On January 9, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie in his communication to the House of Assembly announced that Majority Rule Day belongs to all Bahamians, black and white, rich and poor, young and old, city dweller and Family Islander, PLP, FNM, DNA and independent alike. "It belongs to all of us," said PM Christie.

"January 10th should be commemorated and celebrated by all of us because it represents one of the most singular moments in our evolution as a people. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, with the exception of Emancipation from Slavery in 1834 and the attainment of Independence in 1973, there is no event of greater consequence and historical importance than the attainment of Majority Rule on January 10th, 1967."

"Do the right thing" is the message that came through loud and clear during the Caribbean-wide "No Witness, No Justice" Youth Network Conference hosted by the United States Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados from December 6 to 7 2012. The project was funded through the Caribbean Basin Security initiative (CBSI), a commitment between the United States and the nations of the Caribbean in developing joint responses in combating the drug trade and other transnational crimes.

The U.S. Embassy partnered with the National L.E.A.D. Institute, a nonprofit organization that provides programs targeting "at-risk" young males who are currently attending high school as well as former inmates upon completion of their sentence.

Nationally reported crime figures for serious crimes against the person decreased in six of the nine categories used to determine crime statistics for The Bahamas, Commissioner of Police Mr. Ellison Greenslade said Monday. Statistics also decreased by six per cent for crimes against property for the same time period. Mr. Greenslade said he expects "the downward trend" to continue due to police initiatives and ongoing cooperation from members of the public.

The figures were based on numbers for the entire Bahamas for the January 1 through December 31 time period of 2012 as compared to the same time period for January 1, through December 31, 2011.

Eight tennis teams from USA, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Austria, Barbados, The Bahamas and an "International" team will be competing at Breezes Superclubs, Cable Beach for a week-long, inter-country tennis doubles tournament being put on by the International Club (IC) of The Bahamas.

The event starts on Monday 14th January. This is the second time the event has been held with Great Britain winning the first one.

Sandals Ride to Save the Wetlands, an extraordinarily successful partnership between the Sandals Foundation, Experiential Education and Young Marine Explorers is nearing the end of its 3rd month of operation.

Administrators and teachers are very pleased with the program and all students who have participated have expressed an interest in taking rides in the future. Recently, the Sandals Foundation in partnership with Experiential Education and Young Marine Explorers hosted over 60 travel agents visiting Sandals Royal Bahamian on a Ride to Save the Wetlands Tour. The interaction ran for approximately one and a half hours and was an experience of a life time for the participants.

BahamasLocal.com laptop winner Joy Deveaux received her brand new laptop just in time for the holidays for attending the International Cultural Festival 2012 and entering her details on BahamasLocal.com.

The laptop, a brand new Acer was provided by BahamasLocal.com and Tri-SPA Imports, located in the Madeira Shopping Centre. Tri-SPA, a long standing partner of BahamasLocal.com offers an interactive store where buyers can try a variety of electronics including the new iPad, new iPhone, and the new Kindle.

Monique Morley scheduled her very first mammogram immediately after receiving her 'Mammograms for Life' prize from Doctors Hospital. She was randomly selected from more than 380 entries in the 2012 annual contest held by the Hospital.

"I am so excited to win this. I never win anything and this is a life saving prize," she said. Indeed, with an emerging family link to breast cancer, a free mammogram each year for the hotel worker could indeed prove life saving.

The Baha Mar Challenge, an ongoing annual holiday season initiative during which Baha Mar matches dollar-for-dollar donations up to $10,000 to the Salvation Army, helped to raise more than $70,000 during the 15-day drive. The total represents a 33-percent increase over 2011 and is the largest amount ever raised during the holiday program.

"The Salvation Army builds a sense of community and transforms the lives of so many people," said Robert Sands, Senior Vice President of Administration & External Affairs at Baha Mar.

