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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Editor’s Note E
ntrepreneurs are forward thinkers. They cultivate new ideas and inspire those around them to use innovation to discover new opportunities for new products, services or intellectual solutions. Entrepreneurs show initiative that is self-motivated based on their inner vision and drive to take action. For businesses, having such inspiration and energy can keep fellow employees motivated and willing to meet organizational goals. The entrepreneurial spirit can assist companies to weave together a seamless workflow between and among various company departments. The entrepreneurial spirit also encourages self-pride and recognition for each individual’s contribution to a corporate end product. In the long run, such spirit breathes necessary vitality into long-term organizational life-spans.
Raeann Beckles
If you are considering starting an entrepreneurial business, or expanding your leadership capabilities in your current business, take a look at our advertising services. Bajan Sun Marketing is a great method of exposure and easy to incorporate into any marketing plan.
“Bajan Sun Magazine” is a publication geared towards the advancement of The Entrepreneur through affordable Marketing.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 10 | DECEMBER 2014
CONTENTS 18 - 19
24 - 27
20 - 21
32 - 35
A Bajan Christmas pgs 9 - 13
Shallun Evelyn aka DJ Bimshire pgs 36 - 39
The Value of Perspective pg 14
Honey Jam Barbados pgs 40 - 41
Life’s Contrasts pgs 16 - 17
Caribbean Youth Has Spoken pg 42
From the Mouths of Visitors pgs 18 - 19
Megghan, who is she? pgs 44 - 47
Shontonia Hall - Miss Triple Threat pgs 20 - 23
Ceejay Horrell - The Man and The Brand
Nathalia Wolffe - Leap of Faith pgs 24 - 27
- StrateUp Productions pgs 48 - 52
Abigail Nurse - Hip Hop and Rapping Is What
Luckey Horrell pg 53
I do pgs 28 - 29
Meet Bodybuilder Hoskin ’Biscuit’ Worrell pgs 54 - 58
Shanice Holder pgs 30 - 31
Meet Bodybuilder Shaquile Lavine pgs 60 - 64
Barbadian Songstress - Rochelle Griffith pgs 32 - 35
The Curvy Revolution pgs 66 - 67
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Managing Your Diet Holiday Season pg 71
During
The
Say No To The ‘R’ Word pg 73 Beauty Intricacies pgs 74 &76
VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 10 | DEC 2014
Skin Guru - Trichotillomania pg 78 Ayana’s Closet pgs 80 - 83 Dishonesty in the Office pg 84
36 - 39
Publisher The BIM
Clothing by MaryROSE pgs 86 - 88 Islandboyz Promotions pg 89
A r t & Cr e a t i v e Di r e c t or :
Don’t let the “4’P’s” Rule You pgs 90 91 Makeup by Simm pgs 92 - 93 Coscap - Music has Value - Bringing Value to Music in Barbados pgs 100 101
F r a n k l y n P ar ri s
E d i to r :
36 - 39
R a ean n B e ck l es A s s t. E d i to r : C h er C o r b in
40 - 41
D es ig n & La y o u t : F r an kl y n P a rr i s G r aph ic D es i gn e r:
Icon Studios Inc. pgs 104 - 108
F r an kl y n P a rr i s
Top Chefs - Kaiser Coutain pgs 110 111
A d v e rt i s in g Sa l es : Q ua n ta no P ar r i s
Bajan Christmas Tradition pg 112
T a sh a nna Pa r ri s C o n tr i bu t i ng W r i te r s:
No Christmas without Ham pg 113 Professional Image & Networking Power Improvement pg 114
D r. And r ew Fo rd e
44 - 47
D r. An i ta D av i s D e Fo e No rm a T Ho l l is D en i se J C h a r l es
Bouncing Back From An Affair pgs 116 & 118
C h a rm a i ne J F o r d e R a ean n B e ck l es
How to answer the telephone in a busy situation pg 120
D e bo rah Ram d i n F r an kl y n P a rr i s
Empowering Manufacturers in 2015 pgs 123 - 124 In the Spotlight - Mark Rosco Thorne pg 125
C h er C o r b in D e bo rah M. M c C o l lin
54 - 58
Christmas tips for your dog pgs 126 127 www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
P h o to g ra ph er s : Z i co M i l l e r C ly d e B ar n e tt e
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 014
VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 10 | DECEMBER 2014
CONTENTS 80 - 83
48 - 52
53
32 - 35
53 Barbados Snow on the Mountains
Cover Page Designed By Miona Avenue See Page 1 59
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE How do you deal with poor employee performance? pgs 128 - 129 The Bartender - Car Henry pg 130 The Good Life Eco-CafĂŠ and Bar pgs 132 134 Rum Shop Talk - Recycling Rum Bottles pg 135 The Barbadian Rumshop Early Origins pgs 136 - 138 Bajan Dialect 101 pg 144 Engaging Children's Mind For The Holidays pgs 148 - 149
104 108
Musical Youth by Joanne C. Hillouse pgs 150 - 151 MACO, TOUTE BAGAI Celebrate 15 Years of Publishing pgs 152 - 153 Christmas Seduction pgs 154 - 155
Poetry: Sad Christmas/ Happy Christmas pg 156
110 - 111
Poetry: Just Watching pg 157 Miona Avenue pgs 158 -159 Photography: Signarture Imagery pgs 162 - 165
89
130
18 - 19
20 - 23 www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
DEC 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
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DEC 2014
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
A BAJAN CHRSITMAS By Cher Corbin “Time to get your bath, Cherry! Hurry up before the water gets too cold! I ain’t putting on the kettle again.” My Daydee yelled from the bathroom as she poured the last of the hot water into the galvanized basin that I used for my evening bath. The running water from the shower was way too cold for me (well that was what I had convinced her of and I was quite dramatic in my presentation). Under normal circumstances I would have gotten up from the rocking chair in a slow purposeful manner and continued the charade as to how tired I was, and that I didn’t want to bathe, and it was too much trouble, and I had already had one that day, and so on and so on (quite the little actress I was). This evening, however, was different; it was December 24th, Christmas Eve and there was no way I was risking a cut ass, or a “I gonna take away that doll from you”. The next twenty-four hours were to be the most exciting ever, even though it had happened every year for the past eight years and I expected, would continue into the future. I lived with some elderly folk since my mother was a single parent and had to make ends meet by working very long hours. I saw her often, but in my youthful eyes the person who was my maternal figure was the younger of the two ladies in the home, my Daydee. I never knew why I called her that because that was not her real name, and now, as I sit and reminisce; her beautiful long black curly hair that was always pulled back into a waist length pony tail, her caramel skin dotted with numerous moles and her strong but gentle hands, tears well in my eyes. I stepped into the basin and felt the warm water rise to just below my knees (yea it was a big basin) and I was lathered down from face to toes
with Pears soap. To this day, the smell of that golden brown bar brings such joy to my senses and such peace to my mind that I keep one in my dresser drawer as my rescue on really tough days.
As my bath concluded, the ritual began. It was now seven-thirty and I heard the BBC Evening News come to an end and the Christmas carols from that famous British boys’ choir started. The old Redifusion that hung in the corner of the dining room was turned up to all. Daydee hurriedly toweled me down to prevent me from “catching a draft” and then powdered me up with Cussons Baby Powder, and quickly pulled my vest over my head. I was then brusquely told to go sit on the bed. Next came the combing of the hair. The tangle of fibre on my head had become more unmanageable as each year passed and Daydee wanted to press it out with the hot-ironing comb but my mother forbade it. So, I suffered through the brushing and the parting and the greasing with Blue Magic. That night, however, I felt little pain. I was far away as my thoughts swirled - what would I find under the Christmas tree? Under the tree…but where was the tree? Every year there was the saga of the missing tree. For as long as I had remembered I would look for the tree; in the back yard, in the old shed. One year I even ventured to our neighbours’ who lived two houses down to ask if they had had it. I was promptly sent home with a scolding and a “you betta guh long home before I call you mudda”. The plight of the elusive tree conjured all sorts of scenarios in my overactive imagination and I was totally unaware when the sand man appeared, only to be yanked to reality with a sharp tug that whipped my head backwards.
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“Child, hold yuh head straight. I ain’t got all night. You know the number of things I still gotta do. De ham still in put in yet. I hope I get all de salt outta dat leg cuz dis year I don’t know what Mr. Branch, that thieving shopkeeper, did tinking. I know we like we hams well cured but I had to soak that thing four times before I get out most of de salt. Den you know the sweet bread gotta bake, cuz what else you gonna eat fuh breakfast before we go to five o’clock service in de morning. Lord hav’ist mercy, I ain’t gonna get no sleep tonight at all!” It never failed to amaze me, the same soliloquy each year as to how daunting the Christmas day preparations were, but it made no difference; I had faith in my Daydee that it all would be done and I would awaken to the glorious smell of baked ham and fresh sweet bread and a hot cup of Milo before going off to church. So, with the last few tugs of my plaits, rubber bands affixed and head-tie securely on, I moseyed into the corner of the bed, snuggled under the sheets and pressed myself against the wooden walls that felt damp and cool this December night. Daydee turned off the overhead light and raised the wick on the kerosene lamp that was on the night stand. She hated sleeping in darkness and figured that I did as well. I closed my eyes and I waited for her to tuck me in and whisper her usual prayers of protection over me before I went off to sleep. “Goodnight CherryBaby. Sweet dreams,” she said as she kissed me on my forehead and smiled that crooked smile of hers that I loved dearly. “Come on Cherry, time to wake up.” It seemed like I had just blinked and there she was again, but this time accompanied by a wonderful smell that
DEC 2014
wafted into my bedroom. I could not throw off the covers fast enough. I ran to the bathroom, almost squished the cat in my haste, washed my face and brushed my teeth. It was still dark outside and I heard the faint refrain of Christmas carols coming from down the street. I pulled my pink and blue blanket tightly around me and tip-toed into the living room. There it was, my Christmas tree! As tall as the ceiling with a gold star at its crown; blue, silver, and red glass balls gleamed and glittered as the multi-coloured string of lights wrapped tightly around the pine branches reflected off their surfaces. I stood still. The only light in the room came from the majestic decorated conifer. And oh, the smell!! The pine scent mixed and merged with the pungent aroma of the recently polished furniture. Everything had been newly cleaned and dressed; the Morris chairs shined like dog stones on a moonlight night. Cushion covers had been changed and newly crocheted doilies placed on the side tables and mahogany cabinet. The floor boards were still slightly damp underfoot from being scrubbed with blue soap. A thought crossed my mind, albeit fleetingly, as to how could all this have been done during the time I had slept. Never mind, I did say fleeting, because my primary concern was about my tree and what lay underneath. But, there was something different about my tree. Yes all the decorations were there, and yes the silver tinsel strings were hanging on for dear life on every branch but what was that white cottony stuff that covered it like a fluffy petticoat. I reached for it when I felt a stinging slap on my hand. “Don’t touch dat! You wanna be itching fuh de rest of de day?”
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
Poinsettia. Seen either in the gardens or potted in the houses of almost every Barbadian at Christmas is Poinsettia.
Legend has it that the plant's association to Christmas began when a girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the birth of Jesus.
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DEC 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE Angel Hair - the worse Christmas adornment that was ever made, in my opinion. I stepped back, frustrated that I could not touch my tree and caress its branches, not to mention sit underneath and ponder what was in the presents that bore my name. To me this was worse than getting lashes. Daydee saw the look on my face and obviously took pity on me, held me in a tight hug and told me to come get my breakfast because Mr. Jordan would soon be arriving to take us to church. I sat at the dining room table and for just a moment I forgot about my tree, because before me lay the ham and sweet bread and Milo that I had waited for three hundred and sixty-four days to date. The wait was worth it. The golden brown raisin bread was still warm and I could see the coconut centre, glistening with crystallized sugar and ginger. My one slice of ham was a deep pink with an outer edge
DEC 2014
of brown crisp skin that sandwiched a thin layer of juicy white fat. I placed the ham on the slice of sweet bread and took the first bite. The salty sweet sandwich almost brought tears to my eyes…it was so good; hot Milo was the icing on the cake. “Pa-parrrrp!” A horn blew loudly outside; it was our ride to Five O’Clock Service. I wore my red and white diamond patterned armhole dress with the red bow at the neckline; this was my favorite of all of Daydee’s sewing creations, even though it made me look like I should be under the Christmas tree nestled amongst the other gifts. And Daydee, oh she was a vision of beauty. Her crisp white ruffled-necked long-sleeved blouse and the red and blue full-circle skirt she wore, cinched in the waist with a red two inch-wide patent leather belt fitted her perfectly; she wore her hair in a tight coiffure at the nape of her neck. Even at her age she still got second glances, especially from Mr. Jordan as he opened the back passenger door for us to climb into the old Morris Minor. Mrs. Jordan however sat ramrod straight in the front seat and proffered a very cold “Good Morning!” The short drive to James Street Methodist Church in the city stood as one of my favorite memories of Christmas morning. I pulled my red cardigan closer around me as I stared out the small side window of the car. There was silence within other than a slight humming from Mr. Jordan and the accompanying purr of the engine. Our departure from home had signaled the entrance of our companions on this Michaelmas journey. It was almost as if we had synchronized our clocks and bolted from the starting blocks at the same time. Men clad in their Sunday best hopped on bicycles with loose chains and lead the parade down the street. Women hurriedly tugged on small arms as they walked quickly to the bus stop to catch the lone red Transport Board bus that would carry the villagers Bridgetown. This was the only time of year that the bus came out this early at four a.m.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
as they played an epicurean medley in my nose and reminded me of what would come within the next few hours. Daydee squeezed my hand and straightened the bow on my dress and I smiled at her, showing her my toothless grin and hoping that what I would receive for Christmas would be a lot more than just my two front teeth.
Everyone had a singular purpose, to get to the church on time. As we passed the many wooden chattel houses on our way, there were still some homeowners that were ‘fixing up’ at the last minute. Silhouettes ‘putting up’ curtains could be seen through windows, and one or two people were now carrying the furniture back into the house, as the residence had been completely emptied onto the front yard to allow for the scrubbing and cleaning of the floors. I could see the front footpaths had all been freshly laid with white marl; this I was told was to signify the fallen snow of our Mother Country. The holly-hocks that that were planted in most of the gardens were awakened by the headlights of the old car; their baby pink petals glimmered in the darkness of the early morning. The snow-on-the-mountains stood elegantly as they hedged walkways and brought a perceived visual sense of a winter landscape to our tropical island. The exodus to the city continued and more and more people joined the movement as we got closer to our destination. I enjoyed the delicious aroma of hams, black cake, turkey, pound cake and pork
We were almost there. Past St. Mary’s Church we heard the well-tuned organ playing the first of the introductory Christmas carols as the congregation made their way up to the entrance of the historic stone building. Mr. Jordan blew the car horn to have pedestrians move out of the way and garnished a few rude arm gestures from an old geezer who had obviously started his celebrations a little earlier. We turned into the parking area of our place of worship just as the first notes of the organ were played. Mr. Jordan pulled up the hand brake and quickly came around to the back door to assist Daydee and me out of the car. Mr. Jordan looked at me, smiled and tipped his hat. Mrs. Jordan was still sitting in the front seat, stiff as a two-by-four. “Come Cherry, let’s go inside.” I held my Daydee’s hand tightly as we walked up the steps to our church and the first refrain of one of my favorite hymns was heard, “Christians awake! Salute the happy morn…..”
It would be another good Christmas for us all.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
The Value of Perspective
Norma T. Hollis America’s Leading Authentic Voice Doctor® Mentor, Transformational Artist ~ Visionary Advocate of the Human Spirit
By Norma T. Hollis
P
erspective is like an elevator ride. When you start out on the first floor some of the challenges you may be dealing with are right there in your face. Sometimes they are like mountains that you have to walk around or climb over. Sometimes you have to sort through a crowd to get to the heart of an issue - that is if you can find your way through the crowd. And when struggling through the crowd there’s lots of distractions to take your attention away from your objective. These are the perspectives when you are on the first floor and standing face-to-face with whatever challenge you may be facing. But get into an elevator and ride up a few floors. When you get to the fifth floor and look down to the first floor you can still see the same challenge but you see it in a new view, a new perspective. You feel better because the challenge is not confronting you directly. You can look down on it and as a result you see it differently. It is often even easier to find a solution to the challenge because of the new perspective. Then travel up a few more floors – to the 20th or 30th floor. Now look down and the challenge that you thought you could not overcome looks like something very insignificant from this new perspective. You have risen above it and therefore can see solutions more clearly. Certainly you are not affected emotionally in the same way when it was confronting you directly. This is the advantage of perspective. It seems to change as we grow. Our view of a situation at age 20 is different than the way we see it at age 40 or age 60. This is why we seek the counsel of elders to assist us to resolve challenges. As we get older we have more experience, we can better predict cause and effect, we make decisions that have a longer reaching impact. And in the process we hopefully also grow wiser.
This view of perspective is similar to the view of authenticity or even alignment. As I am growing in my understanding of authenticity and the ‘assignment’ that I’ve been given to help people understand authenticity, I am watching my understanding deepen and my view expand. Where I thought that uncovering authenticity was the end product of my journey I now understand that it is the foundation from which many other aspects are emerging. As my perspective grows I can see how authenticity has led to a new view of alignment. For years I talked about how important it is to ‘tweak’ a part of your life to become authentic. Now I understand that this tweaking leads to a person creating alignment in their life. And I’ve learned that alignment is important to overall life satisfaction. We benefit when we align our lives. Now my perspective is growing more. It took a few years for me to see the transition from authenticity to alignment. Then it only took a few months to make the transition from alignment to vibration. I realize that as we move up the elevator and change our perspective we are also changing our vibration. This term ‘vibration’ is one that I will be discussing frequently as we move forward. It refers to the energy that we emit and how we relate to energy that comes into our space. Vibration is related to perspective. Just like our perspective changes as we move up in an elevator our vibration changes too. I’m loving these new perspectives and look forward to sharing more with you. Look for more in the next weeks. In the mean time consider the perspectives you are living with and how your perspectives are changing as you age. On what floor is your elevator? Is your elevator moving up or down? And how are you adjusting to the movement?
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 014
LIFE’S CONTRASTS W
e are all introduced to contrasts in life – different perspectives attempting to co-exist within one consciousness. We must align ourselves within the contrast to find our personal path to authenticity.
It seems that people basically choose between two distinct paths in life. Some choose the path of purpose believing that we come to the planet with a purpose. Their value is that purpose is the goal and the journey is the process of attaining purpose. These people often align purpose to a spiritual objective that focuses on the people on the planet and assisting them to reach purpose too. Their security comes from a healthy connection with purpose on the planet as if by fulfilling purpose there are unseen energies that securing their path.
It’s not a matter of who is right and who is wrong. I don’t think this is an issue because right and wrong have so many parameters. I think the issue is how do we co-exist together when we have contrasting views of the world? How do we co-exist, still be authentic yet still align with the world at large? We don’t have the power to change the world although we have the power to change our personal world. We do have the responsibility to align our lives to some part of society in order to co-exist within it.
