The completion of the final stage of the Lynden Pindling International Airport expansion project signals the end of the first step in transforming the country's major gateway, says Minister of Transport and Aviation the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin. She said that the development sets the tone for the future of the aviation sector in The Bahamas.

Her remarks came during the Last Beam/Topping off Ceremony at the Stage Three Construction Site at the LPIA on Friday, February 15, 2013.

Minister of State for Investments the Hon. Khaalis Rolle said at the 25th Anniversary of Kalik Beer Launch Reception, on February 19, 2013, that the anniversary "dovetails" with another anniversary in 2013 - The Bahamas' 40th anniversary of independence.

"As I reflected on the shared histories of the two, there are several similarities to note," Minister Rolle told the audience at Commonwealth Brewery, Clifton Pier. "Both were built through the fundamentals of hard work, ingenuity and a spirit of cooperation; but most significantly, both are success stories in their own way.

The Bahamas Air-Sea Rescue Association recently held its Annual Evening of Elegance at Old Fort Bay Clubhouse, to raise funds for the volunteer organisation that Saves Lives at Sea.

The evening, billed as "Fun For A Life-Saving Cause", attracted over 200 guests and VIPs. Primary sponsors for the event were Breitling which showcased the BASRA annual raffle prize, a Breitling Chronomat 44, and American Airlines which donated the door prize of two roundtrip tickets to London.

BAARK, TNR and 'Stray Busting' are doing a great job in preventing the increase of stray cats in the most caring and responsible way. 'Trap Neuter Release' may not the perfect answer but its working on Paradise Island and it will prevent more unwanted cats into the future.

Baark! is looking to expand its cat TNR (trap- neuter-release) program for cats throughout Nassau. There have been reports of larger and larger cat populations in several communities.

Fashion, food, laughter, fun and angelic kisses are just few of the things you would have seen at the 49th Annual Heart Ball. Under the theme, "Save a Little Heart ... Embrace the Opportunity" the Heart Ball Committee hosted the annual ball at Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort.

Guests were treated to an evening of flora and fauna, filled with angelic kisses and an atmosphere of love. The foyer told you that you were now in a different place, preparing guests for the grand ballroom, the treats, the eats and the tons of fun. When the guest entered the Independence Ball Room, they were indeed in a seemingly angelic garden.

The Bahamas is in critical and dire need of an Environmental Protection Act. This legislation has been promised in the past by both the FNM and PLP governments.

As the Bahamas broadens its industrial investment profile; encourages large scale urban development; promotes all inclusive anchor projects by Bahamians and foreigners and continues its growth and development, it becomes more and more urgent for an independent regulatory body with teeth, to protect our often pristine, and always fragile environment.

The Bahamas, as a Small Island Nation, must make protecting the environment a priority.

On what could only be called one of the most glorious mornings in The Bahamas, ten guests from Deep Water Cay headed out for an early day of both offshore, reef and fly-fishing. These guests were smiling from ear to ear as they were also enjoying a FREE vacation thanks to Costa Sunglasses and Budweiser Beer.

Flown to the beautiful resort, situated at the eastern end of Grand Bahama, by private charter and given an all expenses paid stay at the world renowned Deep Water Cay, five couples were thrilled to be part of this "once in a lifetime" vacation.

Saturday night, the local business community of Grand Bahama came out to induct its new Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2012/13. Held in Delphine's Lounge, at Pelican Bay Resort, 13 directors were sworn in at a gala cocktail party that was heralded as a 'catalyst' to get the island back on track.

The evening's formalities centered around the official induction of Mr. Barry J. Malcolm as President and the Board of Directors who represent a unique cross section of the Grand Bahama business community. The speeches were deliberately kept brief and the atmosphere was light and inviting.

Get ready Grand Bahama - the 28th annual Dog Show is next Saturday, March 2nd! Are your dogs ready? We've changed things up a little this year to keep it fresh and fun. This year's show will feature some fun carnival games for the kids, as well as a fun new category for dogs. Does your dog do any cool tricks? The Best Dog Trick group will give you and your pooch a chance to show off your smarts and skills!

Don't have a dog? No problem! The shelter is full of great dogs who would love a chance to compete. Come on down to the shelter and choose your dog for the day! Or just call us and we'll pick one out for you.

Fresh on the heels of a Panama trade mission, officials of The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) confirmed that ensuing discussions are already underway with several key entities who've expressed possible interest in doing business in Freeport.

GBPA, along with officials from the Ministry for Grand Bahama, Ministry of Financial Services and Trade, Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), and The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce recently returned from a week-long mission to Panama to seek out opportunities for investment within the Latin American market.

Did you know that there is a difference between choice, compliance and coercion in healthcare?

INFORMED CHOICE vs. INFORMED COMPLIANCE vs. COERSION

Human dignity is the conceptual/ theoretical basis of human right. An anchoring principle of bioethics and healthcare practice is that of autonomy, the capacity of the individual to self-determine. This is the right to make choices regarding one's own welfare free of coercion from others.

INFORMED CHOICE means that clients have the information necessary to make educated and informed decisions about their healthcare. The requirements to execute an informed decision include:

Braving the cold weather to bring the beauty of Bimini to the Chicago area public, Bimini Big Game Club's PADI dive manager Devito Bullard attended the Our World Underwater show in the windy city February 15-17. One of the oldest and most popular diving industry events the 3-day Our World Underwater includes workshops, seminars and exhibitors from all over the world and is the Midwest's largest Dive & Travel Expo.

"It was a huge success and Devito did an amazing job," said Diana Weber, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina.

On Valentine's Day 2013, sadly a young couple and their infant child lost their home to a fire in Wemyss Bight, Eleuthera but escaped without injury.