From: DailyMail.co.uk

She is the leggy lingerie model who just 18 months ago became Prince Harry's first serious love interest after he broke up with Chelsy Davy. Now, Florence Brudenell-Bruce - Flee to her friends - is to marry multi-millionaire Henry St George. Flee spent the New Year in New York with Henry, who - to the surprise and delight of their friends - seized the opportunity to propose.

Flee, 26, a descendant of the 7th Earl of Cardigan who led the charge of the Light Brigade, first started dating Henry in 2008, before breaking up with him and turning her attentions to Prince Harry.

The West End Eco-Fishing Camp is pleased to announce their fifth (5th) year of environmental education programs designed for local kids who are immersed into a number of activities to get them thinking about their role as "caretakers of the earth and living seas".

The camp is held in partnership with the Royal Bahamas Police Force who saw the need to initiate signature community programs to encourage the children to learn about basic first aid, water safety, and swimming, introduction to boating, ecology, kayaking, hand line fishing, and fly fishing.

Led by a group of adult volunteers from the local community and officers from the West End police station the kids are kept busy learning about "Esprit de Corps" or group spirit that encourages a team effort in each of the planned activities.

Last Wednesday (Jan. 2nd) a tiny little dog was brought in to the Humane Society of Grand Bahama as a stray. She had wandered into someone's yard and given birth to one dead puppy. Dr. Gibbs x-rayed her as she looked like she was ready to pop, and indeed there were more puppies that needed to come out.

Macy was rushed into surgery. One puppy was stuck in the birth canal and had already died. Seven more were viable, but needed to be revived. Staff rushed to help as reviving newborn puppies who've undergone anesthesia is tricky and time consuming, and each puppy needs a person to work on them.

Management at The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) got a chance to sample the island's newest vitamin beverage, 'Junkanoo Splash', when manufacturer, Kindra Crawford paid a recent courtesy call.

GBPA President, Ian Rolle, extended words of encouragement after eagerly sampling the various array of Bahamian tropical mixes and blends. "We are certainly proud of your accomplishments and commitment to transferring a need into a reality. This illustrates how entrepreneurs can be creative in filling a niche for products or services that are needed. Sometimes when entering business, we concentrate more on what we want to do rather than the demands of our customer base," Rolle commented.

From: MarketWatch.com

Chris Huskilson, President and CEO of Emera Inc. CA:EMA +0.28% announced executive changes at Emera Inc., Nova Scotia Power and Emera Caribbean Tuesday.

In the Caribbean, Sarah MacDonald assumes a broader portfolio. She remains as President and CEO Grand Bahama Power Company but takes on additional responsibilities as President of Emera Caribbean Limited, with executive oversight for Light & Power Holdings (including Barbados Light & Power), and assuming responsibility for all business development activity in the Caribbean. Sarah will continue in her role as President of ICD Utilities and as a Director for Light & Power Holdings and Barbados Light & Power.

Grand Bahama is being re-engineered with a major resort set to re-open as a new brand for The Bahamas by the second half of 2013, said Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe.

The Tourism Minister also noted that the international media invited to the CHTA Marketplace will be able to get a glimpse of some of those destinations as there are pre and post Marketplace trips scheduled for them to Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma and Grand Bahama.

Sandals Emerald Bay is celebrating the promotion of Duvann Munroe as their first Bahamian Assistant Landscaping Manager. Duvann has been employed with Sandals Emerald Bay as part of the pre-opening team since August 2009 and worked his way up to supervisor.

"Mo" as he is affectionately called, has 10 years experience in the field and says he is happy to assist with the management of a department he is extremely passionate about. Mo will be responsible for the Grounds department in the absence of a Landscaping Manager.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development the Hon. Philip Davis signed a contract worth $1.3 million to repair roads in Central Abaco at his office, Thursday, January 3, 2013. During the contract signing, Deputy Prime Minister Davis explained that in 2012, it was observed that the roads in Central Abaco (in the vicinity of Marsh Harbour, Murphy Town and Dundas Town) had significantly deteriorated over an extended period of time.

