FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- Internationally renowned Grand Bahamian artist Leo Brown and Bahamas Printing and Publishing Company continued their efforts to give back to the community while promoting authentic Bahamian work with their second donation to The Grand Bahama Children’s Home from sales of “A touch of The Bahamas” Bahamian greeting cards.

In 2012, Bahamas Publishing and Printing and Leo Brown collaborated to make available to Bahamians and visitors Bahamian greeting cards – with vivid, litho quality reproductions of four iconic pieces from Leo Brown’s collection.

“Our focus was on how to bring things Bahamian to the marketplace and deliver a product of exceptional quality reflecting authentic local work,” explains Mr. Daniel Lowe, President, Bahamas Printing and Publishing Company. “The greeting cards have such a broad appeal. In addition to being used for greeting cards, many people are giving them as gifts and framing them for wonderful art pieces,” he added.

In addition to the focus of bringing quality Bahamian work to the forefront, Mr. Lowe and Mr. Brown were both very committed to giving back to their Bahamian community on a tangible level. When they agreed to donate a portion of the sales to a local charity, Leo Brown immediately named the Grand Bahama Children’s Home as the recipient.

NASSAU, Bahamas -– Scotiabank has joined forces with the Bahamas Football Association as the country plays host to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier, marking the first time that a World Cup Qualifier will take place in the Caribbean. The Games begin at the Beach Soccer facility on East Bay Street on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at noon and continue through Sunday, May 12, 2013.

Recognizing the significance of this international sporting event, Scotiabank, Senior Manager of Marketing & PR, Leah R. Davis, presented a sponsorship cheque to the Bahamas Football Association as the country bids to move on to the World Cup in Tahiti in September 2013. “This is an amazing opportunity for The Bahamas, both for the promotion of the sport of beach soccer and for the sport tourism opportunities it presents,” explained Ms. Davis.

“Scotiabank is an active participant in the community that we serve and are excited to be a part of such a positive national event. We wish Team Bahamas, and the other ten countries that will be participating this week, safe competition and the very best of luck!”

Pictured are Leah R. Davis, Senior Manager of Marketing & PR, Scotiabank; Frederick Lunn, General Secretary, Bahamas Football Association; Anton Sealey, President, Bahamas Football Association.

“ROBBERY REPORTED – GRAND BAHAMA”

On Monday 6th May 2013 around 7:05am, police received information of a robbery in the Garden Villas area.

Reports are that around 3:20am a female reported that while walking in the Garden Villas area she was held at bay by a lone male who held her from behind and attempted to rob her, she fought back at the assailant who was then assisted by another male and was robbed of a silver diamond ring valued at $1,200.00, a gray flip Samsung cellular phone valued at $50.00 and $100.00 dollars in cash.

“POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS”

On Monday 6th May 2013 around 7:24pm, officers while in the Columbus Drive area searched a green Honda Accord vehicle and the driver and discovered a foil paper containing grassy substance suspected to be marijuana on his person.

A 27 year old male was arrested and taken into police custody.

The management at Sandals Royal Bahamian is surprised to learn that the Bahamas Maintenance and Allied Workers Union has opted for a strike vote ahead of a meeting between the two parties and also knowing that a matter is still before the court of appeal.

We are unaware of any significant issues that would warrant such an action ahead of a scheduled meeting at the Ministry of Labour and prior to a decision handed down by the Court of Appeal.

Any action by the union while proceedings are pending in the court of appeal shall be illegal and in breach of Section 77 of the Industrial Relations Act.

The union is aware of the court action that is now at the appellate level, as they were served by the company's attorneys.  And the hotel is aware that the Maintenance union would like to negotiate on an industrial agreement.

The hotel was apprised of impending action by the union by letter on Monday afternoon.

Sandals is a responsible employer that abides by the laws of the Bahamas.  We take our relationship with our valued employees very seriously and do not want any illegal industrial action directed by the union to jeopardize their employment. Therefore, Sandals wishes to remind its employees to act responsibly.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Representing the Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay during a lively interview on Darrold Miller Live this week, Coalition directors Fred Smith, QC and Joe Darville called attention to the government's responsibility to implement regulations, maintain transparency and safeguard the nation's crown land. Both men urged passage of a Freedom of Information Act and an Environmental Protection Act.  "Without the Freedom of Information Act, governments have had a free hand at giving away or selling at a very low price land that belongs to us," said Darville. "It is reprehensible, wrong and it's a theft of our property for it to be given away without our approval."

