public static function connect($host, $user, $password, $name)
    {
        $mysqliRef = mysqli_init();

        $connected = @$mysqliRef->real_connect($host,
            $user,
            $password,
            $name);

        if (!$connected || $mysqliRef->connect_error) {
            throw new MysqlUtilsException('Database connection error ('.$mysqliRef->connect_errno.') '.$mysqliRef->connect_error);
        }

        return $mysqliRef;
    }