The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas is the first institution of its kind in the history of The Bahamas. In 1996, Prime Minister Ingraham first announced the establishment of The National Art Gallery as part of an expanded system of museums. The Government’s initiative to support a national art gallery reflects an understanding of how such institutions assist in nation building.

The Gallery opened in July 2003 in historic Villa Doyle. It is a corporation managed by a Board of Directors with the mission to collect, preserve, document and promote a National Collection of art for the benefit and education of Bahamians and the wider international audience. The NAGB assists in defining the Bahamian art movement that has, to this point, developed informally and works to support national, regional and international collaborations and exhibition opportunities and exchanges of art and artists. The National Art Gallery supports the artistic community by extending its audiences, helping to define its standards and practices, and by broadening its impact.

It is a vibrant and energetic work place that serves to cultivate all who walk through its doors.

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Commonwealth local authorities have pledged to develop partnerships with business, the private sector and development agencies to help their communities out of the recession. The “Cardiff Consensus for Local Economic Development” also commits local government to become more strategic when developing local infrastructure, tourism and services.

The Consensus was the culmination of a three day conference, organised by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) in Cardiff City Hall, Wales. Local and central government representatives from 51 countries looked at how partnerships in local economic development can improve efficiency and prosperity.

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NASSAU, Bahamas — The Treasurer of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas signed the Shareholders Agreement to allow the transfer of 51 per cent of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) to Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (CWC), Wednesday, April 6, 2011. Before the signing at the Cabinet Office, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert A Ingraham said, “This has been a very long journey and at times a difficult journey. We never lost sight of our commitment to improve the delivery of telecommunications services to the Bahamian public; a commitment first made by my government in 1992,” Prime Minister Ingraham said.

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The Bristish Consulate-General in New York will conduct a Visa Clinic on Wednesday 30th March, 2011 between 11 AM and 1:00 PM at Police Conference Centre, Police Headquarters, East Street, Nassau. The purpose of the clinic is to bring to the attention of perspective travellers recent changes to the UK student visa requirements. Experience has shown that common mistakes have been made in completing the visa application resulting in loss of funds and delays in students being able to travel to the UK to commence their studies.

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Medals for participants in the Governor General’s Youth Awards programme were presented at Government House on March 23 by His Royal Highness Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex. Pictured from left: Retired Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest, Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes and HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex.

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The High Commission is pleased to announce that at a ceremony held at “Bahamas House” in London on Friday, 18 March 2011, Mrs. Masha Le Gris Stromme was presented by High Commissioner Paul Farquharson with her Letters of Appointment as the new Honorary Consul for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in Oslo, Norway.

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Nassau, The Bahamas – Local Government authorities worldwide are promoting responsibility for sustainable economic development. The Forum is concentrating on the expansion of healthy local economies that support the tax-base of the central government and budgets of local authorities. Minister of State for Lands & Local Government, the Hon. Byran Woodside will represent the Americas and head a 16-person delegation to the Sixth Commonwealth Local Government Conference in Cardiff, Wales from March 13 to 19, 2011. The conference follows up on the success of the Grand Bahama conference held just two years ago.

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The Government and People of The Bahamas join with citizens around the world in expressing profound sorrow at the terrible loss of life and the human tragedy resulting from the catastrophic earthquake and horrific tsunami impacting Japan on 11 March 2011. Speaking on the matter, Prime Minister Ingraham said he had no doubt that the thoughts and prayers of all Bahamians are with the victims and their families as they endure the pain of the dreadful natural disasters that continue to impact Japan.

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H.E. Mr. Paul Farquharson, High Commissioner and Permanent Representative to the IMO, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of the IMO, on Monday 14 February 2011. The High Commissioner was accompanied by Commodore Davy Rolle, Director & CEO, of The Bahamas Maritime Authority who presented the Secretary-General with The Bahamas’ assessed contribution to the IMO for 2011. As the fourth largest ship register in the world, The Bahamas’ annual assessed contribution is in excess of £1,000,000 (one million GBP Sterling) making The Bahamas one of the largest contributors to the UN Organization.

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The UK currently imposes an Air Passenger Duty (APD) on all passengers departing from UK airports. The tax was introduced by the Conservative Government in 1994 as a “green tax” designed to account for aviation’s impact on the environment but since then there has been no indication how the GBP 1.9 billion collected in 2009/10 was applied.

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