The Department of Marine Resources wishes to remind the general public that the Nassau Grouper closed season commenced on 1 December, 2013 and ends on 28 February, 2014. Further, the waters surrounding High Cay, off the coast of Central Andros, has been designated a "Protected Area" during the closed Nassau Grouper season.

The general public is reminded that the fishing for Nassau Grouper is prohibited throughout The Bahamas during the closed season and persons found in violation may face a fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment to a term of one year or both upon conviction.

The Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) has implemented an intensive IDB loan-funded Support Program with its primary objectives to significantly and measurably improve overall service levels, and put the Corporation on the path to financial sustainability. A key measurement of the service level improvements would be the ease of doing business with the Corporation.

"We are therefore pleased to announce today that we have partnered with Ca$h N'Go so that WSC customers can pay their bills via cash or check at any of the Ca$h N'Go locations in New Providence and the Family Islands. We are excited about this new partnership with Ca$h N'Go. Our association with Ca$h N'Go is just one of the many partnerships we will engage in over the next several months as we continue to address the needs of our customers," said Chief Financial Officer Sandra Edgecombe.

Recently the Grand Bahama Branch of the Bahamas National Trust (GB BNT) teamed up with a hundred (100) Defense Force Rangers to complete a second project at Lucayan National Park (LNP). The Rangers were tasked with removal of tree cuttings from the beach and to help elevate a low-lying trail for the thousands of tourists who visit the park annually.

The Defense Force Rangers were extremely proud to assist in the project to beautify Lucayan National Park. "This project fits well with the Ranger Pledge," said L.S. Coakley of the Defense Force, "whose last line is 'I am determined to make a difference in my environment and in the lives of people around me.'"

Fishing Report as of 12/12/13

Nassau: Captain Adam Russell reports catching 7 wahoo between 15-35lbs yesterday off of the ledge on the eastern side of New Providence. There seems to be packs of decent size fish around.

North Exuma, Highbourne Cay: Carolyn Cartwright from Highbourne Cay Marina reports that the wahoo AND dolphin have finally arrived!! "The last two days we have had a few boats here fishing and they have all come in with at least 8-10 dolphin and 10-15 wahoo within a couple of hours. One boat caught 12 wahoo, 5 of which were over 70lbs and 8 dolphin of which 6 were over 20lbs. Another boat had 8 dolphin and 7 wahoo all of similar weight."

Long Island: They have been catching wahoo and yellowfin tuna off of the north end of Long Island.

Six weeks after buyers turned reservations into purchases for Palm Cay's first condominium offering, work is well underway with infrastructure and site preparation slightly ahead of schedule, developers said today.

"The Christmas season is upon us and while a lot of projects are beginning to slow down, the work here at Palm Cay is going full steam ahead, putting us just slightly ahead of our target for the prep site work for The Anchorage," said Director of Sales & Marketing for the $200 million development Zack Bonczek. "It's very exciting to see it taking shape." The 50 units of The Anchorage project will be built in four phases with the first 12 expected to be completed by January 2015.

Five Special Olympians will do their part to "wow the customer" this week at RBC Royal Bank, during the busy Christmas season. They underwent work orientation at the corporate office last Thursday in anticipation of providing Client Assistance support at five of Royal Bank's local branches.

Participants in the initiative are: Kevin Archer, Deron Forbes, Kenva Knowles, Anita Moncur, and Christopher Rolle -- active Special Olympics athletes, one of whom attended Special Olympics World Games in China and the others more recently in Greece.

Thanks to the work of the Montel Heights Community Development Association, residents of Montel Heights now have a Community Development Centre. Located on Mantol Street, the Leslie and Rita Bowe Montel Heights Community Centre was officially opened on December 16.

Urban Renewal 2.0 Co-chair, Cynthia "Mother" Pratt told the residents that the building is a place where they can go to receive instructions on how to read, write and behave. "This building is yours," she said. "You have to help us keep it. You can be in the area, but you don't have to be of the area. When everybody else says yes let's do it, you make the difference and say that's not the right way."

Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch, Chairman and CEO of Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) applauded his employees of the yard at their annual review and Christmas luncheon last week. "We are doing more than we ever dreamed of, we're exceeding not only our expectations but the expectations of our bosses too," he noted.

In addition to congratulating his staff on their hard work and dedication this year, over 650 staff members were treated to a free Christmas lunch that was served by the senior management of the yard. Two sets of meals were served: one for employees on the day shift and one for employees on the evening shift.

