BTC customers using cell phones that do little more than handle conversation will be able to trade them in for phones that do just about everything but guarantee happiness with a 10-day trade-in-and-up campaign aimed at ridding The Bahamas of some 2,300 models of antiquated phones. It's the first time in the company's history that it has offered a trade-in.

"There are some 2,300-plus models amounting to 250,000 handsets in use in The Bahamas today that are out of date," said Marlon Johnson. "Many of those are actually gray market phones that were purchased from companies other than BTC or brought into the country from abroad and had to be 'rigged' to work on our system. In order to service all of those devices, we have had to keep outdated platforms up and running. With all our upgrades, we want to clean up the morass of the multiplicity of units."

On Friday, September 21, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires John Dinkelman met with Mr. Tyson McKenzie, President of the Bahamas National Youth Council (BNYC) to discuss the organization's plans for Caribbean Youth Day celebrated on September 28 and learn about his three-week U.S. Embassy sponsored visit to the United State as part of a global youth delegation.

The exchange opportunity was part of the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) entitled "Campaign 2012: Youth Participation in the U.S. Political System." Mr. McKenzie was one of over thirty emerging leaders selected by U.S. Embassies from all over the world for the unique cultural exchange that took participants to Denver, Tampa, Charlotte, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. to examine civic and political engagement among young people firsthand.

The Hon. Ryan Pinder, Minister of Financial Services, including in that portfolio responsibility for international trade and industry, today convened high level discussions with Chancellor Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, Minister of External Relations for the Government of the Republic of Brazil. Minister Patriota also has responsibility for international trade matters for Brazil.

Enhancing commercial and technical cooperation and increasing international trade between The Bahamas and Brazil topped the discussions between the two Ministers. In that context, Brazil indicated its support for The Bahamas' accession to the World Trade Organisation, noting that The Bahamas' accession would have significant symbolic importance to the Organisation. The Bahamas remains the only country in the Western Hemisphere which is not a member of the World Trade Organisation.

DOCTORS HOSPITAL Blood Bank issues a critical appeal for all blood types!

Donations can be made between 8:30am and 8:00pm weekdays and from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday/Sundays.

The Blood Bank is located on the second floor; please give the gift of life today!

Club de demas Hispanas de las Bahamas, the Hispanic Women's Club of the Bahamas donated $10,000 to assist Bahamian women in the fight against breast cancer and to save lives. This year, proceeds from their annual fundraiser held at the Poop Deck West were donated to the Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative Foundation (BBCIF).

The funds donated from the Hispanic Women's Club will assist Bahamian women who are high risk, to have genetic testing for the BRCA1 gene. Women in the Bahamas have been shown to have the highest prevalence of a genetic mutation that places them at a higher risk for developing breast cancer.

PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, EDUCATION AND DEMAND ELIMINATION: "BE SMART, DON'T START"

These four corner stones of the drug use and abuse fortification, namely prevention, intervention, education and demand reduction, have had minimal success over the past thirty-three years. One can deduce this fact from the multitude of teens now involved in the drug market as users, carriers and dealers. Of course the related drug wars, turf wars, guns and murders speak clearly to the losing battle in this small nation in which many of our youth have perished.

The only option we now seem to have is to make every attempt to fortify our youth, beginning at a very early age against this fertile epidemic

Mario Carey Realty announced this week it has launched a comprehensive property management division headed by a multi-lingual property management specialist and staffed by a veteran professional with 15 years' experience in the U.S., Europe and South America. The division will handle tasks associated with managing and maintaining everything from a single family residence to a high-end condominium complex.

The expansion is the latest in a series of offerings by the firm that has grown steadily since opening its doors at the height of the downturn in the economy in 2008, but has found success through what its founder and CEO, Mario Carey, calls "the unceasing search for that extra something that makes a difference." Property management, he said, is a natural extension.

Everyday it boggles my mind when you walk through the food store how many products there are on the shelves. It's crazy what you can buy these days and at the same time I find it a little sad that people don't find time to cook themselves anymore. I saw a joke the other day, a young guy was talking to his friend and said "I'm going out to eat some locally sourced organic free range antibiotic free food, our as my grandparents called it-food". It's so true. Why have we lost the ability to provide for ourselves? Cooking is a very easy thing to do. It takes time and patience sometimes but it always pays off in great food.

Take for example BBQ. In North America BBQ is big business. Competitive teams travel with massive trailer-rigged grills and compete for big money. And they do it all in the name of good, tasty food. The key ingredient of which is time. I have a huge soft spot in my heart for great BBQ. Such basic down-home food makes me feel so good when I eat it. It's not fancy or haute cuisine but no less delicious and satisfying.

The Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) currently has 32 young men and women training in their apprentice program - a four year on-the-job training course to learn the ropes of the ship repair business. But these are not the only Bahamians being assisted by GBS.

Gerard Douglas, a Marine Engineer and Licensed third Engineer, and Miles Wilkinson, a Naval Architect, have both earned their degrees thanks to the assistance of Grand Bahama Shipyard. "After the completion of my first engineering degree at the College of The Bahamas in 2002, I joined the management training program at the Shipyard," said Douglas. "I thought it was a good opportunity to enhance my career."

Since the onset of the global recession in 2008, economies world-wide have experienced the trickle-down affects. According to World Bank statistics, the GDP of just about every country has taken a loss in one or more of its sectors. As for The Bahamas, it too has taken losses in its tourism, export and manufacturing sectors. However, the construction sector continues to hold steady, showing small but noticeable signs that the economy is making an upward turn.

In particular, the City of Freeport has held a consistent flow of projects despite a downturn in tourism, the country's number one industry. According to Mr. Arthur Jones, Vice President of the Building and Development Services Department for The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA), the construction industry on Grand Bahama is holding a steady pace.

Still recognised as the official capital of Grand Bahama Island, the settlement of West End can boast of having a new resort, with the opening of the Blue Marlin Cove Resort and Marina at Bootle Bay on Thursday. Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie was in Grand Bahama to officially open the resort, as was Tourism Minister and Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini, the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe. Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville was also on hand to bring remarks.

Prime Minister Christie told the gathering that he was delighted to be in West End, Grand Bahama to participate in the ceremony, which marks the transformation and the official opening of the Blue Marlin Cove into a condo-hotel. Built originally as a 30 condominium unit, the upscale renovated property now boasts some 30 bedrooms 2 ½ bathroom suites, a private marina with 30 slips, swimming pool and spa, restaurant, recreation centre and conference space.

Santiago Figuereo, MD, FAANS, FACS, a world-respected neurosurgeon from Miami will participate in the GBMDA 12th Annual Scientific Educational Conference. Dr. Figuereo will be one of the international speakers. He will talk about endoscopic cranial and spinal cases performed with the latest minimally invasive techniques, participating in the Prevention and Cure module, the 21st century alternatives.

Dr. Santiago Figuereo says, "I'm so pleased to be in the beautiful Bahamas. I'm looking forward to work, meet my colleagues, and share this important time of learning at the GBMDA congress. I want to build stronger bridges between Miami and the Bahamas on medical training and exchange of the latest technology available in my specialty."

This article came about in consequence of research Peter Barratt undertook when writing on 'Angelic Verses' which book identified all the biblical references to angels in the Bible. Though there are few direct references to angels in the conquest of the Promised Land, angelic presence may be inferred throughout the long history of the land called Canaan, Palestine and now Israel. This article briefly discusses the history of the Promised Land and length of tenure of the Jews in the Holy Land.

A PROMISED LAND / A CHOSEN PEOPLE - A Brief History

The Middle East is a common topic in the Media nowadays. The 'Arab Spring': Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, and then of course there is the Holy Land, Israel. In Judaic and, to most Christians, Israel is believed to be the land that was 'promised' by God to the Jews over thee millennia ago. The history starts with a description of how a Covenant was made by God with Abraham concerning the 'Promised Land' but then, ironically, the Israelites (the 'Chosen People'), for long periods did not enjoy residence in the land that was 'promised' to them by God.

Abaco's homegrown patriotism and strong sense of community has lured Bahamas Striping to Murphy Town to help with another community project. For Bahamas Striping president Atario Mitchell the project is special because Atario was raised in Murphy Town.

Bahamas Striping has partnered with the Progressive Liberal Party's North Abaco constituency candidate Renardo Curry to restripe and restore Murphy Town's basketball and volleyball court. Both venues have not been restored in nearly 15 years. They will also clean the adjacent park. The restoration and clean-up project is set for Saturday September 29, 2012

The 4th annual Shakespeare in Paradise Theatre Festival officially opens Friday, October 5th. This year the festival will feature five productions in five venues throughout Nassau. The Signature Shakespeare production is entitled Merchant. This is the classic tale of the Merchant of Venice but since our production is set in The Bahamas, the Venice part of the title has been dropped. Gordon Mills directs.

The Signature Bahamian production welcomes back playwright/actress/director Jeanne Thompson with her playwright hat on this time and her newly written one-act play, Back of the Moon. We will also present one of her classics, Father's Day. This evening of two one acts is being called Out o' Wedlock and is directed by the festival's artistic director Philip A. Burrows.

