By NORMAN ROLLE, Weekender Editor, norman@nasguard.com

For 50 years, the name Forsythe had been almost synonymous with electronics. Up to the time of his passing seven years ago, Ezra Forsythe was the man to see for electronics sales and service. Forsythe was the distributor for the prestigious Motorola line of electronic equipment.

All of Ezra Forsythe's seven sons worked in the family business as salesmen or repairmen. The sons inherited the business, with the oldest, Joseph, assuming the general manager position. But Joseph moved to Carolina several years ago. Brian, one of the sons, managed the business for a while before he migrated to Long Island, where he operates a small electronics store.

Chris moved to Spanish Wells in 1995 and opened a Forsythe Electronics store but he was not fully satisfied with just that; he wanted something more challenging and six years ago, SPLASH radio came along.

The birth of SPLASH has been quite haphazard. What Chris had in mind by way of expanding his electronics business, was not a radio station but wireless cable television for Spanish Wells and North Eleuthera. But he did not do all of his homework. It was not until after he had successfully completed testing for wireless cable TV, that he would find out that he could not get a license for the business, as Cable Bahamas has the exclusive right to provide cable TV throughout The Bahamas. This was the roadblock that spurned on SPLASH Radio, which currently operates on 89.9FM frequency in Spanish Wells and North Eleuthera, on the 92.5FM frequency in New Providence and in two weeks time, a repeater will be commissioned in Abaco on 95.5FM.

The station is on the air 24-hour hours a day, with a heavy music format. "The music," says Chris, who is the chief on-air person at the SPLASH, is what separates us from the rest of radio stations."

"We have the facility for talk and all that but we just would like to keep [centred upon] as much music as possible and Bahamian music."

Chris boasts of playing more Bahamian music than any other stations and he backs it up with this strong statement: "If you're tuned in to SPLASH and you don't hear a ton of Bahamian music, you're not listening to our station."

According to Chris, SPLASH is the radio station of choice among visitors. Yet again, it's because of the music it plays. Says he: "I want to keep the visitors' morale up. I don't want to bore them with some funny music." He adds: ""Let the others take care of that."

SPLASH is a fully automated station. It carries little news, but would "shoot out right away" any community news sent to it. "We do community announcements, like if the government send us something...we shoot it out immediately. We oblige the administrator's offices in Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, or for that matter, we would carry community announcements from Nassau," Chris discloses.

Timmy Brown, Chris's step son, is the third member of the station's staff. Janme Forsythe is the business manager, she pursues the advertising clients. Timmy fills in for his father when he is away and also does a comprehensive daily sports report.

The Sunday programming at SPLASH consists of all day gospel music interspersed with live church broadcasts.

In less than seven years, SPLASH has increased its reach to the majority of the Bahamian population, inclusive of New Providence. The Forsythes would more than likely rest after the commissioning of the repeater in Abaco in two weeks. What will never happen, they confirm, is a sell out. "SPLASH will never stop making waves as a family-operated radio station."

By Lindsay Thompson, BIS

The concept of convergence, Government and the Private Sector working together, is shaping up on the island of Eleuthera, where two major developments are under construction.

Since ground-breaking ceremonies on July 15, 2005 for the $300 million Cotton Bay Club estate and villa complex at Rock Sound, six villas are under construction as well as the 27,000 sq. ft. club house. Construction is to begin shortly on the next 12 villas and the 114 estate lots are being prepared for purchasing. On Friday, March 31, 2006, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie and other Government officials were pleased at the level of progress at two construction sites - the anchor project Cotton Bay Club and the Cape Eleuthera Marina and Powell Pointe projects.

"This is a magnificent example of public sector private partnership," the Prime Minister said. "I indicated something called convergence, where private and public sectors interests go beyond the development and make a contribution to the well-being of the surrounding communities."

Wim Steenbakkers, managing director of Eleuthera Properties Limited said that the company was very happy with the progress so far and that all was on schedule, despite some challenges.

"We ran into a ridge of flint rock, probably the hardest rock you can find; it's almost steel. To get that out of the ground has been quite a challenge," he said. "There are always challenges, as long as you look at them that way and not as obstacles, you can deal with it."

The developers of Cotton Bay said they are out to set very high standards in development on the Family Islands. They boast of a "great" in house team involving Bahamians. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and its Bahamian partners, Eleuthera Properties Ltd., are seeking to recreate the 1950s legacy of Cotton Bay. Bahamian businessman Franklyn Wilson co-chaired Eleuthera Properties Ltd with Thomas Sands Sr., who passed away late 2005.

Thomas Sands Jr., Director of Sales for Cotton Bay Estates & Villas Ltd and son of the deceased told the Prime Minister that the construction is having a very positive effect on South Eleuthera. "There are a number of people involved here, from the individual businesses, small vendors, and various suppliers," he said. "We focus on opportunities for Bahamians; that is why the Government has been so supportive of us."

Contractors and sub-contractors employ approximately 132 persons at the site. According to the Prime Minister, what is interesting about the development is how it would impact the economy; homes are being built and developers are running out of housing stock for workers. And, he was equally pleased with the level of progress on the Cape Eleuthera Marina and Powell Pointe developments.

David Green, vice chairman and managing director of Powell Pointe reported that since November 2005, work has begun on the town homes, estate homes and beach villas and refurbishment of the marina built 35-years-ago. The marina will be open for business in July with 45 slips. The first 10 town homes are to be occupied in December.

The company has entered into a unique partnership with the Government, for the construction of a town hall, and other recreational amenities such as a running track, basketball court and playground.

The agreement also calls for a dredging project in Deep Creek for bone fishing, and 100-acres for an agricultural park. Cape Eleuthera's partners, The Island School is facilitating a higher tech version of farming on the property.

Responding, the Prime Minister said that it is an interesting development for The Bahamas. Adding, "The Government took the view that we had encouraged and facilitated the reopening of Cape Eleuthera. This is on the shipping lines and it's proven historically to be a great destination."

"Now there is a determined effort to build and meet the original specifications by continuing to build and developed this into a special destination here in this part of Eleuthera," he said.

The Prime Minister also recognised that the education system would be as important to the developer and its employees; the Government of The Bahamas has entered into discussions with the developer to make a significant contribution to the infrastructure of the school.

By MINDELL SMALL, Guardian Senior Reporter