Last week a group of eleven students from the sixth grade class of Grand Bahama Academy visited the Grand Bahama Children's Home to make a special donation.

At the beginning of the new school year the class engaged in a process of selecting class officers. The officers - Diondre Albury, Raeon Stewart and Ostonya Thomas met and decided on a class project that would seek to bring joy to children like themselves. One of the projects they decided on was to collect can goods to assist the Grand Bahama Children's Home.

Bradford Marine Bahamas (Bradford Grand Bahama, Limited is pleased to support local education by making a much-needed donation of computers to a nearby school. Bradford Marine Bahamas as an organization stands behind the principle that education is the key to the future of the Bahamas.

Dan Romence, Bradford Marine Bahamas' General Manager, said, "We were contacted by concerned parents and alumni of Eight Mile Rock High School, located in Martin Town, with a request to assist with the enhancement of the education at that learning establishment. It was perfect timing since we were in the process of upgrading our systems to meet the increasing demands of our business and improving the services offered to our customers."

The employees of BORCO (Buckeye Bahamas) and their children got a real treat to kick off their holiday season when BORCO hosted them for a Christmas family fun day and then an evening thank you banquet. The children were treated to face painting, rock climbing, bouncing castles, games, treats and so much more, as they spent the day with not only their family, but the BORCO family.

"We've had a good year," said Robert Gaffney, Vice President of International Operations at BORCO. "We want to thank not only our staff but the families that support them. As our company grows in strength on this island we are very grateful for the blessings we receive and there's no better way to share it than with the children who make our family complete and to let our staff know they are appreciated."

Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes praised health care workers on Grand Bahama for their achievements during his annual visit to the Rand Memorial Hospital, Dec. 13, 2013. Sir Arthur and Lady Foulkes were joined in the official visit by Health Minister Dr. Perry Gomez and Chairman of the Public Hospitals Authority Board, Senator Frank Smith.

Sir Arthur used the occasion to extend sympathy to the Filipino workers at the Grand Bahama Health Services for the catastrophic typhoon that recently ravaged their country. He said The Bahamas was blessed this year in that we passed through an entire hurricane season with not even a threat of a storm.

Select students in Grand Bahama will have an extra school day when they return to class in January -- and no one is complaining. The students from public and private schools will participate in a 4-month hands-on program designed to teach the impact on the environment resulting from habitat loss, pollution, unregulated development, invasive species, climate change and more.

A combination of classroom and field trips and studies every other Saturday and open to students in grades 7-9, the program is a joint effort between Save The Bays and EARTHCARE.

Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) made it a happy holiday for all of the animals at the Humane Society of Grand Bahama by donating over 1,500 pounds of pet food to the non-profit shelter last week. The donation was made possible thanks to the GBS Youth Benefit Fishing Tournament, and will keep the animals fed through the holidays.

Ed Pavey, Director of Technical and Planning at GBS and Fishing Tournament Director, visited the Humane Society to personally make the donation and see all of the pets that the donation will go to. "It is always a pleasure for Grand Bahama Shipyard to support the local community. Tip and her staff do amazing work at the Humane Society, with little or no budget and must rely tremendously on local donations and fundraising events. Our annual fishing tournament is primarily tailored to supporting the youth here on Grand Bahama Island but we felt it a just cause to give to the Humane Society this holiday period as we know it's been a hard year for them."

Director Dr. David Allen of "The Family: People Helping People" Project and members Harold Sweeting and Patrice Rose, on December 11, 2013, traveled to Fresh Creek, Central Andros, to meet with civic leaders and family members affected by the recent unsolved missing couple incident. Central Andros District Family Island Administrator Mrs. Cleola Pinder, invited Dr. Allen and his representatives to to visit the community and spearheaded the day's meetings.

Dr. Allen said his team came to "stand with them in the pain" and to arrange for a free and confidential "Family" group therapy initiative to be established on the island. "We are here to form a 'communitas', which is a group of diverse persons bonded together by a common spirit of vulnerability, empathy and compassion," Dr. Allen said.

After speeding around the capital earlier this month, entrants and organizers from Bahamas Speed Week slowed down with an elaborate excursion to the luxurious Grand Isle Resort & Spa. Culminating in a private soiree overlooking Emerald Bay, it served as the final crescendo in an experience that struck a cord with Speed Week entrants.