In contrast, there’s another camp of people who look at life from the perspective of profit. The planet functions from the circulation of money and these people see life as the accumulation of profit. Their security on the planet comes from a healthy bank account with the belief that the ability to tangibly see and count their accumulation is the purpose of life and they focus on it intently. These can be two extremely contrasting perspectives. And there are numerous perspectives between the contrasts. Which camp are you most closely aligned to? Although I lean heavily toward the first group I have learned to have respect for other perspectives. I’ve considered that our journey on the planet is learning how to deal with the challenges and aligning ourselves so that the contrasts don’t deter us, even when they exist in our own households. It seems that everywhere you look on the planet you will see contrast. It is quite obvious in this year’s presidential candidates. The contrast in their perspectives is quite obvious in the recent conversation about marriage rights of same sex couples. I don’t think you could have two views that were in greater contrast. And when you look at the two political parties it seems that their objective moves more toward maintaining the contrast rather than finding a mutual ground to co-exist. As long as we allow the contrasts to define us we will remain a society conflict. www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
The people we spend time with have a great influence on our perspectives in life. When we live and work around people whose view is in contrast with ours it can challenge our alignment. Putting a person who has a strong value toward purpose in an environment with people whose value is financial profit can challenge a person’s value and comfort with self. This is sometimes how we develop low self-confidence, because we find ourselves around people who only tolerate us and do not celebrate us. Being aligned means being around people who celebrate you, your values, your personality and how
DEC 014
you live your life. This is the objective of authenticity and getting into alignment. Norma T. Hollis helps people find authenticity, get their lives into alignment and raise their personal vibration. As a result people are finding, living and sharing their lives in more meaningful and abundant ways. Learn more about Norma at www.NormaHollis.com. Take the Authenticity Assessment and participate in the programs, services and products that will help you raise the quality of your life.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 014
FROM THE MOUTHS OF VISITORS By Raeann Beckles
M
y husband and I have been coming to Barbados since 2004. We actually found the island by accident. Kevin was a teacher with Project Overseas in Guyana and had a stopover in Barbados so I flew down to meet up with him for a quick vacation. And this is where our love of the island started. His parents decided to come as well and we stayed in a fabulous rental apartment at The Bajan Flamingo. Here we had a mini
United Nations and met people from all over the world every year and we made lifelong friendships. The Bajan people is what made us come back, bonding friendships that have turned into family and most certainly a special bartender whom we met during our first year and had his family welcome us in.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 014
ANDY CHRISTINE GABEL
surfing, diving, rum shop crawls, all four directions of coasts...and even Foreday Morning! Thanks to Barbados I got Soca in meh bones now!! Over the years we have introduced Barbados to over 30 new people with a few of those now visiting multiple times as well. We have even made friends BECAUSE of Barbados that we have never met except through Facebook. Each arrival on the island brings a feeling of 'being home' and every departure gives us time to plan the next trip back. When we got engaged, we couldn’t even think of not doing it in our second home (Barbados) and so we got married on White Sands Beach in 2008 with attendees from Canada and Barbados. We have been staying seaside at the Salt Ash Beach Hotel for the last five years and hanging on 'our' beach, laughing with friends and working on a bucket list of Barbadian adventures including
Just typing this out makes my heart ache for the sand, the sea, the people, the food and the rum.... 2015 is hopefully the year we get there for Christmas but either way, see you at Crop Over! Oh yes, and I can't believe I forgot to add our continuous support of the Barbados Sea Turtle project and the love and respect we have for these amazing creatures. We love you Barbados, see you soon
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
SHONTONIA HALL
DEC 014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 014
SHONTONIA HALL MISS TRIPLE THREAT
By Raeann Beckles
Always be the original because no one likes a copy! Live life to express never to impress!
Live life for a cause never an applause!
S and
hontonia Hall encapsulates Talent, Beauty and Brains, having attended the Alexandra School later
Hospitality
the
Barbados
Institute
where
Community she
College
received
her
Associates Degree in Tourism and Travel. Shontonia is also a former Miss Teen Barbados Universal
queen. What is more is that Shontonia has been in pageantry for just over a year, having embarked upon this path in September 2013. Being committed to this new journey, Shontonia, engages in training exercises that speak to both fitness and expressions. For Shontonia, she trains two hours a day - five days a week at the gym, swims occasionally, jogs and maintains a healthy diet. As it relates to expressions training, given that Shontonia does drama skits at pageants; on a daily basis when interacting with her friends, she practices being dramatic, by doing expression exercises. But what got Shontonia into this industry is quite interesting. To her friends Shontonia, came off as a ‘tomboy’. But, they still thought she would be a successful model because of her gorgeous looks, and her love for makeup even though she didn't wear it. www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 014
For Shontonia, taking loads of photos and wearing her aunt’s heels around the house since she owned none of her own, also motivated her to take a journey along this path. Having gained some exposure through pageantry, Shontonia’s vision for pageantry for herself is simple: to go as far as she possibly can, to help put Barbados
on the map, because she’s not only representing herself or family and friends but an entire country's name which she wears proudly upon her sash.
Q&A with Shontonia Hall: Q: What are your greatest achievements in terms of
your competition? A: My greatest achievement thus far was going to Germany last December for the Miss Intercontinental pageant to go up against sixty other girls and winning the Miss Intercontinental Congeniality which is an award the contestants vote on for the friendliest girl. Q: As a contestant, what would you say are your greatest challenges? A: I'm just too short. I'm not one to get intimidated by others but being amongst such tall ladies is my biggest challenge. Then it's not getting to eat what I want because I have to keep in shape. Lastly, being very
careful how I carry myself, places I go and people I'm surrounded by because I have an image to uphold .
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE Q: What is your favorite segment in pageants? A: My favorite segment is the Introduction because it is there you make your first impression count and present yourself to the judges and persons watching. It’s your opportunity to show them what you are made of and how confident you are.
Q: What are your plans for your pageant regime? A: I would like to take my pageantry skills all over to pageants such as Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss Universe and Miss International. I just would like Barbadians to take pageants as serious as other countries. I'm sure if they paid more attention and invested more with intense
training we the models could go as far as possible because the sky is the limit. Q: What are the benefits you derive from participating in pageantry? A: Because of pageantry I'm asked to participate in and model some of the costumes that some Crop Over bands portray during the season. Pageantry also affords me great exposure. Also, because of participating in shows, I am also afforded the opportunity to be featured within magazines such as the Bajan Sun Online Magazine which I must say is an honor. Lastly, when you win something and gain a title society tends to respect you more. We wish Shontonia all the best as she is presently a contestant of the Miss Holetown Queen of the
Festival pageant carded for February 2015. www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
DEC 014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Photo by RENEE BYER
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 014
NATHALIA WOLFFE - LEAP OF FAITH
N
athalia Wolffe explains how she believes
Africa, Australia, Belgium and Morrocco, among
destiny has a way of finding you. With no
others, Nathalia made it to the Top 5, where she
experience in modeling, and pageantry, she
was then placed 3rd Runner Up. Although she
remembers how something sparked an interest in
knew she was quite unprepared, she also knew
the Miss Global International Trinidad and Tobago
winning is within her. That entire experience has
Pageant 2014. It was successes waiting to happen.
been overwhelming since. It doesn’t necessarily
On placing 1st Runner Up, that said night, she was
feel real.
also crowned Miss United Nations Trinidad and Tobago 2015. Immediately, another opportunity arrived when she was offered to represent her country in August 2014, in Barbados, at the Miss Humanity International Pageant. Competing with persons from various parts of the world including South
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Nathalia has always been awarded certificates of merit
her team and staff were able to travel to Brazil in 2012
and excellence for her devotion to academics and
for an invitational tournament. Graduated from UWI,
sports. Her charismatic and adventurous personality
Open Campus, St. Augustine, with special mention of
allows her to appreciate new and different experiences.
her
In her younger years, she enjoyed Ballet, performing in
Management and Technology, Nathalia journeys
shows with Carol La Chapelle. She was also involved
through her soul’s purpose as she continues to develop
in Swimming and Netball. In the years 2006-2008 she
her business-savvy personality through her studies.
was named her high school’s Scrabble champion. Her
This has all been possible with the love and support of
organizational skills gained her an internship at Mr.
her close knit family and friends. Raised as an only
Wendell Inc. Company, Synergy TV, in stage
child, in the beautiful borough of Arima, she is
management and show production. How she managed
encouraged to always think positively, to believe
it all? A question she refuses to try to explain. It seems
through hard work and dedication you can achieve
as though she never stops. Her family’s football
anything, to speak everything into existence and to
passion showed when she joined the UWI, Open
always smile. To her mother, her number one fan and
Campus Team, as well as the Malabar Superstars
supporter, she says a very special thank you! I Love
Football Club. She accepted the role of the manager
You Mom!
for the women’s team. Where under her management,
excellence
in
her
certificate
of
Business
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 014
In her 22 years of life, she’s learnt the importance of stay-
With vast preparations approaching for her upcoming
ing true to who you are. Even though she may still be a
pageant, she plans on enjoying every moment of her
bit confused as to exactly what she really want in life, she
reign, with the mission of inspiring and empowering
knows who she is. She know her values. She know what
women to achieve their dreams. At the end of it all, it
her family has instilled in her, and she believes being able
goes far beyond the crown, and it is always wise to re-
to stay true to yourself is one of the purest ways to be dif-
member your central purpose. Do not be confined to the
ferent.
walls of yourself, “The limit is not in the sky. The limit is in the mind.” www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
ABIGAIL NURSE
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
PHOTO BY ZICO MILLER
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DEC 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 014
“HIP HOP AND RAPPING IS WHAT I DO!”
I
By Raeann Beckles am Abigail Nurse, a 17 year old female Rapper,
who has been writing music from the age 13. Inspired by Nicki Minaj, I began writing
Hip Hop music. But, what really inspires me the most to perform is listening to my favorite
music
and
just
embracing all the good vibes and
feelings.
Having
the
support of my loved-ones really inspires me as well. At present, I record with an upcoming
local
record
producing studio/label called ‘DB.A.S.E Studios’. DB.A.S.E Studios’ Founder and CEO Jadeson Jordan, aka Jaydee have been very
He also encourages and motivates me to do my
instrumental in my journey
best.
as my Mentor.
Being a female artist / rapper, it can get really complicated at times. I can become very frustrated in terms of completing a song. But, Jaydee my mentor usually reminds me that he is there for me. Hats off to Jaydee, as he guides me through these difficult times. A heartfelt thanks to you Jaydee. www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
S H
“It's a lot of hard work and time, it comes with many challenges, nobody said it would be easy so if getting into the entertainment industry is what you really want to do just be prepared to work hard and dedicate
A
yourself to it cause it becomes your life!” - These are
N
artists
I C E
the words of Shanice Holder aka ‘Paris’, a Barbadian born Recording Artist and Model to young aspiring such
as
herself
seeking
to
enter
the
entertainment industry. Motivated by the support she receives from family and friends with special mention being made to her father; Shanice began her journey as a singer from the age of eight and explored modelling from the age of 13. Though performing only locally so far at school pageants and small events, Shanice like many other young Barbadians have, entered the prestigious
Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition. From these experiences Shanice proudly and humbly
H
shared that the responses to her performing has been
O
onto the stage and begins singing her loved-ones
L
voice. I guess this is what we call a Pleasant Surprise.
D
motivated her through the years, when asked: ‘What
E
R
great, because a lot of her friends and family are unaware of her singing ability. As such, when she gets become overwhelmed when they hear her amazing
Beyond the support of her family and friend which has inspires you to perform?’ - Shanice stated; “my inspiration comes from seeing my favourite artists perform and the crowd response they receive. It's really amazing the way music touches others, and even more amazing when it's something you have written
yourself, and from the heart.”
PHOTO BY ZICO MILLER
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
NOV 2014 DEC 2014
Shanice Holder an Overcomer Q&A with Shanice Holder: Q: What was your greatest challenges and how you overcame it? A: My greatest challenge would be seeing a crowd. When I see a crowd I get extremely nervous and find it almost impossible to bring over my voice the way I should. I often hold back. I overcame this by realizing my true potential, and how talented I really am. When I have to perform now I simply blank everything out and just feel the music. It's like the crowd doesn't even exist. By Raeann Beckles www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
DEC 2014
R O C H E L LE G R I F F I T H
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
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Bajan Sun Magazine
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
BARBADIAN SONGSTRESS ROCHELLE GRIFFITH
B
arbadian songstress, Rochelle Griffith placed second in a Caribbean-wide singing competition held recently in Fort De France, Martinique. Griffith was Barbados' outstanding representative in the second annual 'All For One Caribbean Voice Contest' held on October 18th at L’Atrium in Fort De France, Martinique. A graduate of the Division of Youth and the NCF's Youth Achieving Results music programme, Rochelle performed "How many more” by John King, and Biggie Irie’s 2014 Crop Over Song “Get Over”. She was outfitted for the competition by Barbadian designer Shakad Designs- Shenika Burnet. The NCF was for the second year invited to facilitate the participation of two Barbadian singers in this event (one competitor and one guest artist). The contest is primarily a television programme which was broadcast live to one hundred and twenty five countries, and seeks to unite the musicians/singers of the Caribbean and showcase them as cultural ambassadors for their countries. The competition is also expected to encourage cultural exchanges. Eleven countries participated in the competition. The competition gave great exposure to Barbados and some of its talent via broadcast promotions taken against the backdrop of the island’s natural beauty. It also gives excellent exposure to our artistes. Based on her guest performance in 2013, another young Barbadian singer Ms. Lisa Griffith was invited by the ‘All for One Caribbean Song Competition’ Committee to perform at the World Creole Music Festival being held now in Dominica from October 24 to 26, 2014. She will be a part of the opening act for Jamaican reggae artist Jah Cure. The NCF's Cultural Officer for Music-Education, Ronald Davis represented Barbados by serving on the panel of judges. PHOTO BY ZICO MILLER
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
ROCHELLE Her introduction into the arena of music began at age 11
other music ventures, in October 2013 she left Barbados
when she entered the Richard Stoute Teen Talent
for six months to go on a cruise liner where she
competition in her homeland where she placed third.
performed and entertained hundreds of guests. Rochelle
Rochelle's talent for singing and song writing was
aspires to inspire the world with her beautiful gift of song.
encouraged and she took a step further by enrolling in the
In March 2014 Rochelle formed a duo called Classic
"Youth Achieving Results" and initiative of the Natural
SIlhouettes Duo with a an brilliant keyboardist and
Cultural Foundation where Rochelle was a top participant
producer, she also did an artiste name change, she now
consistently wooing the 30 strong class with her
goes by the name ROCHÉ (ro-shay). In June 2014
voice,easy going nature,work ethic and vocal ability.
Rochelle co founded a non charitable foundation called
Rochelle has had the opportunity to tour with
ATWEE which stands for ABUSE TOWARDS WOMEN
International recording artist Rupee,performed stints as a
ENDS
background vocalist for artists such as Biggie Irie, Skinny
Other than singing Roché enjoys hanging with friends,
Fabulous,Farmer
Shurwayne
travelling and enjoying different cultures, cooking,
Winchester,Machel Montano,Edwin Yearwood,just to
speaking at workshops for young women, speaking on
name to a few,she has also been apart of the Barbados
HIV, sex, drugs, domestic voilence and so. Rochelle is
Soca
years.
also involved with many charities at home, helping the
Rochelle was invited to join as a well know Barbadian
disable and helping the less fortunate. Rochelle is very
band Nexcyx, performing all across Barbados,and
passionate about helping others and empowering others.
opening for Me to, Lil John. Also for Angie Stone and
Now with the duo Classic SIlhouettes, Roché plans to
Erykha Badu at the Barbados Jazz festival. The band has
take the band international, performing wherever God and
also had the privilege to travel to places like New
her music takes her. This is Rochelle.
Royale
Nappy,Anthony
band
for
the
B,
last
,
three
York,Trinidad,St Maarten, and and headlined the Bequai Music Festival consecutively for three
years.
In 2010 Rochelle integrated all her accumulated knowledge from her experience
in
the
music
business,and became a beginner's class
vocal
tutor..she
started
working with the Natural Cultural Foundation(NCF)
and
Youth
Affairs as a voice tutor and her business is called RG Beginner's
Voice. Balancing this with her PHOTO BY ZICO MILLER
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ENTIRELY.
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
Classic Silhouettes Duo ™ - An accurate and deep intuitive understanding of who we are.. It is not about the flashing lights, shiny suits and It’s not about parties or “the” red carpet. It’s about the people. It’s the reason why Chris Martin loves Missy Elliot, and Scarface listens to Coldplay. It’s why Jay-Z chose Linkin Park, and why Dido and Elton John can perform with Eminem. It’s why we make music. It’s the dream to have a common language - to be the great communicator. We want to bring thoughts and ideas, and music is open to bobbing their heads for a while. Classic SIlhouettes was formed in March 2014 by producer and keyboardist of the duo Brad Griffith, with 20 years experience between lead singer Roché and Brad, they've come together to form a dynamic, powerful and compelling force. Classic SIlhouettes have dreams of one day being able to fill
NOV 2014
any size venue, and have people unite at the dividing line that separates urban from the rural, rich from the poor, and Barbados from the rest of the world. Both Roché and Brad have worked with some of the top local, regional and international recording artists, touring and producing with top names in the the industry. Brad and Roché bring more than just experience to the table; Brad's skills, proficient, smooth and imaginative approach to his music is one that is admirable and inspiring to any upcoming or seasoned producer and keyboardist , and what better partner in song to have other than the alluring mesmerizing and sultry Roché both using sounds and textures that respect and represent their lives. To bring exhilarating and hair raising live music each time Classic SIlhouettes graces the stage is the ultimate aim for the duo. Motivated by their dreams, this is Classic SIlhouettes.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
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DEC 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
SHALLUN EVELYN AKA DJ BIMSHIRE
O
ne of the DMV's (DC,MD,VA)
He blends Rap hip-hop, Dancehall,
Premiere Deejays, known for
Soca and even our nation’s capitols
his smooth mixes and high energy! He
favorite GO GO, So smoothly that you
has been a fan favorite for many years!
can’t help but dance! DJ Bimshire aka
His Ability to Make a party, “ A
Bim (affectionately known in the
PARTY” Is what makes him such an
dancehall scene) is a young rising star!
asset to any locations he touches. His
He is definitely a force to be dealt with,
ability to play in any scene has
he has a work ethic and a business
definitely gotten him noticed and has
sense far beyond his years. But he
the streets talking! DJ Bimshire is
won’t tell you that because he has a
definitely one of the nation’s best! I
humble spirit.
have seen DJ Bimshire Mix and it’s
Go and check him out! Trust me you
definitely music to your ears!
will Enjoy the Party.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
DJ BIMSHIRE - THE DJ AMBASSADOR
By Raeann Beckles
“I love Music, I love the emotion music invokes. Through
3:00 pm. It is without a doubt DJ Bimshire is a very
music I can make someone who has had the worst day of
active ambassador of Barbados.
their life forget about it. Through music I am able to provide a form of therapy. Making them feel good and
Q&A with DJ Bimshire:
forget the issues of the world, even if it’s just for a
Q: In what way is being a DJ beneficial to Barbados
moment.” says DJ Bimshire.
culture?
Shallun Evelyn aka DJ Bimshire always had a love for
A: I personally feel a sense of pride being a Bajan DJ here
music from a child which was passed on to him from his
in the United States. Hence, the reason why my DJ name
dad. But what really got him on this path was returning
is DJ Bimshire. I wanted everyone who were familiar
home to Barbados at the age of 13 when his cousin was a
with Barbados to be able to relate the name to my home,
DJ named DJ Gloves.
His cousin gave him his first
and for those who don't know they always ask me where I
Mixing Board and from there he fell in love with
got the name from and without reservation, I proudly
‘deejaying’. For DJ Bimshire when he did his first ever
explain it to them. Being a Bajan DJ in the United States I
blend, it was ‘probably’ horrible; but that was the moment
am able to introduce the patrons to my culture, to my
he decided to pursue this new found love whole heartedly.
home, and even though it may be for a brief moment I get
An official DJ for some 15 years; DJ Bismshire sees
to take them to Barbados through the music.
himself as an Entrepreneur. As he stated: “To be an
Q: What would you say are some of your greatest
effective DJ you have to be able to market yourself well,
challenges as an entrepreneur in this field?
and always consider every single gig as an opportunity to expand
your
brand.
Finally,
presenting
yourself
professionally at all times is a must.” These
entrepreneurial
principles,
A: I’ll point out one major challenge for me, and that is getting up in the ranks internationally. There are a lot of great DJ’s representing and holding it down around the
have
served
DJ
world who are at the top of their Game, and I have had
Bimshire very well, as he plays every week in
the privilege of working with a lot of them. For me just
Washington DC and in the City on weekends.
On
being among those names and continually expanding my
Wednesdays DJ Bimshire can be found at a party called
brand around the world that’s the biggest challenge I face.
