Be sure to follow Dwight on twitter @MorningBlend969 and check out our new Facebook page! http://facebook.com/MorningBlend969 Also contact us via email at morningblend@nasguard.com and call in to the studio 323-6232 | 323-8160.

Today on MORNING BLEND:

We discuss the challenges with parenting in today’s Bahamas, and the need for more people to voluntarily take advantage of the free Social Services Parenting Workshops that are available.
Cheryl Carroll, Senior Probation Officer and Parenting Program Coordinator, and Kendra Sealy, Trainee Welfare Officer with the Bain & Grants Town Urban Renewal Unit, tell us that currently most of the people in the programs are ordered to so by the courts, and they usually aren’t very happy about it – at least at first. But most are usually quite grateful, by the end of the programs.
Sealy tells us about the special parenting workshop on Thursday, December 5, from 6:30-8:30pm at the City Central Bldg. on Blue Hill Road. And Carroll says you can get more information about the parenting programs – which will resume in January – by calling 323-3472 or by visiting the unit on Thompson Blvd.

And the 10th Annual Bahamas International Film Festival is set for December 5-8. Founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool tells us that for the first time both the opening and closing films are Bahamian productions. And the festival will be once again be traveling to Eleuthera, for “BIFF Best of Fest” Dec. 9-13. For details on all the films that will be shown, and ticket information, log on to bintlfilmfest.com or call 676-6506.

“In The News”, DPM Philip Davis suggests VAT on BEC is not set in stone. He tells The Nassau Guardian the government’s final decision on whether to apply VAT to electricity bills will be made based on public opinion. The implementation date is still set for July 1st.
And we get reaction to the Teachers Union’s vote yesterday to hold a strike vote.

Be sure to follow Dwight on twitter @MorningBlend969 and check out our new Facebook page! http://facebook.com/MorningBlend969 Also contact us via email at morningblend@nasguard.com and call in to the studio 323-6232 | 323-8160.

Reaction to the government’s proposal to apply Value-Added Tax to commercial electricity bills, and – based on the amount of electricity consumed – to certain residential electricity bills as well. Nassau Guardian Business Editor Alison Lowe joins us as we discuss this, and other aspects of the finally-released draft VAT legislation and regulations.

Plus, “In The News”, a fiery debate over the Teachers Union’s plan to hold a poll today on whether to take a strike vote, primarily because of the Education Ministry’s refusal to allow the union to hold meetings with teachers on school campuses during school hours.

Be sure to follow Dwight on twitter @MorningBlend969 and check out our new Facebook page! http://facebook.com/MorningBlend969 Also contact us via email at morningblend@nasguard.com and call in to the studio 323-6232 | 323-8160.

With World AIDS Day on December 1, we discuss HIV and AIDS in The Bahamas today. The new Director of the country’s HIV/AIDS Programme and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Nikkiah Forbes, tells us much progress has been made in the fight against the disease here. However, with an infection rate of about 3% of the total population, The Bahamas still has the highest per capita rate in the Caribbean region, which itself is second only to the sub-Saharan Africa region in the world.

Be sure to follow Dwight on twitter @MorningBlend969 and check out our new Facebook page! http://facebook.com/MorningBlend969 Also contact us via email at morningblend@nasguard.com and call in to the studio 323-6232 | 323-8160.

‘Citizens for a Better Bahamas’ is calling for “responsible tax reform”. Members Deran Thompson and Tamara van Breugel say that before the govt. introduces value-added tax, the Freedom of Information Act should be enacted, and policies to reduce govt. expenditure and waste should be put in place and enforced. The group wants citizens to sign a petition to “tell your Member of Parliament to say No to VAT” on their website, citizensforabetterbahamas.com

Be sure to follow Dwight on twitter @MorningBlend969 and check out our new Facebook page! http://facebook.com/MorningBlend969 Also contact us via email at morningblend@nasguard.com and call in to the studio 323-6232 | 323-8160.