Members of Speed Week and other VIPs boarded private planes in Nassau and landed on Farmer's Cay. The runway, normally quiet and secluded, came alive with four private planes and a helicopter. Participants enjoyed a buffet lunch at Ty's Bar & Grill, hit the beach and boarded a vessel for a tour of Exuma's sprawling cays. Later that night, Grand Isle hosted a private reception, lit up by spotlights, stars and torches.

Hundreds of Bimini's children were whipped into a frenzy of excitement as Santa Claus and his Resorts World Bimini (RWB) helpers arrived at the Alice Town Craft Center aboard a tram loaded with toys and gifts. The arrival of the big guy and his goodies was the highlight of the island's annual Christmas festival - at least from the standpoint of the children in attendance.

RWB partnered with the Ministry of Tourism to play Santa Claus for the island's children during the event which brought together the entire community to kick off the Christmas season. The festival began with singing, dancing and other acts by local performers. It ended with the pulsating beat of the Junkanoo drums, inciting fancy footwork and cowbell shaking from RWB managers and staffers who joined in the rush out, much to the delight of the community.

One of the taglines for this movie: Jolly, Fat, Old. Who Were You Expecting. When a cantankerous grandmother is coaxed by her niece into helping her pay her daughter a surprise Christmas visit, they are not prepared for the surprise they get in the small rural town. As the little country town makes preparations for its annual holiday celebration secrets are exposed and the nature of certain relationships are put into question.

Madea is an ex department store Mrs. Santa Claus who accepts a free ride to a small town to help her niece with a Christmas visit, but soon finds herself the voice of reason when certain revelations are made during their stay. Eileen works as a sales person at major department store who jumps at the chance to surprise her daughter for the holidays and brings he aunt along for moral support, but she will the the one getting the surprise after she arrives.

During the final months of this year nature enthusiasts, researchers, scientists and conservation leaders throughout the Caribbean and the Bahamas joined in the celebration and promotion of public awareness of the miracle of bird migration. Each year birds travel over thousands of miles between their breeding grounds in the United States and Canada and their winter homes in the Caribbean, Bahamas and South America.

For the past five years it has become a tradition at Garden of the Groves to host a variety of events. In the art competition for primary, middle and high school, students they had to adhere to this year's theme: "Life Cycles of Migratory Birds". Their work could be done in either oil, crayon or water colour.

Celebrating 120 years the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band perform one of their many Drill Displays Sunday December 15 during the Annual Christmas Beat Retreat in Rawson and Parliament Squares.

Governor-General Sir Arthur Foulkes and Lady Foulkes headed the list of government officials assembled. Prime Minister Perry Christie, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis, Minister of National Security Dr Bernard Nottage, Minister of State Keith Bell, and Deputy Commissioner of Police Quinn McCartney were also in attendance.

Sixteen people were inducted into the National Junkanoo Legends Circle during an official ceremony, Dec. 17, 2013, at Government House. Among the honourees was Prime Minister Perry G. Christie who also spoke on behalf of the inductees.

Pictured on the front row from left: Silbert M. Ferguson, chairman, Junkanoo Corporation; Dr. Linda Moxey-Brown, Director of Culture; Prime Minister Christie; Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes; Lady Foulkes; Minster of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr. Danny Johnson and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

Are you ready for some billfishing? The ultimate sport fishing experience of a lifetime is coming to the historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina in April 2014, a 22-boat billfish team tournament that not only will give anglers a shot at a $20,000 top cash prize but also a chance to fish with a Pro Football Hall of Fame Player or NFL Legend.

The Hall of Fame Players Classic Foundation, a registered non-profit, today officially opened registration for the two-day tournament scheduled for April 24-27, limited to just 22 boats.

Runners in the Nassau Bahamas Marathon this upcoming January will probably see an uncommon sight. Two local youths plan to participate in the race- the catch. The 16 and 13 year old siblings suffer from Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome, a rare neuromuscular disease that causes severe atrophy of the muscles. The degenerative disease has left both Tzvi and Racheli Herzfeld reliant on wheelchairs.

The 16 and 13 year old siblings from Teaneck NJ, plan to compete in a half marathon this upcoming January with assistance from Kids of Courage. Kids of Courage is a volunteer centric organization that gives year round support to children living with serious and terminal illness. The New York based non-profit specializes in medically supervised travel, and makes dream trips possible for children who would otherwise be confined to the hospital or to their home care routine.