Thursday, 20 December 2012 marked the 40th Anniversary of the conclusion of The Bahamas Independence Conference which was held at Marlborough House in London, England, from 12 to 20 December 1972.

It was on this date that Her Majesty's Government indicated that it would be prepared to recommend to Parliament the passage of the necessary legislation to provide for the independence of The Bahamas on the desired date of 10 July 1973.

The National Task Force on Stem Cell Therapy Treatment has recommended to the Bahamas Government that embryonic stem cells should not be used to create human stem cells in this country, said the Task Force's chairman and managing director of the Cancer Centre, Professor Arthur T. Porter.

Professor Porter presented a copy of the Task Force's recommendations to Minister of Health the Hon. Dr. Perry Gomez during a press conference held at the Ministry of Health, Thursday, December 27, 2012. The Chairman told Dr. Gomez that the Task Force's members unanimously support all of the recommendations within the report.

Senior Bahamian government officials including Minister of Social Services and Community Development Melanie Griffin and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Allyson Maynard-Gibson attended the Caribbean Dialogue on Rule of Law and Gender-Based Violence in Miami, Florida from December 11-13. The U.S. Department of State Office of Global Women's Issues hosted the conference at Florida International University.

The conference brought together judges, prosecutors and high court justices, as well as police officers and representatives from civil society from 12 Caribbean countries including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados to exchange ideas and share strategies for strengthening the rule of law and ending gender-based violence in the Caribbean. The delegates also spent time developing and expanding country action plans to outline strategies to combat gender-based violence.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie said, on December 28, 2012, that the upgrade of ZNS' television facilities from analog to digital reaffirms the Government's commitment to providing the necessary and best tools for effective communication in today's world.

"There can be no doubt whatsoever that the Corporation has contributed significantly to the unity and national development of our Family Islands, scattered as they are over 100,000 square miles of ocean," Prime Minister Christie said, during the ZNS Television Digital Upgrade Ceremony at the property on Rusty Bethel Drive.

The Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International, is pleased to announce another successful holiday toy drive thanks to the efforts of hundreds of donors, loyal travel agents and industry partners, and generous in-kind contribution from Hasbro, Inc. This year's campaign once again brought holiday cheer to thousands of underprivileged children throughout Jamaica, The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Antigua and the Turk & Caicos Islands.

On New Providence toys were delivered to The Ranfurly Home For Children, The Children's Emergency Hostel, Great Commission Ministries, The Children's Ward at the Princess Margaret Hospital , The Nazareth Home for Children and The Indaba Project.

Kianté Stuart, Head Girl of Columbus Primary School emerged as the winner of the exciting and keenly contested sixth Voices of Hope Championship Speech Competition held on Friday, 30th November, 2012. In second place was Myeisha Louis of Cleveland Eneas Primary School and Deshon Johnson of Mastic Point Primary School claimed the third place position.

The speech competition, held every November, is a part of the celebration of Religious Studies Month, an initiative of the Religious Studies Unit of the Department of Education. The purpose of the competition is to provide an opportunity for students to express their beliefs and opinions about spiritual, moral and ethical issues and to enhance their literacy skills. The theme for this year was "The Winner Within".

Gospel music star Fred Hammond spent Christmas with the folks at Sandals Royal Bahamian, checking out of the luxury resort this past weekend. Hammond has been active both as a member of the gospel performing group Commissioned, and as a solo artist (currently for Verity Records). He is a multiple Grammy, Dove, Stellar award winner and nominee as a performer, producer and writer.

Hammond first gained recognition while playing bass guitar for the gospel group The Winans. By 1985 he was one of the six original members of the group Commissioned, participating in 10 of the group's 12 albums.

Organizers of the Design Caribbean Tradeshow have set their sights on Grand Bahama Island, as the location for its 2013 International Expo and Fair, following a very successful event in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in early 2010.

Event organizers, the Caribbean Export Development Agency, (CEDA) recently met with executives of The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) as part of a regional tour, scouting the future location for the 2013 Design Caribbean event. Executive Director of CEDA Mrs. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Mr. David Gomez and the CEDA team, say that they are excited to work with the relative bodies to bring this major event to Grand Bahama.

The Ministry for Grand Bahama, in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Freeport City Council teamed up for a National Tree Lighting Ceremony on Grand Bahama December 21.

Under the theme "Still Building Communities" the event was held at the Harold DeGregory Complex. In addition to the Tree Lighting Ceremony, there was a special concert featuring a number of local school bands, the Legend Marching Band and the Royal Bahamas Police (G.B. Division) Pop Band.

Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville officially opened the festivities, which included an appearance by Santa, who brought special treats for all the kiddies.

The 2013 West End Eco Fishing Camp is now accepting applications. Applicants should be between the ages of 8 and 16 and all applicants will be screened and recorded on a first come, first serve basis. The cut off limit is 45 kids.

2013 is the camp's 5th year in partnership with the community of West End and the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Organisers are planning a very special 5th year Anniversary celebration this year.

The South Andros Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) will conduct an Awareness and Capacity Building Workshop at Sun Rise Inn in Kemp's Bay, South Andros January 7-8, 2013.

The two-day workshop will provide participants with general skills and knowledge in grant funding and the application process. Grant funds can assist with a variety of community based needs and projects.

Four-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Missy Franklin will be coming to Bimini in late March 2013 to shoot a diving with wild dolphins scene for the upcoming film The Current. The historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina in Alice Town will host the cast and crew during their shooting schedule on the island. Disabled athletes joining Franklin in the Bimini segment shoot will be Anthony Robles, who became a NCAA wrestling champion despite being born with one leg, and Mallory Weggemann, London Paralympics gold medalist.