Tipsy Wed, and on Saturdays at a Club called Bar7 and Sundays at Eden. But, this does not even cover the specialty events that DJ Bimshire do every month which
Q: How have you dealt with your business challenges or how do you propose to deal with those challenges?
has taken him around the United States. Quite recently,
A: I plan to network continually; to give the patrons what
DJ Bimshire returned from Miami where he played music
they want which is good music and to continue spreading
at the Miami carnival. DJ Bimshire can also be heard
my brand around the world via the internet social media
every Friday on www.teamsoca.com from 12:00 pm -
and via the events I do.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Contact Information: Location, Contact Numbers, Email Address etc. you can find me on social media via twitter and instagram @djbimshire on Facebookwww.facebook.com/iamdjbimshire or
website www.djbimshire.com or via email djbimshirebookings@gmail.com www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
H
oney Jam is an all female developmental multigenre multicultural showcase. It is a platform for young women to gain exposure, education, mentoring and networking opportunities in the music industry and arts community. Along with the artist workshop and showcase, they also promote women's charities and offer opportunities to female entrepreneurs. It is based on the Honey Jam movement in Canada (see www.honeyjam.com) which boasts Nelly Furtado as their most famous alumna. Honey Jam came into existence after founder Ebonnie Rowe produced a 3 hour radio special on Canada’s largest Hip Hop radio show in 1994 to discuss how women
DEC 2014
were portrayed in Hip Hop lyrics and videos. The discussion was preciptated by complaints from her female mentees in her Each One Teach One profession-based mentoring programme for black youth in Toronto. As a result, she was asked to edit an all-female edition of a Canadian national entertainment magazine called Mic Check. The celebration party for that issue in 1995, intended to be a one-off show, was called “Honey Jam.” The success of the show pointed to a void in the artistic community. Ebonnie was inspired, at the insistence of the audience and the artists, to keep it going and Honey Jam has grown to become a much anticipated showcase on the Canadian music calendar, running now for over 17 years.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
HONEY JAM BARBADOS By Honey Jam Barbados
The concept was introduced to Barbados on February 20, 2011 at Pablo Donte's in Maxwell. Entitled “A Taste of Honey Jam”, the show featured all young local female artists, one performance eadh in a variety of genres - country, opera, folk, alternative, rnb, hip hop, rock, reggae, spoken word, jazz, gospel, etc. – a cultural potpourri. The artists were also given the opportunity to attend a free industry session to give them valuable information and advice about their careers. After the success of the small scale introductory show, organizers planned a follow up production at the much larger Plantation Garden Theatre that same year in November, this time closer to the scale of what is done in Canada. The artists benefited from two workshops, a vocal and performance workshop featuring celebrity vocal coach Elaine Overholt and then an industry session featuring Ivan Evidente of Universal Music Canada, Cover Drive manager Kerrie
Armstrong, producer Eliseus Joseph and Barbadian artist iNDRANi. In 2012 along with the traditional Honey Jam developmental initiative, they produced Honey Jam @ the Hall, an alumni show at Frank Collymore Hall and a jazz themed event called Honey Jazz. They have also begun a relationship with the YWCA to promote their programmes for women and girls. They have worked in Canada with the YWCA for almost 10 years and are elated to partner with the Y in Barbados
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Caribbean Youth Has Spoken By Leighton Adams Q: What in your opinion should be a key area of focus for the Caribbean at present? A: In my bias opinion I think music should also be given high priority in a rounded education within the Caribbean.
Q: Why do you see this area as relevant to the Caribbean presently? A: My reason for stating music is simple; everybody loves music. I strongly believe that music can have strong implications on any country’s economy. It is going to open the door for several business types within the Music Industry; such as Composers, Writers, Producers, Engineers, Back Up singers, Promoters, Film Directors, and Promotion just to name a few. If done right I am sure that money will be circulating in the economy. I also believe that having a healthy music industry will have positive implication on one’s Tourism industry too. Countries are sometimes branded by the music they produce. For instance Reggae is automatically associated with Jamaica, Reggaeton with Puerto Rico and Soca and calypso with Trinidad and Tobago. My reason for stating education is, whenever I commute in my communities I will often meet folks who are very talented in their field of work or hobby. I see people with true potential. I will often see these people neglecting their passion because they lack opportunity or exposure to the art form or the mere belief that they can’t make a living from it. Sometimes they neglect their passion, which might be unique in most cases, because based on X, Y&Z success on making his/her dream work they will figure that they too will be successful if they do what X, Y&Z are doing. As a result, the industry tends to get saturated with all these similar businesses. I have been to places and met people who are extraordinary singers, or writers, programmers, coaches, composers, footballers, etc but never really had the opportunity to actualize that God given talent into a dream like Rihanna, Timbaland, Bill
Gates, Steve Jobs or Mark Zukerberg. However, I do think they lack the know-how of making their talent be the revenue earner or their dream occupation. I also think we are sometimes not appreciative of our own. We find it hard to support our fellow citizen venture. So we need to be educated on why it is important for us to support local and the implications it can have on the economy.
Q: What do you think can be done to enhance/develop/ market etc this particular area? A: Workshops on how one can make their dream or hobby into a reality. Having Associations on various aspects of the industry in which the members can formulate ideas that they can implement to make the industry function, as it should.
Q: What in your opinion are our challenges within the Caribbean in achieving this relevant area? A: I think here we see the music industry as a hobby and not a business. So we will only see seasonal performing artiste.
Q: Who do you think needs to be done to ensure this area is developed adequately? A: I think everybody needs to get on board with it. All producers, performing artiste, listeners, all citizens, as well as the government should get on board on shaping this industry.
Q: What role do you see yourself playing in aiding the achievement of this particular area? A: Well currently I am apart of an Association which main objective is to develop a standard in the Music Industry. So I see myself as one of the facilitator in developing the standards.
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DEC 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
MEGGHAN, WHO IS SHE?
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
MEGGHAN MICHAEL - DANCER / ENTREPRENURE
T
wenty beautiful years ago life was given to Dancer/ Dance Teacher/ Entertainer Megghan Michael. I am a full time dancer. I started at the age of three when I was introduced to dance at nursery school. At the age of seven I joined Dancin’ Africa dance Company where I was trained in mostly Traditional Folk and African dance. However, I was also trained in modern, jazz and contemporary dance in my later years. My 13 years as a member of Dancin’ African under the leadership of Ms Jennifer Sealy, has opened many doors and opportunities for my accomplishments in dance. I have moved on to be a freelance dancer in hotels such as Mango Bay, Sandy Lane, Crystal Cove, and Bouganvillea; just to name a few.
It should be noted that I have always danced in my church as a soloist and also with the church’s liturgical group. My dance portfolio has become very colorful over the past three years where I began to choreograph and teach younger children and now I have taught groups such as Dancin’ Africa Children Core, Gentle Steps Dance Academy, Warrens Primary School and St. Leonards’ Liturgical Group. Besides dancing I am also a cheerleader in Trident Elite and was Cheer Captain from 20122013 in the UWI Cheer Squad. Opportunities were available as I was selected as a CPL Cheerleader for two years. Over the past five years I have been dancing for many calypso artist over the Crop Over Season.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
MEGGHAN MICHAEL - DANCER / ENTREPRENURE continued I was a seasonal dancer for Soka Kartel in 2013 and seasonal dancer for The Energy Band in 2014. I was given an enormous opportunity this year (2014) to Perform for Biggie Irie at the International Soca Monarch in Trinidad. The Nation Cultural Foundation (NCF) has also selected me in 2012 and 2013 to participate in the NCF Dance Internship over the summer where I performed for several NCF events of the Crop Over Season. Outside of my dance experience it has also opened another door where I work as a Promotion Rep aka “promo girl� for Digicel Barbados under the management of DL. Smith Productions. IS DANCE AS AN OCCUPATION? In Barbados the Arts or to be more exact the performing arts has little to no market or economic capital where one can make a living from. This therefore forces our young Barbadian artist to travel overseas to pursue what they love as a craft and monetary labor. Being a student of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus studying Sociology and Psychology has driven me to pursue my goals making money as a dancer mainly because as a student my tuition fees has to be paid and by doing so the only way is to make an occupation out of what i love. As they say "kill two birds in one stone;" acquire the basic academic knowledge required while creating a strong brand for yourself, where your outside talents and crafts help your educational growth interchangeably. IS OUR OCCUPATION APPRECIATED? "We are starving artist" This can be easily explained where artist do not appreciate each other's craft enough. For example
backup dancers' standard fee. As a backup dancer for some of our calypso artist in Barbados I have experienced a serious level of over worked and under payed treatment mainly because our craft, time and effort is not valued to the fullest extent. Some dancers may only dance to get into the event where others take their work very seriously. Which dancer do you think the artist will choose? Therefore the quality of work produced on our stages as dancers are not as it's best quality because Singers cannot afford that quality which is expected. MOTIVATING FORCES My mother has been my motivating factor from day one because there would be days I go home pining about how I do not want to dance anymore and she would find all the positives in my despair. Moreover she pushed me to grab every single opportunity there is out there as a dancer and an entertainer. My other motivating personalities or people I look up to are Toni Thorne and Aisha Commisiong because they are both dancers of origin but they have found ways to mold and create their craft in different, fun and effective ways where the public easily gravitates toward what they do. INTERNET AS A CONNECT In the world today I believe technology is a major channel for the diffusion of our culture and crafts because life is becoming more virtual than actual. Especially in the entertainment business most or every single thing that needs to be promoted goes out on social media to capture audiences of all ages. As a dancer and the person I am who loves to take pictures or use pictures and a means of documentation, people love to see the places I dance or the time and effort I put into all of my rehearsals and therefore technology as an instrument for social media creates a brand for myself and what I do. It should be stated that if there is progression in the dance community physical dance technology needs to be upgraded, modified or changed, meaning that we need more dance studios, more professional dance work shops or a different way of pushing the arts as a "serious occupation."
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DEC 2014
OTHER ACTIVITIES I am currently Contestant number 4 in the Miss Holetown Queen of the Festival 2015. I would never have thought that I would have entered a pageant but with motivation from other people who saw great potential In me, I decided this was a perfect avenue to promote who I am and a sound level of self actualization. This pageant has pushed my physical limits to look my best in my swimwear segment. I workout 4-5 days a week where I do a lot of weight training and high intensity interval training. I do not eat anything white (i.e bread, flower, rice) to keep my body lean. My dance career has opened opportunities to commercials Advertisements, modeling other people's Fashion Line clothing and several photo-shoots.
IN 5 YEARS WHERE WOULD MEGGHAN BE? To be quite honest I want to be in a positive place. The entertainment business has no set pattern or journey planned and therefore I may end up in a place greater than I have ever expected.
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DEC 2014
CEEJAY HORRELL The Man and The ‘StrateUp Productions’
Brand
By Raeann Beckles
N
amed Cyril Horrell Jr by his parents, Ceejay as he is more popularly known is the name he goes by today. Having emigrated from Trinidad and Tobago for approximately 12 years; Ceejay is now based in Ontario Canada, where he is the Owner and Manager of StrateUp Productions a multimedia production company providing full service solutions to its clients. At StrateUp Productions, clients can choose from a range of services including but not limited to: graphic design, website design, audio, video and print solutions. When asked: ‘What inspired your desire
to go into your line of work?’ Ceejay quite candidly stated: “From a very early age I was exposed to media and production; I grew up singing in Church and that opened the door to many opportunities, including being part of a kids group that made many appearances on regular Television shows teaching kids to say no to drugs and yes to life and being productive. I was one of those kids that had an insatiable desire to understand what went on behind the scenes and how everything really came together; and well now here I am, still fascinated with Multimedia Production.”
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StrateUpProductions.com is also the parent company for WordInSong247.com an Internet Radio Network and Set Sail Events (soon to be launched SetSailEvents.com) which is the event management arm. Set Sail Events is passionate about creating experiences that unlock the door to opportunities to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually, through conferences and retreats.
Though a Sole Proprietorship, StrateUp Productions which has been in existence for over 16 years, has formed strategic relationships with approximately seven individuals or what Ceejay sometimes call sister companies. Though strategic ‘external’ partners depending on the nature of the project; all hands are on deck in the planning and executing process.
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DEC 2014
IN A NUT SHELL SOLUTIONS StrateUp Productions offer a robust selection of solutions designed specifically for Churches and Ministries. How are communicating the world’s most important message? Custom built high-quality Christian graphics for Custom Power Point slides, Church Banners, Praise Banners, Worship Banners, Sanctuary Banners, Sermon Campaign Banners, Bulletin Templates, Print Solutions from Flyers & Brochures, Billboards, Commercial Signage, Large format printing, Audio & Video Solutions and more…
CONSULTING/SEMINARS The world has become a global village and companies and organizations are employing all the online tools available to them to maintain consumer relevancy and seek cost-effective opportunities to acquire and retain customers. This begs the question, where are you (or the church) in all this? In other words how are we using technology to remain relevant?
LIFESTYLE Entertain your belief and be part of a movement that’s daily impacting lives with WordInSong247.com Internet Radio and coming soon, SetSailEvents.com series of conferences; through our life changing conferences and retreats women and men, boys and girls, couples and groups are inspired, encouraged and empowered to set the sail of their lives, so they can live the life they were created to live, and to overcome the obstacles that prohibit them.
What is more is that, StrateUp Productions equip its clients with the ability to deliver rich media content to a worldwide audience. At present StrateUp Productions has a client base throughout North America, the Caribbean and Europe. Since many of StrateUp Productions solutions are internet based, the company is seldom restricted by ones geographic location. StrateUp Productions also eliminates the time spent managing multiple suppliers as they act as a one stop shop providing quality solutions around the world. In the event that StrateUp Productions is unable to handle a request, they direct their clients to someone who can; in other words StrateUp Productions always finds a Solution!
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE Q&A with Ceejay - Owner and Manager of StrateUp Productions: Q: What do you aim to achieve through StrateUp Productions? A: When people hear or see the name StrateUp
Productions hopefully they would associate us with something positive; we want you to see us as a partner that enables you to share your message to a worldwide audience, and we’re committed to serving clients of any size or budget in excellence and with integrity. In addition to doing my best to honour the various multimedia requests of my clients, StrateUp breathes life into many other initiatives. I’m passionate about using the entertainment medium to inspire and uplift lives, so whether it is our broadcast network WordInSong247.com Radio or our event arm SetSailEvents.com, I want to impact lives positively with spiritual soul food. Q: What would you say are some of your greatest challenges as an entrepreneur in this field? A: I would say that this field is highly competitive in certain key areas, like graphic and web design for example; I jokingly say that everybody is a web designer now, although many of my clients come crying after using one of them. Educating and eliminating certain misconceptions is very
DEC 2014
challenging at times, but I’m dedicated to building healthy relationships with my clients, so we do our best to help our clients understand how we can help them communicate their message. Often times some clients are apprehensive, not thinking big enough and limiting themselves with the thinking that they have to have an exorbitant budget to achieve good success; but that is often not the case. As for our Broadcasting Network WordInSong247.com, I’d say that although Internet Radio is one of the fastest growing on demand communication mediums today, surprising many still don’t understand it. I get a lot of questions about how we do what we do, and if we’re really having an impact, but when people tune in and experience it themselves many of them become avid listeners. In regards to the new arm of our event management by way of Set Sail Events, producing our own calendar conferences is new to us, we’ve produced and done event management for others but releasing our own conference series will come with many challenges I’m sure, but we’re excited and looking forward to it. Q: What are some of your achievements within your business? A: Well I guess it would be easy to name, drop and talk about some of the inspirational people I’ve had the honour of meeting and working with or for. But honestly the greatest achievements for me are those achieved behind closed doors consulting with clients. I’m really grateful, knowing we’ve played a small part in making a HUGE project a success, additionally I love experiencing the joy my small to midsized clients get when they achieve their goals, that is the ultimate achievement. How have you dealt with your business challenges or how do you propose to deal with those challenges? That’s a very good question, I’m always in school because every moment is a learning moment, and we’re as good as the last project we worked on. Every project comes with its unique challenges, and every project is an opportunity to learn.
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
BIO Luckey Horrell K
nown as one half of the musical brother and sister duo CEEJAY & LUCKEY, Contem- porary Gospel recording artiste and Music Minister Loucretia “Luckey” Horrell steps out on her own with Heart II Soul Minis- tries. Along with her brother Ceejay, Luckey was very drawn to the aesthetics of music. Not unlike most professional singers, Luckey and her brother began singing in church just about the time they were in ‘full swing’ of Elementary School. Luckey firmly be- lieves God has blessed her with this gift and that it is a tool to be used solely for spread- ing the message of God’s love, touching hearts and helping to renew souls for the Kingdom of God. Luckey participated quite a lot in her church’s Music Ministry. Directing many choirs and vocal groups along the way, fur- ther developing her musical talent, swiftly becoming more involved with her music, its writing, composing, arranging and production. From Childhood Luckey taught alongside her mother and soon she too went through the rudiments of music theory and practical by the Royal Schools of Music in London. She now has a successful music school with over 50 private students exclusive of choirs and groups where she teach- es Voice and Piano to all ages. Maintaining a culture of excellence, her students have always received Distinctions and Merits in their examinations. Luckey with her brother Ceejay, have received highly praised honours for their combined Ministry as CEEJAY & LUCKEY, touring Caribbean islands such as Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia and Anguilla; where they received an honoured gospel award for their
contribution to Gospel music in Anguilla. In 1995 Ceejay and Luckey released their debut album “Tell Jesus”, sub- sequently touring major cities in the USA. They were also a headlining feature in the 1997 (BET) Black Entertainment Television Black Expo tour of 20 US Cities. Legendary Pioneer of Contemporary Gos- pel, Pastor Andre Crouch, affectionately referred to them as his kids, and being tak- en ‘under his wings’ allowed them the great invitation opportunity to guest ap- pear alongside him at the BBC Gospel Liv- ing Legends series special. Luckey’s Ministry has allotted incredible exposure. She has ministered alongside gospel favourites such as Kirk Franklin, Jon- athon Butler, Ron Kenoly, Donnie Mc Clurkin, Helen Baylor, Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers, Steve Green, Wintley Phipps and many others. Coming off her critically acclaimed solo concert presentation in April 2004, Luckey has finally released her long awaited debut solo album, ‘What I’m About’ in September 2006, with a four week promotional tour in Europe. Luckey has also been busy training and arranging Vocals for many projects two of which are locally based, First Church of the Open Bible - Gates Praise “Change” Album as well as their 2012 Release “Hope of Nations” and Kezie Peters 2013 “My life is a song” album. Today you’d find Luckey collaborating with good friend, Grammy, Dove and Stella nominated, Juno award winner Roger Ryan to do writing, singing and arranging for sev- eral upcoming projects, including her own.
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DEC 2014
MEET BODYBUILDER
Hoskin 'Biscuit' Worrell
PHOTO BY: CLYDE BARNETT
I
n 2011 Hoskin Worrell won his fourth consecutive title at the Darcy Beckles Bodybuilding Invitational Classic which was held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. Leaving nothing behind, ‘Biscuit’ as he is popularly known came with the total package. Even before the show started it was billed as a mega match-up between the reigning Mr. Barbados, Stephenson Belle and the Classic’s defending champion, Worrell who has won the title for the last three years. Three years after in 2014 it was the Hoskin 'Biscuit' Worrell and Stevenson Belle show when the Barbados Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation held the National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, at the Lloyd Erskine
Sandiford Conference Centre on Saturday night. Focused on the Mr. Barbados title, both competitors breezed their respective Divisions, with Worrell only having one other competitor in the Middleweight, while Belle was all alone in the Heavyweight class. The packed auditorium were very verbal, as they cheered every pose and every competitor in the lead up to the clash of the titans. Worrell and Belle were focused on each other, despite the other class winners on the stage, as they knew where the closest competition would come from. Head to head at times, the two showed off their well formed muscles in a bid to capture the Mr. Barbados title. In the end, it was Worrell who propelled to the top and copped the title.
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PHOTO BY: CLYDE BARNETT www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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DEC 2014
Hoskin 'Biscuit' Worrell By Raeann Beckles
H
oskin Worrell - a trainer and bodybuilder for most of his life, commits himself to those individuals that want to improve their physiques. His vision for bodybuilding for himself can be captured in three short words ‘To Turn Pro’. With hopes of taking this sport internationally, Hoskin adheres to a basic diet of carbs, protein and fats; and trains five days a week off season and seven days a week during competition. For Hoskin, his greatest achievement in terms of his physique and competitively is the improvements in his physique and how he has strengthened his weak areas.
