NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Ministry of Education has advised that due to excessive flooding on the island of New Providence caused by the severe thunder storm, only students sitting the national examinations are to report to school today. All other students are to remain at home, until further notice. This advisory impacts only schools on New Providence.

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, is strongly advising residents in the storm-impacted areas to move about with extreme caution due to excessive flooding particularly in low-laying areas.

Residents are also being strongly advised to switch off electricity from the main power sources in their homes and in other properties, if water is seeping under the doors and could impact electrical outlets.

Motorists are being encouraged to remain off the streets as vehicles are being stalled in flooded areas and left stranded along the roadways, which could hamper the easy flow of traffic.

Earlier alerts from the Bahamas Department of Meteorology advised individuals in the Northwest and Central Bahamas to remain alert for the possibility of strong to severe thunderstorms, which will be capable of producing strong gusty winds, dangerous lightning, waterspouts and possible tornadic activity over a 24-hour period.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Super salesman Mario Carey looked out at the group gathered at 7am in a meeting room at the British Colonial Hilton knowing that he had only a few minutes to make one of the most important sales of his life -- to persuade an audience of Rotarians who had already given $25,000 to create the first specially equipped classroom for pre-school age children with autism to reach into their pockets again to salvage financially strapped autism support organisation R.E.A.C.H. and the upcoming summer camp.

"We get no money from government and all of our services are provided for free," said Carey, president of R.E.A.C.H. "Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder. It increased 78% in the last six years and right now affects one in every 88 births, according to a 2012 report by the Centre for Disease Control. One in every 56 boys born in the U.S. today is diagnosed with autism, whether it is high-functioning Asperger's or a child who is so socially challenged that he does not communicate and lives in a solitary world that we cannot even imagine," said Carey, whose own son, Cole, now 16, has Asperger's.

"Cole is the reason I am up here today. He is my inspiration. I am among the fortunate," he continued. "I can afford the extra care, the special school where Cole is now and is doing fabulously well. But most parents of autistic children in The Bahamas are poor. That is why all our services are free, our education, camp, counselling, weekly support groups, the expert we bring in to train teachers and caregivers. We have trained more than 300 this year in Nassau and Freeport, thanks in part to your help from Rotary. We pay all those expenses, airfare, hotel room, and they give of their time for free because they see the need. Most parents in The Bahamas can't afford to pay and we don't want to do anything to discourage them. We want them to know there is help, support, there is a camp in the summer where these children who can't go to any other mainstream camp -- not the police camps or church camps or private camps -- can go."

NASSAU, Bahamas -- WOMEN ON THE R.I.S.E is a celebration of women advancing throughout our country encouraging us to Reflect. Inform. Support. Empower. Our unique symposium is free and open to the general public and affords us the collective opportunity to engage one another. We extend a special invitation to all women to join us as an impressive and diverse roster of speakers will explore:

• Me, Version 1.0 (Self Image & Self Perception)
• Unity Among Women (Political Power & Social Change)
• The Promise in Our Purpose (Purpose & Holistic Development)
• Wealthy Women (Economic Empowerment)
• Whole & Healthy; Mind, Body & Spirit (Mental, Physical, Spiritual Health)
• The POWER of WOMEN

2013 heralds the 50th year that the Eta Psi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated has provided exceptional service throughout communities in Nassau, Bahamas.  Eta Psi Omega blossomed as the vision of four phenomenal women and since then, we have supported innumerable environmental, economic, health and women's empowerment initiatives both locally and internationally. During this celebratory year, we will continue to engage and service our community and take this opportunity to connect with you as a civic partner.

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Sandals Royal Bahamian sent 15 graduates of its Hospitality Training Programme (HTP) out into the workforce last Tuesday. The resort itself hired 70 percent of those who completed the six week exercise.

The HTP programme is a chance for individuals to receive hospitality training throughout the various departments at Sandals’ prestigious resort property.

However, their training repertoire was not limited to the jobs found around hotels and resorts, but included life skills such as interviewing and etiquette.

“What you have decided to do and get exposed to is really a profession. Never think of it as just training never think of it as just being in a hotel and getting a bit of experience,” Sandals Royal Bahamian’s General Manager Patrick Drake told the HTP graduates.

“What we have tried to do over the past few weeks is to guide the minds, guide the hearts and possibly the heads of you who have been successful through the programme. Maybe hospitality is not for you but you will be able to look back and say I learned something.”

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Students from D.W. Davis Jr. High School learned Thursday what good table manners and table etiquette are all about.

The 80 students and eight teachers gathered around two tables set for a four course meal, as resort trainers Kayla Hilton and Sharon Cartwright showed them the ins and outs of the table setup, table service and table manners.

Several students sat at the tables, getting a practical feel for where the silverware should be placed and how it should be used. They were given instruction on which bread and butter plate to use at the table (a common dilemma), and it was explained why the waiter delivers their food from the left with the left hand and retrieves a finished plate from the right with the right hand.

Ms. Hilton explained to the students that the etiquette they learned is something they could take with them throughout their lives.

“When we talk about etiquette we’re talking about how we behave in public as well as how we eat at a table,” she told the group of eighth graders.