Celebrating International Women's Day 2026 - "Give To Gain"

 

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Freeport’s First Investor: A then 100 year old Abaco Lumber Company 1946

 

By The Bahamianologist

 

The 1967 Commission of Inquiry into Casino Gambling in The Bahamas is not light reading. But for those willing to sit with its transcript, it begins to illuminate something remarkable — how a single commercial agreement, struck in the colonial twilight of 1955, conjured an entire city out of pine forest and ambition.

That agreement was the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.

That city was Freeport.  Read more>>

Forward, Upward, Onward, Together

"Together" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

Forward, Upward, Onward, Together

An Ode to the Bahamian Spirit

In the heart of the Lucayan sea, where the turquoise waters roll,
There lives a mantra etched in gold, the heartbeat of a soul.
Not merely words upon a crest, or ink on parchment dried,
But a sacred vow of unity, a nation’s source of pride.
Four pillars hold the ceiling high above our island home,
From the pine forests of Abaco to the Inagua’s salt-white foam.

Forward is the steady beat, the drum within the breast,
The refusal to be stagnant or to settle for the rest.
It is the stride of progress since the dawn of '73,
A sovereign people breaking chains to find their destiny.
Like the marlin in the current, we push against the tide,
With innovation in our hands and history as our guide.
It means we build the bridges where the gaps were wide and deep,
And plant the seeds of industry for future sons to reap.

Upward is the eagle’s gaze, the lifting of the eye,
To heights of excellence that reach beyond the summer sky.
It is the student in the classroom, the athlete on the track,
The reaching for the highest star and never looking back.
It speaks of moral character, of rising from the dust,
Of building up a government on integrity and trust.
Like the towering Royal Palm that bends but does not break,
We lift our standards higher for the next generation's sake.

Growing Up Newry

 

Growing Up Newry by C. A. Newry

 

Growing Up Newry is a lyrical memoir that returns to a Bahamian childhood shaped by family, faith, struggle, laughter, and the quiet lessons passed down through generations. With the rhythm of island storytelling and the intimacy of remembrance, the author invites readers into a world where neighbors knew your name, elders carried history in their hands, and every moment—ordinary or not—mattered.

Through scenes both tender and unflinching, this memoir captures the beauty of growing up surrounded by community, the weight of expectation, and the slow awakening of self. It is a story of roots and resilience, of how a place can shape a life long after one has left its shores.

Available on Amazon

Bahamas Reflected in Machiavelli’s “Great Man” Theory

 

Bahamas Reflected in Machiavelli’s “Great Man” Theory

 

By The Bahamianologist

There is a book, slim enough to hold in one hand, that has never gone out of print since it was first circulated in Renaissance Florence more than five centuries ago. Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, written in 1513, remains the most unsentimental manual of political power ever committed to paper. It does not concern itself with virtue in the conventional sense. It concerns itself with results — with the cold, calculating art of seizing, holding, and exercising power in a world that does not reward the meek.

Machiavelli’s “Great Man” was not necessarily a good man. He was a necessary man — visionary enough to see what others could not, ruthless enough to do what others would not, and shrewd enough to make his dominance look inevitable in hindsight. He bent fortune to his will through a combination of virtù — that untranslatable Italian word encompassing strength, skill, cunning, and audacity — and an almost clinical reading of the moment he inhabited.

When we survey the long arc of Bahamian history, from the swaggering chaos of the pirate republic to the quiet consolidation of the post-independence era, we find, at every decisive turning point, a man who fits Machiavelli’s template with uncomfortable precision. None of them were saints. All of them were transformative. And understanding them through Machiavelli’s lens may be the most honest way to reckon with what they actually accomplished — and what they cost. Read more>>

Bahamian Poetry by James Catalyn

 

James Catalyn with Bahamas Flag

 

 

Being Bahamian

by james j. Catalyn ©11th june 2009

I am proud of my heritage
My colour
My people
I am proud of my language, “Bahamianese”
My music
My foods
I am proud of those who have achieved
And those who may not have had
The opportunity
They are my fellowmen
I am proud of my National Symbols
And my faith in things spiritual
I am proud that I am me
And being Bahamian
I am Bahamian and Proud!