"We got the call that afternoon," said SEEP (South Eleuthera Emergency Partners) volunteer, Ian Carey who operates out of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Tarpum Bay, a 30-minute drive away. We gathered up our volunteer firemen and headed to the scene. "When we arrived, the wooden building was fully engulfed in flames. A half hour to 45 minute response time is a long one with a raging fire," said Carey.

In compliance with a government mandate for certified lifeguards on major resort properties, Sandals Emerald Bay trained 17 Bahamian team members as lifeguards. The week long training was conducted by Brad McConnell from the Canadian Life Saving Society - Ontario Branch.

The team members were trained in Standard First Aid, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, National Lifeguard Waterfront option and Open Water Lifesaver Level 2.

Research and design experts from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design are collaborating with the Bahamas National Trust and the Government of The Bahamas on a multi-year project aimed at developing a sustainable land use plan for the Exumas that they hope could be adapted for other islands in The Bahamas.

On Tuesday, February 19th, those partners held interactive, think tank session at the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre at The College of The Bahamas, advancing initial discussions that began two years ago.

With the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict VI one has to go back to 1294 to find another case of a Papal abdication. Here is the story of Pope Celine's successor whose actions probably tipped the scale and caused the Papacy to quit Rome and relocate in Avignon, France.

Pope Boniface VIII 1294-1303

It will be recalled ex-Pope Celestine was kept in confinement by new Pope Boniface but escaped and was recaptured only to die shortly afterwards. One of Boniface's first acts was to reverse most of what Celestine had done.

Appointments and gifts of land were taken back creating him many enemies. Though as Pope he did not have children he had plenty of nephews and was soon guilty of nepotism.

Empty Bowls Bahamas is hosting this exciting event to raise funds to feed the hungry in our community on Sunday, February 24, 2013 from 11am to 6pm at Queen's College Auditorium on Village Road. Many unique and beautiful handmade bowls as well as other handcrafted items will be available for sale. With your bowl purchase, you will receive delicious free soup and roll.

Admission is FREE and all proceeds will be donated to Great Commission Ministries' Elijah's Kitchen and Methodist Church Habitat for Humanity's Southern Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund.

Design Caribbean presents a unique opportunity to introduce your product to buyers and the media. We guarantee exposure by providing interested parties with information on all products exhibited. Products will also be photographed and the photographs featured on our website and other promotional material. In addition to providing a market place for your products,

Design Caribbean creates an opportunity to exchange information about products and marketing. To be part of this exciting show you will need to qualify. Deadline for applications: February 28, 2103.

Ensemble Du Monde are the words that should be on everyone's lips as this international classical orchestra will be performing in multiple concerts in Nassau. The orchestra will perform at various locations over the island and, to make it even more exciting, the Nassau Music Society who is hosting the orchestra, has organised an additional concert to start off this "Festival of Afro/Caribbean Composers".

The additional and very special concert features our very own Bahamians Cleophas Adderley, The Bahamas National Youth Choir, JoAnn Callender and C-Force, all well-known artists of great distinction in the Bahamian music world and abroad.

The Post Office Department has released a set of five new stamps to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The five new stamps depict commemorative items and packaging released during the reigns of Victoria (65 cents), Edward VII (70 cents), George V (80 cents), George VI ($1.00) and Elizabeth II ($2.00), all based on images supplied by Robert Opie.

The Grand Bahama American Women's Club 10th Annual Golf Classic tees off this Saturday, February 23rd, at the Grand Lucayan's Reef Golf Course. The popular annual event is the major fundraiser for scholarships awarded to deserving students in grades 9-12 on Grand Bahama.

Golfers must register TODAY at the Reef Golf Course Club House between 11am and 3pm. Its a shot gun start at 11am Saturday.

Fresh off their recent success at the Orange Bowl Regatta in Florida late last year, the Bahamas Sailing Association's junior sailors have been continuing to fine-tune their skills by competing both locally and abroad.

Eight of these youngsters travelled to Florida again at the end of January to compete in the Boomerang Regatta hosted by the Fort Lauderdale Yacht Club. Spencer Cartwright placed first in the Optimist Division, and Paul de Souza finished 7th out of 28 in the very competitive Laser Radial Fleet.

This week the main sporting discussion is about Oscar Pistorius. Will he be found guilty of murder? Will he be found guilty of taking steroids?

Oscar Pistorius is known as the "The Bladerunner". He is South African's double-amputee sprinter. When he participated in last year's Summer Olympic Games in London he was the first ever amputee to do so. In the 2012 Summer Paralympics he won two gold medals in the men's 400-meter race and the 4 x 100 relay race and a silver in the 200 meters. In all the races he set new records.

He admitted that last week on Valentine's Day he killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He shot her four times. Pistorius said that it was an accident and he thought she was a burglar because of recent robberies in the area.

Local junior sailor Brent Burrows II is getting set to travel to Los Angeles, California next month to compete in the Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup- along with the College of Charleston Offshore Sailing Team. Brent is an avid sailor who came up through the various sailing programs offered by the Bahamas Sailing Association and Nassau Yacht Club.

The regatta will play host to 10 collegiate teams from all over the U.S. and will be sailed using the popular Catalina 37 keelboat.

Adult and junior Bahamas Sailing Association members and their families were afforded a unique opportunity to sail a 70-foot Volvo Ocean Racer. The "True North", which competed in the 2008-2009 Around the World Ocean Race, visited Nassau earlier this month as part of a tour to promote Dubai as a candidate city for the 2020 World Expo.

The local sailing aficionados had the opportunity to spend two and a half hours onboard the vessel, taking turns 'trimming' and 'helming'. With a wonderfully bright and gusty day, wind speeds were up to 22 knots ensuring that all on board could fully appreciate the capabilities of this ultra modern sail boat.