The Current is a film about disabled learning to overcome their disabilities to become real everyday heroes through watersports. The action will include scuba diving, surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, stand up paddle boarding as well as diving with whales and dolphins.

Bahamas Striping has added to its generous giving by donating 100 Christmas toys for children and 50 hams for the elderly to be given through Urban Renewal 2.0 in Abaco. The company presented the donations to Member of Parliament for North Abaco Renardo Curry on behalf of the Urban Renewal Commission at the opening of the Urban Renewal Center in Marsh Harbour on Friday.

The donations added to the 200 toys and 100 hams for Nassau given to Prime Minister Christie on behalf of Urban Renewal 2.0 on Wednesday this week. The young company decided to give back to the Bahamas generously because it has at last received striping work for the first time on major public roads as promised by Deputy Prime Minister "Brave" Davis in August this year.

The United States Embassy in Nassau is pleased to announce the seventh annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Contest. This year's theme "Dream Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.: Celebrating Forty Years of Bahamian Independence" will also include an art component in partnership with Antonius Roberts to encourage high school students in government and private schools to express themselves artistically.

The purpose of this contest is to encourage students to explore the life of Dr. King and the impact of the civil rights movement had on Bahamian independence. All high school students in The Bahamas in grades 10-12 are invited to participate in this contest. Deadline February 1, 2013.

Beginning Saturday, February 2nd and continuing each Saturday through February 23rd, the Garden of the Groves will once again be the inspiring setting for Angelika Siska's 'Art Inspired by Nature' acrylic painting course. An exhibition of the artists' works will be held in the chapel on Sunday, March 3rd from 4 - 6 pm. Dates and times for the course are: February 2,9,16 and 23rd from 9 am - 12 noon. Cost: $65.

This year's theme: Favourite Characteristics of the Bahamas. Register now at the Garden of the Groves as space is very limited.

A trio of Canadian-based circus performers treated locals, visitors and guests of the Bimini Big Game Club to a special free holiday treat from Decemebr 26th through New Year's Day. Acrobat, tumbler and juggler Gabriel Beaudoin was joined by the cycling and precision stunt work of Maxime Poulin and Yldor Llach.

The performers are sponsored by La Station Vaudreuil, a non-profit organization that established the Bimini Quebec Project in 2009. The Bimini Quebec Project involves bringing Canadian youths and adults to Bimini to carry out projects under the guidance of La Station Vaudreuil, which has been working with Le Cirque du Soleil since 2003 and the Montreal National Circus School since 2010.

By Ava Turnquest / The Tribune

Paying homage to ancient Egypt, the Shell Saxon Superstars returned to the throne as the unofficial victors of the 2013 New Year's Parade in the A category. Beating out 2012 Boxing Day champions Valley Boys by a hundred points, the Saxons earned 2,812 points yesterday with their theme "Dynasty of the Pharoahs". Colours Entertainment took home 3,113 points for the unofficial win in the B category, with Fancy Dancers and Compass For Christ, trailing in second and third respectively.

Scores of Junkanooers crowded Arawak Cay to hear the unofficial results with Saxons members and supports erupting in cheer as the group were named as top scorers in their division for Best Overall Performance, Choreographed Dancers, Banner, Lead Costume, Costume, execution of Theme and Shirley Street.

Starting off this year just right and with a hope to change things up in Grand Bahama CaY Consultants has decided to host a Sunday Jazz Fair at the Regent Center West every last Sunday in the month. The event will begin at 3pm and finish at 6pm featuring different jazz artists each month.

We will bring out the members of Festival of Books and Pearls, Pumps and Professionals (P3s) as well as other professionals who will have their wares/products on display. Art and music will be the order of the day and a wonderful relaxing time for all residents and visitors of Grand Bahama. Because we believe in family, we will have a bouncing castle for the kids.

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie meets with Rick Fox and Earvin "Magic" Johnson, former National Basketball Association championship stars with the Los Angeles Lakers at his office December 31, the last day of 2012.

Pictured from left: Minister of National Security the Hon. Dr. Bernard Nottage; Minister of State for Investments the Hon. Khaalis Rolle; Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe; Rick Fox; Prime Minister Christie; "Magic" Johnson; Attorney General the Hon. Allyson Maynard-Gibson; and Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Philip "Brave" Davis.

(BIS Photo/Peter Ramsay)

By GREGORY K. MOSS
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, MARCO CITY CONSTITUENCY
1ST JANUARY, 2013

Much has been said about me in the local media over the course of the last two months. My name has been vilified and I have watched, initially with interest and later with concern, as those who are charged to respond to those allegations have, for whatever reason, either failed to do so or actually added to the vilification. As the New Year has dawned so has my personal conviction that enough is enough.

On 27th December, 2012 the local media reported the Prime Minister as having said that I no longer have a NIB credit card. That statement, if correctly reported, must have been inadvertent as it is untrue. But of more concern to me is the fact that that statement taken together with the comment which was attributed to the Prime Minister to the effect that and that "there has been a lot of freewheeling" going on at NIB, if correctly reported, are pregnant with false innuendoes and implications as they would naturally be read by the public as suggesting that there is something untoward about my having a corporate card as Chairman of NIB or that I have misused an otherwise legitimate possession of such a credit card.

Regardless of what questions appear on the January 28 poll on gaming in The Bahamas, one of the critical foundations to this issue is this - trust.

If you are in favor of legalising gaming for Bahamians through web shops and a national lottery (and I have previously stated my opinion that the national lottery will never materialise anyway because that is not a part of "the plan"), and you favor this based on the belief that since it is happening anyway, we might as well regulate it - fine.

The problem though is this - do you trust the current administration to regulate a multi-million dollar gaming industry? Do you trust them to do with the money what they say they will do? Do you trust them to protect the interests of the nation in this regard over protecting the interests of the numbers men?