Under the Local Government Act, Smith cited a requirement that the government consult with the local town council before crown land is sold or conveyed. The land, agreed senior attorney, human rights and environmental activist Fred Smith, is not the government's to convey -- it is the people's land held in trust by the government and should only be managed after full consultation and transparency.

"Crown land is the heritage of every Bahamian person. It is the land in The Bahamas that is not owned by any private person and is held in trust by the Bahamian government, the person of the crown - the queen - for the benefit of the Bahamian people," said Smith. "The three branches of government constitute government in The Bahamas. But the entity that is actually the government at the end of the day is the crown. It is the crown that holds 70 percent, I think, of land in The Bahamas for the benefit of the Bahamian people. So crown land belongs to us all and it should not be given away without consulting us."

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Perry G. Christie, travels this afternoon (May 7, 2013) to New York City and along with the Premier of Bermuda will speak tomorrow at the christening of Norwegian Cruise Lines new cruise ship “Breakaway”. The new ultra-modern “Breakaway” will be the largest ship to homeport in New York and will reopen the more affluent New York/Nassau cruise market, giving a further economic boost to the local economy.

While in New York the Prime Minister will discuss with Mr. K.T. Lim, Chairman Genting/Resorts World and 50% shareholders in Norwegian Cruise Lines, the conglomerate’s growing investments in The Bahamas.  He will also hold meetings with other investors including multiple international partners in a proposed major development for East Grand Bahama.

Accompanying the Prime Minister are The Right Honourable Obie Wilchcombe, Minister of Tourism, Sir Baltron Bethel, Senior Policy Advisor and Mrs. Joy Jibrilu, Director of Investments.

The Prime Minister returns to Nassau on Thursday, May 9.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- On Tuesday, May 7, Ms. Theresa McPhee, Secondary Education Officer in the Ministry of Education met with the U.S. Embassy’s Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, John Lowell Armstrong to discuss her recent participation in a professional exchange focused on Science and Technology Education in the U.S.  The visit was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs.  

Ms. McPhee shared insights from her meetings in Washington, D.C., San Antonio, Boston, Philadelphia and Portland from April 8-16, 2013, where she had an opportunity to explore how the U.S. system of education is organized and how curricula is developed and implemented to improve math and science instructional practices.

Ms. McPhee also had the opportunity to observe policy initiatives and public/private partnerships firsthand that are designed to accelerate student learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects, especially for students from diverse backgrounds. Ms. McPhee’s three week visit also included meetings at Microsoft’s Innovations Center, the Discovery Education Center, the STEM Education Coalition and the National Science Teachers of America Conference.

Ms. McPhee’s visit was coordinated by the International Visitor Leadership program; a prestigious worldwide U.S. government program which takes professionals in critical fields to the United States to network with counterparts and to learn more about America and its policies.  The meeting with the U.S. Embassy’s Acting Deputy Chief of Mission served as an opportunity to gain insights on the key issues impacting the field of education in The Bahamas and to identify ways that the U.S. Embassy may be able to partner with the Ministry of Education on education-related efforts.

Photo: Ms. Theresa McPhee, Secondary Education Officer in the Ministry of Education meets with the U.S. Embassy’s Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, John Armstrong.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Golf legend and course designer Jack Nicklaus returned to the site of the future Jack Nicklaus Signature Design Golf Course at Baha Mar to review the development of the course since his last visit in February 2013.

During the current visit, Nicklaus carefully inspected the 18-hole, par-72 course, providing a strategy for the holes according to his vision of how golfers will play each hole. The Golden Bear’s input on the strategy of the course includes features such as bunker placement and green design which incorporate the contours of the local landscape while creating a scenic golf course that is suitable for a broad variety of players.

The hands-on, customized design strategy for the holes is a key feature of the Signature Design Golf Courses, the highest tier of Nicklaus Design golf courses. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course atBaha Mar will be the only one of its caliber in The Bahamas and one of only a handful in the Caribbean.

The course is on scheduled to open in spring 2014. Baha Mar, the 1,000-acre resort enclave currently under development on The Bahamian Riviera, is scheduled to open in December 2014.

Photo:  Jack Nicklaus and course designers from Nicklaus Design discuss design strategy at the site of the Signature Golf Course at Baha Mar. Pictured from L to R:  Designer/Shaper Jerame Miller, Senior Design Associate Chris Cochran and golf legend and course designer Jack Nicklaus.