"As a result, the Ministry of Works and Urban Development was requested to design and assess the scope of works for the repair of the roads in Central Abaco and to enter into negotiations with Bill Simmons Construction and Heavy Equipment Co. Ltd. to effect the necessary repairs," he said.

Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government the Hon. V. Alfred Gray announced that the second phase of the Local Government Junior Council Programme commences on Monday, January 7, 2013, at the R. N. Gomez All-Age School in the Berry Islands.

"The Local Government Junior Council Programme was first launched in Bimini with the students of the all-age school there in 2006, when the first group of Local Government Junior Councillors was sworn-in," Minister Gray said at a press conference, on January 3, 2013, at the Department of Local Government. "Over the years, the programme has grown and expanded to now include 11 schools in nine Local Government Districts."

Someone rudely suggested I should take an evening course in poetry writing. Well I did ... sort of. This is what I learned thanks to the Poets-Across-The-Globe and Maureen Thorsen.

1. Constructing a Poem

A poem's building blocks are its lines. A poem is built by putting lines together to form the poem's body. Two lines together denote a poem written in couplets, whereas a poem with three or more lines together is written in stanzas.

In turn, if each stanza is constructed of regular lines, for example six four-line stanzas, they are isometric. A poem featuring irregular lines, for example three four-line stanzas followed by one three-line stanza, has heterometric stanzas.

The passionate director and producer team of Liselle Harris and Camille deGregory will once again create a fantastical world as they stage Alice in Wonderland at the Regency Theatre on Saturday, January 12th and Sunday January 13th. Showtime is at 8pm on Saturday and 4pm matinee on Sunday.

Alice in Wonderland features the all-in-the family aspect of community theatre. Alice is played by Sarah Knowles and her Father, Bradley is "the King". Denise deGregory is the Queen of Hearts assisted by her son, Tai Moss, Trumpeter/Hedge Hog, while producer Camille deGregory, is her niece. Sisters, Olivia and Katrina Dorsett shine as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. The family of Andrea, Sterling and Bobby Stone are: Andrea, Sound Tech, Sterling, Trumpeter/Hedge Hog and Bobby (Dad) is set construction.

When one thinks about ideas and perception, one may consider variety and then development. This exhibition, Conceptual Movement, featuring the work of Popopstudios Junior artists-in-residence Yutavia George and Christina Darville challenges the viewer to be reflective of the common traditional view of Bahamian art.

The name of this show was structured after being inspired by The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas' 6th National Exhibition entitled "Kingdom Come." One could see the progression of Bahamian artwork in the variety of responses. Our work represents a continuation of interest towards production and reinforcement of originality that is currently being produced from other Bahamian artists.

She dives. She fishes. She's the February 2013 Centerfold in Playboy Magazine. And she's coming to the historic Bimini Big Game Club on Saturday, February 23rd. Shawn Dillon will be the official hostess of the Big Game Club's upcoming Wahoo Smackdown II tournament, helping with the final weigh-ins, presenting trophies and, well, posing for pictures and signing autographs for participating teams.

"I'm a mermaid who loves being by the water more than anything," says the searingly hot Sarasota, Florida native.

S3 Soccer Clinic will be holding its 3rd annual Soccer Clinic from Wednesday, January 30th to Saturday, February 2nd, 2013. The venue will again be the Bishop Michael Eldon School field, Freeport.

The Soccer Clinic was the brainchild of Cletis Smith, who feels the importance not only of providing an opportunity for young soccer players to have professional training, but also to be seen by college coaches. Students who love soccer are encouraged to attend the clinic to improve their skills and to find out what coaches are looking for, and how to become successful student athletes.

Each year top junior sailors from The Bahamas compete at the Orange Bowl Regatta in Miami, the largest junior sailing event in North America. Kids from the ages of seven to 18 come from all regions of North and South America, the Caribbean, Bermuda and even Europe to participate in this renowned event - racing in the Optimist, Laser and 420 classes.