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Hoskin 'Biscuit' Worrell
Mentored by the likes of Albert Scantabury, Dexter Jackson and Phill Heath; Hoskin have entered numerous competitions granting him titles such as Mr. Barbados, Mr. St. Michael, CAC Welter Weight and Darcy Beckles Classic Champ which he has won seven times. Hoskin mentioned that as a bodybuilder his greatest challenges are getting sponsorship and trying to maintain his training programs. He indicated further that he would love to see the sport get more respect; getting back to where it used to be as well as gaining a greater influx of sponsorship. Lastly, he desires to see ‘new blood’, and females coming back into the sport.
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DEC 2014
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DEC 2014
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DEC 2014
MEET BODYBUILDER
Shaquile Lavine
W
ith a standing room only audience at the The Lester Vaughan Secondary School, the Mr Schoolboy and Body Fitness Championships 2013 had it all and without a doubt, Mr Schoolboy, was a walk in the park for 18-year-old Shaquile Lavine, the national junior champ and the fifth place junior at the recent Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships in Santo Domingo. He was the class of the ten-man competition, easily outstripping his competitors in terms of condition with his sharp abs, huge quads and his back muscle biceps shot, a feature of his presentation. Shaquile, a product of the Metropolitan Institute, was also voted Best Poser and Most Muscular. In 2013 Mr. Schoolboy Shaquille Lavine changed it up a bit with the veterans in local
bodybuilding. The Metropolitan student proved to be on top of his game when the Michael Riley Classic was staged at Harrison College. He quite easily captured the Juniors division before taking the Open Classic by defeating defending champion Cyprian Mallett. When the well chiseled Shaquile was specifically placed to pose down with the bulkier Mallett in the Open – with the other competitors Lasco Byron, Reginald Thorpe, and Zico Best looking on – it was obvious that the battle was well and truly on between the two. Not only did Shaquile walk away with the first prize of $1, 000, he also took the Best Back, Best Legs, Best Symmetry and Most Muscular awards, leaving Mallett with $500 and the consolation of being the Best Poser.
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DEC 2014
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DEC 2014
Shaquile Lavine
W
By Raeann Beckles
eight training, jogging on the beach, pushups and pull-ups constitute some of the training techniques
undertaken by Shaquile Lavine, who has been bodybuilding since the age of six. With a desire to be better than Arnold Schwarzenegger, advance further in the Sport and compete internationally Shaquile also wishes to continue training others not only locally but around the world.
Having participated in competitions such as Mr. School Boy, Mr. Riley Classic, Mr. Bridgetown, The Darcy Beckles Classic and Mr. Junior Barbados, Shaquile has been able to secure the titles of Mr. Junior Barbados, Mr. Riley Classic Juniors and Seniors and Mr. Bridgetown Teenager. Shaquile also had the honour of representing his country Barbados, at the CAC Bodybuilding Championship where he placed 3rd. “Hats off to you Shaquile!!!�
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DEC 2014
Shaquile Lavine At present Shaquile trains five days a week,
gain experience and learn new tricks. A win, win,
adhering to a diet of ground provision, eggs, oats,
win
situation
we
would
think!
chicken, turkey, fish and of course the number one hydrator - water. More interestingly,with mentors
However, Shaquile like
many bodybuilders
such as Ms. Layne, Darcy Beckles, Roger Boyce,
locally is disappointed in the lack of support by
Stevenson Belle and Nicole Carter; Shaquile is
way of Sponsorship for the sport. As such,
destined for success. Bodybuilding for Shaquile
Shaquile would like to see a greater level of
gives him a strong and healthy body, it also allows
Sponsorship for the sport, as well as more
him to travel around the world, and compete
exposure of the sport at the primary and secondary
against other athletes; thereby allowing him to
school levels.
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DEC 2014
THE CURVY REVOLUTION By Alicia Clarke
T
he Curvy Revolution Plus-Size Agency was founded in January 2013. The Agency was started to seek to initiate change in the negative perceptions associated with being a fullfigured or plussized woman and also to encourage these same women through the art of runway modeling to embrace themselves as they are and build their confidence, character and self-esteem. Since being founded two years ago we have expanded our agency to embrace not only petite models but also welcomed males to the fold. Eventhough our focus continues to remain dedicated to changing society’s perception of the plus-size female demographic along with helping in boosting their confidence we also saw the need to extend that to all demographics as we believe that ‘beauty knows nosize, race, class or creed.’ Management of the agency is very hands on, not just in training the models individually but also guiding the models to achieve personal career goals. The management team isalso highly focused in assisting clients with finding the right face, look and image for their individual labels and brands. We believe that once you possess the sophistication, style, confidence, fierce attitude and the talent you would be able to fit right in. If you believe you have the talent, don’t be afraid to showcase who you are and what you’re about. We are not an educational
institution but we do offer professional runway training, image consultancy and otherservices from the best professionals in the business. The Agency’s repertoire consists of but not limited to: TV & Print Ads | Event Promotions | Fashion Shows | Parties | Hosting | Clothing Line launches. The Curvy Revolution Plus Size Agency is a proud advocate of positive body image and believes that “every BODY is beautiful, why not show it!!” On December7th, 2014, 6:00 pm at the Sea Rocks Dome, we are showcasing an elegant evening of Fashion from some of Barbados’very talented designers as well as Entertainment by some of our best, with lots more. We encourage all to come with Christmas cheer for an epic celebration with lots of prizes and surprises. The first 50 guests will receive a free glass of wine upon arrival. The show, this night of fun, fashion and Christmas cheer isalso in support of the charity the Love Day Project and we are asking persons to also walk with a small gift or token to present tothe children, elderly and the less fortunate in various homes during the Holiday Season. Tickets are $30 and $40 at the door.Limited tickets available at Fashion Monkey, Carlton complex, Black Rock, St. Michael. Joyous Curves will be a Fashion event and an evening of celebration in an elegant setting, and we encourage everyone to come out be mesmerized, support and share in the Holiday cheer.
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DEC 2014
TOP RANKING Dress
Casual
Boots
Ladies
The products are made from Top Grain Leather (100% pure leather – higher quality than genuine leather) 100% Natural Rubber soles. The soles are water and oil resistant
products are designed to suit our climate and rugged conditions.
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DEC 2014
Physique Pro Fitness by Jerome "The Trainer" Greenidge
P
hysique Pro Fitness Consultancy (PPFC) is a per sonal training business which was established in the year 1999 and caters to everyone from the professional person to the average housewife. Since the demand for this type of business is high Trainer - Jerome Greenidge sought to differentiate himself from all the other trainers plying their trade. As such, Jerome committed himself to studying the most popular training concepts and testing them on his clients to determine which ones worked most effectively. After a couple years of combining concepts and experimenting, Jerome created his own training style which can be modified to fit any body type. Most of his clients see him on average two or three times a week at their home or office, as his business goes where ever the client is interested in being trained. Needless to say, most of Jerome’s clients train at home. Given his passion to share knowledge, Jerome educates his clients on not only proper nutrition but how to train on their own with minimum equipment, which is always a hit as his clients wouldn't have to further expense themselves. The service Jerome and by extension PPCF offers covers everything from when to train, target setting and constant assessments to
see what works and what is not working. Over the years Jerome have found that consistency is the main reason people stop training. In response to this, Jerome has devised a strategy which works and works well. The workouts in this strategy take no longer than 5 to 8 minutes, with minimum equipment requirement. What is more is that, the results from this method have been nothing short of outstanding and Jerome’s clients love it. Short intense workouts work great especially when combined with adequate nutrition. More importantly, this method has been such a hit that his clients have encouraged him to do a fitness app which is called the ‘8 Min Burn’, carded to be released August 2014. All in all Jerome ensures that his clients are happy and see results quickly. In his words “it doesn't matter if my clients are vacationing in France or staying in a beach house on the east coast. If they or the general population want a workout or tips on everything from how to acquire muscle, lose weight or get stronger, they can do so by visiting this facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/ provenphysique.” Jerome is looking forward to hearing from you soon so that he can help you achieve your best ‘bod’ ever!
Bajan Sun Magazine
JULY 2014
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DEC 2014
MANAGING YOUR DIET DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
by Jerome Greenidge
E
very January when I weigh my clients 95% of them put on at least 7 to 10 lbs of fat. Now it is quite obvious where this gain came from and during the course of 4 to 6 weeks I push my clients to get it off. Now what I want to talk about in this article is how you can enjoy xmas foods and not put on weight and look great for the parties that happen around that time. The foods that put on the most weight are any fried foods, cakes and pastries, rice, pies, puddings, alcohol and the fact that portion size and activity are non-existent. I have a solution that has worked over the years and the clients who continue to follow my advice actually lose weight over the holidays and still have lots of fun with food by simply following different methods. The first method involves training just prior or after eating and this only takes five minutes. An example of such a routine is by doing Burpees, Mountain Jumpers, Vertical Jumps, and Mountain climbers as well as Jumping Jacks all for one minute. Although it is only for five minutes it is quite intense and can be done at any fitness level so you don't have to be worried that this is too advanced for you. Check online to see how to execute the movements which will only take a few minutes and do as many as you can for one min each. The great thing about this routine is once you know how much Burpees you can do in one min, simply write down the reps, that way you just have to do the reps for each exercise instead of watching the clock. I have found this is quite effective as it forces the body to use a lot of glycogen which is an energy source stored in the liver and muscles. Once you can utilize that for the workouts you wouldn't store any fat from your meals. Please bear in mind that you still have to adhere to portion sizes; but this method works and works well. So you would do your routine either just before or after the meal, or in the morning and evening especially if you want to look great for the holidays. The other method which also works great is by only eating those xmas foods on the days you do a workout.
So if you aren't training don't over eat or eat high caloric foods which would make you gain pounds quickly. The workouts I recommend are done with no weights which means you have absolutely no excuse not to do them. Try this workout on days you are really indulging....jumping jacks 50, running on the spot with a high knee Lift 50, pushups 50 and these can be partial or man pushups depending on your fitness level, reverse crunches 50, reach for your toes 50, Squats 50 and plank for 30 to 60 seconds. If you are not sure how to do these exercises contact me or google it please. I know that it seems like a lot of work but it really isn't. Try to do it all in 20 minutes max, that way you burn a lot more calories and you don't waste time. If you can't execute all at once which is usually the case keep going until you complete the entire workout, if need be you can cut back on the reps by 10 if it is to hard but no more than 10 reps. Now there are a couple more techniques that work but for now the stick to the ones mentioned that has given me the most success over the years. You have the five minute routine which can be done either 45 minutes before a meal or alcohol session, immediately after or you can do it either in the morning or evening or both. I have found that the best results occur when done before or after a high calorie eating session. The next method I mentioned entailed only eating high caloric xmas foods on days you train, so if you want to eat a lot try doing the workout for that day and on most days that you plan to eat a lot. If you are not working out that day then you try your best to eat cleaner for example eat more ham, pork, chicken etc with some salad or veg or complex carbs like sweet potato pie or yam pie. The aim is to attempt to eat clean simply because you are trying to not force your body to store weight. When you work out on the days you are really having a good time then the body wouldn't store as much calories as fat. For more info on these and more techniques contact Jerome at 1-246-239-7184 or go to my facebook page "provenphysique". Email : jeromegreenidge@hotmail.com
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“SAY NO TO THE ‘R’ WORD.” By Judy Beckles
M
aya Angelo said “I’ve learnt that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will not forget how you made them feel.” This is said to highlight the awareness campaign of “SAY NO TO THE ‘R’ Judy Beckles WORD.” What is the ‘R’ word? It is the word Retard. In the dictionary there are several meanings; to make slow, delay, hinder or impede. As a slang when used, a person is considered to be foolish, stupid, dull, cannot learn or socially inept. When used correctly the ‘R’ word is just another word from the dictionary, but when used as slang, it is a weapon that causes hurt and disrespect.
them.” Please “Spread the word to end the ‘R’ word.” Instead of Retard consider RESPECT. Persons with disabilities are asking:
RESPECT US
ENCOURAGE US
SUPPORT US
PLEDGE WITH US
EXPERIENCE WITH US
COOPERATE WITH US
TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Say NO to the R -Word! SAY NO TO THE R-WORD NOW!
Persons with disabilities are unique and special people who have overcome the odds and in some instances have surpassed expectations. They have demonstrated that once given the opportunity and respect they can make great contributions to society. Persons with disabilities have dreams which are real and which can become realities if they are given a chance and are empowered. They have feelings just like everybody, so it is important to remember that and give them the chance to shine, to feel that they are worthwhile. “Be the change you want to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi encouraged. We must not be afraid to ask people to stop using the ‘R’ word. We must not use the ‘R’ word, instead there are several other words which we can use to replace it. For example; radiant, resilient, reliable, resolute, responsible, remarkable, respectful, rare and refine.
Dalai Lama says “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others and if you can’t help them, then don’t hurt www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Beauty Intricacies My little Secrets…
By Deborah Ramdin
the make up before cleaning the face..
H
ealthy Skin sets the best foundation for flawless make up. You must develop a skin regime to take good care of your skin. There are no set products to use but generally the branded products are very expensive. However, there are natural, cheaper ways to take care of the skin in order to get the beautiful glowing skin you so desire. My favorite three natural ingredients are Olive oil, Cucumber and honey. I’ll share my secrets on my skin regime and how I use these ingredients to keep my skin glowing and clear. Step One: Cleansing I’m sure everyone washes their face. However, the biggest difference is what you use to cleanse the face. I like to use the Aveeno complexion bar. So far it is the best soap bar product I have found. Usually soaps tend to dry the skin and it is advisable that you refrain from using normal bath soaps on your face. It is usually loaded with scented ingredients and other chemicals that remove the natural oils in your face. I have found bars like Neutrogena generally cause the same issue with drying. However the Aveeno bar is so formulated to add moisture rather than take it away. The Aveeno bar also works to prevent break outs if you have issues with acne. Thus far I have fallen in love with this bar for cleaning my face. One other important thing to note especially for those who wear makeup daily, a good make up remover is advisable to remove all make up before cleansing. Although it is acceptable to use the bar directly, it would be more effective to remove
Step two: Exfoliating Olive Oil is very good for rehydrating the skin. For me I have really dry skin especially around my mouth and eye brows. Sometimes I get some of my skin peeling away. In order to maintain smooth skin I use a combination of Olive oil and brown sugar to exfoliate and add moisture to my skin. I use a tablespoon of Olive oil along with a tea spoon of sugar and gently scrub my skin using small circular motions. I do this exfoliating process at least twice a week in order to remove the flaky skin on my face. This to me, is a cheaper alternative to Microdermabrasion; a medical process done by a qualified esthetician, which removes the top most layer of skin. It helps to remove dead cells and dry skin leaving fresh, glowing skin.
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Step three: Moisturizing I use the olive oil at night also; just a couple dots and massaging it into my skin, to add moisture. It is always important to keep your skin moisturized day and night; a moisturizer with at least SPF15 sunscreen properties is advisable for daily use. Also, during the day I use an oats and Honey moisturizer. Honey is one of those natural ingredients that are used widely in skin treatment. It has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which make it very useful for treating wounds and many other skin issues. I use it in my moisturizer and I find that my break outs have decreased and my skin is smoother and softer than ever before!
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Beauty Intricacies continued Step Four: Toning
Cucumber is excellent for rejuvenating your skin especially after an awful break out. Cucumber and the skin share the same level of hydrogen, which makes it easy for cucumber to hydrate the skin. It soothes and softens skin and it is also very relaxing. Cucumber also contains large amount of Sulfur which helps to tighten your pores and it also disinfects the skin. This is why the juice of the cucumber can also be used as a toner. Toning also helps to even the skin complexion. You will find that the texture and firmness of your skin will improve with toning. This is just my regime it is not hard and fast or set in stone because everyone has different skin types and issues that may need to be resolved using other methods; this is applicable for anyone with very dry skin like mine and you can mix it up and find natural cheap ways of taking care of your skin. But whatever you do make sure you make it a daily habit to take very good care of your skin. Contact DeborahRamdin Facebook: deborahramdinmua Twitter: @DeborahRamdin Instagram: @DeborahRamdin LinkedIn: Deborah Ramdin Email: debramdin@gmail.com
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
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DEC 2014
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DEC 2014
SKIN GURU TRICHOTILLOMANIA By Dr. Andrew Forde
T
richotillomania is a self-induced form of hair loss. Dermatologist Francois Hallopeau coined the term derived from the Greek: trich (hair), tillen (to pull) and mania (an abnormal love for a specific object, place or action). This disorder is often seen in children ages 9-13yrs. In this age group it represents a repetitive fiddling, twisting and pulling of the hair. These bad habits result in hair breakage. Fortunately these behaviours are not usually permanent.
new growth with tapered ends, or some uneven stubble. Most children outgrow this condition with conservative management. Behaviour modification programmes and sometimes referral to psychologists and psychiatrists are required.
Trichotillomania in adults often represents varying degrees of anxiety, depression, unhappiness, post traumatic stress and even psychosis. Sometimes poor impulse control and obsessive-compulsive tendencies are involved. The scalp is the most common site of involvement and usually one or two areas develop. The hair loss is asymmetrical and it often corresponds with the dominant hand. Patients exhibit hair of differing lengths; some are broken with blunt ends, some broken mid-shaft, some www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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DEC 2014
A forward thinking, clothing retail store which is technology driven! By Raeann Beckles “A smart phone. You can stay connected with everyone,
Operational for only six months, Ayana’s Closet,
transact
cater to ladies. If you are looking for that ‘unique’
business in a matter of
piece of clothing or swim wear, Ayana’s Closet is
seconds and get all your
where it can be found. It is the hope of Fashion
emails on the go. It’s
Entrepreneur
super
and
accessories soon. But presently within Ayana’s
small so it fits easily in
Closet you can find mainly clothing from the UK,
your
with a taste of fashion from other countries around
convenient pocket
or
Njeri
to
break
into
supplying
handbag.” - These are
the world.
Some of the fashions offered are
the words of Njeri Taitt,
celebrity inspired; attracting fashion forward, daring
Fashion Entrepreneur and Manager of Ayana’s
and sophisticated young women. In essence Njeri of
Closet, when asked ‘What is a must have (in terms of
Ayana’s Closet try to outfit her closet to attract
technology) for any Entrepreneur in any field?’
women with different tastes whether they are young
or young at heart. www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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DEC 2014
Ayana’s Closet also provides delivery services where necessary, fittings scheduled after regular working hours for the busy ladies as well as the pre ordering and holding of items with no deposit. The pre ordering process is basically having that shop online experience without her clients having to pay before they have seen, felt and fitted their desired piece(s). It is therefore without reservation that a business of this nature require the services of technology; a service Ayana’s Closet views as imperative for developing its brand. As Njeri states, “Technology is the soul of Ayana’s
Closet. In this era technology plays a vital role in the lives of many. My channels of advertising is the social media platform and this has become the "store front" of my
business as it operates from my home. It is also super convenient as my clients can message me with pictures of what they wish to order and the communication process is fast and efficient. With so many different and free channels, technology is the perfect tool for marketing, and should be taken advantage of to boost your
growing business.” www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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DEC 2 014
thus
far.
The
reception
and
support
was
overwhelming and I'm truly grateful and Love my clients. Having a logo and a registered name is also a good achievement and any small business should start there, gives your business that professional touch especially if you're in for the long haul. Think international from the beginning and grow from there. Q: What would you say are some of your greatest challenges
as
an
entrepreneur? A:
My
greatest
challenges are being in a market that is already saturated and working a regular job while doing this. Some of my days are very long. Being able to get what I want and when I want it in terms of Q&A with Njeri of Ayana’s Closet:
stock has also been a challenge due to time
Q: What are some of your achievements within your
restraints of having a
business?
regular job.
