“A Miracle Called Yendise” by Sidney S. Collie, is finally a Reality.

B.H. Publishers pronounced that “A Miracle Called Yendise” by Sidney S. Collie, is finally a reality with its release on 25th December 2012.



This riveting spell-binging novel, depicting the trials and triumph of Sidney and Mavis Johnson-Collie, during the stages of the life of their miracle “Yendise”, is finally a reality with its release on Christmas Day.

“A Miracle Called Yendise” enhances one's faith in God and commences at the birth of their daughter Yendise. It defies normal medicine, baffling doctors and provoking the reality that one can experience miracles in uniqueness, equivalent to one’s measure of faith. When Medical Science issued its assurance that their daughter will not survive, Sidney and Mavis proved in an extra-ordinary bout of faith that the price had already been paid and that Yendise will live. At the writing of this novel, Yendise is 19 years of age, healthy, highly intelligent and a motivation to all.

The author, Sidney S. Collie has written numerous legal briefs, authored three other novels, prevailed as Government Senator in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas’ House of Parliament (1992—1997), Member of Parliament for The Blue Hills Constituency, Deputy Leader of The Free National Movement (2003—2005), Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM And Latin American States (appointed 2010), holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Science, Education, Law and English Language, is an adroit Political Advocate, a dedicated husband, meritorious father to six devouted children and successful law practitioner in the firm of Collie and Collie along with his wife Mavis Johnson-collie.

Experience a miraculous journey within the pages of A Miracle Called “Yendise” by obtaining your copy today. Visit any Amazon.com, Amazon Europe, Barnes and Noble, BHPublishers.com, or other online book store throughout The Caribbean, The Bahamas, Canada, USA, Singapore, China, Japan or Germany. Or, send email to orderdept@bhpublishers.com

The obligatory inclusion of 15 percent gratuity is without a doubt a point of frustration for most diners. Gratuity in The Bahamas is not so much a reflection of service but more an inflation of 15 percent in the price of food at a restaurant. Gratuity, or the more informal tip, is a discretionary amount voluntarily given by a customer to reflect and reward the quality of service rendered. Voluntary is key to the definition of gratuity, yet this notion is completely dispelled here in The Bahamas.

If frontline waiters and waitresses are guaranteed a 15 percent tip on every bill, what is their incentive to provide exemplary service? It is presumptuous to think that all restaurant service in The Bahamas merits a compulsory 15 percent tip. Such a policy only reinforces poor service while falsely elevating salary expectations. Most frontline employees in the food service industry work extremely hard and should be monetarily rewarded for good service, but the amount of gratuity granted should be up to the discretion of the diner. It's absurd that gratuity is added to a Ben & Jerry's ice cream cone at Marina Village.

Is Starbucks next? If service in The Bahamas is as good as advertised, then our servers will earn the 15 percent and more. Americans are known to be very high tippers averaging 19 percent, according to Zagat's 2012 America's Top Restaurant survey. With a majority of our visitors coming from the United States, it is likely that the service industry is losing a substantial amount of potential earnings. Though, with that said, visitors from other countries may feel relieved by its inclusion.

With our system not only are the very best servers left undertipped and therefore underpaid, some employers may use the obligatory gratuity to keep wages artificially low knowing each server will earn 15 percent per table. However, should the compulsory tip be removed it is essential that measures be in place to ensure servers earn a fair baseline wage. Voluntary gratuity is a form of feedback. Poor service usually equates to a poor tip and good service a good tip. Of course some customers are just downright frugal, but more often than not a customer is willing to pay for good service.

Gratuity amounts may be recommended or even broken down in percent increments as done in some parts of the United States, but the amount left is still up to the customer. The Bahamas must work at its service skills, particularly outside of the major hotels. Local diners should not be subjected to shoddy service simply because they are not tourists or in institutions frequented by tourists. Poor customer service extends beyond the restaurant industry, but it is most acute during a dining experience when hard earned cash is being given for nothing.

Evident by recent news that Baha Mar has sold well above $100 million of elite residences, service standards in The Bahamas will have to change to meet the expectations of high-net-worth individuals. Whether the obligatory 15 percent gratuity to frontline workers will ever disappear remains elusive, but The Bahamas must elevate its service standards across all industries. We need to encourage a culture where hard work is not only recognized but rewarded. Employees must be motivated to work beyond expectations and to strive for excellence.

Within hours of a young man being shot dead in The Grove on Wednesday night, police arrested the men who they believe killed him. The victim was identified as Dino Saint, 22, of Third Street. His death pushed the murder count for 2012, to 110. Saint was shot multiple times by two men, the occupants of a white Honda Accord, who pulled up and opened fire as he was walking on Third Street, just north of Coconut Grove Avenue with another man, around 10:30 p.m., police said.

According to police, the second victim, a 17-year-old, was shot to the leg. He was transported to hospital, where his condition was said to have been stable. Superintendent Stephen Dean said moments after the incident occurred, police received information that led to the arrest of a 28-year-old suspect at his home in Yellow Elder. Dean said police retrieved ammunition and a handgun from that suspect.

Dean said police also arrested a second suspect in connection with the killing yesterday morning. He said the 21-year-old suspect of Yellow Elder was found in possession of two firearms at his home around 7:30 a.m. Both men are expected to be charged with Saint's murder, police said.

Two men caught with 'joints' were yesterday given an opportunity to keep their unblemished records if they successfully complete drug counseling for six months. Elvis Griffin, 32, of Ferguson Street, was arrested on Christmas Day after police caught him smoking on Brougham Street. Griffin, who pleaded guilty at his arraignment before Deputy Chief Magistrate Carolita Bethell, said, "It was a 'lil roach, you know," explaining that he had a lot of pressure on him. Bethell chastised Griffin, who has a pending trial on the more serious charge of drug possession with intent to supply, and told him that he ought to know better.

Bethell did not convict Griffin. Instead, she ordered him to undergo random drug counseling and treatment at the Community Counselling Center. If he remains clean, Bethell will give him an absolute discharge on June 25. Kevin Knowles, 28, of Hudson Estates, Freeport, Grand Bahama, was also extended a second chance when he pleaded guilty to marijuana possession. Knowles was also arrested on Christmas Day when police found a joint in his pocket during a search.

Officers stopped the car in which Knowles was a passenger at the juncture of Wulff Road and East Street because it was heavily tinted. Knowles, a drywaller with five children, will have to complete the drug treatment program at the Psychiatric Clinic at the Rand Hospital. Knowles will also get an absolute discharge on June 25 if he gets a good report. Bethell warned both men that if they failed the program their sentences would be more severe than the ones she considered imposing because they would have wasted the court's time.