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Greetings,
As a country that has survived our tumultuous
infancy, felt the awkwardness
of our pre-teen years, struggled to find our identity
in our formative
adolescence, took on greater responsibilities in our
early adulthood, and pushed
ourselves into a more demanding maturity, we have
come to find that independence
is not just about making our own rules. It is about
taking on the tasks of
adulthood. Making our own decisions. And, perhaps
frighteningly, living with the
consequences of our past choices.
Independence means
self-determination. Getting to
make your own choices. But in a true political
context the realities of
independence frequently do no live up to the
fantasy. Like a teenager chomps at
the bit for a driver's license and a later curfew, a
country standing at the
edge of independence fantasizes about the joys of
autonomy. We can do what we
want. We don't have to listen to anybody. We can
make our own friends. We can
spend our money on what we want.
Week-long parties!
And then, when that independence becomes
reality, we realise that we're too
busy balancing our budget, caring for our people
(through education, health
care, national insurance, peacekeeping), maintaining
(or building) our
international status, and creating and sustaining our
country's infrastructure
that the "week-long party" becomes a
quick, exhaustion-induced nap...just to
build up enough energy to face the next
challenge.
This writer recalls an August evening of 1992
when incredulous news anchors
stammered out the probable reality that the FNM
could actually become the ruling
party of the Bahamas. After 25 years of PLP control,
the concept was at once
staggering, frightening, exhilarating and sobering.
Regardless of your political
preference--indeed, perhaps even more so if you
were an FNM supporter--that
night made you wonder if you wanted
the FNM to actually
be the government and some part of you may have
even wondered if the party was
up to the task. The "be careful what you
wish for" phrase danced about
hauntingly. Could we actually survive--and thrive--
after such a traumatic
change? This is not a partisan thought, but rather an
illustration that we often
work and struggle for something that we are not
always sure we actually want.
Click here to
read the entire article
Send your comments to the editor by writing to
editor@grandbahamainfo.com. Note that all
comments or
submissions are subject to our editorial policy.
| The Columbian hosts Cook-out in efforts to aid injured Staff member |
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Miss Shenique Cartwright, a coworker of ours at The
Colombian, was involved in a serious car accident on
May 28th, 2006. She suffered severe injuries on her
entire body but especially to the head and the neck.
Consequently she was air lifted to Princess Margaret
Hospital in Nassau. In order to prevent paralysis,
Shenique had to be fitted with a neck halo, which
she must wear for the next five months. Therapy
sessions will last for at least a year. Needless to say
the medical costs have already reached an
astronomical high.
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| New Kids Sailing Club for Grand Bahama |
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Did you know that the first Bahamian Olympic medal
was in sailing? Over the past three years youth
sailing has experienced a rebirth in the Bahamas.
Sailing camps have emerged in Nassau, Abaco, Long
Island and other family islands. We believe that the
youth of Grand Bahama should be able to participate
in this positive experience.
The Bahamas Sailing Organization, which is based in
Nassau, is actively encouraging Sailing Programs
throughout the Bahamas. It has organized both
National and International competitions and our goal
would be for children from Grand Bahama to
participate in these type of events. Sailing is a sport
that builds self- reliance, physical strength, quick
thinking and decision making, as well as a love for
the environment. Sailing is a perfect opportunity for
boys and girls from all walks of life to interact and
learn together- creating bonds that will last a lifetime.
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| Bahamian Pro Football Player Devard Darling hosts week-long football camp |
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Bahamian Pro Football Player Devard Darling of the
Baltimore Ravens has just completed a week long
football camp on Grand Bahama. About 250 kids
which included about 10 girls attended the camp at
the GB Sports Complex from June 26-30th,
2006. Traveling along with Devard to the camp were
his elder brother Dennis Darling who is an
Olympic sprinter for the Bahamas and his wife
Tonique Williams-Darling who spent time talking with
the kids about the importance of listening to your
coaches and doing well in school. LaLisa
Ahthony representing the NFL Junior Development
Program was also on hand capturing footage of the
camp in order to assist Devard thru the NFL with
possibly starting up a junior NFL program here on
Grand Bahama.
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| Grand Bahama Junior Girls Softball Team win PONY Tournament |
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On July 1, 2006 Grand Bahama’s Junior Girls Softball
Team became Champions of the PONY Eastern
Caribbean Zone 19 & Under Girls Softball Tournament,
capturing the title with a 14-13 victory over host St.
Martin (Dutch Side) on Saturday night.
The team completed the tournament with a 4-0
record and becomes the first champions of the event
sponsored by PONY.
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| Old Bahama Bay graduates 26 from the Grand Bahama Bahamahost Program |
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Under the theme: “Bahamahost, Transforming our
Tourism Industry, One Bahamian At a Time”, the
Ministry of Tourism proudly graduated 120 candidates
from this year’s Bahamahost program. The graduation
took place in The Ballroom of the Westin and
Sheraton Resort at Our Lucaya on Tuesday, June 27,
2006. Six sessions made up the BahamaHost
graduating class and amongst them was the largest
session of twenty-six candidates hailing from the
island’s capital West End, Old Bahama Bay. Old
Bahama Bay’s Vice President of Human Resources,
Donald Glass, who was present at the graduation had
this to say about the Old Bahama Bay
candidates, “because of Bahamahost, our employees
can now play a more significant role in the total
guest experience and thereby exceed our guests’
expectations.”
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| Freeport Rugby & Football Club's Annual Soccer Camp Feedback |
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This week saw over 180 kids attend the Freeport
Rugby & Football Club's Annual Soccer Camp. This
one week event from 9am to 3pm event
gives youngsters the chance to train
with International players and top class
professional coaches. Returning coach, Luther
Blissett, a former striker in the UK’s top soccer
division, came back this year with three other
coaches to teach young Bahamians the skills they
need in this world wide sport phenomenon.
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| Humane Society of Grand Bahama Update |
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The photo is of several of our MANY lovely puppies
available for adoption.
These pups are about 8 weeks old and very
personable and playful, please
come in and see them!
WARNING!!! We would like to warn the dog-owning
public that the popular
treats called "Greenies" may be hazardous to your
dog's health. Evidently
many dogs have gotten sick, and some have even
died after not being able to digest the treats. Please
click here for more
information
The Humane Society is happy to announce that the
property for the new shelter is being cleared
Wednesday, July 5, courtesy of Waugh Construction!
We are certainly grateful to them for this generous
contribution.
The building plans will be going into the Port
Authority for permitting by the end of this week and
we hope to be breaking ground within the next 60
days. We are all very excited and hope the
community will get behind this special project and
help us make it a reality.
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| Congratulations to Mother's Day winner Ms. Parker |
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A belated congratulations is being sent out to
Annette Parker who won a one-night stay at Old
Bahama Bay in West End in the Parfum De Paris
Mother's Day promotion this year. Ms. Parker is a
regular shopper to the store and was delighted that
she won a stay at such a beautiful resort.
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| Independence Day Celebrations |
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Friday, July 7 – T-shirt Day
Sunday, July 9, Independence Park
8:00 pm – Gospel Concert
9:30 pm Ecumenical Service
11:15 pm Police and Uniform Branch Parade
12:00 am Flag Raising
12:15 am Fireworks
Monday, July 10, 12:00 noon – Cultural
Extravaganza and Children’s Party
– Taino Beach
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| Muddasick! : Cable Fables |
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Here's your chance to say your piece! Tell us all
what bugs you...you know, when you're driving down
the road and mumble to yourself, "Muddasick, they can't get that
fixed!" Or someone does something really stupid and
you shout out, "Well muddasick! They lost their head,
eh?!" This is where you can get it off your chest.