Rock the City: What's Happening

 

 

Dion Cunningham piano concert

 

 

 Jonny Cake live onstage

 

 

 Yah Doctrine live stream virtual event

 

What's Happening: Dion Cunningham, Jonny Cake, Yah Doctrine + Career Opportunities. Read more>>

A Love Letter Written in Law: The Last Will and Testament of Kelson Samuel Cox (1928 – 2023)

 

Kelson and Dorcas Cox, 1955 and 2018

 By The Bahamianologist

There are love stories, and then there are Bahamian love stories. Not the kind written in novels or sung in ballads — but the kind forged in the predawn darkness of five o’clock prayer meetings, in the flour-dusted kitchens of a family bakery, in the quiet determination of a man cooking meals from his wheelchair for the woman he had promised to cherish more than fifty years before.

The kind of love that does not announce itself but simply endures — through heart attacks and business failures, through family triumphs and heartbreaking loss, through the slow erosion of the body that cannot diminish the iron of the spirit. Read more>>

Celebrating Bahamian Talent, Smart Tech, and Project Opportunities

 

Smart Tech Choices, Sharade Taylor's Upcoming Show, and New Opportunities in March

 

For Safer Internet Day 2026, BTC hosted a youth forum at Fusion Superplex to promote the theme “Smart Tech, Safe Choices.” Students from seven schools met with experts and law enforcement to talk about AI, cybersecurity, and how to act responsibly online. The event focused on giving young people real-world advice for staying safe in a digital world. Read more>>

 

Rick Fox - FNM Canidate for Garden Hills

 

The Rick Fox Debate: AI Analysis

 

Introduction

Rick Fox — internationally known as a former NBA star, actor, businessman, and Bahamian sports ambassador — has emerged as one of the most intriguing figures in the current Bahamian political landscape. In late 2025 and early 2026, he moved from high-profile global careers into frontline politics in The Bahamas. His decision to seek election under the Free National Movement (FNM) banner has sparked debate nationally about citizenship, political eligibility, motives, qualifications, and the possibility of electoral success.

This analysis explores Fox’s background, his multifaceted career, the specifics of his emerging political ambitions, issues of dual citizenship and eligibility, public perception, and a reasoned assessment of what his involvement means for The Bahamas.

Facts Not Emotions

 

"Misinformation Row" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 

Facts Not Emotions

We live in a time when opinions travel faster than evidence. A claim can circle the globe in seconds. A rumor can harden into “truth” before anyone pauses to ask a simple question: Is this actually supported by facts?

If we want to make better decisions as individuals and as a society, we have to learn to separate feelings from facts. Emotions are part of being human. They help us care. They push us to act. But when emotions replace evidence, we drift away from reality. And when we drift away from reality, we become easier to mislead.

This essay is not about ignoring emotions. It is about putting them in the right place. Feelings can guide our values. Facts must guide our conclusions.

Native Stew Take-Away - AI Redo

 A sketch I drew back in 2010. Had it redone with AI. Also did some tweaks in Adobe Photoshop.

 

"Native Stew Take-Away" - After AI: Watercolours

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 Download full size: 1248x832

"Native Stew Take-Away" - Before AI: Pencil
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 1248x832

The Queen is Back! Sweet Emily Drops New Single

 

The Queen of Rake n Scrape, our very own Sweet Emily, has a special gift for everyone this Valentine’s season. She just announced her brand-new single titled “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”

Sweet Emily shared the big news on her Facebook page, showing off a beautiful new cover (check it out above!) and giving us the heads-up that this track is dropping just in time for the holiday of love. Whether it comes out right before or on Valentine’s Day, it’s definitely going to be the perfect song to set the mood.

