Dear Editor,
This week has shown us that we do not count in the deliberations of those we elect. They turn everything upside down to suit an agenda that does not seem to be in keeping with proper governance.
The past year has seen a parade of consultants, experts and advisors, who have come in and given their opinion on the issues of gambling and the VAT program. There was even a "non-binding referendum", in January of 2013 where Prime Minister Christie went on record saying that he would abide by the results of that exercise.
Apparently, the advice of the experts, consultants, advisors, and the results of the January 2013 exercise mean nothing.
I am particularly disturbed by the "newest" decision on VAT. I wonder how the experts from New Zealand are feeling at this time; probably relieved that the advice they gave was not heeded.
After all of the noise are we going to have to deal with a 7.5 percent tax increase across the board since there will not be a decrease in any of the present tariffs. Maybe we should have the sense not to call it VAT and call it what it is -- a violation.
Perhaps there will be a change of mind next week or by the weekend; that is the obvious road.
Are people finally beginning to understand that this government does not know what it is doing? Are they ever going to take the time to really study this problem?
What about the work of the coalition? There should have been an uproar by now; is this lull an indication that as long as costs can be passed on, those who should be exercising responsibility really do not care.
Or has the present administration just piled the garbage of their rhetoric up so high and deep that people are just tired.
Ingraham warned us we were getting a "do nuttin" government.
- Edward Hutcheson

Hindsight is said to be 20/20. Well for the organizers of the event known as Fantastic Fridays, that is the case, because if they had known then, what they knew now, the last Friday in the month social party at which Visage rocks the house would have been happening a long time ago and not just be into its fourth month.
The event principals, Visage, Star 106.5 FM and the British Colonial Hilton Hotel were pleasantly surprised at the crowd that flocked to the first Fantastic Friday event in February. And have been floored every month since as they've seen the event patrons increase tremendously ever since to the point where the people spill over onto the Hilton Hotel's outside lawn, unable to be contained in the Bullion bar.
At Fantastic Fridays you can dance to your favorite old-school Soca tunes and some of the most popular Bahamian hits while you release the work tensions from the past month.
"It's really become a wonderful event," said Visage leader Obi Pindling. "I think all of us are now looking back at each other and saying why haven't we been doing this all along. It's grown that big."
Fantastic Fridays was actually the brainchild of Pindling who had approached the hotel principals with the idea in December 2012 after they had played the Hilton's corporate Christmas event. Pindling said they received many compliments and comments from the people that attended about playing on a regular basis in the venue. He approached the Hilton with the idea of the happy hour event, an idea they liked, but at that the ducks did not line up all in a row. Visage played the Hilton's corporate Christmas event again at the end of 2013 and after the same response from patrons Pindling pitched his idea again. This time the stars lined up.
They discussed it throughout January 2014, Pindling contacted Star 106.5 FM programming director Tony Williams to see if the radio station would be interested in joining in on the event that would fill that entertainment void for "grown folks" who were looking for a nice, cozy, comfortable, classy venue so that they could go to have after-work drinks on a Friday and dance to good music -- old school rake n' scrape, and old school Soca -- and just have a good time. Williams loved the idea and Star 106.5 FM was on board.
The happy hour social event kicks off at 5 p.m. with Visage taking to the stage at approximately 6:30 p.m. and playing through 10 p.m. Pindling describes it as the greatest five hours every month in local entertainment.
"Fantastic Friday has really become the talk of the town. Everywhere we go people come up to us and talk about the great time they had. The one complaint they that they've been giving us is in reference to why we're finishing at 10 p.m.," said Pindling. They wrap at that time because of the hotel's regard for their in-house guests and strict no outside noise policy after 10 p.m.
Fantastic Fridays have even included elements of surprise for the hosts themselves and patrons. Previous events have seen surprise performances from people like Nehemiah Hield, former lead vocalist from Baha Men; and Johnny Kemp who happened to be in the house on different nights and hopped on stage to perform with the band to the delight of everyone.
If you have yet to experience the last Friday of the month social event, you've been missing out. Pindling said the relationship between Visage, Star 106.5 FM and the Hilton is such a good one that he has expectations of the event going on for a long time.
Fantastic Friday's host band is one that has evolved over the decades and caters to all age demographics, starting in their 20s, the band has been able to stay current because they play basically all genres of music.
"We cater to the young and the not-so-young, and of course, especially our grown folks," said Pindling of the band he has been led and managed as Visage for 33 years.
Comprising Visage as it is today is Pindling and Antoyne Hinsey, keyboards; Dyson Knight, Wendy Lewis and Shawn Ferguson, vocals; Colyn McDonald, guitar and vocals; Ian Young, bass; Carlos Dean, drums; and Jason Ferguson, programming.
Pindling formed Visage in 1981. He said they were still a relatively unknown band until 1994 before they became popular and played gigs at weddings, banquets, balls, and tourist events at the hotels. But they did not have a venue that the Bahamian public could go to on a regular basis to see the band. Isaiah Taylor from Baha Men and Obie Wilchcombe in 1994 partnered in a club called the Culture Club. Taylor, Pindling's good friend, came up with the idea of having a happy hour after work on Fridays and asked if Pindling would be interested in Visage performing at the happy hour and Taylor's band High Voltage (now known as Baha Men) performing the late set. It was at that point that Visage's popularity went through the roof as they gave the people the Soca sounds they were after.
"I had a bunch of wild, crazy guys and gals on the front line of the band doing all sorts of enjoyable, wild, crazy things, and people just thoroughly enjoyed the performances, and so it started to attract a whole new market of fans locally, who were coming every Friday to hear the band," said Pindling. After Culture Club closed Visage moved to Club 601 with High Voltage and the band's legacy continued to grow.
"It was at that point when we knew that the public came to see, hear, learn and understand who and what Visage really was as a band," he said of their history.
With the release of their new single "Happy Hour" in December 2013 and now playing Fantastic Fridays, the last Friday in the every month, Pindling said Visage has been extremely busy. They've also recently completed a video shoot for "Happy Hour" which Pindling said will be released soon.
Admission into Fantastic Fridays is $20 and includes one free drink. Free parking is included with proof of a one-drink purchase.

