Prime Minister The Right Hon. Perry Christie was in his Farm Road constituency on Wednesday December 19th accepting a donation on behalf of the Urban Renewal Commission from Bahamas Striping. Earlier this month the young company, that believes in giving back to the community through training of young Bahamians and through charitable support, donated 300 toys to Urban Renewal for struggling children in Nassau and Abaco. This time, the road and car park marking company donated 100 hams for the elderly in inner city Nassau and 50 in Abaco.

At Urban Renewal's branch in Farm Road constituency, the Prime Minister praised the young company's civic-mindedness and charity. Prime Minister Christie said that he came down to accept this donation even though he was in a very important meeting.

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie said The Bahamas "temporarily became focus and focal point of Cold War tension" when Nassau hosted the Anglo-American conference over three days in December 1962.

President John F. Kennedy, the only sitting American President to visit The Bahamas in an official capacity and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan signed the Nassau Agreement on December 22, 1962, enabling the United Kingdom to be outfitted with American manufactured Polaris missiles as part of a wider North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) deterrent force during the Cold War.

Christmas carols, rustling shopping bags and good cheer greeted arrivals at the busy Old Fort Bay Town Centre during the late night shopping and Christmas street party last Friday evening. The New Providence Development Company Ltd (NPDCo) shops at the Old Fort Bay Town Centre in Western New Providence anchored by the successful Solomon's Fresh Market, opened their doors way past closing time to welcome 500 plus guests to their first annual Christmas Extravaganza.

The mood was light and bright as shoppers crowded the well-stocked stores, snapping up the seasonal specials and celebratory offers. "I don't know where to go first," remarked local resident Sue Williams, as she was steered into Benetton by one of a bevy of pretty girls in golden reindeer antlers.

The Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Social Services announced December 19 the establishment of a Family Court to be be located at the Town Centre Mall.

"I would like the public to recognise that we take this very seriously. By any yardstick that you use to measure excellence, we have a blue ribbon committee. It is a very big vision. It is a fundamental change; a foundational change; it's transformative, not just the way we look at things but it will change our society...for the better," said Attorney General Senator the Hon. Allyson Maynard Gibson.

Date: 12.22.12 - The Birth of a brand new World Age also signifies the birth of a "New Humanity."

You and I, and everybody on our planet at this time arrived (either fully aware, or half asleep) at the very beginning of something new; something we all knew we would participate in before we incarnated into our physical selves. Most of us have forgotten though.

Do not expect to be fully awake yet. We are still like babes who need to learn from not knowing.. Many of us who walked the path toward spiritual enlightenment and higher consciousness for a long time, may be somewhat better prepared in understanding and interpreting what we will experience and how to embrace the Unknown fearlessly; but we too will start from the beginning. We enter a new Era.

During this holiday season of joy and giving, our hearts are full of thanks and appreciation for our supporters. There is one particular person, and one particular corporate entity whom we are especially grateful for, and without whom the HSGB would never be in the position we are today.

In the summer of 2004, we were asked by the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) to take over the daunting task of providing Animal Control services for the city of Freeport. The GBPA, and the Hayward family, had been loyal and major supporters of the HSGB since our inception in 1968. Prior to 2004, we were a very small non profit with an annual intake of a few hundred animals a year. One part time kennel attendant and a slew of dedicated volunteers cared for the handful of animals housed in our tiny shelter on Cedar Street, built in 1973.

The GBPA realized there was a serious problem with stray and roaming dogs, (and cats to a lesser degree), as did we. Of course we agreed to take on this monumental job (not realizing at the time just how monumental it would prove to be!). We immediately set out to learn everything we could about "animal control".

His Excellency, Sir Arthur Foulkes, Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Lady Foulkes, made an official visit to the nation's second city this past Friday, on matters pertaining to the Rand Memorial Hospital. However, executives of The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA), the Hutchison Group of Companies and The Ministry for Grand Bahama, took advantage of the opportunity and hosted His Excellency and Lady Foulkes to dinner during his visit.

The gathering took place at Churchill's Restaurant at the Grand Lucayan Resort and provided the group with an ideal opportunity to update His Excellency on the state of affairs on Grand Bahama. On hand to receive the Governor General and Lady Foulkes was the Minister for Grand Bahama, the Honourable Michael Darville and Mrs. Darville.

Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Sir Arthur Foulkes and Lady Foulkes made an official visit to the newly established Ministry of Grand Bahama on December 14.

Sir Arthur was in Grand Bahama for his annual visit to the Rand Memorial Hospital and accepted the invitation to visit the Grand Bahama Ministry, which is housed in the Harold DeGregory Complex on the Mall, Freeport. Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville officially welcomed Sir Arthur to the ministry and informed him that he did so with a great sense of pride.

The New York Times recently highlighted an observation about lifestyles in Chantilly, Virgina that should resonate with us in the Bahamas. It noted that people who move to the suburbs - often the gated community variety - find they do not move about as much as when they lived in an urban community. Often open spaces (in the Bahamas 10% of the land platted in most new subdivisions) are often not large enough for real outdoor activities and we also have the burning sun to contend with. There are no neighbourhood shops within walking distance and so the people in Virginia (and I suspect in many places in the Bahamas) pile into their cars and drive two or more miles to a shopping centre.

The suburban paradox is that the new suburbanites have exchanged landed comfort for near-total car dependency. The NYT asks: is the American suburb, originally conceived as a relaxing alternative to the city, now a contributor to medical problems from obesity to depression and high blood pressure? Add to the anomy of suburban life, poor diet and we have a real problem on our hands.

