private function databaseConnect()
    {
        $dsn = 'mysql:host='.$this->db['host'].';port='.$this->db['port'].';dbname='.$this->db['name'];

        $options = array(
            \PDO::MYSQL_ATTR_INIT_COMMAND => 'SET NAMES utf8',
            \PDO::ATTR_PERSISTENT         => true,
            \PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE            => \PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION
        );

        // Create a new PDO instance
        try
        {
            $this->dbh = new \PDO($dsn, $this->db['user'], $this->db['password'], $options);
        }
        // Catch any errors
        catch (\PDOException $e)
        {
            exit($e->getMessage());
        }
    }