Her Majesty's Prisons, Fox Hill, should lead to prison self-sufficiency through the creation of industries that would not only generate income for inmates upon release, but also contribute to the Consolidated Fund.

"There is no real justification why the Central Government (Government of The Bahamas) should have to continually bear the full cost of incarceration for healthy, hearty, sentenced inmates," Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon. Bernard J. Nottage said.

Nassau, The Bahamas - Among the Government's plans for Education over the next five years is the expansion and availability of government pre-schools throughout The Bahamas.

The following schools have been identified for pre-schools: Sandilands Primary, Claridge Primary, Stephen Dillet Primary, Yellow Elder Primary, Mabel Walker Primary, Walter Parker Primary (Freeport) Lowe Sound Primary (Andros) George Town Primary (Exuma) and Moore's Island (Abaco).

Nassau, The Bahamas - Sixteen thousand Public Servants can expect increased benefits as the Government of The Bahamas signed a New Industrial Agreement with the Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU) to award lump sum increments retroactive to 2010, equal to one regular increment.

"We are here today because we have executed the Industrial Agreement between the Bahamas Public Service Union and the Government of The Bahamas; the period 2010 through 2013.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Twenty-six students graduated from Omega College during the institution's 10th commencement exercise on June 28. The theme for the event was "Committed to Excellence: Charting the course as Today's Leaders".

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson expressed pleasure at the reception he was given on his return to head the National Insurance Board.Minister Gibson met with staff in Grand Bahama on Thursday, June 28 to introduce the new National Insurance management team. Also on Thursday reinstated National Insurance staff members were re-introduced to the Grand Bahama office, as part of the changes being made to increase efficiency and better customer service management in Grand Bahama.

"After any general election or before any general election, individuals have a choice as to whether they like what they have or whether they want to change," said Minister Gibson.

FREEPORT, Bahamas --Thursday, June 28th, 2012 - As hundreds of high school students donned traditional graduation regalia, a select few of Grand Bahama's top achievers were presented with 4-year college scholarships courtesy of The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA). Under GBPA's 'Making It Happen' initiative, at the end of each school year, college scholarships are awarded to the top achiever of every high school graduating class on the island of Grand Bahama.

"The Top Achiever Scholarship award is one of our most notable programmes, created to recognize the academic achievements of our brightest and best high school scholars," stated GBPA President, Ian Rolle.

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- June 29, 2012 - The Grand Bahama Power Company ("GBPC") announced today its new tariff structure that is the result of the implementation of a new regulatory rate structure by its regulator Grand Bahama Port Authority ("GBPA"). The new regulatory framework for GBPC documents how electricity rates will be set for Grand Bahama.

FREEPORT, Bahamas -- The departure of the Millennium on May 9th, closed the 2011-2012 Cruise Season at the Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL). "This season can be considered extremely successful," commented Graham Couser, VP for Sales and Marketing at the yard. "The season traditionally spans September through May, and during this period we have docked 16 Cruise ships."

Minister for Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government, the Hon. V. Alfred Gray, is pictured as he addressed Local Government Councillors on Grand Bahama Monday. Also seated front row is the Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville. FREEPORT, Bahamas -- Minister for Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government the Hon. V. Alfred Gray assured elected Local Government officials of Grand Bahama Monday, that they have his full support.

He also took the opportunity to remind them that they are servants of the people and ought to know the rules in order to do their job properly.

ABACO, Bahamas -- (June 29, 2012) - Amy Roberts Primary School in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, won the RBC Family Deliveries contest, after entering an outstanding video presentation that outlined the school's academic and athletic achievements, as well as their considerable work in the community.

In the contest, schools across The Bahamas (excluding Grand Bahama and New Providence) were invited to submit a 30-second video telling why their school should receive a "special delivery" from partners RBC Royal Bank, Dominoes, Coca Cola and Cost Rite. The "special delivery" was a deluxe pizza party delivered on Sky Bahamas Airlines to the winning school on June 15, 2012.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie announced a new luxury boutique casino for the Bimini Bay Resort and Casino during a press conference at his Cable Beach Office, Friday, June 29, 2012.

The Prime Minister said the new casino is the result of a partnership between Resorts World Genting and Rav Bahamas Ltd. "This is an important venture not only for Rav Bahamas and Resorts World, but also for the island of Bimini as it provides further stability for the local economy in a destination that already enjoys a 79 per cent visitor return," he said.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- The island of Bimini is set out to receive a major boost to its economy. Genting Malaysia will partner with RAV Bahamas to launch Resorts World Bimini Bay, a luxury boutique casino facility at Bimini Bay Resort & Marina in North Bimini Island.