This year the Bahamian team comprised eight top junior sailors; four in the Optimist Green Fleet, two in the Optimist Championship Fleet and two in the Laser Radial Fleet. Bahamian Green Fleeters Melisha Higgins, Cochise Burrows, Tristan Eldon and Benjamin Derbyshire were competing for the first time in such a major international event.

Did you make a New Year's resolution to do an Olympic or Sprint distance triathlon in 2013? Perhaps you'd like to participate in a 5K or 10K fun run/walk, or an open water swim? Maybe you just want to get the kids more involved in fitness by doing a one-mile fun run? Well, the 2013 Great Abaco Family Fitness Weekend is just the thing!

After a highly successful and much praised inaugural event in 2012, the weekend of events for everyone returns to the beautiful Treasure Cay Beach Resort, headquartered at the Coco Beach Bar, March 22-24th, 2013.

Grand Bahama girls' soccer kicked off the new year with lots of exciting games played on January 5th and scheduled for January 12th.

Game results of January 5th, 2013 Games

Curly Tail Division (6-7 yr olds)

Jumex Juice Jammers beat Grand Bahama Anesthesia Sleepers 1-0

Pelican Bay Hurricanes beat HiddenIslandTreasures.com 6-1

Dennis Dames on the upcoming referendum

Dear Editor:

As I listen to the various perspectives on the January 28, 2013 referendum questions, a few thoughts continue to come to mind. The first one is: it appears to be all about satisfying web shop owners. The next is: the lottery question looks to be a smoke screen, or a get out the vote tactic to ensure that the web shop question successfully receives the desired YES votes result at the end of the day. The last is: The casino gambling question for natives is noticeably absent from the proposed ballot.

The latter thought is where the beef exists for me. It is black Bahamians telling the electorate that Bahamians are not cultured enough to gamble among tourists. They say that we do not know how to behave, and all we would do is harass the other guests. How insulting and wicked our black leadership - after forty years of independence could be?

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The January 28 Poll Is Not a Referendum and Therefore Can and Should Be Challenged Before the Courts - Here is Why:

Dear Editor:

The poll that the government plans to put to the Bahamian people can be challenged before the courts because what is being put to the people on January 28 IS NOT A REFERENDUM AT ALL.

Here is the legal definition of a referendum that you should remember throughout the rest of this article:

REFERENDUM - The right reserved to the people to approve or reject an act of the legislature, or the right of the people to approve or reject legislation that has been referred to them by the legislature. A referendum provides the people with a means of expressing their opinion on proposed legislation before it becomes operative as a law. The power of referendum does not permit the people to invalidate a law that is already operative but suspends or annuls a law that has not yet gone into effect. Also, by referendum the people may reinstate an act that the legislature has expressly repealed.

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Dupuch says: People MUST know how taxpayers money has been spent!

The General Election was held in May of last year. Since then everybody, the Government, the church leaders, the media and the people have been talking about and promoting slackness. It's become a big deal. It seems to be the biggest, most important game in town. Slackness.

Firstly, we talked about how the oil profits would be shared, and everybody's eyes got bigger ... more oil, less work, more slackness. And we hadn't even struck oil yet ... and probably never will without destroying our most important asset, beauty.

So we destroy one and discover the other. That's what we call progress, ambition, drive. And all those good things.

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Is this January 28 gambling poll going to be a fair and transparent poll?

Dear Editor,

IN GOD I TRUST - EVERYONE ELSE NEEDS TO BE WATCHED - With all the back and forth about the January 28 poll in the society, a critical question has yet to be asked - is this poll going to be a fair, honest and transparent poll?

Who are the officials other than the government's people involved in ensuring that this vote will be free and fair, from the handling of the register to the operation of the polls, to the count and certification of the votes, etc?

Not a word has been spoken about any of this.

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