The 3rd concert of the newly formed Grand Bahama Performing Arts Society, ?Music for a Spring Evening? was a delightful, unique experience for those few truly knowledgeable about classical music, as well as the rest of us.

Flautist, Christine Gangelhoff and pianist, Christy Lee, currently part of the music department faculty at College of the Bahamas in Nassau, are both accomplished musicians and enthusiastic educators. Not only did their music move the audience, their engaging descriptions of the composer and story behind each piece, swept them off the stage and into our hearts.

The wide-ranging program, with works by C.P.E. Bach, Schumann, Poulenc, Chopin, and Arminov, culminated with the thrilling ?Carmen Fantasy? by Francis Borne, which brought the audience to its feet.

The following afternoon, eight young local piano and flute students were treated to a free ?master class? conducted by Gangelhoff and Lee. Students were given the opportunity to perform, and to receive advice on how to improve their skills. It was a rare and worthwhile experience for the participants.

This was the second free ?master class? the Grand Bahama Performing Arts Society has offered to Freeport?s youth, the first being in January with the Canadian pianist, Tannis Gibson. These ?master classes?, in conjunction with the concerts, are all part of the Society?s mission to bring a diversity of world class performing artists to the island, and to give back to our local performing art students.

Photo: Christy Lee (pianist) and Christine Gangelhoff (floutist) at the piano at Church of the Ascension.

NASSAU, Bahamas ? The National Campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking will signal to the world The Bahamas? commitment to mobilising its people, and to take decisive action to control the production, use and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, Minister of National Security the Hon. Tommy Turnquest said Wednesday.

Minister Turnquest was speaking at the launch of the National Campaign at the Learning Tree, Michael Eldon Complex, College of The Bahamas.

He pointed out that in the once peaceful and safe Bahamas, crime and criminality remains at an unacceptable level and arms? trafficking is fuelling gun-related crimes, including armed robbery and murder.

?Gang violence is cause for concern, as violence is in our schools. Hardened criminals are intimidating witnesses in cases before our courts, and the inmate population in our prisons continue to be significant,? the Minister said.

Mr. Turnquest said the majority of the population affected by drug use, illicit trafficking and their negative fallouts are the young people, adding also that persons are now being found growing and producing marijuana in the country.

The Government, he said, recognises that the drug problem is a complex one, requiring decisive action in areas including health, the law, economic and social development and law enforcement.

?The Government also understands that action against drug abuse and illicit trafficking must be taken collectively, and on all fronts if it is to succeed,? Minister Turnquest added.
Through the National Campaign, The Bahamas joins the worldwide anti-drug campaign initiated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for the years 2007-2009.
Mr. Turnquest said, ?We want Bahamians from all walks of life and from throughout The Bahamas to buy into this concept. This would strengthen the hands of our country and community in the fight against illicit drugs.?

He said June 26 is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The date has been set aside by the United Nations General Assembly for Member States to take action at the national level, in support of the international undertaking that seeks to rid the world of the scourge of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The Minister explained that a series of activities have been planned leading up to that day.
On June 26, an exhibition organised by the National Drug Council and The Bahamas Law Enforcement Agencies and a Youth Extravaganza will be held at the Kendal Isaacs Gym.
The Minister urged communities, institutions and organisations in the private and public sectors as well as individuals and families to take part in the activities and to plan their own special events in support of the Campaign and International Day.

He said, ?Our National Campaign and the celebration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking should focus clearly on the danger illicit narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances pose to our country, and particularly to our youth.
?Importantly, it should call on us as a nation to action, to work individually and collectively for the elimination of illicit drug production, use and trafficking in our country.?

The Minister said much effort has been and continues to be put into organising the campaign and implementing its programme of activities and the activities of the International Day by the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (NADS), which became operational in the Ministry of National Security in February 2008.

He said NADS has begun to perform one of its primary functions; that of coordinating the work of shareholders concerned with all aspects of drug control, so as to make a collective and balanced contribution to the critical work done in the country to counter drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Photo: Minister of National Security the Hon. Tommy Turnquest launches the national campaign against drugs abuse and the illicit trafficking at the Learning Tree, Michael Eldon Complex, The College of The Bahamas on Wednesday, April 29, 2009. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

The celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth will be highlighted with a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening hosted by Queen Elizabeth as Head of the Commonwealth.

Sir Arthur Foulkes is one of three persons selected to represent The Bahamas along with delegates from all over the Commonwealth. He will fill the role of one who has contributed significantly to the association of The Bahamas with the Commonwealth.

Sir Arthur was from 1992 to 1999 Bahamas High Commissioner to the Court of St. James?s and for several years Dean of the Caribbean diplomatic corps in London.

Representing the young people of The Bahamas will be Ms. Datra Christie, who is presently studying in Britain. The third member of the Bahamian delegation will be Ms. Paulet Brown, Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the University of East London.

Sir Arthur accompanied by Joan Lady Foulkes left for London Sunday.

Nassau, Bahamas ? Twenty-five employees of the Buildings Control Division of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport participated in the first of a two-day workshop designed to enhance customer service skills Wednesday.

Organized by the Department of Public Service, the workshop at the British Colonial Hilton is in keeping with the Government?s Service Improvement Programme which aims to formulate strategies for internal and external service improvement.

The programme was implemented in six key service delivery agencies within the Public Service. The departments include the Department of Public Service, the Passport Office, the Registrar General?s Department, the Department of Road Traffic, the Department of Physical Planning and the Buildings Control Division in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

Topics to be covered include Leadership, How to Deliver Quality Customer Service and How to Build a Dream Team.

Facilitator Michael Pintard told participants that the public service needs ?courageous? individuals ?who will not intellectually surrender, who will come to work with their minds and hearts fully engaged and prepared to look at the structure of the organization, the regulations, procedures and culture to make suggestions on how to change it.

?The public sector needs creative persons who are willing to engage themselves in improving the public sector,? said Mr. Pintard.

Photo: Facilitator Michael Pintard addresses staff of the Buildings Control Unit of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 during the launch of a two-day workshop as part of the Government?s Service Improvement Programme. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)