A: Building a clientele was my greatest achievement www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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Q: How have you dealt with your business challenges or how do you propose to deal with those challenges? A: Having a business in a saturated market makes you think outside of the box. I give my clients a
personal touch of being able to shop at their convenience and fit pieces in the comforts of their homes if the need arises. Some of my clients also give me ideas of what they would like to see in my closet and I try to deliver. For 2015 I have a few ideas to roll out, some may even begin this month that I know my clients will absolutely love. But, I can't ruin the surprise so stay tuned. In terms of time restraints from working another job, sometimes sacrifices have to be made. Free time for me is time for
Ayana's Closet and my clients. In the near future I intend to take a leap of faith and give this my full 100% to nurture and see it grow. Ayana's Closet : Kingsland Ch. Ch. email: ayanascloset246@gmail.com Instagram: @ayanascloset Facebook profile and page: Ayana's Closet
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DEC 2014
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DEC 2014
DISHONESTY IN THE OFFICE
S
uspicious, unexplainable behavior could be a sign that you can't trust certain office workers.
As a part of company’s operations your personnel may have unrestricted access to files, records and employee data. Although you wish to trust your employees to safeguard your organization's property, there are times when some distrust will arise. These indicators must be dealt with at the earliest to prevent theft, embezzlement or inappropriate workplace behavior before it destroys your business. Time Records Officers who are responsible for tracking their own work hours and submitting their time sheets without any oversight from a supervisor or manager may be tempted to pad their time records so they can be paid for work not actually performed. If business demands remain constant with any spikes in clients’ demands for additional products or services and an office worker’s paycheck always reflects overtime pay, there’s a possibility that an office worker is being dishonest about his reported time. Financial Reporting An office worker who doesn’t follow protocol for checks and balances related to finance matters or refuses to provide other employees with access to financial records or passwords for accounting software applications might be hiding something. Suspicious activity such as failure to disclose the company’s financial standing may warrant further investigation.
Job Hunting Employees who devote more time to polishing their resumes, submitting online applications and scheduling telephone interviews during work hours are essentially stealing time from their employers. They are hired to perform a job and using work time to look for another job is dishonest behavior. Accountability Employees with the requisite skills and qualifications who don’t produce work may be misusing company time or intentionally refusing to perform the job they were hired to do. Employers have performance expectations and employees whose work doesn’t meet those expectations without a good reason, such as lack of training or resources, may be dishonest. Another example of lack of accountability involves employees whose interaction with clients seems to rarely result in customer satisfaction or sales; the employee could be receiving some personal benefit from the client contact, again investigation is warranted. Policy Violations Office workers who constantly and willfully violate policies may be dishonest. When an office worker has complete knowledge of workplace policies, yet continues to adhere to work rules without a reasonable excuse for the violations, it could be a sign that he has a philosophy that runs contrary to the organization’s business principles.
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DEC 2014
C lo t h i n g b y M a r y R O S E
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DEC 2014
Kerron Proute - Young Entrepreneur By Raeann Beckles
“My mother, my mom has always been my motivation and she will always be.�
C
lothing by MaryROSE is a fashion line for females and males looking for that
personal and unique fit. A line of clothing inspired by the love one daughter has for her mom, Clothing by MaryROSE was birthed. Though operating for less than a year, Clothing by MaryROSE has been making its strides under the guide and management of the young designer Kerron Proute. For Kerron, getting started was not difficult, as her biggest obstacle was ensuring that she had the right equipment for the job. But, overcoming that challenge, Kerron who now owns all the equipment
she
needs,
persists!
Time
management, Dedication and Self-Doubts were also among the challenges Kerron identified being a young entrepreneur. However, as she would have us know, in the end she NEVER gives up and indeed NOT Giving Up has served Kerron in good stead. www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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While the inspiration of her mom, her personal drive and passion and the right equipment has allowed for some measure of success for Kerron; this young entrepreneur also acknowledges the role ‘Technology’ plays in developing her business. For Kerron, technology has helped a lot, not only in terms of being a prime vehicle for research and building her clientele, but also a strong
medium for advertising, which she does on the well-known social media platform - Facebook.
What caused you to choose this field of expertise? “I chose this field because I wanted to continue my late mother ‘Rosemary Proute’ dreams. My mom always loved clothes and always spoke about becoming a designer and my auntie's career as a seamstress also played a part in my
selection. For me, I always loved making clothes, it didn't matter if I designed it or if I am just making an outfit; I just enjoy seeing the finished product. Being curious about what that outfit will look like in the end and seeing a very happy and satisfied customer is also what got me into this field.”
Bajan Sun Magazine Promoting Entrepreneurship
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DEC 2014
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DEC 2014
By Raeann Beckles Kidwe Sandiford is CEO and Part Owner/Founder of Islandboyz Promotions. A partnership consisting of seven creative minds, and four attractive promotional ladies, Islandboyz Promotions is committed to advertising, promoting and marketing events. Though operational for one year Islandboyz Promotions clientele includes Event Promoters who request the team’s services on a weekly basis.
indicated: “Constant team meetings and excessive brain storming help us to create new ideas for what we do.” Hey why wait? - Islandboyz Promotions has your event’s advertising, marketing and promotion needs covered!
Inspired by his experience as a youngster from assisting in events, and later pursuing a Bachelors in Marketing, Kidwe saw this line of work as ideal and rewarding. Though budgeting, accepting constructive criticism, and failures are among the challenges faced by the team, it is quite refreshing for Islandboyz Promotions to have exceeded their first year goals, such as, capturing at least 25% of their intended target market. Isandboyz Promotions possesses An Entrepreneurial Mind for Excellence For Islandboyz Promotions when faced with challenges as a team they go back to the drawing board. As Kidwe
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DEC 2014
Don’t Let the “4Ps” Rule You
T
By Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe
he road to creating a business, becoming a globally revered musician or actor, successfully achieving any dream, just achieving fulfillment and personal joy on a daily basis takes work; and the only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary. So while one can learn all there is to know about business principles, or notes in a song, accomplishing our goals is linked to our spirits as expertise, knowledge and talent are never enough. As we journey to success, challenges will provide us with a steady dose of life lessons that contribute to our growth. Learning, growing, exploring and working to understand self is a life-long process, and if it is not, it certainly should be. Self-knowledge opens the door to a better awareness of life dreams and personal goals. Without this self-knowledge, it becomes more difficult to achieve our goals or acquire the skills we need to claim the personal successes that we desire. If you find that you are not progressing professionally or personally, as you desire, make sure that you are not being plagued by what I call one of the “4Ps”. What are the “4Ps”? The “4Ps” are beliefs, attitudes, and habits that hinder our personal growth or cause us to sabotage ourselves. One common “P” is prejudice. Generally, when we think of the word prejudice, most often we associate it with racial issues, or our feelings and values about persons, places and things. In far too many instances, our deepest prejudices relate to self. Some of us are our own worst enemies, and we walk around filled with constant feelings of inadequacies. We tell ourselves, “I’m Not Good Enough,” “I’ll Never Achieve My Dreams,” on and on we go, verbally abusing ourselves nonstop.
Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Author. Thought Leader. Social Entrepreneur, Organization and Leadership Development Solutionist The Chieftaincy Ceremony. Dr. Anita, second from the left, being named the first woman Chief in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria because of her global human development and humanitarian work with women in the village. She was named Adiaha Unwana Itam 1, (Daughter of Light In Itam Clan)
accepted. To the onlooker, she had everything, beauty, fame, finances and that incredible voice. Like many of us, this superstar held deep prejudices against herself. You see, after a while, we start to listen intently to the “inner critic” and we falsely grow to believe the negative self-talk that self-doubt and self-loathing can create. Sadly, in the end, far too many of us allow self-prejudices to stop us from moving forward, or it fuels our total selfdestruction. Ask yourself where did these negative beliefs about myself come from, and why have I chosen to accept them as fact. You find the answer to that, without a doubt you are on the way to releasing your spirit from this emotional and success choker. Practice learning to love and accept yourself; recognize that you are unique; realize that you have been blessed with a unique talent that is your responsibility to discover and use to complete your divine assignment.
If that is not bad enough, some of us toss a heap of pessimism into the mix. No matter what the situation, we expect and just seem to know that the worse is going to happen. This constant feeling of doom is so much a part of some people’s being that when others see you coming, they just know that the conversation is going to be filled with nothing but negativity. If this describes you right now, work to change your attitude to a more positive mindset. As Kevin Costner, spoke at Whitney Houston’s Going Put the Law of Expectancy to work for you, after all we Home Celebration, he shared how she never felt good receive what we expect. enough, always wondered if she was liked, would she be www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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Being purposeless haunts some people. Purposeless people have few goals, very few concrete plans and can often be heard bragging that they are “just going with the flow.” Going with the flow or having a bit of spontaneity in one’s personality is great, but even with that, you still need some direction in your life. Being a charismatic person, in the absence of character, is always catastrophic. In other words, you may have a way with people, you may be the life of the party, but in the absence of purpose, life goals and a conscious; you are much like a ship without a compass, you might end up anywhere doing almost anything. We have all seen it played out too many times. Without a vision for one’s future, achieving very little becomes relatively easy. No Vision…No Dreams….No Goals….No Where
DEC 2014
can overcome it. Procrastination often results from being uncertain about what to do, having unclear goals to start with, having a negative attitude, feeling overwhelmed, waiting until the last minute, or planning but never doing because you’re waiting for the right time to come along. To combat procrastination, prioritize the things you need to need, do the things that contribute to accomplishment of your goals, and use your time wisely.
Recognizing and embracing one’s divine purpose in life provides a sense of personal satisfaction that is beyond compare. Identifying this purpose comes easy for some, while for others deciding what to do with their lives is more difficult. Regardless, this discovery is one of our most important life journeys, for an individual without purpose is vulnerable to opinions, self-doubt and self-sabotage. Listen to the yearnings deep within your spirit, there you will find your life’s purpose tucked just waiting for you to unleash it.
Bishop T. D. Jakes asks the question in his book, Maximize the Moment, “What are you doing with your dash?” It is a simple statement that forces us to accept that our time on earth is not unlimited and the statement reminds us that we have no time to waste. We all have a day of birth; we all will have a day when we are transformed from the physical to the spiritual; and we all have a period of time, the dash, our dash, the precious time we must use to live our lives to the fullest. You are given 86,400 seconds each day, your time is one of your most precious commodities. If you had that much money to spend each day, with the promise of the same amount the next day, most of us would quickly construct a strategy to do just that. Treat your time with the same regard; treat it as though your life depends upon it, because quite frankly it does.
The fourth “P,” and this one can be a constant challenge for even the most ambitious individual, and that is the habit of waiting for tomorrows that never come, that habit of saying “I’ll get to it.” This “P” is that old dream crusher who is also poor time management’s best friend; procrastination. Procrastination is a learned behavior and through diligence you
Don’t let the “4P” rule you, don’t let the “4Ps” steal your joy or hinder you from manifesting your true destiny. Dare to dream my friends, pledge to soar; choose to walk each day faithfully clothed with an attitude and belief that you can and will be successful. As my Jamaica friends say, “Soon Come,” and it will.
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By Raeann Beckles “Makeup is all I do - I breathe, sleep & eat makeup! Haha” Simone Morris CEO of MakeupBySimm loves that she can express art through makeup. She loves enhancing beauty and bringing out features that her clients may not have noticed as yet. As she says “It brings a smile to her face.” Based in London, MakeupBySimm has been in operation for just over three years rendering its services at weddings, birthday makeovers, fashion and editorial photo-shoots and video shoots. With her roots in Barbados, Simone also has a strong client base at home; in addition to her existing growing clientele of returning and new customers in the UK. Simone has also gotten enquires from the United States, which has great potential for expanding her reach and
transformation influence. For Simone it’s not just makeup, it’s a MAKEOVER, which has continuously awarded her great feedback from those receiving the transformation. To be a successful, well known makeup artist that travels the world doing what she loves is the goal of Simone. With this very much achievable goal in mind, Simone have made some headway thus far; placing great value on the improvements she has made in learning different techniques. But, even for this entrepreneur, challenges which can be viewed as opportunities has presented themselves in the form of building her clientele. These hidden opportunities (challenges), create an environment for Simone to practice a lot, which is something she loves to do, in her pursuit of bettering herself and gaining the clientele she needs, desires and deserves. Great success MakeupBySimm!!!
to
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Simone
and
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DEC 2014
Above: before & After Left: Makeup process
Right: Process completed
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Nerd Tech For PC Support W
e offer a wide range of Computers: Laptop, Notebook & Desktop Repair/ Upgrades & Virus removal Services in Barbados. The best choice for on-site Computer repair, PC service, and Virus removal. Our experienced technicians are available 7 days a week to resolve issues as complex as setting up a business network, or as simple as helping you get the most out of your PC or laptop, all within 24 hours of scheduling your appointment. Nerd Tech is a computer service company in Barbados. Whether you're looking for help fixing your PC, Virus removal or computer upgrades Nerd Tech can help.
We are specialist in providing on site computer repair services and network support for all sized business, on site computer and network services that are convenient and reliable, Why hassle with disassembling your PC from your home and bring it to a repair shop every time when it has the problems ? When virus and spyware issues surface or other computer headaches arise. Let Nerd Tech come to you. Computer Repair From email trouble to complete system restoration, Friendly Computers is your one-stop shop for computer repair. Why wait weeks or longer for your computer to get fixed? Friendly Computers offers same-day, on-site computer repair for any computer need! Computer Upgrades Want to upgrade to Windows 7? Running out of hard drive space? Need a better video card to play that new video game? Friendly Computers is your source for quality, name brand computer parts. Our Friendly representatives can help you choose the parts you need to get your computer up to speed. Data Recovery At Friendly Computers, we know how important your data is to you. Whether you’ve mistakenly deleted an important
document, or your hard drive has failed, our skilled technicians can assist you in getting your data back. From hard drives to flash drives, Friendly Computers can recover data from almost any media. Multiple recovery options are available, ranging from software utilities for corrupted operating systems and virus/spyware attacks, to clean-room recovery for mechanical failures. Friendly Computers can help you determine which recovery option is right for your situation. Virus & Spyware Removal Has your computer been plagued with viruses or spyware? Are you getting pop-ups while surfing the net? Does your internet browser take you to web pages you don’t know? Friendly Computers can help. Using the most up-to-date antivirus and anti-spyware utilities, our technicians can scan your system, identify the problems, and remove them from your computer. We can also help you choose the best protection for your system based on your individual needs, and offer suggestions to minimize the risks while online. From home users to business networks, Friendly Computers can help keep your systems secure. Networking Friendly Computers is your network specialist. Whether you have 2 computers or 200, Friendly Computers has a network solution for you. Wired or wireless, our technicians can help you choose the right equipment for your needs, then develop a strategic implementation plan to minimize costly down time. Tel: Email: pcmaintenence@gmail.com
1-246-830-3893
Follow us on Twitter: @NerdTechBim Like us on Face Book: www.facebook.com/NerdTechBim
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pcmaintenence@gmail.com
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DEC 2014
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Tech Tips for the Basic Computer User
You can double-click a word to highlight it in any document, e-mail or Web page.
Nobody, but nobody, is going to give you half of $80 million to help them liberate the funds of a deceased millionaire…from Nigeria or anywhere else. You can enlarge the text on any Web page. In Windows, press Ctrl and the plus or minus keys (for bigger or smaller fonts); on the Mac, it’s the Command key and plus or minus.
You can also enlarge the entire Web page or document by pressing the Control key as you turn the wheel on top of your mouse. On the Mac, this enlarges the entire screen image.
On most cellphones, press the Send key to open up a list of recent calls. Instead of
manually dialing, you can return a call by highlighting one of these calls and pressing Send again.
You can tap the Space bar to scroll down on a Web page one screenful. Add the Shift key to scroll back up.
Forcing the camera’s flash to go off prevents silhouetted, too-dark faces when you’re outdoors.
You can open the Start menu by tapping the key with the Windows logo on it.
Whatever technology you buy today will be obsolete soon, but you can avoid heartache by learning the cycles. New iPods come out every September. New digital cameras come out in February and October.
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E-COMMERCE STARTER
H
ere at Bajan Web Designs we are all about making your life as easy as possible, we don’t like how other agencies will baffle you with technical jargon to make them sound worth more than they are. This is why we have a new way of doing things, you the client get a specialist design and development team, working on your website for a simple clear cut price. Every website will be custom designed, developed and tested to the highest standards – except we won’t change our quote every other day. We have packages set up already so that you can decide what you want and how much you want to pay for it. Our first E-Commerce package is our “Starter E-commerce Package” and is excellent value for money, custom designed and developed. Our Starter E-commerce Package at Bajan Web Designs will contain everything to launch your site. Designed to start your online shopping empire. At Bajan Web Designs we understand that security and handling money online is a serious business and we aren't going to lie, we put our trust into a merchant service called Shopify. Enabling us to build you an Ecommerce website that is safe, secure and future proof. Shopify also allows us to build your website at the fraction of the cost many of agencies charge. Our starter package runs on the Basic security package which starts at $75.00 a month and as your online business grows we can expand the Shopify cover to allow you to sell more! ( a full list of prices is at the bottom). So if your looking for an Ecommerce Website at a cheap price to start Building your company's online shopping experience, this is the package for you. For $1375.00 the starter package contains; Custom Website design. Online Catalog.
1 .COM or .CO.UK (many other domains available such as .org , .net , .it) 3 Email Addresses. 1 Years hosting! Did we say custom design? We can customize any template Mobile Version of the site is only $250 extra! Secure Payment Gateway - 50 payment services supported ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS & PAYPAL
Currency, Tax and Different languages Free SSL security certificate. Shipping rate calculator. So if you’re looking for a online business, or want a chat about our services then email via info@bajansunonline.com
Web Design
Domain Name
Email Accounts
Web Development
Graphic Design
Social Media
Web Support
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
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DEC 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Bringing Value to Music In Barbados By Erica Smith
T
he Copyright Society of Composers,
performers and record companies. Copyright is a
Authors
Incorporated
bundle of rights and these include: the right to
(COSCAP) is what has been traditionally called a
authorize the distribution, broadcast, public
copyright society but nowadays it is more often
performance and the reproduction or copying of
called a collective management organisation
works. In many cases these rights are exclusive
(CMO).
The holders of copyright and similar
which means that the permission of the rights
rights called neighbouring or related rights are
holder has to be obtained in advance. In practical
granted certain rights in their literary and artistic
terms what this means is that in the case of the
works. For example, the authors of books, visual
broadcast of musical works, the permission of all
artists, photographers, film directors, songwriters,
rights holders is first necessary.
&
Publishers
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DEC 2014
Obviously, this would be impractical, if not impossible
licensees, in most cases as a blanket licence. This means
given the time, effort and certainly the cost of identifying
that with the COSCAP licence the user will be able to
all the rights holders, who could be anywhere in the
access all of the musical works in the COSCAP
world and negotiating permission (a licence) from each.
repertoire.