Dear GB Info:
Is anyone else frustrated and upset with Cable
Bahamas like I am? They say that their service is
better than satellite and yet THEY are USING Direct
TV for some of their channels! I have noticed, and
friends have commented to me, that when some
channels are not functioning there is a Direct TV logo
displayed on the channel with some message about
why the service is unavailable. To top this off I
would imagine that they are "pinching" this signal and
then charging us for it, as I feel sure that Direct TV
would not be supplying a cable company with a legal
signal for further distribution!
(continued)
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
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Mark your calendar!
Click here to see the all new Grand
Bahama Info Event
Calendar
Ministry of Tourism's Grand
Bahama events page
June 8-Aug 3: Junkanoo Summer,
Every
Thursday Royal
Oasis lawn, downtown Freeport. Featuring live music,
native food and crafts, dance and junkanoo
performances. Click HERE for more details.
June 26-August 11: BMES Camp Warriors
from 9 am to 5 pm for further information call
373-4391 .
July 3-7: Freeport Rugby Club is pleased
to announce the return of The English Premier
League’s Soccer Camp. Registration forms can be
picked up at The Rugby Club, Animale, Esquire and
Town and Country. Enrollments: $150
Jul 10: Commonwealth Of The Bahamas
Independence Day
Jul 26: The Grand Bahama Chamber of
Commerce Monthly Business Luncheon Meeting.
Venue: Ruby Swiss Restaurant. Time: 12:30pm
Aug 6th: Grand Bahama All Star
Junkanoo Group Parade
August 7: Emancipation Day
Oct 13: Discovery Day
Dec 1:Festival Noel- 7pm at the Garden
of the Groves
NOTE: All dates, times, locations and other
details are subject to change.
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The English Premier League and Grand Bahama Port Authority’s Donation to Youth Soccer |
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The English Premier Soccer League has been actively
involved in the development of youth soccer in
Freeport, Grand Bahama for the past three years.
While summer 2006 concludes their direct
involvement, they intend to play a vital role in the
future development of soccer in Grand Bahama.
The League has therefore prepared a substantial
monetary donation along with their expertise, to be
used in conjunction with approximately three (3)
acres of land generously donated by the Grand
Bahama Port Authority, for two (2) additional soccer
pitches and improved facilities.
As the facilities of the Freeport Rugby and Football
Club are improved and expanded, the Grand Bahama
Island Community can look forward to their ability to
provide specialty-training camps year round. It is
anticipated that the expanded facility will be utilized
not only by local rugby and soccer leagues, but
national and international leagues as well. As the
Club expands to hosting various tournaments and
events, Grand Bahama will experience a surge in
Domestic & International Tourism, and the trickle
down effect of these sporting events will
undoubtedly have a positive influence on the
business sector at large.
The Summer Soccer Camp, currently in full swing, is
held during the month of July, where the Premier
League, having a full compliment of knowledge of
how soccer camps are run in other countries, provide
expert coaching, authentic uniforms and other prize
items for the participants. Working closely with the
Freeport Rugby and Football Club, several of the
Premier League’s world-class coaches, most with
experience of playing the game at the international
level, fly down to Grand Bahama and coach up to 200
kids for a full week.
All proceeds from the camp – thanks to the generous
sponsorship of corporate and private sponsors – are
reinvested through the purchase of new equipment,
providing coaching, and the upkeep of the facilities.
Viewing the 2006 team results, it is evident that the
Freeport Rugby and Football Club are on the right
track. The rugby team won the Bahamas Cup for the
first time in 12 years, and the Junior Soccer team
won the Grand Bahama Soccer League, while the
Senior Team were runners up.
The Government of The Bahamas and in particular
both the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of
Youth, Sports and Housing are delighted to
acknowledge the significant contributions made by
the English Premier Soccer League, The Grand
Bahama Port Authority, and all sponsors, which
provide the Freeport Rugby and Football Club the
opportunity to continue their positive community
outreach by getting young people involved in
sporting activities and equipping them with the tools
required to further develop their athletic skills and
have a positive influence in their overall education,
and possibly University, International and Olympic
success.
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