The project, once completed is expected to employ some 300 persons directly and up to 1000 persons indirectly. In addition, the government is currently holding 'talks' with three major airlines, including Bahamasair and several charter services to increase airlift to the island.

Hurricane Coming? An age old Bahamian myth states if the mango trees are heavy loaded with fruit, it will be a very bad hurricane season. Since I've lived here it's actually seemed to be true. Years when the mango trees are full of fruit there has been a busy season with storms coming close to us. Years when the fruit is light it has been a light season for storms with nothing coming close to us. Now, I think mangos are pretty amazing fruits.

Deep Water Cay, Grand Bahama - "If anyone questions why we do this, just look at all the smiling faces. They are our neighbors and we love sharing our island with them, "said Bill Culbreath when he, his wife and staff welcomed over 70 local school children to Deep Water Cay this weekend.

The new management team were pleased to connect with their neighbors and enjoyed every movement of it too as did their staff who helped organize a treasure hunt, limbo competition, and dance games for the visiting kids.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- National Regatta Song competition winner Don 'Bahamadon' Rolle wants to change a "dangerous trend." "The foreign cultures that have infiltrated our youth through music have proven devastating with their negative impacts," he observed. His latest hit 'Regatta Time' is about pointing Bahamians to their roots.

"Bahamians need the integrity and backbone of their culture to know who they are or else they would be more susceptible to go any way that some other culture takes them," he added.

HSGB's summer camp wound to a close last Friday with a fun filled morning at the Junkanoo Beach Club. Highlights of the day included a sand castle building competition and of course, fun in the water! (Congrats to Elliot Francolla, cat girl extraordinaire, for the winning sand castle - it was a tough one to call!) We highly recommend the Beach Club for any event or just to spend a great affordable day at a beautiful beach with amenities.

The staff were amazing - so helpful and fun and really went the extra mile for our campers.

Florida is a near neighbour of the Bahamas and throughout history has interacted with the Bahamas. Only late in the nineteenth century did Miami exceed Nassau in population. The following is some historical background on the Florida connection taken from 'Bahama Saga'.

Florida was a British possession from 1763 to1784. It then became became Spanish from 1784 until 1821 when it was purchased by the United States (in fact if Spain had not agreed to the purchase it almost certainly would probably have been annexed by force anyway - like Texas).

Silver Jubilee -- Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Dr. Danny Johnson (right) officially opens the Jeff Rodgers Silver Jubilee Basketball Campon Monday July 2, 2012, at the Seventh Day Adventist, H D. Colebrook Gymnasium. Jeff Rodgers is pictured at left. (BIS Photo/ Derek Smith)

Yard Sale this Saturday @8am, leaving island. Off Albacore Dr., down from Lucayan Towers - Hardy Hollow. Call 373-6908 for more info.

The Grand Bahama dilemma is primarily a political issue with vast social and economic repercussions for Grand Bahama. The Hawksbill Creek Agreement (HCA Act, 1955) created an area, Freeport/Lucaya, in central GB with defined regulatory powers for economic and social development vested in a private company, the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA).

Freeport/Lucaya developed into the second largest city in the Bahamas. The principals to this agreement are the GBPA, the Government of the Bahamas (GoB), and the licensees of the Port Authority. Herein lay the dilemma: "a quasi-governmental structure within the borders of a sovereign state, devoid of transparency and accountability in its conduct to the populace."

I was surprised to hear and see media reports on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning of coverage of Prime Minister Christie's remarks to senior public officers. He reportedly acknowledged that our country is now "in the midst of one of the most difficult and challenging fiscal periods in the nation's history." In his Budget Communication last month also, he admitted that the Bahamian economy was inextricably linked to that of the United States and that recovery in our economy was dependent on recovery in the US economy.

On Thursday, the Minister of Labour, Shane Gibson, also advised the media, following the execution of new agreements with the BUT and the BPSU providing for the payment of increments to public officers concluded by the FNM Government, that "the financial conditions of the country remain the same" - presumably, the same as reported by the FNM Government prior to May 7th.

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The ball is in your court now Mr. Roberts

Mr. Bradley Roberts, Chairman of the PLP keeps reminding people that his party has an overwhelming mandate, but on checking the election results at Bahamas Elections, 4,458 more people voted against them than voted in their favour.

According to the data a total of 156,088 people voted. 75,815 cast their ballot for the PLP and 80,273 indicated their support for the opposition candidates. This would indicate to any reasonable person that the opposition are well represented throughout society and if they (the PLP) are to win them over they need to settle down and get the job of governing done.

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