This is the reason why CMOs were first established as they function to license the rights of their members and to
COSCAP has to monitor the use of the musical works so
facilitate those persons who need to license these rights
that it is able to determine who are to be paid royalties
so that the process is easier and more economical. There
and how much. Though this activity in computerised it is
are 227 CMOs worldwide from 120 different countries
very costly because there is reliance on a combination of
representing over 3 million individual creators from all
methods; including samples of the music which has been
the artistic disciplines: music, drama, literature, audio-
broadcast and taken at various premises and a census of
visual, graphic and visual arts.
live performances at large concerts. The rights holder is paid according to the number of times his music appears
In the case of COSCAP, rights holders – songwriters,
in the samples or live performance data.
performers, record companies and music publishers join
royalty payments depend on: the number of popular
the organisation and agree to have COSCAP manage
works the rights holder owns and the number of persons
certain
public
who are sharing the rights in a work (the more
performance and reproduction rights on their behalf as
songwriters there are for one song, the smaller the share
these are the most difficult to be managed on an
of royalties for each). Of course, it also helps if the songs
individual basis. COSCAP through a global system of
are performed or broadcast outside of Barbados so that
reciprocal contracts with sister societies also administers
the rights holder earns royalties internationally.
the
rights,
rights
specifically,
the
broadcast,
of
international
rights
holders in Barbados while rights
Barbadian holders
are
represented by sister CMOs
in
territories.
their
Together,
the works of the local and
international
rights
holders
comprise
the
COSCAP
repertoire
which it in turn makes
this
available
to
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Typically,
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STRICTLY BAJAN RUM SHOP TOURS S
trictly Bajan Rum Shop Tours - a very special Morning tour of The Rum Shop Culture & Barbadian Heritage. As the name suggests this tour is strictly local and seeks to provide visitors with a truly Authentic Barbados Experience. As such, this tour exposes our guests to Traditional Rum Shops, Traditional Bajan (people), Traditional Food and Local Beverages. But even more, our 'visiting friends' have the opportunity to be part of our Culture, and Heritage. The tour incorporates on bus fun activities, games and competitions. While the tour is fun it is also educational and informative, allowing for a fun learning environment. This being said, our tour begins with a visit to the facilities of the world's oldest Rum and pioneer of fine liquor: Mount Gay Visitors Centre. Following this, our tour proceeds to visit three (3) Rum Shops: where our guests can indulge in Traditional Dishes and Beverages and be delighted by local craft and entertainers. On route to the first Rum Shop stop visitors are provided with a sample of Claytons Kola Tonic (Sponsor)
Buljol and one (1) Banks Beer (Sponsor): part of the All Inclusive Package. On route to the third Rum Shop stop visitors are provided with a sample of Claytons Kola Tonic with Mount Gay Rum (Sponsors) Third Stop: Rum Shop and Traditional Dish: Visitors interact with shop owner/s who provides our guests with a brief history of their establishment as well as Local Lunch and a glass of Claytons Kola Tonic mixed with Mount Gay Rum (Sponsors): part of the All Inclusive Package. At this final stop guests are also entertained by local artists and are delighted by local arts and crafts. Please note, the Rum Shops are alternated on a per week basis. Tour Days: Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday Tour Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm Tour Guide: Knowledgeable about our Barbadian Culture/Friendly and Personable Tour Driver: Experienced and Safe
First Stop: Rum Shop and Traditional Dish: Visitors interact with shop owner/s who provides our guests with a brief history of their establishment as well as Mini Cutters: Ham/Egg/Cheese and a glass of Claytons Kola Tonic (Sponsor): part of the All Inclusive Package. On route to the second Rum Shop stop visitors are provided with a can of Claytons Kola Kick (Sponsor) Second Stop: Local Bar and Traditional Dish: Visitors interact with shop owner/s who provides our guests with a brief history of their establishment as well as a Local Pickle Dish: 103 Chicken Foot/Pudding and Souse/
Tour Transport: Fully Air Conditioned 40 Seater Coach Tour Security/Safety: First Aid Kit on board with trained First Responder Tour Cost: Tourist: $65.00 USD/ $130.00 BDS - All Inclusive Package. Locals: $ 50.00 USD/ $100.00 BDS Visit our website and view our other tour packages. Contact Tel: 1 246 844-7008 Email: strictlybajanrumshops@gmail.com Follow us on twitter: @RumShopsTours Visit us online: www.bajanislandtours.com
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
“
By Raeann Beckles
A
good computer and/or mobile device, latest software and reliable internet connection.” Simple advice from Andrew Jemmoth, Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of Icon Studios Inc. and Caribbean Webcast Inc., when asked: ‘What is a must have (in terms of technology) for any Entrepreneur in any field?’
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DEC 2014
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DEC 2014
Icon Studios Inc. - A forward thinking technology driven company! Icon Studios Inc. is a collective group of companies and their intellectual properties. Having been in operation for the past 12 years (May 2002 as a Business Name, Incorporated in 2005), Icon Studios Inc. specializes in the following areas: Media, Technology, E-Commerce and Online Distribution/Retail and R&D and Training.
The Media arm is led by two business: Caribbean Webcast Inc. located in Bar bados provides the following services: New/Social Media Production, Media Facilities, Streaming & Equipment Rental and Social Media Research & Marketing. Live Canvas Design Studios also located in Barbados provides the following services: Graphics Design, Multimedia Desk Top Publishing, Caribbean Ratings and Data Management and monitoring. The Technology arm is directed by CTS Inc.: Custom Technology Solutions Inc. located in Barbados provides the following services: Web & Mobile Application, Software as a Service and Technology Integration. The E-Commerce and Online Distribution/Retail arm is controlled by Purpletree Logistics Inc.: Purpletree Logistics Inc. located in the USA, provides Global commerce logistics management/ eCommerce Transaction and Processing. The R&D and Training arm is steered by the: Black Mamba Project Caribbean Ratings (Software product of Icon Studios Inc.) does data analysis and real time and automated generation of reports. Icon Studios also provides assistance re the Management & Investment of Intellectual Property Rights. www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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DEC 2014
Icon Studios Inc. is also currently spearheaded by a team of qualified and key members: Andrew Jemmott, Chairman of the Board and Managing Director (Icon Studios and Caribbean Webcast Inc.)
Anton Shepherd, Director of Information Technology (Icon Studios and Managing Director (Custom Technology Solutions) 1999 – 2004, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus B.Sc., Electronics and Computer Science
Rean Griffith, Software Development Director (Icon Studios) and Managing Director (Purple Tree Logistics) 2001 – 2008, Columbia University in the City of New York M.Sc. and Ph.D. 1997 – 2000, University of the West Indies (Cave Hill Campus) B.Sc, Computer Science and Management (double major)
Haydn Griffith, Chief Financial Officer (Icon Studios Group of Companies) 2001 – 2007, Penn State University B.S., Finance & International Business, M.B.A., Corporate Finance IES Barcelona 2004 – 2004, Economics, Cultural Studies, Spanish
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DEC 2014
Some of Icon Studios Inc. Achievements includes:
through advertising revenue share with YouTube (California) through Multichannel Network (MCN)
1. Notably winning gold in NIFCA and HIV/AIDS for a short film. Historic streaming services provided to the Supreme Court of Barbados and the InterAmerica Court of Human Right (multilingual). The company was requested by the Caribbean Court of Justice judges.
3. In Technology eight years of continued service to the First Caribbean University passing international quality and benchmark every year, the system is highly secure and effective an eLearning solution.
2. The Wardrobe Show www.wardrobetvshow.com
Some of Icon Studios Inc. Challenges:
TV
Research and development TV programming Research and development of digital and social media best practices Investment in non-technology based productions and services i.e. Men’s Fashion Was successful in obtaining international recognition through social media and partnering
1. Entrepreneur Stigma - Everyone thinks you are crazy and it takes a lot of mental stability to stay the course. 2. Business Inertia - A business doesn’t just up and start and you plans have to modified it order to get the results you desire sometime you go into the red before you can start earning something again your mental state has to be strong.
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How Icon Studios Inc. overcame the challenge of getting started: It was very challenging to get our business started, money was provided by investors sometimes not convinced about our endeavours (parents), office space was an actual converted basement, our financial literacy was limited at the time (investment, banking, corporate
DEC 2014
structures, wealth management, business operational structures). We were very good at the technical aspects (conception, creation, visualization, programming, technological structures). It took us the better part of 13 years to get set up. Strong mental state, disciple and seeking financial/business knowledge from others who have walked the path.
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BAJAN SUN ONLINE MAGAZINE
…advertise with us…
www.BajanSunOnlinecom/Magazine Email: info@bajansunonline.com Twitter:@BajanSunOnline Facebook: Bajan Sun Magazine "Bajan Sun Online Magazine” is a publication geared towards the advancement of Small Businesses through affordable Marketing. www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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DEC 2014
Top CHEFS Kaiser Coutain CHEF By Raeann Beckles
G
renadian born, Kaiser Coutain, has been in the kitchen from since the age of four. Exposed to baking through her mom and aunt while growing up, Kaiser turned to a career in cooking and baking. Today, Kaiser is a chef at the Donofrios Restaurant located at the Crane Resort Barbados; preparing meals and desserts that makes you want to lick the plate after you have finished. “I've always believed that dessert is the most important part of a meal. When dining out, I've always looked forward to dessert. It's the finale, and can turn a good meal into a great one; and a great meal into an excellent one!” - These words from Kaiser shows her delight in what will be considered the climax to a mouthwatering meal - The Dessert! Having studied at the T.A Marryshoe Community College, and later at the Prommarine Hospitality Institute, Kaiser stated that what she enjoys most about being a chef is that she gets to express herself, and be creative through her dishes. Though a creator of many dishes, Kaiser identified the ‘Passion Fruit Delice’, as one of her favourite dishes to create. However, her crowd favorite is Tiramisu - Yummy! Shhhh…the secret is out: “One of her key ingredients when creating dishes are spices, especially cinnamon and nutmeg.” It is the intention of Kaiser between the next three to five years to combine her nursing knowledge and culinary knowledge, to become a Nutritionist; to help people make, healthy nutritional choices.
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Coconut Cheese Cake Ingredients
butter. Press onto bottom of prepared pan.
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 6 tablespoons butter, melted 5 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 1-1/2 cups white baking chips, melted and cooled 3/4 cup coconut milk 2 teaspoons coconut extract 1 teaspoon 4 eggs, lightly beaten 3/4 cup flaked coconut, toasted, divided
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cooled chips, coconut milk and extracts. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Fold in 1/2 cup coconut. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan.
Directions Preheat oven to 325째. Place a greased 9-in. (3in.-deep) springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Wrap foil securely around pan.
Bake 60-70 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight, covering when completely cooled. Remove rim from pan. Serve cheesecake topped with remaining coconut
In a small bowl, mix cracker crumbs and www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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DEC 2014
BAJAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
C
hristmas is nearly every Bajan’s favourite time of the year, most Bajan’s take part in the festivities. Barbadians truly embrace the traditions and their Christmas spirit comes alive. It is a time of true joy and giving, beautiful Christmas lights, and lots of food and over-all festiveness. The Christmas tradition starts after Independence so weeks before the season begins you can find Barbadians busy with their ‘Christmas cleaning’. They paint, clean and refurbish their homes, put up new curtains and cushion covers, sometimes even buy new furniture, all in the spirit of Christmas. Decorations, lights and of course the Christmas tree are then added to nearly every household across the island. It’s not Christmas in Barbados without the bright flashing lights and beautiful colours. From the 1st December, Christmas music can be heard on all the radio stations but in some stores you can hear Christmas music from early November. This, though, is seldom. The late start to the Christmas music is because Barbados’ Independence is November 30th and the month of November is dedicated to Independence celebrations. The first thing that gets us in the mood is the arrival of the Christmas Trees. There is just nothing like the smell of a “real” Christmas tree after all! Homes come alive with decorations and lights inside and out and roundabouts are festively decorated. One event that is eagerly anticipated at Christmas time is Carols by Candle Light. This event is hosted every December at Ilaro Court, the residence of the Prime Minister of Barbados. It is a special afternoon attended by thousands of Barbadian young and old. Christmas carols are sung by some of Barbados most talented musicians 112
and candles are lit as the sun sets, making for a spectacular scene. Everyone is relaxed as they lay out on their picnic blankets and a true feeling of Christmas is captured. Christmas morning finds most Bajans in church decked down in their finest. Some go to midnight mass on Christmas eve night while others head to the early morning service. This is usually the most packed day of the year, many even joke and say that Christmas day is the one day of the year they are sure to be in church. Afterwards, hundreds of Barbadians head to Queen’s Park for a showcase of sorts. Dapper gents and lovely ladies stroll through the park showing off their splendid outfits. This is a time to meet up with old friends and enjoy the sights. The tradition continues with family meals, the entire family gathers for Christmas lunch, or more accurately feast. Tables are heavy laiden with rice and peas, macaroni, candied sweet potatoes, chicken, ham, baked pork, turkey, pies and sorrel… And Christmas isn’t a Bajan Christmas without Jug-Jug and Black Cake. It is truly a ‘belly-bursting affair and left-overs mean that some don’t have to cook for the following week, and in some cases weeks. Bajans young and old look forward to Christmas and over the years have main-tained their fam-ily traditions. This fun and festive time is always a wonderful peak to each year. Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas, is also a very popular day amongst Barbadians. There are several parties held and all the leftovers are warmed up and served again! You will also find horse racing that day at The Garrison Savannah Racing Track.
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DEC 2014
NO CHRISTMAS WITHOUT HAM Christmas ham is a must in just about every pork eating home in the Caribbean. There are many who choose not to dine in the swine, but I refuse to be prejudice against this wonderful meat, so you know I had to share this wicked recipe.
I fondly recall the ham sandwiches our mom would have ready for us at breakfast on Christmas morning as she had other delectable goodies going in the oven and stove.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Ham (smoked/bone in) * about 8lbs 5 sprigs thyme 8 cloves 2 scallions =========> Glaze… 1 cup pineapple juice 1 table spoon grated ginger 1 tablespoon orange marmalade 1/2 cup brown sugar (golden) 2 table spoon honey pinch of cinnamon Dressing the ham when glazing… 5-8 slices of pineapple 10-15 cloves tooth picks for securing the pineapple slices
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the rind (skin) of ham by running a knife along the edge and peeling it back with your hands Remove some of the excess fat leaving at least 1/4-inch of fat around it. Take a sharp knife and cut crossways and then diagonally to create a diamond pattern. Set ham on rack of roasting pan. Stud ham with cloves in the center of each diamond-cut; transfer ham to preheated oven Meanwhile, gently warm pineapple jam and water in a small saucepan, whisking to incorporate. Baste ham with pineapple jam glaze one hour after it has been in the oven, and every 1/2 hour thereafter until the ham has been baking for 2 hours or until it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. Remove from oven and let rest, covered with foil to keep warm, for 10 – 15 minutes before carving
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DEC 2014
Professional Image & Networking Power Improvement By Stefano Lynch
“Hiiii, I’m Paula and—” you’ve already devalued your professional image. Consider the following interesting questions; do you truly understand the impact your introduction makes on every relationship you want to foster, do you understand its potential to improve your professional image and networking power? When you say your names in a long, drawn-out way and/or only give your first names you are already sabotaging your position in the potential relationship. Our opening line is one of the most undervalued but important tools in our professional image arsenal. We spend so much time focusing on all the other basic principles of making a good impression; a firm handshake, making eye contact, not fidgeting, business cards, and focusing making sure to sound interested and ask the right questions, that we totally wreck the introduction of ourselves. There is a lot of speculation concerning the amount of time it takes to make a first
impression, with various experts in various fields saying everything from a technical onetenth of a second to a more business savvyseven seconds), either way it’s not a whole lot of time. That crucial introduction takes about five to 10 seconds, and by then, you’ve already subconsciously told somebody else what they want to know about you and your professional image. The right way to introduce yourself is fairly simple, first be assertive and sharp with your salutation (it’s proven that “vocal fry,” that creakiness that some people have at the end of sentences, can actually hurt your professional image and career). A crisp “hello” or “hi” will do. Secondly, give your full name, it comes across much more interesting and official. It may feel kind of ridiculous the first few times, but as with all other good habits it will feel quite natural after some practice. You will go from someone with an average professional image and presence to making that first impression more memorable and powerful, a great foundation for creating a more effective and lasting connection So, hello. Stefano Ingram, Philanthropist and Entrepreneur. Nice to meet you. PHOTO BY: CLYDE BARNETT
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
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DEC 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
By Denise J Charles
T
he idea of “bouncing back” from an affair actually doesn’t sit very well with me. It seems somehow to suggest a happy, cheerful recovery period and belies the stress inherent in dealing with the aftermath of infidelity. When I think of the movement past an affair, I tend to think more of a difficult, painful, reluctant crawl back to wherever that couple was before or hopefully to an even better place. When a relationship which is designed to be sexually exclusive, is threatened by a third party, then that relationship runs the risk of becoming unglued at the seams. Sex with an “outside” partner, threatens the core of what marriage stands for; the idea of forsaking all others. While there are a variety of reasons why people cheat, if a coupe desires to move beyond the affair, then there is the need for honest reflection, to determine why the affair happened. The source People cheat for a variety of reasons including relationship neglect, boredom, sexual dissatisfaction, emotional disconnection, sexual greed, unhappiness, low self-esteem, and this list goes on. This knowledge of “why” is critical because it identifies the relationship’s weaknesses. If the couple intends to go forward, this information will be necessary to preserve relationship health and to safeguard it against future threats. This of course assumes that the underlying issues are exposed and remedied through honest and open communication. Responsibility
While a knowledge of what made the relationship vulnerable to infidelity is great, the reason for cheating should not be used to excuse the act. In other words, the partner who understands why he/she cheated must also be willing to assume responsibility for the affair. It is therefore never kosher to intimate that your partner made you do it. The guilty party must own up to a moment of weakness, bad judgment, a lack of integrity, selfishness and the like. Admitting where you went wrong is critical to the experience of forgiveness. orgiveness should be seen as a mutual, active process and not as a one-time event. The words “I forgive you” must never be forced or said prematurely. The victim of infidelity needs to be given time to grieve the relationship which was. This grieving process is experienced differently by individuals and may be evidenced by emotional and sexual withdrawal, depression, anger, rage, crying or sessions of screaming and throwing things. Whatever the case, it is critical that the victim of infidelity is allowed to vent before there is even am attempt at “fixing” things.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE BOUNCING BACK FROM AN AFFAIR CONTINUED This venting is also often a process and not a oneoff event which is characterized by the convenient forgetting of all that has occurred. An affair forever changes a relationship and even though healing is possible, what was lost can never be regained and as painful as this might be for both parties to accept, it must be, if there is to be true progress. This process may be assisted through counseling, therapy or personal pursuits like journaling which help to clarify difficult emotions. Redefining Redefining the damaged relationship is necessary and should be seen as an on-going part of the healing process. Deciding together how you want your new relationship to look is going to be a major step in getting your couple groove back. Since an affair involves a fair amount of deceit, then coming clean about all aspects of the affair will be critical to moving forward. This means a new commitment to honesty and accountability, in an attempt to rebuild trust. Questions are to be expected and should be answered candidly. Since rekindling a healthy sex life is likely to be more challenging, the guilty party should take the cue from his/her partner. While sex itself can be a great healer, it should never be forced prematurely. At the same time, carving out special time together for meaningful communication, attentiveness, romantic gestures and the like, are useful strategies for reconnecting as a couple.
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DEC 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
HOW TO ANSWER THE PHONE IN A BUSY SITUATION 1. When answering the telephone in a
busy company, never answer with "Thanks for calling, hold please," as this immediately belittles the person on the other end. 2. If the phone rings while you are helping another guest, politely ask
the guest to excuse you for a moment, then answer the phone. 3. After greeting appropriately, let the person on the other line know you will
be
able
to
help
them
momentarily. 4. Finish helping your current guest and come back to the phone within the next minute if possible.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
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DEC 2014
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DEC 2014
EMPOWERING MANUFACTURERS IN 2015 By Bobbi MaCay “The future of manufacturing in Barbados is bright” these are the words of the Executive Director of the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association Bobbi McKay. As 2014 is swiftly coming to a close, and minds fast forward to what is in store for 2015, the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association’s forecast is a positive one. “The sector continues to experience its share of challenges; but it has also seen moderate growth in 2014,” noted Ms. McKay. “When we review the sector as a whole we are confident that the successes and the benefits outweigh the challenges. Over the past year we have focused on empowering our manufacturers; we have focused on finding ways to develop stronger and more sustainable businesses. As a sector we are looking at improving operational efficiencies and developing strategic alliances and partnerships which promote success and sustainability. Unfortunately, when people think about manufacturing their minds automatically gravitate towards smaller workshop settings and their focus is primarily on the micro enterprises within the sector. So often they fail to look at our larger manufacturers such as Purity Bakeries, WIBISCO, HIPAC, the BHL group; these are all manufacturers who are making significant contributions to employment, the economy and our foreign exchange earnings. When we look at
Lenstec for example and the state-of-the art operation they manage here in Barbados; exporting to over 60 countries in the world, we then really understand that manufacturing is far from doom and gloom.” “Training has always been high on our priority and this covers areas from marketing, to administrative skills, small business management, project planning and management and so much more. We believe that this raises the profiles of our businesses as well as enabling them to operate more efficiently and professionally; thereby increasing their chances of success. In 2015 we will also be actively seeking opportunities for more specialised training such as “finishing” for the furniture sector and LOC training for operations driven towards automation. Innovation will also be a key focus for 2015 as we will host sessions that address and promote innovation in manufacturing. As early as January 2015 we will have access to a Professor Ken Blawatt who will challenge our innovative drive.