I relayed to you my valued readers in a recent article the disturbing news, that The Australian Digital Radio Network with some four million listeners spread across Australia had refused to play my "Time To Think" radio programs, which they had previously agreed to air, simply because, as they put it, I mentioned God too often. Now believe me, I would have welcomed the opportunity of having my programs listened to by an estimated four million listeners in Australia every day, and of course it would have been highly profitable for me.
So it would have been most convenient to tell the powers to be at the network, that from now onwards, I would not mention the word God in any of my programs. If I did this, I'm sure they would be airing the series today. But my friend, if I had done that, I'd simply be one great big phony, a real hypocrite. I would have been doing what was convenient, but not what was right.
You know, we all have a built in conscience that God gave us. We need to at all times listen to our conscience and thus as the title of today's article suggests, do what's right, not what's convenient. I guess it's called integrity. I once heard an excellent quote about integrity which goes like this "Integrity is what glows in the dark." What a beautiful and indeed most graphic way of putting it. So my friend, make sure that your integrity is intact and thus shining brightly for all to see by always and at all times doing what's right, not what's convenient.
My friend, although we all need to earn money to assist us in paying our bills and living our lives in the style which we'd like, I believe, and this is my personal opinion, there are things which are much more important than money, and which can't be bought with any amount of money. These priceless things I'm referring to are honesty, integrity and peace of mind.
So my friend, in conclusion, no matter what anyone tries to get you to do, always, always do what's right, not what's convenient, and I guarantee, that you'll be successful in the end. You'll also be working in accordance with divine law -- which is so very important.
o Think about it!
Visit my website at: www.dpaulreilly.com. Listen to "Time to Think" the radio program on STAR 106.5 FM at 8:55 a.m. & 6:20 p.m.

The Bank of The Bahamas (BOB) recently signed an agreement with 'Golden Knight' and Olympic gold medalist Chris 'The Fireman' Brown to extend his contract to represent BOB Express ATMs for another term.
For the past year, Chris Brown's image has appeared on billboards and bus shelter advertising that compares the speed and versatility of BOB Express ATMs to the quarter-miler's performance on the track.
The track star will soon appear in a newly minted campaign promoting how customers can now do many traditional in-branch transactions at the ATMs, faster and more conveniently, with immediate effect. The increased options, ranging from deposits and withdrawals to credit card payment and prepaid card loads, are possible at BOB Express in-branch ATMs in New Providence and Grand Bahama. These are the first and only ATMs in the country to accept non-envelope cash transactions with immediate cash value to accounts.
"Chris Brown is an inspirational Bahamian athlete, a leader and a living example of how success can be achieved through hard work, tenacity and determination," said Hubert Edwards, deputy managing director, BOB.
"He is one of the best in the world in track and field. This, he clearly demonstrated during the recently held IAAF World Relays. We are, therefore, very pleased to have Chris Brown as our BOB Express Ambassador for the best ATM service in The Bahamas."
Brown said he was thankful for the opportunity to represent BOB Express for another year.
"It's a great opportunity. I enjoy working with BOB and I'm also a BOB customer. I'm very proud to represent a Bahamian bank that's always ahead of the industry with innovative products like BOB Express," he said.