Because of the potential that the programme has for community and social development in Abaco, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie said, on December 21, 2012, that the official launch of Urban Renewal on that island was an historic event.

"Today, I would like to say that we are making history," Prime Minister Christie said, at the ceremony at the Urban Renewal Office, Dundas Town, Abaco. "It is important and we want to use this day as the reference point for all that we do. "My Government is making another promise a reality."

Running through New Year's Day, a three-man circus troop will be thrilling guests and visitors at the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina with free daily performances under "the big top." The trio, who will feature a series of precision stunts, including cycling, juggling, acrobatics and tumbling, fire tricks and more, will perform daily starting at 4 p.m.

The two acts will consist of soloist Gabriel Beaudoin from Quebec-an acrobat, tumbler and juggler and winner of the North American juggler convention (Turbo Fest 2012)- and Yldor Llach from Barcelona, Catalonia and Maxime Poulin from Disraeli, Canada, a cyclist duo performing a series of precision stunts. Poulin is the 2012 Canadian champion in acrobatic cycling. The three artists were chosen from a larger group competing to travel to Bimini to perform.

For The Eleuthera Arts and Cultural Center, the Tarpum Bay Historical and Heritage Society, and the Tarpum Bay Township, it was a time to celebrate history and accomplishments.

The Tarpum Bay Heritage and Historical Society (TBHHS) had been formed a few years ago to preserve the history and heritage of their settlement and the lead project was the renovation of the All Age School to a cultural center. On November 24, 2012, forty-seven seniors were recognised for their contributions to their community.

The evening before, a celebration of the "Renaissance of the Lil Prep" (All Age Prep School) with its 200-year old history to birth of the new Eleuthera Arts and Cultural Centre (EACC) took place. The project was co-chaired by the local township chairman, Cleveland Knowle

From the Tribune

THE VALLEY boys swept the Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade, grabbing the top spots in all categories to win overall after the unofficial results were called last night.

The group might have hit Bay Street last, but they took first place in the off-the-shoulder, free dancer, lead costume, choreographed dancers, music, best banner and Shirley Street performance categories.

They comin'! It's the 2013 Donna Duncombe New Year's Day Junkanoo Parade on Tuesday, January 1st, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. Pioneers Way, downtown Freeport.

Donna Duncombe was a Junkanooer at heart and was always actively working on some aspect of the art to bring about improvement. From West End to East End all are invited to celebrate the life and legacy of Donna Duncombe at the 2013 New Year's Day Junkanoo Parade. Feel the pulsating beat of the goat skin drum and 'kalik' of the cowbell.

Author Marina Gottlieb Sarles will hold an encore book signing of her new historical novel 'The Last Daughter of Prussia' in the Garden Cafe at the Garden of the Groves on Saturday, December 29th, from 12-3pm.

The Last Daughter of Prussia is a historical novel based on the family diaries of the author's grandparents-an epic story of suspense, love, and survival centering around the largest and least known civilian mass exodus at the end of World War II. Set amidst a beautiful and vanished way of life in war-torn East Prussia, two unlikely young lovers must fight for their lives and find new heart while struggling to escape one of the most dangerous and tragic landscapes of any generation.

They say a good story is worth repeating, and the Big Game Club Resort & Marina is again shooting for some major Wahoo action in February with its Smackdown II Tournament. The legendary resort kicked off the Wahoo season run in November with some 60 anglers competing for more than $30,000 in cash and prizes. Participating teams literally saw tons of action landing nearly a ton and a half fish.

Tournament Director Captain Paul Cameron hopes the fishing Gods will back in force on February 21-23 with the season ending Wahoo tournament run. "We listened to what the anglers wanted and have come up with what we feel is a good combination blending reasonable entry fees with great prizes," said Cameron.

Canadian Football League player, Bahamian Carl McCartney and United States League soccer player, Cat Island resident, Happy Hall, took time out to discuss with Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Dr. Daniel Johnson, their careers and outlook for opportunities for local Bahamian sports talents.

Both athletes committed themselves to opening doors for the Youth in The Bahamas. There is general agreement that talent, sports aptitude and ideal body structures, abound in the youth talent pool. "They need to be pointed in the right direction, where coaches, talent scouts and colleges can view them," said McCartney.

Minister for Grand Bahama the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville on December 21 met with Senator the Hon. Gregory Burrows, a consultant with the Ministry of Sports, with a view of improving sporting facilities on Grand Bahama.

Top on the list for discussion was the planned improvements to the Grand Bahama Sports Complex. "We need to bring that facility to a level which we can all be proud. We are not just talking about the track and field side, but softball, baseball and more. Recently I have had some discussion with persons from the swimming organisation who want to do some things there."

Sometime ago Perry Christie, now Prime Minister of The Bahamas, made a public statement saying that he would encourage the investor, but would always protect Bahamian assets. This statement is profound. But it's deep rooted in the very fabric of Bahamian psyche. There are two kinds of assets, one tangible and the other intangible. Most countries have an abundance of tangible assets such as gold, oil, uranium. The Bahamas has none of these. These assets are usually exported outside of the country's borders.

The Bahamas has a unique asset, beauty. This, oddly enough, is one of the two assets in the world that can be sold and kept to be sold again. It is usually consumed within the country's borders. This is why devaluation of a currency works for one and not the other. But this will be explained and examined at some other time.

The beauty of our beaches is one of our most valuable assets. Cable Beach is the jewel of New Providence. It is this island's most beautiful beach, and its most valuable asset. We must protect it.