“Facilitating partnerships are also important for us and we know that as our businesses look to develop and increase productivity there will be a great need to improve their plant and equipment. Over 2014 we have been forging strong relationships with financial providers with a view to making facilities available to our members. We will begin to see the real fruit of these partnerships in 2015 allowing our manufactures to improve efficiencies in their businesses.
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NOV 2014 DEC2014
EMPOWERING MANUFACTURERS IN 2015 continued
“Exposure is also top of mind for us in the Association and while BMEX undoubtedly continues to be our flagship expo, we continue to seek out opportunities locally and internationally to expose the wealth of Barbadian made products which are available. One initiative which was recently launched in collaboration with the Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC) is Portico, a furniture and furnishings showroom off the Spring Garden Highway which was designed to showcase locally-made furniture and accessories for the Christmas season. Our desire however is to see this showroom open year round so that our manufactures have an equal opportunity to have their products shown in the same way that foreign imports are on display throughout the year. This to our mind is one of the ways to ensure that Barbadian
manufacturers have a level playing-field on which to operate. “Finally, we believe networking is paramount for the sector and we are planning additional opportunities for members of the sector to engage each other in 2015. We believe that as our businesses interact with each other they will discover some of the solutions which are critical for their businesses’ survival. Many of them face the same challenges and so as they work together the solutions will come and they will create win-win situations. “2015 is full of possibilities. We continue to believe that there is much to celebrate and we fully embrace the opportunities that the coming year will hold. However we cannot do it on our own and we need the support of locals to help us stay afloat and to succeed.”
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Mark Rosco Thorne
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ark Rosco Thorne was born on a sugar plantation in Springhead, St.James, Barbados. At age 11, he
moved to Sion Hill in the same parish. He received his primary school education at St.Silas Primary school in St. James. He recalls walking approximately 6 miles every day to his Primary School in Orange Hill, along with his childhood friend Ottis Gibson. These two young men are both graduates of Ellerslie Secondary School and not only made their High School extremely proud, but also their country
By Charmaine J Forde
Barbados. (Ottis became coach of the West Indies Cricket Team.) While attending Ellerslie, Mark started playing cricket and running track. He later received a Scholarship to Jackson State University where he received a bachelors and a master’s Degree in Mass communications. He served as his Fraternity (Phi Beta Sigma) advisor for over 12 years to his college chapter at JSU.
Thorne was chosen to be head Men’s Track and Field Coach at JSU and says he is a role model for over twenty five young men on his track team. This Barbadian Coach trains and competes in local races in the Jackson area, he placed third in “Run for Life Marathon” held in Mississippi in October 2011. Mr. Thorne lives in Byram, Mississippi with his wife, Dr. Diane Thorne and is the proud father of three children, Katrina Ifill, Diandra Thorne and Marosco Thorne. I salute You Mark Thorne!
Charmaine J. Forde is a Liberal Arts Major at Community College of Philadelphia and a Soldiers Angel volunteer.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
NOV 2014
CHRISTMAS TIPS FOR YOUR DOG By Lisa White CPDT-KA
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hristmas is a time that many families look forward to – the decorations, festive food, presents and lots of fun. However, your favourite Christmas treats and decorations can also be very appealing to your dog, and extremely harmful! Please bear in mind the following safety tips this Christmas so the whole family, including your dog, can really enjoy the festive season. Christmas ornaments should be "pet-friendly". Avoid using tinsel on trees! Curious animals are attracted by the shiny strings and may swallow them, which can lead to serious injury and expensive surgery! Ornaments hung on lower tree limbs should not be breakable. Also, keep your tree free of decorations made of food!
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
Be careful with Christmas lights! Secure electrical cords and conceal outlets. Pets may chew on cords, which can shock them.
Keep your pets away from poinsettias which are poisonous and can cause mouth or stomach irritation, vomiting or diarrhoea.
Keep your dog out of the kitchen when cooking. He could get under your feet and trip you when you’re carrying a hot pan.
Table scraps and left-overs aren't just too rich for your pets: bones in the meat could lead to serious complications or death. Giving your dog leftovers that he’s not used to can upset his stomach, and never give your dog alcohol to drink. I’m sure you don’t want to be cleaning up diarrhoea or vomit.
All of the following seasonal items are dangerous to your dog if eaten: chocolate, grapes, and raisins. Xylitol, a sweetener found in many sugar -free sweets, has also been found to be dangerous. Cooked turkey bones might become lodged in the dog’s throat or perforate the intestinal tract, and onions can cause anaemia so don’t feed them to your dog in any form.
Supervise play with any new toys (dogs' or the children’s), in case parts break and are swallowed. Only buy toys that are specifically designed for a pet's use.
Don’t leave anything sharp lying around – dogs have been known to swallow needles and knives!
The holidays are especially stressful for dogs due to changes in routine, noise, confusion and the comings and goings of visitors. Many dog bites happen at this time of year. Even a normally calm and docile pet may become agitated enough to bite under the extreme circumstances of a boisterous family celebration. Children are the most likely victims of dog bites in this situation.
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If you're entertaining, you may wish to keep your pets in a quiet room away from the noise and activity. Your dog should have its own place in a crate or another room with toys, a stuffed Kong or other long lasting chew and its special bed or blanket so that it can be happy and comfortable and away from guests.
THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP – DO NOT GIVE A PET AS A GIFT As well-meaning as it is, a pet should never be given as a gift. It is a life time commitment that everyone in the house should be in agreement with. Experts agree that getting a puppy during the busy holiday season is NOT a good idea. This is often an impulse buy that leads to the puppy being ignored or abandoned after the initial novelty wears off because the pup starts to chew up everything in sight and have frequent accidents. During Christmas, there is usually no time to devote to proper training and socialization. The puppy can get frightened and develop behaviour problems due to inappropriate handling or overwhelming circumstances.
Remember, a pet is for life.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
How Do You Deal With Poor Employee Performance?
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ven small businesses deal with employee issues. Dealing with poor employee performance is very important to your business productivity. As a business owner, you are engaged in a delicate balancing act of meeting employee expectations and inspiring loyalty while trying to please your customers. Dealing with unsatisfactory performance in a positive way, using effective corrective action, can lead to improved employee performance that could even flourish. Step 1
Step 2
Express your concerns. The employee must understand your expectations and how they were not met. This is the first step in addressing poor performance. Give a detailed explanation of your standards and how employees are to meet them. Focus on the issues in direct relation to the employee’s unsatisfactory performance and omit unnecessary circumstances. Be prepared to lead by example, instructing your managers and supervisors to do likewise.
Allow the employee to explain the issue adversely affecting his performance and what he believes is the best remedy. However, never allow the employee to use his explanation to justify poor performance or blame co-workers.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Step 3
Step 4
Create and share benchmarks for the employee. Poor performance may be the result of many factors like poor time management, lack of priority management, inability to fully understand the task, job, or assignment, and inefficient or insufficient co-worker involvement. Develop a short, clear list of actions to correct the performance and have it available to share with the employee. To stimulate dialog, ask the employee how he feels about the goals and if he is confident of attaining each benchmark.
Reevaluate the employee performance regularly. You want to use the opportunity to make observations of the employee’s improvement or non-improvement. Do so in a positive way, regardless of whether the employee has shown growth. In the former, use the follow-up evaluation as a means of encouraging more growth; in the latter, emphasize the positive aspects, but include areas to improve.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
THE BARTENDER CARL HENRY Carl Henry is a 2nd generation bartender. Inspired by his father, who held the position of Barbados Top Bartender and who won the silver medal. With his skills, he travelled representing Barbados. Carl has been a bartender, mixologist for 14 years. He found his love for bar tending in the late 1990’s when he joined a hotel on the west coast. His competition career started the first week at the hotel as a bartending competition came up and his entry took 3rd place which lead him onwards in this career path. He had the opportunity to work at some of the finest hotels and restaurants on the island and also entered many competitions in Barbados, such as the 1999 Mount Gay Rum competition, the 2014 Stoli vodka competition which he placed 3rd and other in house competition at his workplaces. Carl has showcased his skills at the Hilton, Aqua, The Crane and on In Da Mix on CBC. He enjoys bringing joy and smiles to customers faces when they taste his creative cocktails. “A favorite drink that he enjoys making is rum punch; tourists always love it and its a favorite with hotel guests.” he says. “I have a fantastic chocolate martini in my repertoire as well as Claytons Gin and Tonic, and my signature cocktail: the Loud Cocktail and Beautiful Surprise. These drinks I create from my heart and soul and took me to a different level of creativity as I leant more about special garnishes during the process of creating these cocktails.” Carl also placed 3rd place in Food Wine and Rum 2104 His dream is to one day own his own small bar and restaurant, and will welcome everyone to come taste his specialty cocktails.
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BAJAN BAJAN SUN SUN MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
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DEC 2014 OCT 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
By Raeann Beckles
F
ounded by Richard Goddard (nTr) and Everton Holligan (Brother Heru) The Good Life Eco-Café and Bar began its journey to success. The Good Life Eco-Café and Bar specializes in vegan cuisine, coffee, and offer other products associated with living and enjoying a sustainable and fulfilling life. From the provision of herbal products, multivitamin and multi-mineral supplements, male and female clothing, jewelry, eco-friendly baby products, horseback rides, artwork, craft, jade eggs, reproductive enhancement products, protein powders, natural juices, smoothies, shakes, vegan and vegetarian food, to espressos, cappuccinos and other coffee based drinks along with a wide range of alcoholic beverages including wines, strong drinks and cocktails; The Good Life has it all.
among the brands available at The Good Life! But, what is the ‘Good Life’? The Good Life is an eco-café and bar whose mission is to provide a good, positive and uplifting experience for all of its customers. This eco-café is dedicated to providing high quality coffees, meals, and services while ensuring that it enhances the environment instead of damaging it.
LAVAZZA Grand Espresso Coffee, Kasimu Herbal Products, Megafood Supplements, Ecstasy In Motion jade eggs, EVOLVE clothing, Blakk Market Products clothing, Aweipo Gallery artwork and horseback riding by Ocean Echo Stables are 132
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Moreover, The Good Life, does a range of other things such as, promoting the use of eco-friendly cosmetics, food and clothing. As a way of enhancing the environment, The Good Life engages in recycling its waste, composting, using LED, fluorescent and low energy bulbs for its lighting, compostable and recyclable cups and containers, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, along with teaching and helping others to do the same.
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on the other areas.” But, like many business when starting up, The Good Life too faced some difficulties. “A major difficulty we found was that
The Good Life - How It All Began! “We had a vision of what was missing in our experience as we would seek to find places to offer foods and an environment that we would like and would be willing to support. Following that, we decided to craft our ideas and seek a place to implement them.” To provide an example of how a successful, sustainable business could be, with an emphasis on sustainability was the initial objective of The Good Life. Hence, the focus on vegan cuisine, Conscious Street wear e.g. “Brand EVOLVE”, and herbal and nutritional supplements by Healing Earth Life Products etc. Since its inception, The Good Life objectives has somewhat evolved. Today, Prioritization is key! “Prioritization, it is a balancing act much like a juggler where at any one time there may be a stronger focus on one element of the operation to the slowing down of other areas. As such there is more focus on creating and supporting the food and bar operations at this time with less emphasis
certain agencies requested things of us that had never been asked of the other three or four places that were using the space before us. Of course there is the additional challenges securing enough start up financing to allow us to effectively install our necessary infrastructure along with hiring high quality, efficient and effective staff.” Though faced with the usual difficulties of starting up, The Good Life persisted, and today The Good Life opens from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm every day. The kitchen is open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and the bar until you say when! The Good Life also has a shift system where they try to maintain at least one person for the bar and two people for the kitchen along with a floor manager who might at times have to double up as one of the kitchen staff or bar tenders.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE Q&A with The Good Life Team: Q: How do you drive customers to your business? A: Word of mouth has been our primary form of advertising. We also make extensive use of social media such as Facebook. We receive a number of international visitors through Trip Advisor as well as the 'happy cow' vegetarian website. Currently we are also in the “Barbados in a nut shell” publication and “Barbados like a local app”. Q: What are some of the challenges you face now? A: Organizational and time management. There’s always so much to do that there never appears to be enough time in the day to get it all done. Outside of that is patience, recognizing where we are currently while having the knowledge that we will continue to grow as long as we hold firm to our principles and perfect our core competencies.
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lime; Saturday are Bajan Rum Shop days with a focus on traditional Barbadian foods and drinks and Sundays are Sweets and Treats. Barbados is a fantastic place to live and work. Consistent and reliable utilities, highly trained and trainable staff, a wide range of food and food products available, sun, sea and sand. Given all of the above it is sometimes surprising that there isn't more investment or support in the development of sustainability industries, ecological industries, arts, and/or innovative industries. As such, I am hopeful that the movement towards a green economy will involve their active engagement and thus their growth.
Q: What makes your business competitive in the local market, i.e. what does your business offer that is special/different? A: No one else is doing what we are doing. Our foundation lies in the fact that we are a partnership of a sustainability professional and a holistic medicine practitioner. In general there is a dearth of locations in Barbados that specialise in vegetarian and/or vegan cuisine. Additionally it is difficult to find locations that actively seek to implement ecological practices in the organization from the types of cutlery used to the compostable cups, energy reduction lighting and so on. Add to that a focus on the use of high quality gourmet products, authentic Italian espresso, etc. in an easy going unpretentious environment, I am confident that once here most people will have a unique and enjoyable experience. Q: Anything else you would like to add? A: We also have entertainment. Wednesdays we focus on Roots, Rock and R&B; Thursdays hosts and Open Mic for the poets and spoken word artists on the island; Fridays hosts an after work www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
RUM SHOP TALK Recycling Rum Bottles required to melt the glass, make new bottles and then distribute the remade glass back to the bottler. In the not-to-distant past, CocaCola reused almost all of their bottles on the local level. Now you can hardly buy a Coke in a glass bottle. A growing number of US states and here in Barbados charge a deposit on beverage containers so why not save more energy and reuse the glass. I know that as consumers we don't go through as many rum bottles as commercial enterprises, while our popular Bars & Rum Shops see hundreds disposed of per week.
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n the islands it is a common practice to recycle beer bottles by returning them to the distributors where they are washed and re-used. Rum bottles however are thrown in the garbage. I recently had a discussion with a relatively small vodka producer in the US and suggested that if he would offer his customers the opportunity to recycle their bottles they would jump at the chance, especially in places like San Francisco where people are some of the most environmentally conscious in the country.
As consumers would you endorse a company that was trying to do the right thing in regards to the environment? Would you consider this, does this make sense to you?
If given the opportunity to recycle your empty rum bottles would you endorse the practice. By recycle I don't mean melting them down to make more glass but rather reusing them without wasting most of the energy
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
The Barbadian Rum Shop Early origins
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drinkers. It was estimated that each white male settler drank 26 gallons of rum a year, free blacks and coloured 20 gallons, and slaves 3 gallons. Presumably the difference in consumption depended on the amount of leisure available to each class of person.
Thomas Walduck, writing in 1708, noted the different thrusts of European colonization: the Spanish set up churches, the Dutch, trading stations, and the English, tippling houses. The name ‘tippling house’ was common in England from the sixteenth century to describe houses that sold intoxicating liquor. For example, an English Act of 1552 speaks in the preamble of ‘Common Ale-Houses and other houses called Tippling houses’. The tippling houses in Barbados were very popular and did a roaring trade in rum and other spirits that soon caught the attention and earned the disapproval of the authorities.
One early English Governor observed that ‘one English servant is worth two Barbadians, they are so much addicted to rum, that they will do little but while the bottle is at their nose’.
he origins of the rum shop might well be said to lie in the ‘tippling houses’ of the seventeenth century. These were a kind of tavern that sprang up in Bridgetown not long after the island was settled in 1627.
In the early days of Bridgetown there was a tavern for every twenty inhabitants. Indeed, the Parliament of Barbados, in the latter part of the seventeenth century, met occasionally in The Roebuck, a famous tavern in Roebuck Street. The early colonists were, by all accounts, hard
In 1652 an Act was passed by the Assembly ‘… prohibiting persons from keeping a common alehouse or tippling, selling any liquor of this country’s spirit to be drank in ye houses or plantations without license’. This was followed in 1654 by another Act to suppress the unlicensed rum shops. The problem was, from the authorities’ point of view, that the distillation and sale of rum was open to just about anyone who wanted to get into the business. The Assembly, however, wanted to bring the manufacture and sale of rum under the control of the big planters and merchants.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE In 1668 legislation was passed ‘…preventing the selling of Brandy and Rum in Tippling Houses near the Broad Paths and Highways within this Island’. It provided that ‘No persons within the Island, shall be permitted to keep any stills for Distilling of Rum, except such persons as have lands or canes of their own, or such as keep refineries. ’The 1668 law was intended not only to control the manufacture and sale of rum, but also to curb the disorderly behaviour that the tippling houses apparently encouraged. The preamble to the Act had this to say: ‘…intolerable hurts and troubles to this island do continually grow and increase through the multiplicity of such abuses and disorders as are daily had and used in unlicensed Tippling Houses… On the Sabbath days many lewd, lose and idle people do resort to such Tippling Houses,
DEC 2014
who by their drunkenness, swearing, and other miscarriages, do, in a very high nature, blaspheme the name of God, profane the Sabbath, and bring scandal upon the Christian religion”. Church and rum shop in conflict! In other words, officialdom, as usual, simply wanted to stop ordinary people having a good time. The planters and merchants could cavort in the privacy of their own homes – and cavort they did – but for the lower orders – whites, free coloured, black slaves and seamen – to engage in such conduct was deemed scandalous. Moreover, many of the tippling houses were owned by free coloured, a further cause for suppression. Nevertheless, despite all of these measures, the rum shops survived and even prospered, soon selling not only spirits but food and dry goods to their patrons.
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B U S I N E S S
DEC 2014
C L A S S I F I D S
Roses, Gift Baskets & More
Sundown Gym - Total Fitness Centre
OPENING HOURS Mon - Fri: 4:30 am - 9:00 pm Sat: 8:30 am - 9:00 pm Sun: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Lsj-Stylez caters to both natural and chemical clients providing services such as braiding, salon locking, weaving, relaxers, etc. I also offer services of eyelash extension and personalize styling. I'm a stylist with 10+ years in the industry and I am currently operating in Bridgetown. Contact information - 2328611 / 256-5076
Receiving a gift of fresh flowers is always a thrill and T’Amor Florist makes sending that excitement to your loved ones easier than ever before! We send flowers to any location island wide. Visit us online at: www.tamorflorist.webs.com or call: 4297784
Tudor Street Bridgetown, Barbados Tel: (246) 236-1105 Visit Sundown Gym on Facebook The inspiration behind the Daresqué
View Swimwear on Daresque’s facebook page, twitter and Instagram.
Boyceterous Cruises is one of the newest recreational vessels cruising the coastal waters of Barbados. Boyceterous Catamaran Cruises offers tours consisting of swimming with the turtles in the crystal clear waters of Barbados.
Contact Email: daresque@gmail.com
www.boyceterouscruises.com/
swimwear conceptualizes confidence in you as a woman and a personality that dares to stand to out. Dare to be risqué
At Debbie's Sweets N Treats we cater for everyone with our freshly baked cakes and pastries. We also produce vegetarian and gluten free sweet treats by order. If you have a small party or function we can cater for you. Remember you name it, we bake it! Find us on Facebook: Debbie’s Sweets N Treats
To book a reservation call us at 246.429.2228 or 246.256.7979. Email Us at boyceterous@gmail.com
At ROCKiT DeZigns it's all about fantastic Jewellery pieces that match your taste, p ersonality and sense of style. Our mission is to empower women. To give them a safe environment to learn about sexual health and to give them permission to know their bodies, strengthen their romantic relationships, and to encourage open communication with their healthcare providers. Visit Our Website: www.reapleasureproducts.com 142
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Strictly Bajan Rum Shop Tours Connecting Tourism with Barbadian Culture, Heritage and Traditions in one tour to our local village/rum shops.
Email: rockit.dezigns7@gmail.com Facebook: ROCKiTDeZigns Twitter: http://twitter.com/ ROCKiTDeZigns
Call (246) 844-7008 Email: strictlybajanrumshoptours@gmail.com www.bajanislandtours.com
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DEC 2014
Bajan dialect 101 B
ajan dialect is an iconic part of the Barbadian culture, and as such we thought you might be interested in learning a few key local sayings.
