Bike rider celebrates ten years car free

Read storyA bike mechanic who got rid of his car ten years ago said he has saved $5,000 a year and lowered his blood pressure.

Douglas Fawkes, 53, said he cycles about 2,500 miles a year and is encouraging more Bahamians to join him.

Fawkes would like to see bike lessons in schools and recommends that anyone who lives less than five miles from their job to try riding instead of driving.

Full Story in The Tribune here

PLP leader says Pindling drug story is vile garbage

Read storyPLP leader Perry Christie said the article suggesting Sir Lynden Pindling may have been connected to the disappearance of a pilot was the "vilest, most vicious and sickest piece of garbage" he has ever read.

Speaking from PLP headquarters Wednesday, Christie said the article did not give evidence for its allegations.

The former prime minister accused Tribune editor John Marquis of exploiting the pilot's father and former PLP backbencher, Chauncey Tynes Sr, in order to defame Sir Lynden.

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Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here Page 1

Christie's full statement here Page 7

Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A1)

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Antique Car Show Saturday

Read storyThe 22nd annual Antique Car Show will be held this Saturday at Arawak Cay – free to the public.

Steak and chicken dinners will be on sale with all proceeds going to the Bilney Lane Home for Children and the Every Child Counts Learning Centre in Abaco.

Children will be invited to participate in an art contest that includes drawing one of the cars on display. Prizes will be awarded one week after the show.

Full Story in The Tribune here

Prime Minister in Belize for CARICOM conference

Read storyCaribbean leaders began a two-day conference in Belize yesterday, as they met for the 20th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government meeting.

High on the agenda are the world economy, the G20's position on offshore banking and the collapse of CLICO.

Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here

Full Story in The Tribune here

Students turn construction site into art

Read storyBahamian artists have turned a construction site into art, transforming Woodes Rogers walk with their creations.

Students from the College of the Bahamas, the National Art and Craft Enrichment Programme, D W Davis and recent high school graduates have painted murals on plywood sheets erected around the site of the former Straw Market.

Timothy Nottage, director of the art project, said, "It adds an aesthetic appeal to the waterfront where the tourists have to pass, rather than having an eyesore,”

Imagine if we can do this for all those dilapidated buildings and all those eyesores that are downtown. "

Full Story and photos in The Tribune here

ZNS chairman earned commission on CLICO investment

Read storyFormer chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas admitted he earned a commission when the corporation invested $800,000 of pension funds in CLICO (Bahamas).

Chairman Calsey Johnson was an executive at CLICO before moving to BCB's board and was still serving as an independent agent at the time of the investment.

Johnson said he did not consider his recommendation a conflict of interest.

BCB's current chairman Michael Moss said in earlier reports he had no idea when or how the pension funds ended up at CLICO.

Moss and union officers want answers about why the money was invested and how much they can expect to get back.

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Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here

BTVI students get $8,000 from walkathon

Read storyAbout 90 people turned out for a walkathon to support students of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute last Saturday.

The walkathon, which went from the Old Trail Campus to the foot of the Paradise Island Bridge and back, raised $8,000 in donations, sponsorship and registration fees.

Photos from the walkathon here

Full Story in The Tribune here

Students compete to see who can earn the most money

Read storyStudents from 12 schools are testing their financial know-how to see how well they can perform in the struggling economy.

As part of an annual course sponsored by the CFAL investment firm, students manage virtual portfolios based on actual companies.

Prizes of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 are awarded to the top three teams. Winners are chosen based on who has made the most money from their investment.

Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here

Inmates at Detention Centre are denied visitors

Read storyAccording to reports from the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, detainees who gave reports of abuse and poor conditions at the facility are being denied visitors and access to newspapers.

There were also reports of some improvements at the centre, including better food.

Information from a visit to the centre by Immigration Director Jack Thompson, Defence Force Commodore Clifford Scavella, representatives from the department of social services and psychologist Dr David Allen have still not been released.

The Tribune said it had received copies of letters from citizens of Germany, Canada and Spain appealing for an independent investigation into the centre.

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Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A1)

Bahamas celebrates 60th Commonwealth Day

Read storyAs a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, The Bahamas celebrated the sixtieth Commonwealth Day on Monday.

Speaking at a celebration ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Brent Symonette pointed out some of the ways The Bahamas has played a key role in Commonwealth Affairs, including hosting a
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 1985.

During that meeting, the Commonwealth Accord on South Africa was adopted. The accord played a pivotal role in dismantling South Africa's apartheid regime.

A list of Members of the Commonwealth of Nations here

Full Story in The Tribune here
 

Judge rules that Doctor was negligent

Read storyA judge has ruled in favor of a patient who accused his doctor of misdiagnosing a condition that eventually caused his heart to fail.

Senior Justice John Lyons ruled Wednesday that Dr Ian Kelly was negligent in dealing with his patient Christopher Rogers.

Rogers first visited Kelly in October 2005 complaining of a month-long fever.

Judge Lyons reasons for the decision will be outlined in a forthcoming ruling as well as what damages will be awarded to Rogers.

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Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A1)

Minister said PMH prescription wait being fixed

Read storyHealth Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said the public was justified in complaints about the long wait for prescriptions but has pledged to fix the problem.

Hundreds of people were waiting for hours at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Tuesday. Dr Minnis waited for two hours himself when he went to the pharmacy to try it for himself.

Minnis said Tuesday's problem came after three pharmacists called in sick to an already short-staffed section. The minister said five pharmacists will soon be hired but added that that would still not be enough.

In addition he is preparing to meet with pharmacists to allow some people, especially the elderly, to get their medication outside of PMH.

Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A1)

Female teacher accused of student sex abuse

Read storyGRAND BAHAMA: Police are investigating sex allegations involving a female teacher and a male student at Eight Mile Rock High School.

A Freeport newspaper reported that the school's principal pulled the teacher from school for a couple of days.

This is the second time the Grand Bahama school has been in the spotlight because of accusations against a teacher.

Earlier this year a male teacher resigned after two male students accused him of years of sexual abuse.

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Full Story in The Tribune here (Page A1)

National Insurance wants to prosecute 300 employers

Read storyThe National Insurance Board (NIB) is looking to prosecute about 300 employers for not paying contributions.

NIB Board Director Algernon Cargill has warned that anyone who receives a court summons to attend since the next step is a warrant of arrest.

Cargill also said police have been more aggressive in executing warrants.

A statement issued by the NIB said if collection polices do not become more efficient, the national insurance program could be threatened around 2032.

Full Story in The Nassau Guardian here

Full Story in The Tribune here

Caribbean regulators from 18 countries to discuss CLICO failure

Read storyRegulators from 18 countries met in Trinidad & Tobago yesterday to discuss the collapse of CLICO and what can be learned.

"It will be a review of the entire regulatory process to understand lessons learnt," Lennox McCartney, Bahamas Registrar of Insurance, said on Wednesday.

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Full Story in The Nassau Guardian herePage 1

Full Story in The Tribune here

TED: Good health doesn't always come in a bottle

Some good news about healing. The video gives clear evidence on how quickly simple changes can make a big difference to the quality of your life.