MARSH HARBOUR, Abaco -- This year one of Abaco’s oldest and largest law firms is celebrating their 10-year anniversary by giving back in a huge way to their community. “We are planting 10 coconut trees for every year we have been open,” said a very excited Rhonda Hull, Managing Partner of L.C. Hull & Co.  “That’s 100 trees to help beautify our island and help spruce up our public dock areas.”

L.C. Hull & Co., Law Firm is situated in downtown Marsh Harbour and offers comprehensive service to both local and international clients.  Managing Partner, Hull, is a native Bahamian who grew up in Abaco but traveled abroad to study in Switzerland, Trinidad, Sweden, Canada and the United States. “I knew I would always return home to practice,” said Hull. “I wanted to raise my children here and live in what I think is the most beautiful island in the world. It has been an amazing ten years and I’m looking forward to the next ten as I feel Abaco is poised for huge growth.”  

Hull recalled that the last three years have been slow with respect to real estate transactions but she feels that there is a positive energy afloat and that Abaco is rebounding.   “From day one of our practice we have focused on solving the problems of our clients, effectively and efficiently,” says Hull. “We take an intimate and holistic approach to our consultations - helping our clients professionally, personally, emotionally, financially and legally.”  

Remarks by The Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie
Prime Minister
Government House, Nassau
5th November 2012

Your Excellencies;
Cabinet colleagues;
Parliamentarians;
Senior government officials, friends and well wishers, Mr. and Mrs. Renardo Curry, a very pleasant good afternoon.

I offer my congratulations to the newest Member of Parliament on this important appointment as Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.

I have said this before, but it is worth repeating that Mr. Curry is good man, with a good message who joins a good team. He is a devoted father and husband; a church, youth and community leader as well as a local government official. He served his community well and articulated his vision for the future growth and development of North Abaco.

The people of North Abaco believed his forward looking and positive message and were moved by his courage and genuine commitment to their continued welfare and demonstrated that belief in a tangible way today.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- On November 1, 2012, Renardo Curry was introduced to the House of Assembly, as the newest member to be appointed as the new Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister at Abaco by Prime Minister, the Rt.  Hon. Perry Christie of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

“I am pleased to inform this honourable House that pursuant to Article 81 of the Constitution I have today advised His Excellency, the Governor-General, to appoint the honourable member for North Abaco, Mr. Renardo Curry, to be the Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister at Abaco, with immediate effect,” said the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

“I am delighted that Mr. Curry will be joining the Government’s executive team.  He is a young man of great promise; an individual of deep spiritual and moral convictions.  He believes passionately in the Bahamas, and his beloved island of Abaco, in particular.  Indeed he possesses all of the energy and talents that are needed to help take Abaco to greater heights, economically and socially.  He understands the challenges Abaconians face.  He is eager to get to work so that he can play a leading role in meeting those challenges.  He is ready, able and willing to do so, not from afar year round in the Office of the Prime Minister in the newly constructed Government Complex.”

PM Christie said that under ordinary circumstances, he would have been disinclined to increase the number of Parliamentary Secretaries, if he did not believe the appointment of the honourable member for North Abaco as a Parliamentary secretary is highly advisable at this point in time.

“Abaco has the third largest economy in The Bahamas.  It is surpassed only by New Providence and Grand Bahama .  Moreover, there are unique challenges and opportunities facing the Abaconian economy that require focused attention both at the national and local level.  The same applies to a broad range of social challenges facing Abaco today as well,” said PM Christie.

PALM BEACH, Florida -- On Saturday the 20th of October, Schooner Bay, Abaco, town founder Orjan Lindroth was honoured in Palm Beach with an Addison Mizner Award as a Patron for his work to further classical architecture. This award bestowed by the Florida chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, is one of the most prestigious awards in architecture that can be earned.

In naming Lindroth as the recipient the ICAA noted “for his ongoing support and interest in the achievement of excellence in Classical and Traditional Design in Architecture, Culture, and Literature, we are honoured to present this patron medal to Orjan Lindroth of The Bahamas – a country that should be proud to have such a dedicated individual as a resident and developer”.

Presented by the Florida Chapter of the ICAA, the Addison Mizner Medal recognizes excellence in the creation of 21st-century classical and traditional architecture and related fields. The awards are open to projects completed in the past ten years by Florida Chapter members regardless of location and all ICAA members who have completed projects in Florida and the Caribbean in the same period of time.

From The Tribune

• PLP Candidate Renardo Curry wins the North Abaco by-election.
• Mr Curry: 'My people know I'm here to fight for them.'
• PLP wins by 2,367 votes to the FNM's 1,513. The Bahamas Constitution Party gets seven votes.
• Party chairman Bradley Roberts thanks the people of North Abaco for their 'orderly manners in which they exercised their unalienable constitutional rights', while former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham voices concern over alleged 'unfair practices' by the PLP.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- With one team from the University Transition Secretariat (UTS) still on Long Island and another just back from Marsh Harbour, Abaco, it is clear that the College community is committed to the work of widening the consultation on the character and benefits of what is to become the University of The Bahamas.

In Marsh Harbour, UTS Research and Higher Education Policy Specialist Dr. Joan Vanderpool; Chair of the School of Chemistry, Environmental and Life Sciences (SCELS) Dr. Dion Hepburn and Dr. Sophia Rolle of the Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute (CHMI) met with a number of educators, students and other stakeholders in the education system, beginning with Principal at the Long Bay School, Mrs. Jacqueline Collie.

Mrs. Collie expressed enthusiasm for The College’s impending transition to The University of The Bahamas, noting especially that many Abaco parents would relish the opportunity to see their children schooled at home, possibly even on their home island if the idea of ‘centres of excellence’ is taken to encompass specialised campuses on the respective islands offering signature degree programmes.

“We need to get good at supporting our own institutions,” Mrs. Collie said.

The UTS team met with a number of small private schools, where students expressed a wide variety of interests including culinary studies; music; computer gaming and animal sciences. At Abaco Central High School, the team discussed the accessibility of higher education with seniors, many of whom showed a special interest in marine and maritime studies.