An anonymous donor recently established a scholarship fund at the L.J.M. Maritime Academy for the benefit of any graduate of the C.H. Reeves Junior High School wanting to pursue a course of study at the Marine Academy. The check was presented to the President of the academy, Dr. Brenda-Mae Cleare by the Principal of C. H. Reeves Jr. High School, Ms. Greta Brown. The check presentation took place on Monday, the 14thApril 2014 at the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, the Manx Corporate Center, West Bay Street.

Pictured from left are Petron Brown, Head Boy at C.H. Reeves; Shania Lewis, Head Girl at C.H. Reeves; Ms. Greta Brown, School Principal; Minister of Transport and Aviation,the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin; Dr. Brenda-Mae Cleare; Tameka Forbes, ExecutiveAssistant at the L.J. M. Marine Academy

SOUTH ANDROS, The Bahamas – The South Andros Handicraft and Manufacturing Association (SAHMA) officially launched the South Andros Coastal Restoration and Coconut Project on April 10, 2014 at the South Andros Craft Centre in Motion Town, Long Bay Cays, South Andros.

The initiative is a Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded project for the community.

“We are very happy to be here today,” said GEF National Co-ordinator in The Bahamas Mr. Deon Stewart. “It didn’t go without a lot of hard work on behalf of SAHMA and the community of South Andros and also on behalf of the committee that actually reviews and improves projects here (in the Bahamas).”

SOUTH ANDROS, The Bahamas – President of the South Andros Handicraft and Manufacturing Association (SAHMA) said recently that the launch of the South Andros Coastal Restoration and Coconut Project was “quite an expression of confidence in the management and operation of SAHMA.

“We sought to empower members of the community through craft and culture and this project will allow us to take the empowerment further,” SAHMA President and Project Coordinator Mrs. Emily Rahming said after the official ceremony at the South Andros Craft Centre, in Motion Town, Long Bay Cays, South Andros.

NASSAU, The Bahamas --- Senior Officials from a number of essential governmental ministries, corporations and agencies and private sector partnerships began meeting Tuesday at a “Skills Building Workshop for Human Rights-Based Monitoring on State Action on Gender-Based Violence”. The Workshop is part of a larger project – the State Accountability Project to End Gender-Based Violence – that will focus on building a culture of peace and respect in society in general and decreasing the level of violence against women, in particular.

The State Accountability Project is sponsored by the Caribbean Regional Office of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UNWomen).

Freeport, Bahamas - Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr. Michael Darville officially welcomed David Shark, Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organisation to Grand Bahama on April 10th.

Mr. Shark was accompanied by Ryan Pinder, Minister for Financial Services; Rhoda Jackson, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the United Nations office and other international organisations in Geneva, Switzerland; Ms June Young Lee WTO Legal Advisor; and Ms. Keva Bain, Acting Director of Trade and Industry.

The Bahamas is in the process of negotiating accession to the World Trade Organisation primarily to secure favourable market access for its goods and services into the international community.

The Berry Islands reported a major fire on the island early morning of Tuesday, April 1st. The community on the island mobilized and used its limited water resources but were unable to contain the fire.

Consequently, on Wednesday April 2nd, the Chief of Fire Department, Royal Bahamas Police Force, Superintendent Walter Evans and two officers; Corporal Ambrister and Constable Whymms, arrived on the Island and worked tirelessly with the community to bring the fire under control.

Together with great community effort, and a skilled staff of the Fire Department, the fire was brought under control on Friday 4th.

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Ministry of Transport and Aviationhas acquired the expertise of an independent transportation, planning and management consultant, Canadian Neville Weeks, to spearhead the revision of the Road Traffic Act, with a view to modernising the country’s transportation system.

During a forum held Thursday, April 3, 2014, stakeholders assembled at the Paul Farqhuarson Centre where plans were outlined, and feedback and suggestions submitted as to the way forward.

Under Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation Peter Deveaux-Isaacs underscored the importance of the project, which is the New Providence Transport Programme being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank.