By ROGAN M. SMITH, Guardian Senior Reporter, rogan@nasguard.com

They might not be international celebrities, but you will be hearing from a few stars starting today. Star 106.5 FM, the country's newest radio station is officially on the air and broadcasting in New Providence.

The station, featuring rhythm and soul music, was launched two weeks ago and began sound checks on April 27. It features some of the country's most respected and talented on-air personalities and it is also the sister company of The Nassau Guardian.

Radio veterans Tony Williams and Greg Lampkin are back on the air with their new morning show: Tony and Greg in the Morning. The show will air from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Newcomer Leslie Ellis-Tynes will headline the Mid-Morning Mix, which airs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Veteran radio personality and sportscaster, Brad Hanna will take the reigns during the mid-afternoon drive from 12:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m. with the Mid-Day Cafe.

Jeffrey Lloyd, one of the country's most respected talk show hosts is switching gears with his talk show, Jeffrey. While most talk shows are held in the morning, Lloyd's will air between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Expect lively discussions with some of the country's top newsmakers.

Journalists Rogan Smith and Juan McCartney will anchor daily newscasts and headlines Monday to Friday at: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Greg Lampkin, co-host of the Tony and Greg morning show says he believes it's the station's experienced on-air talent that will draw listeners in.

"It's still us. This may sound egotistical, but I think people follow their favorite personalities and I think we could've gone to any radio station to tell you the truth and I think people would have come. People like Brad Hanna. They love his music; they love his style. Jeff Lloyd could've gone to any station and they would've followed Jeff Lloyd. I'd like to think that people will come over just because of Tony and myself," he said.

"You'll get a little bit more information in terms of financial, real estate and health tips because the people want more information. We don't want to overload them with information, but they want a little more substance in the morning. I think our greatest asset lies with the on-air personalities because there are so many radio stations here and there is so much competition."

Juan McCartney, STAR FM's morning anchor said there are several reasons to tune into the new station, but three of them are: Tony, Greg and Brad.

"They are three veteran broadcasters that know all the angles and the ins and outs of the business. When I came on board, they told me that they were committed to running a station that presented a fresh outlook on broadcasting, which included a deeper connection to the community," he said.

"They also said the station would raise the bar among radio stations in the country and furthermore, the region. Since I have been here, I have seen them working toward that and I am very proud to be a part of this team."

McCartney said listeners can expect an "ambitious newscast."

"There are some stations in the country that have been delivering the news very successfully for a number of years and while that format has a proven track record, I think people are ready for something different. A faster pace, a way to disseminate information that is quicker and more succinct," he explained.

"We're going to try to cover more than you would normally hear in a shorter period of time. We are also aiming to have a more engaging presentation than you have out there at the moment. Those are some of our goals, so we'll be working toward that."

McCartney said working at The Guardian and being a part of launching the new station has been a great experience.

"I have really been impressed with how open management is to new ideas and the commitment it has shown to delivering a quality product. Not to knock anyone else out there, but I think the product The Guardian puts out is stellar and speaks for itself. Our radio station will be committed to delivering that same type of product," he said.

Rogan Smith, STAR FM's evening news anchor said she's "thrilled" to be a part of the new station and hopes to give Bahamians a taste of something new.

"This is the first time that I have been a part of a station from its inception. I feel like we're all giving birth to our baby," she said. "I want to engage our listeners, not just mature listeners, but I [also] want students in high schools throughout New Providence and even the man over-the-hill tuning in to our station."

"We're definitely switching gears here."

Smith, who is also a senior writer at The Nassau Guardian said the radio station will work hand-in-hand with the paper to give Bahamians dependable news that they can trust.

She said Bahamians should familiarize themselves with the Star-Guardian news product, which she calls "fair, accurate and unbiased."

"The Nassau Guardian has been the leader for a long time. I've always felt that if you attract incredible talent and nurture it, you'll get incredible results," she said.

"And even before working here, I witnessed its natural evolution. I think the public sees other papers for what they are and because of that, they connect more with this paper - the people's paper. The Guardian has such an effortless connection with the community because Bahamians know that this is the place to come to in order to get their stories across. We're fair and that's the least you can ask for from a newspaper."