The call went out earlier this year for submissions for local filmmakers interested in participating in the FLIFF On Location: Grand Bahama Island festival and the Blue Ribbon film review panel comprising of Willie A. M. Moss, John Swain, Sarah Hamilton, Rouen Robinson, and Cornelius McKinney have completed their review and selection of films to be showcased this year at the second annual film festival to take place from October 25 - 28th at the Pelican Bay Hotel's Canal House in Freeport.

"We are delighted with the increase in the number of entries as well as the quality of content and cinematography of the films submitted this year!" said Senior Manager, Film Development, Donna Mackey. "We have an additional category to the competition in order to allow our film review Blue Ribbon panel to focus separately on the entries in the high school and college students categories. The many festival attendees will have an opportunity to witness the growth and development in our film making from last year to now."

Jazz vocalist extraordinaire Sandy Patton will be performing from the Gershwin and Cole Porter songbooks in concert with a local trio at the Canal House at Pelican Bay on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 7pm.

Sandy has performed all over the world with a long list of jazz greats including Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillepsie, Paquito D'Riveria, Cab Calloway, Clark Terry and many others. She recently retired after 18 years as Jazz Vocal Professor in the Jazz Department of the distinguished Hochschule der Kunst in Bern, Switzerland. Sandy will be joined onstage in Freeport by pia

The 15th Annual Bahama Arts Festival 2012 will be held at the Arawak Cay site from Sunday October 26th, 2012, through Sunday October 28th, 2012. The Festival will showcase the many splendid products that are produced locally by Bahamian artisans.

This Festival has been instrumental over the past fifteen years bringing recognition and merit to the Arts & Craft Industry. The Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation continues to strive to improve and enhance the Handicraft, Souvenir and Fashion Design Industry. Festival patrons will be able to participate in various activities during what will be dubbed as 'National Craft Week.'

The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) is a contributing sponsor of this year's Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) with FLIFF on Location, slated to be held October 25 - 28 on Grand Bahama Island. Event organizers and two young FLIFF film entrants were recently welcomed by GBPA Vice President, Ginger Moxey, who chatted with the group and presented a sponsorship cheque.

Extending commendation, Vice President Moxey first praised the organizers on the return of the film festival. "Last year's event was an eye-opener for many international filmmakers on the potential that exists here in Grand Bahama for the production of major movie films. With the festival's return this year, it shows that you've built on the interest that was spurred last year and we're pleased to render our support as you showcase the advantages of our island and skill sets of our residents to an even greater array of persons in the film industry," she said.

Organisers of Bahamas Speed Week Revival 2012 have revealed their events schedule for the week of 24th November - 2nd December.

Building on the success of 2011′s revival, the programme has been expanded to include a Gala Concert, Auto Trade Show, Miss Speed Week Pageant, Out Island Excursions, Beach Party and much more.

Click below to view or click HERE to download the PDF version. Visit www.bahamasspeedweek.com for more information.

Jerome Thompson, president of Bahamas Disability Adventures, announced plans September 19, to hold the first Blind Boat Challenge marine event. The two-day event is to be held in stages and is scheduled for October 13 and 14. Mr. Thompson said it promises to be exciting and is to be highlighted by a blind person driving a boat as a one-legged amputee is waterskiing behind.

Mr. Thompson, who is visually disabled, said stage one will begin at 10 a.m. from the Hurricane Hole Marina on Paradise Island and involves him circumnavigating a small boat two or three laps around the island, under his own power.

On Wednesday, September 19, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires John Dinkelman and U.S. Embassy officials paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, The Hon. Dr. Daniel Johnson and his senior staff.

The meeting served as an opportunity to highlight ongoing partnerships and discuss potential joint efforts between the Ministry and the United States Embassy. Chargé Dinkelman also highlighted the Mission's ongoing commitment to working with the Bahamian government, community-based organizations, local schools and sports leagues that promote youth empowerment and encourage young people to resist negative peer pressure.

As the news suffice about the upcoming gambling referendum and the possible questions on its ballot - one thing is certain, and that is: the confusion mounts. Are we going to vote half of the way or the full nine yards on Bahamians gambling in The Bahamas? Is the referendum going to be about a national lottery, legalizing web shops, casino gambling for Bahamians, or what? The success of the vote will depend on the ballot menu.

Some Bahamians voters want the whole hog; which is the legalization of all forms of gambling for the native gamblers period. Others simply want to do their thing in the web shops without having to look over their shoulders for a possible law enforcement raid. Then, there are those among us who want to play numbers exclusively; whether it's lotto, lottery, Island Luck, Flowers, Asue Draw and so on and so forth