EDITORIAL
Our Webmaster reports that over 1,000 hits were made on the Abaco Journal every month since the Abaco Journal went up on the web and there were 286 on the first day of our August launching. Humbling statistics. Our figures, by the way, do not include hits from America On Line websters. (Our largest individual hits, by the way, have been National Notes and Abaco Tourism Office Notes.)
From a Scottish library we learn that we, along with www.oii.net, are the only source of updated information about The Bahamas outside of government. As far as they are concerned, Abaco is the capital of information about The Bahamas. Wow! The Abaco Journal is the topical news centre of The Bahamas to the rest of the world.
We at Out Island Internet and the Abaco Journal have fielded questions about which Brethren Church to be married in; which is the best combination of low cost/good everything else hotel in Marsh Harbour; when did Dr Gottlieb die, please send details because we really appreciated him; when did Miss Emily die and is the Blue Bee Bar still open; what is the most dangerous animal on Abaco; can I be guaranteed to see the Bahama parrot if I am on Abaco for a week; is Mrs Nadeen Beneby Gleaka's daughter; where is the best bonefishing area of Abaco; is it better to rent a cottage than take hotel rooms; do you have chess players on Abaco... the list goes on and on. Out Island Internet fields most of the queries about Abaco but sometimes they pass on the tricky ones to us.
Every week we get people wanting to know about Abaco and we do our darndest to help them. Maybe the Ministry of Tourism should be paying us - we're helping them do their job! But it is our pleasure to promote Abaco, its wonderful people and lifestyle. There is only one Abaco.
At this point we wish to bring to the fore those people who make this astonishing feat possible - our advertisers. Some major companies on Abaco who advertise with us know that their sales will not be proportionately increased as happens with smaller companies. They do know, however, that the more people on Abaco at any given time will benefit them. Thank you to all our sponsors. Your advertisements will, in fact carry further than you think. Starting right now, each one of our stories will feature a local advertiser. As of January's edition we will be able to give you a paid space on the internet if you want it. When people log on to www.oii.net to prepare their vacation on Abaco, your company will be right there to help them feel at home.
This month's edition of the Journal sees the first running of Radio Abaco News. With the permission of Radio Abaco we will give a synopsis of the previous month's news items carried by Radio Abaco that were not covered by Abaco Journal. Radio Abaco's Silbert Mills will receive the first copy of the Journal to arrive on the island and will be free to comment on its contents in his own inimicable way.
The Journal's mission is to present a record of the basic news of Abaco along with features of interest to Abacophiles. Some people want the big news, some people want the small news. So many people have fallen in love with Abaco that they want every little tid-bit, not just the big stories. Radio Abaco gives Abaconians their daily news; the Journal wishes to share the news with friends of Abaco. With our extensive subscription base, sales on Abaco and world wide web presentations, the handshake between Radio Abaco and the Journal will mean more information for those who know and love Abaco and its people but cannot be here all the time.
Copyright © 1997