Representative members of the Diplomatic Corps lay wreaths, at the Cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance, on November 11, 2012, as part of the Bahamas' Remembrance Day Service.

The Bahamas paid tribute to those men and women who gave their lives in the two World Wars, during a service at Christ Church Cathedral earlier that day, as well as at the wreath-laying ceremony.

SEN. THE HON. ZHIVARGO S. LAING, JP, BA Saturday, November 10, 2012
RE: RESIGNATION FROM THE SENATE

I wish to inform the public that by letter dated November 9th, 2012, I advised the Leader of the Opposition that after careful thought, I have decided not to remain in the Senate beyond the end of this year. As such, I will be tendering my resignation from the Senate and as Shadow Minister of Finance with effect from the 31st December, 2012.

I sought to provide the leader with sufficient advance notice in order that he might have time enough to select a replacement. My decision to resign is deeply personal and in no way reflects upon the leader or my party, the Free National Movement.

The Board of the Directors of the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Foundation and the Executive Board of the Nassau, Bahamas Pan-Hellenic Council are pleased to announce that a three month nation-wide search will be conducted to locate the BEST and BRIGHTEST primary school students in The Bahamas. The Foundation realise that we have an unprecedented opportunity to recognise a group of students who are often overlooked and seldom appreciated, primary school students.

This premier annual national recognition ceremony, which was established in 1997, has impacted over 1,100 talented young students and awarded over $700,000.00 in scholarships and prizes over the past 16 years.

Minister of Financial Services the Hon. Ryan Pinder (second right) joins Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) executives, on November 9, 2012, in presenting the Professional of the Year Award to Relationship Manager and Director at Julius Baer Bank and Trust (Bahamas) Limited Mr. Werner G. Gruner, during the BFSB 12th Annual Financial Services Industry Excellence Awards Gala Dinner, held at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort.

According to the BFSB, the Industry Excellence Awards Programme was introduced in 2001 to recognise excellence in performance amongst industry practitioners.

The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) and the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) wish to go on record as supporting the annual closed season for Grouper beginning December 1, 2012 - February 28, 2013.

According to Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, Executive Director of BREEF, "The Bahamas is one of the last remaining strongholds for the Nassau Grouper throughout its geographic range. The Nassau grouper is already commercially extinct in many neighbouring countries, and is recognized as an endangered species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The closed season is critical to ensuring that future generations of Bahamians can enjoy this important fish."

The BNT hears the concerns expressed by Mr. LaRoda about weather related hardships that fishermen may be facing, but we do not agree that a short-term economic gain at the expense of spawning groupers would be worth the long term impact that would be wrought as a result.

Thanksgiving and the holidays are a special time in The Bahamas for many. These are times when family and friends are celebrated; they are also times in our lives where we can give gifts and give thanks for the gift of life and the many blessings we have.

In February 2009 Sandra William-Fox was in a car accident, but did not know she was pregnant at that time. Prior to this, she had stopped working in November 2008 and was scheduled to go on an interview the day following the accident. However, her injuries prohibited her from being interviewed, or working, until she had fully recovered from bone and other complications. In late June 2009, after multiple x-rays and treatment for her injuries, she returned to the doctor due to medical problems, believed to be a side effect of the medication she was taking.

One of the wealthiest families in the world has dinner at a 5-star Nassau restaurant and goes home to boast about the experience. Affluent attendees purchase watches worth six figures on Bay Street. A real estate company brokers a champagne deal with a local company and dozens of high-net-worth visitors tour a budding, exclusive residential development in Abaco.

Those were among the profits spawned in the Bahamas Speed Week Paddock Club last year and more are expected soon when the massive marquis with its luxury-packed lounge opens as the power-packed place-by-the-race where business meets pleasure and the two intermingle with the ease of old friends.

Local patients have begun receiving first class surgical experiences at the newly opened Bahamas Medical Center. Gastroenterologist Dr Gemma Rolle was the first to utilise the state of the art operating theater when she performed an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and cosmetic surgeon Dr Greg Neil performed the first major surgical procedure - a breast reduction.

Dr Rolle has since performed three additional procedures and based on the experience she and her patients have had, plans to continue to utilise the Blake Road operating theater.

It's been an extra busy two weeks at the Humane Society of Grand Bahama! Starting with the fun filled Halloween Bash held October 31st at the GB Sailing Club (GBSC). Over 300 people came out for an extra spooky evening with good food and drinks, and even a flash mob.

The HSGB partnered with the GBSC for this event and it was a great success for both organizations. Big thanks to Bev Dobinson and Michelle Lovatt (HSGB), Chris Paine, Sarah Lihou-Rolle, Pat Lihou, and David Valentine (GBSC), and everyone else who helped, too numerous to mention but no less appreciated, and most of all everyone who attended!

Thanks to a great turn out at the Circle Mall, this year's annual Auto Show was buzzing with excitement. New car dealers, banks, insurance companies, and others filled the new local mall with anticipation as they showed off new vehicles and great rates for interested buyers.

Attendees also liked the concept of moving the show to the Circle Mall this year. "This is my first time here," said one shopper. "I am pleasantly surprised by the look and feel of the place and loving all the choices I have for lunch. I did not realise they were putting the cars on the inside of the mall, it feels like I'm in the USA!"

Following in his father's footsteps, Nikolai Sarles recently passed the Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) exam and will be a licensed real estate sales agent, selling properties throughout The Bahamas and working with his father, prominent broker James Sarles, President of Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty in Grand Bahama.

Nikolai has Freeport in his blood as the son of James and Marina Gottlieb Sarles. His mother, a Bahamian author, is the daughter of the island's first doctor and nurse-medical practitioners brought in to serve the Pine Ridge lumber camp residents when early Freeport was being built.

Wishing to spend a bit more time on the island of Grand Bahama, the ten German participants on their first leg of the seven-day Bahamas, Cayman and Cancun Caribbean Paradise Mauiva AirCruise, said a hearty "danke schön!" Or, thank you!

Mauiva AirCruise, based in Orlando, Florida, launched their 7 days/6 nights 'Sun & Fun Experience in Caribbean Paradise' with four soft-launch trips: November 5, December 23, December 27, and March 16, 2013.

Come February 2013, hundreds of business executives, investment authority delegates as well as regional government leaders, will converge on Grand Bahama Island for the Bahamas International Investment and Business Forum (BIIF). The event, a collaborative effort between The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA), the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA) and the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), will serve in meeting numerous objectives that are priorities for both The Bahamas Government and GBPA.

The forum, slated for February 20th -21st, 2013 at the Grand Lucayan Resort, is intended to focus on attracting new foreign direct investment to the country, while simultaneously revitalizing the country's legacy as a premier investment platform and business friendly destination.

The International Bazaar was the idea of the wife of DK Ludwig the multi-millionaire responsible for dredging the harbour, developing Bahamia and El Casino. Wallace Groves in 1965, was quick to seize on the Bazaar idea and two Hollywood set designers were immediately employed and a gaggle of buildings in Freeport were quickly transformed into virtually authentic reproductions of streets in exotic cities of the world. Indeed, so authentic was the transformation, that a great opportunity was lost by the motion picture industry not to use the Bazaar as live sets for movies. But anyway, the idea of the International Bazaar in Freeport was a success and, though perhaps not the first in the world, it received international acclaim and was copied in many other places including Nassau.

The International Bazaar was not only architecturally authentic but featured authentic merchandise from the countries represented and even introduced traditional costumes for the sales staff. Most importantly the Bazaar was commercially highly successful so much so that George Kates, the dynamic CEO of the Grand Bahama Development Company at the time, quickly recognized its appeal and moved Devco's offices to the upper floors of the Bazaar.

This year one of Abaco's oldest and largest law firms is celebrating their 10-year anniversary by giving back in a huge way to their community. "We are planting 10 coconut trees for every year we have been open," said a very excited Rhonda Hull, Managing Partner of L.C. Hull & Co. "That's 100 trees to help beautify our island and help spruce up our public dock areas."

L.C. Hull & Co., Law Firm is situated in downtown Marsh Harbour and offers comprehensive service to both local and international clients. Managing Partner, Hull, is a native Bahamian who grew up in Abaco but traveled abroad to study in Switzerland, Trinidad, Sweden, Canada and the United States.

November 11, 2012: The National Coastal Awareness Committee is inviting the public to participate in a Fun Run/Walk to commemorate its 10th Anniversary. The event will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2012 in Fresh Creek, Andros in conjunction with the 2012 Harvest Festival. The route will be along the beautiful Andros shoreline from Lighthouse Point to Calabash Bay.

"We are really excited to hold these signature events together in Andros this year," said Peter Douglas, Ministry of Tourism representative for Andros.

The hilarious Comedy PLAY "Election 2012 - What Just Happened" will return to GRAND BAHAMA on Thursday, November 15th, for ONE NIGHT ONLY - at the Bishop Michael Eldon Auditorium. The theatrical production is brought to you by the same writers and producer of "Election 2002 - If You Don't Laugh, You'll Cry" and "Election 2007- Count It Again Man, Count It Again." It is suitable for the whole family; you do not want to miss this one!

Nassau audiences, don't worry, the play will be back at the Rainforest Theater Nov 16-17 at 8pm.

More than 300 invited guests, including Cabinet ministers, dignitaries and business and civic leaders, flocked to Galleria Cinemas November 7 for the premiere of the highly-anticipated 23rd James Bond adventure film, Skyfall, when Heineken hosted the event as part of an international campaign celebrating Agent 007's thirst for the distinctive premium beer.

Commonwealth Brewery Ltd., which brews Heineken in The Bahamas, threw the party that had all the makings of a gala premiere, transforming a parking lot at the Mall at Marathon into a set fit for celebrities piling into the Oscars.

Festival founder and executive director, Leslie Vanderpool announced the final program details Thursday for the 9th edition of the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), which takes place December 6-9, 2012 in Nassau. BIFF will begin with QUARTET and end with a quartet of four Australian aborigine Singers called THE SAPPHIRES.

Weinstein Company's QUARTET starring, Maggie Smith, will open the festival with a red carpet screening at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island on Thursday, December 6th while Australian Comedy THE SAPPHIRES starring Chris O'Dowd will close the festival with an evening screening on Sunday, December 9th - also at the Atlantis Theater.

The large group of art enthusiasts attending the opening night of the Thanksgiving Art Exhibition received a surprise opportunity to mix and mingle with Prime Minister Perry Christie on Thursday night, November 8th. The Prime Minister met and had his photo taken with the many artists and visitors who were attending the Grand Bahama Artists Association's annual exhibition at the Glory Banks Gallery in Freeport.

The eclectic array of artworks from twenty-five artists was augmented with an auction of members' donated art works and a wine and cheese reception.

Stem Cell Therapy is a constantly evolving research tool that involves the harvesting of pluri-potential cells (stem cells) and the planting of those cells in the human body to regenerate damaged tissues, organs or body parts. The current status of research and preliminary results reveal that this mode of therapy holds great promise for the treatment of many diseases and maladies that afflict human beings. However there are moral and ethical concerns that must be addressed as the technical challenges of research progress.

The ethical issues revolve around the use of embryonic stem cells, which are cells derived from human embryos or aborted fetal tissues including placenta. The potential for abuse in the harvesting and use of such products is enormous in the absence of clear guidelines with effective monitoring, oversight and enforcement.