A Bahamian Legend

​We all know and love Sweet Emily for her classic hits that get everyone on the dance floor, like:

• ​“Someday”

• ​“Look What Ya Do”

• ​“Its Junkanoo”

​She’s been busy lately, too! You can find her featured in the 2026 Bahama Beat Calendar presented by BAF General. She’s standing alongside other Bahamian greats like Shine, KB, Juliet Believe, and Stileet. It’s amazing to see our legends getting the shine they deserve.

​Spread the Love

​Make sure you keep an eye out for the official release of “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” Once it drops, be sure to share it with your friends, family, and that special someone!

Devynne Charlton Invitational

 

 

Devynne Charlton Invitational

 

Saturday, February 7, 2026

9am - 6pm

Thomas A. Robinson Stadium 

Nassau, Bahamas

 

Age groups: U7 to Open 

The Bus Stop - AI Redo

 

 A drawing I did many years ago redone with AI.

"The Bus Stop" - After AI - Water colours

 ⒸA. Derek Catalano

 

Download full size: 912x1136

 

 

 

"The Bus Stop" - Before AI - Pencil
 ⒸA. Derek Catalano
 
Download full size: 912x1136

The Region Bells - Send Down Fire

 

 

 

The Region Bells - Send Down Fire

 

Visit my Vintage Gold Bahamian Music 

Papua - AI Redo

Something I sketched many years ago and had it redone with AI. I used no reference image so there are some elements that may not fit, but I do what I like.

"Papua" - After AI - Water colours

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

 Download full size: 1024x1536

 

 

"Papua" - Before AI - Pencil
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
 Download full size: 1024x1536

Newsband - Carlito Catalano: Dancing Odissi Across Oceans

 

Newsband - Carlito Catalano: Dancing Odissi Across Oceans

 

Our son Carlito makes the news again! Featured in an interview in Newsband, another newspaper in India. Well done son. We love you. 💗

 

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From the verandas of The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas to international Odissi stages, Carlito Catalano's journey is one of devotion, resilience, and cultural bridge-building. As the sole practitioner of Indian classical dance in his homeland, this artist has turned solitary passion into a global pursuit.

 

Read full interview>> 

 

More articles about Carlito Catalano.

The Bahamas Dances Odissi: Carlito Catalano

 

The Bahamas Dances Odissi: Carlito Catalano

 

 

Our son Carlito has been featured in the Indian DCN News Epaper today. Read it in their dance column "Rhythms and More".

 

Congratulations again son. You make us all very proud.

 

More articles about Carlito Catalano.

Introducing Bahamian Artist Carlito Catalano & Odissi

 

Carlito rehearsing in India

 

Introducing Bahamian Artist Carlito Catalano & Odissi

 

By Winston D. Munnings/ChatGPT

 

Bahamians exhibit an incredible versatility that is truly remarkable.

 

It’s likely that you, like many of us, have never encountered Odissi, an ancient and intricate form of Indian classical dance. I was introduced to this captivating art form only recently (sort of), thanks to a dear friend (𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐤 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐰 ~ Bit.ly/4n31U1c) from my television days at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas. His son, Carlito Catalano, is a pioneering Odissi practitioner in The Bahamas. 

 

Carlito has devoted himself to mastering this expressive dance, known for its graceful movements and rich storytelling rooted in Hindu mythology. His passion not only highlights the beauty of Odissi but also enriches the Bahamas' cultural tapestry, offering a unique fusion of traditions that celebrates both this Indian heritage and the Bahamian spirit. Through his performances and teachings, Carlito fosters greater awareness and appreciation of this centuries-old dance form, enabling audiences to experience its elegance and profound emotional depth. 

 

Carlito Catalano is celebrated for his unconventional path in the arts, having taught himself the intricate and graceful movements of Odissi and Bharatanatyam through a wealth of online resources and instructional videos during his teenage years. His self-directed study reflects a passion for classical dance and a commitment to mastering these traditional art forms.