National stadium taking shape
There are no pneumatic tools, nail guns or electric saws in use at the construction site of the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, at least none that were apparent when The Nassau Guardian visited the site yesterday.
But sure enough, the stadium is climbing as its "superstructure" (or vertical construction) takes shape.
"As you walk around you would see that they're using the basic tools," said John Bonimy, a technical advisor with the National Stadium Committee. "They tighten nuts and bolts with open end wrenches. They don't really use that many power tools. They have the little handsaws and they have the old-time augers that you use to drill holes with your hands. The Chinese are very resilient people. They don't waste anything."

Report: Recession fueling discrimination against
Poor conditions for inmates at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) and the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, along with social discrimination against Haitians and homosexuals in The Bahamas, all received mention in the US State Department's 2009 Human Rights reports.
"The economic recession led to an increase in resentment against the Haitian population and a tendency to blame Haitians for rising crime rates," said the report, which was released yesterday.
See the full report from the US State Department here

Cop arraignment postponed
A magistrate has postponed the arraignment of a police corporal on fraud charges to give officers from the commercial crimes unit time to redo the dockets.
Police allege that Eddie Florival, 42, of Faith Avenue, is the fifth person in a fraud scheme that was allegedly orchestrated by prison inmate Shane Mackey. Prison guard Freeman Basden, Mackey's girlfriend Tamanica Bethel and Alfie Hanna were arraigned in connection with the alleged scheme last December.

BHRDA installs new executive team
On Wednesday, January 20, 2010, the Bahamas Human Resources Development Association (BHRDA), under the theme "Engineering the HR Profession for Productivity and Profitability," installed its new executive team as well as its new members. This event was a combination of the old, the present, and the future of the Association. Joining the new executives were founding members, past presidents, and HR professionals from a wide cross section of industries.

Baillou Hill Rd., Market St. businesses question one-way plans
Some local business owners in the Blue Hill Road and Market Street areas are outraged over government's plan to make significant parts of the roads one-way thoroughfares.
The businesspersons are claiming that the pending changes would have a negative impact on their businesses and possibly lead to job losses.
Arnold Heastie, proprietor of the Esso service station on Blue Hill Road, is alleging that the present road works have already caused a decline in business.

Cartwright: Cabinet meeting for Mellor brothers unlikely
Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Larry Cartwright has confirmed that it is unlikely two Grand Bahamian businessmen will get a meeting with Cabinet for a final pitch of their aquaculture project, which involves purse seine or net fishing.
The minister, who spoke to The Nassau Guardian in a recent interview, sought to clarify some issues raised by brothers Paul and David Mellor, who are claiming the government flip-flopped on the purse seining issue.
David and Paul Mellor are seeking approval for their net fishing operation and according to them, they were told last April that the practice is legal.