A ‘cutter’ is not a knife, but rather a type of sandwich using Bajan salt bread with various fillings, such as Cheese with pepper sauce, or baked ham (and pepper sauce), or flying fish , with cucumber and tomato etc. (and pepper sauce).
If someone asks you for a ‘scotch’ it’s not Johnnie Walker they’re requesting. This is a Bajan way of asking to sit next to someone: “Can I scotch there?” ‘Cheese on bread’ is not a lunch item, but rather a saying used to express your feelings when you can’t believe something has not happened or is not true “Cheese on bread man, why you don’t buy me a Banks beer?” A ‘leadpipe’ is not a type of construction material, but is actually a home-made local delicacy (somewhat like very stodgy cake). ‘Eass, wess, norf and sowf’ are the cardinal points of the compass and are used repeatedly while Bajans give directions. Listen out carefully! No matter what side of the island, you could still be told to go “down to the East coast”. Things being referred to as ‘scruffy’ or ‘ingrunt’ can actually be meant as a compliment: “You pants suit look scruffy denn!” ‘Skinning ya teeth’ is when you smile and ‘puting up ya face’ is when you look upset. ‘Doing the dawg’ does not mean impersonating a dog. This phrase is used when talking about someone celebrating excessively: “We did de dawg at that fete last night!” www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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As Bajan as a Bus Stop
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DEC 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
PRIVATE TUTORING English and Math Tutoring Course
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f your aim is to improve your aptitude and knowledge base in a particular field, all education pertaining to this subject will be useful. If this statement is assumed true, then the benefits afforded by private tuition are enormous. You will have the advantage of a whole teacher to yourself, with their lesson plans and strategies of teaching designed just for you! It seems impossible to doubt the enormous benefits this will offer. In a classroom, one teacher may be faced with approximately thirty pupils, each with different abilities, different rates of learning, and individual strengths and weaknesses. Yet despite this, for the majority of the lesson the teacher will be forced to treat his class as if it contained just one student. He or she will orate from one end of the classroom, unable to gauge how effectively each pupil is assimilating the lesson. The lesson plans will be designed to fit the needs of the average pupil; and the teacher will proceed at a rate suitable for the average pupil. In this environment it is all to easy for a bright child or adolescent to fail to grasp one particular point, as the swathe of teacher talk washes over them like the unrelenting tides. It is unlikely even the best of teachers would spot the particular point of misunderstanding cast on the countenance on one pupil, hidden amongst so many other faces. To draw attention to their lack of understanding can be intimidating for the pupil: everyone else is silent, so they must have understood. Do I want to draw attention to myself? All too often the misunderstanding goes unexpressed and unaided. The obvious benefit of one to one tuition is that the tutor can tailor their teaching style to the abilities of their student. They will be able to gauge the level of the pupils understanding, and, more importantly, track down the sources of misunderstanding, and deal with them effectively. Away from the bustle of the classroom, the student will feel more able to voice their difficulties; and having just one pupil to deal with, the teacher will be more capable of resolving them.
Other subjects available: POA and POB Subject: English/Mathematics/POA/POB Days: Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays
Package: Hours: 4-5pm and 5-6pm each day (Tue/Thur) Saturdays: 1-2pm, 2-3pm, 3-4pm, 4-5pm Cost per hour: $25 Cost per two hours: $40 If you, your child or anyone you know, require personal assistance in any of the above areas, then you've come to the right place/person. This course caters to children and adults alike. It's all about you or someone you know understanding, learning and moving forward to achieve their academic goals. Parents see below: 1. Parents are free to select the time/day best for their child. 2. This package is ideal for kids who need that additional push and help with understanding concepts etc. Creative tools (music/games/challenges/ other creative activities) will be used to ensure the child benefits/learns. 3. As we approach exams, the course is expected to intensify, focusing on pass papers, practice tests using exam conditions. Mentoring is also provided at this stage to ensure that the child is well prepared all-round for exam. 4. Should you (parent) require a copy of my CV, please feel free to request such. Upon reviewing my CV, you may see an area that you think your child can also benefit from. Please feel free to inform me of that area which will allow your child to gain even further knowledge/ skills.
Contact Information: Raeann Beckles at 1-246-844-7008 or raeann_beckles@yahoo.com
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
ENGAGING CHILDREN'S MINDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
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an’t the school be open until Christmas Eve? What am I going to do with these children?
Parenting handbooks are generic, each child is different, so don’t rely on them for the best way to keep your child busy in the holidays. Christmas holidays are the most hectic of the school breaks and the one where some parents are the least patient as they rush about preparing for the celebrations which cumulate with the New Year’s Eve parties. So if you don’t put the little darling in camp, you have to find a way to occupy them so they don’t get into mischief. Children are miniature adults; they like to be involved, so you can give them some chores that are safe for them. However, don’t let the cobwebs settle in their brains. We need them sharp when school resumes. Here are some tips to prevent the memory lapses teachers’ encounter after holidays. Be mindful of the comment on the school report – ask questions of the child’s teacher to ascertain the best way to strengthen a skill or boost required knowledge.
Nothing boosts a child’s self-esteem like having something they made on display. Print Christmas ornaments onto card, have children color or paint them and decorate with colored sea sand, glitter or sequins. In these economic times these decorations are not only practical but surely quite special. Family members can share the responsibility of babysitting by making decorations and taking road trips. Make the time to see new places, plan picnics, let the child help you choose and make the foods you take. Try your best not to let the television, laptop or tablet babysit the child. There is no substitute for positive interaction between family members.
by Deborah M. Mc Collin
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
The children would certainly enjoy seeing the Christmas lights. Take them all over the country, let them see the lights at different roundabouts, homes etc. Talk to them, get their opinions, and discuss which lights look the best and why. This is an activity that fosters Composition writing as well as Comprehension skills. The child can make a record of roundabouts with Christmas lights, houses etc., they can discuss which has more or less, here comes Mathematics. Where possible take photos, document the experiences and these can accompany the child to school either printed, on a disc or flask drive. The child can then talk to the class about the excitement of the holiday. He/she will be quite excited to talk about their experiences and the teacher will be quite pleased, “I stayed at home and played with my toys or watched television” is the most boring thing a child can say for the Weekend or Holiday news lesson at school. Yes it’s a lot to ask you to do, but ask yourself this, which is more important quality time with the children and family or decorating the house expensively to impress the neighbors and friends that will come over just to see your purchases? Christmas is for children, ensure a happy and educational holiday for them, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Deborah M. Mc Collin is a Graduate Teacher with 17 years’ experience, a Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology with Social Work and a Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Erdiston Teachers’ Training College.
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BAJAN SUN SUN MAGAZINE MAGAZINE BAJAN
OCT2014 2014 DEC
Musical Youth By Joanne C. Hillouse
M
usical Youth by Antiguan and Barbudan author,
Musical Youth is a beautifully crafted novel with the
Joanne C. Hillhouse is now available on Amazon
leitmotiv of music running throughout it. This is a powerful
in print and kindle formats.
and credible story of young love between two likeable
Just in time for the holiday season, CaribbeanReads is
heroes.”—CODE, Sponsors of the Burt Award for
pleased to announce the launch of the award-winning
Caribbean Literature.
young adult book Musical Youth by Antiguan and
Musical Youth‘s author, Joanne C. Hillhouse is the
Barbudan author Joanne C. Hillhouse.
Antiguan and Barbudan author of The Boy from Willow
This book, which placed second in the 2014 Burt Award for
Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Fish Outta Water,
Caribbean Literature, follows one eventful and music-filled
and Oh Gad! Her fiction, non-fiction and poetry have been
summer in the life of a group of Antiguan teenagers.
published in various international journals and anthologies.
Guitarist Zahara and Shaka, a musical genius find love and
Joanne lives in Antigua and from there she freelances
face many challenges as they take part in a theatrical
across borders as a writer, editor, and writing coach; and
production that they must get right by the end of the
runs the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize writing programme to
summer.
nurture and showcase the literary arts. Read more about
Can one summer make the difference of a lifetime?
Joanne’s
Zahara is a loner. She’s brilliant on the guitar but in
jhohadli.wordpress.com
everyday life she doesn’t really fit in. Then she meets
Cover Illustration by Antiguan and Barbudan artist Glenroy
Shaka, himself a musical genius and the first boy who
Aaron.
really gets her. They discover that they share a special
The Burt Award for Caribbean Literature is administered
bond, their passion for music, and Zahara finds herself a
by CODE, a Canadian NGO with 55 years of experience
part, not just of Shaka’s life, but also that of his boys, the
supporting literacy and learning in Canada and around the
Lion Crew.
world. As a second place winner of this award, Musical
When they all get roles in a summer musical, Zahara,
Youth will be distributed throughout the Caribbean to
Shaka, and the rest of the Lion Crew use the opportunity to
libraries and similar learning institutions. In addition,
work on a secret project. But the Crew gets much more than
CODE supports professional development of writers and
they bargained for when they uncover a dark secret linking
libraries. One of the first events connected to Musical
Shaka and Zahara’s families and they’re forced to confront
Youth will be a free workshop for adult and teen writers
some uncomfortable truths about class, colour, and
this November in Antigua.
work
at
wadadlipen.wordpress.com
and
relationships on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Musical Youth placed second in the 2014 Burt Award for
Musical Youth is the third of five books being published by
Caribbean Literature sponsored by CODE.
CaribbeanReads in the second half of 2014
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
MACO, TOUTE BAGAI CELEBRATE 15 YEARS OF PUBLISHING
M
ACO - A leading Caribbean publishing
By 2008, TBP produced a staple of publications,
company stays the course with its expansion
including Destinations Magazine, one of the more
plans as it approaches a major milestone in the face of a
successful publications to date being churned out of the
global decline in the print publishing industry.
publishing house, along with architectural coffee table
With magazines disappearing, the Trinidad and Tobago
volumes and children's books.
-based Toute Bagai Publishing (TBP), along with its
Soodeen launched a Caribbean travel portal in 2010,
founder Neysha Soodeen, is celebrating its 15th year
promoting the best of the best Caribbean destinations,
anniversary with its flagship MACO Caribbean Living.
and pushing the company into a new but much needed
Launched in 1999, the magazine, the epitome of
digital space.
Caribbean lifestyle showcasing architecture, design, art,
It is a credit to Soodeen's perseverance that TBP has
food and travel, was the first Caribbean-produced
not folded like several other publishing houses across
publication to be retailed internationally, reaching 58
the globe.
countries and receiving numerous international design
"The publishing industry in the region has always been
and printing awards.
somewhat fickle, with magazines at the top of the
"In the 1990s, there simply weren't any publications
pyramid being the most vulnerable," she said.
showcasing Caribbean lifestyle in a manner which
"When I launched MACO, Caribbean advertisers were
international readers would find appealing. I wanted to
not used to spending that kind of money on one
showcase the sophisticated side of Caribbean living as
publication. I remember clients telling me that a page in
it seemed the world had an obscure perception of how
MACO equated to their annual budget for newsprint. It
we in the islands lived, ate and played," the Trinidad-
was therefore a learning experience and a successful
born publisher recalled.
accomplishment to now have a variety of different
While the first issue of MACO Caribbean Living is
magazines attracting advertisers from across many
similar to the present magazine 15 years later, the
different industries," she commented.
company has stuck to its tried and tested formula of
TBP produces numerous publications across the region
maintaining a professional product.
for companies such as Sandals Resorts International,
"The look and feel of the magazine are largely the
the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and
same. However we have consistently updated and
Communications in Trinidad and Tobago, and the
upgraded our paper stock, and design style to keep up
Caribbean Export Development Agency.
with international trends," she reported.
For
further
information,
visit
www.macocaribbean.com. 152
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Christmas Seduction © MariposaƸ̵̡ӜƷ ̵̨̄ 2014
T
he kitchen was filled with a mixture of aromas guaranteed to satisfy the olfactory system and please the stomach. The menu was simple but it yelled Christmas quite loudly. Jug-jug, baked turkey, roasted pork, a honey glazed ham complete with pineapple and cherries ,green peas and rice, tossed salad, steamed veggies and AJ’s favorite; sweet potato pie. On the dining room table was an artful display of golden apples and cinnamon sticks. Wine glasses were in the freezer while the moscato, puncha crème and sorrel chilled, she even had brandy, after all he was a man with
impeccable taste. The scent of Christmas was rich, masking her fear of his reaction. This was the home of Sade Hope, beautiful single writer who at this time was a nervous wreck. She was planning a special surprise for her boyfriend AJ but the thing was to get him there. She concocted a story about wanting holes drilled so she could install new curtains in the living room, the true gentleman he is, he obliged. A normal person won’t see the problem but you see, AJ hated lies of any kind hence her apprehension.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE She walked slowly through the living room admiring her handiwork; she had decorated using glittery red, white and green candles on beds of pine leaves, the scent was heavenly, the soft flickering flames created an atmosphere of calm and romance. Music softly played the female voice singing of exactly what she wanted with AJ, the playlist was a masterpiece of pure seduction, one could say she scripted the entire evening. AJ was not one to talk about himself so she had to make mental notes while he spoke about foods and drinks he liked, she prayed that dinner pleased him and the lie would be forgiven. Throwing caution to the wind she cooked. The house and food was not the only thing she took time with, her hair was freshly done, tumbling in an ebony wave from under a Santa hat that was perched at a jaunty angle on her head, coming dangerously over one eye. Santa definitely had her on the naughty list but she didn’t care. Her body was draped in a gorgeous white dress that made her appear anything but virginal especially the way it contrasted with her mocha colored skin. Her make-up was almost natural except the bright red lipstick on her full lips. The red heels she wore were a touch of Passion and Seduction that no man in his right mind could resist. At precisely 7:30pm the doorbell rang, Sade took one last look in the mirror over the sofa and sent herself a kiss good luck, then slowly walked to the door. She opened
DEC 2014
it; there he was, breathtakingly handsome. smiling holding an electric drill in his left hand quietly taking in the scene before him. “Apparently I am at the wrong house, I was asked to come drill some holes so my girlfriend could install the new curtains in the living room, I guess the lady lied.” Sade barely heard him, she was taking in the view, he was a vision of male awesomeness, black muscle shirt, black jeans, and the way he held the drill made his arm muscles bulge, his waist tapering into the top of the jeans where she knew his amazing secret was hidden. She inhaled his scent, suddenly forgetting the scents in her own home, his was divine. Coquettishly she stretched up to him, wrapping her arms round his neck, kissing him as she spoke ”Baby, I am sorry I lied but I wanted to surprise you , do you forgive me?” He put the drill down and moved past her, he looked at the decorations she made, went into the kitchen, saw the lavish spread she prepared. Then looked at her, standing before him dressed to tease and seduce him. “You know how I feel about being lied to”, her heart sank, and he walked out the front door. Her eyes started to fill with tears and she slowly walked to the door. He put the drill in the car and walked to the driver’s side of the car. Her heart sank, leaving the door open she turned away, she didn’t want to see him drive away.
She was so upset; she didn’t hear him return to the door. She heard a noise, looked up and saw him, carrying a huge picnic basket in one hand and an obviously chilled bottle of her favorite moscato in the other. Grinning at her he asked, “So baby, what will we do with all this food?”
© MariposaƸӜ ̵̡ ̵̨̄Ʒ 2014
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
POETRY SAD CHRISTMAS / HAPPY CHRISTMAS Ho,Ho,Ho,Ho
Christmas day.
Merry Christmas, Merry Merry Christmas
For even if I am not lucky
What's so merry about this day
I know that I have tried
When nothing ever seems to go right
Not to spread cheer
Nothing ever happens or comes your way
But to save yuletide So hope my words won't fall short
Tis the day for us to give love
And on death ears make me mad
But to whom shall we give
Because I am hoping this will change
When all we get is heartaches
And not make my Christmas Sad.
Life never is what we expect Full of misery and neglect
Have a Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy new Year
Santa suppose to bring joys and give gifts But heartaches!........ why?
Written and copyrighted by
It wasn't meant to be like this
Carter, Poet and Author of ,“Poetry a way
For we all need love, companionship
of Life”.
Trust, honesty and faithfulness So back on my knees My head in my Hands I shall pray Just a few extra words this time I will say
And I hope that this will save my www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
Ainsley
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
POETRY I stop and stare while culture sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiides down societal cracks. Desperate, I snatch air with clawed fingernails, digging trenches where villages were … Where values were…. Where neighbours were neighbours and looked out for you, Even though they were gipsy and always wanting to know your business. Most of the time you could still go and borrow something you needed, Knowing that, when their time came, they would borrow something from you in return. I stop and stare – I scream! – as Bajan ways go the way of the dodo, Slowly becoming extinct as the natural Bajan landscape Gets bought over by foreign investments And as cooking rice and peas, chicken and macaroni pie Is replaced by going to Super Centre on Sunday (oops … now Massy) and buying ready done meals; Where my children rather buy chicken and chips than eat pudding and souse, And where we hear Jingle Bells ring out loooooooooooooooong Before military shouts on the Independence Day Parade.
DEC 2014
JUST WATCHING (Which, by the way, is being held this year in December… wha’ de bird!) You would think that, at 48, our country would have a stronger sense of self, But, we are still picking others’ traditions off the used section - the clearance shelf And trying them on for size before going out Trick or Treating. I stop and stare in horror as Bajan’s friendly faces turn sour Wondering where the next meal will come from, Slicing thick loaves of nothing from the breadline… As we struggle to stand under the strain of financial burden. And, I wonder why – at almost a half century of age – Barbados is still paying homage to England’s Queen… Isn’t this yet seen as repugnant? But all is not lost - Bajans are still resilient Though we have the reputation of standing silent When others would be more vocal - would scream out. We still are hardworking, broad shouldered, Enduring to build a better tomorrow. Written by Robert Gibson
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
M
iona Avenue - an amalgamation of the first and middle names of Founder and CEO ‘Malissa Fiona’, has been in operation for a total of eight months. As Malissa explains, “this brand metaphorically represents an ‘Avenue’ or outlet for creativity.” Having transitioned from producing and creating posters, tickets and other artwork for individuals on a small scale, as a source of additional income with her full time job; Malissa embarked upon this path with greater commitment from April 2014.
DEC 2014
conceptualizations and helping plan promotional campaigns.” What is more is that having acquired her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management, which she identified as her favourite area of study; coupled with the fact that she is a designer and writer, Malissa sees this area as a pretty good fit. Moreover, though a registered sole proprietorship Malissa has found it necessary to form strategic alliances with other small businesses. As she explains “these strategic alliances offers prospective clients the convenience of having their design, printing and marketing needs met in one place.” Being a very wise entrepreneur, Malissa also surrounds herself by a network of creative individuals with various abilities, who are on hand when collaborative projects arise. In her words “The main thing is to get the job done.”
Design and Integrated Marketing Communications encapsulates the type of business services Miona Avenue provides. From logo design, illustrations, business cards, flyers, posters, print and digital design, to teeshirt design, product and vehicle branding, feather banners, signage, rebranding of businesses and more, Miona Avenue does it all. As Malissa says: “as the requests come in we draw upon our creative forces and facilitate them. On the marketing end, I have facilitated several unique projects including growing client portfolios in other sectors, managing social media pages, business name and brand www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE Q&A with Malissa of Miona Avenue: Q: What are some of your achievements within your business? A: My greatest achievements come in the form of self-fulfillment and self-development. I’ve been a
DEC 2014
otherwise. If things get too hectic, you implement greater time management initiatives or get assistance. If business is slow, you get out on the road and network because as a startup you need to take your business to people. When you’ve done all you can and nothing happens, then there’s a real challenge. But I have not done all I can as yet. I also had a limiting belief that all established companies preferred to work with similar organizations, until some of their projects were outsourced to my business, dispelling this notion. If you build positive relationships, have a good work ethic and produce quality work, anyone will work with you. Q: How have you dealt with your business challenges or how do you propose to deal with those challenges?
creator long before I’ve been an entrepreneur and it’s gratifying when your work and passions mesh. I also wear various hats in Miona Avenue and it works for me because I don’t like confinement. One of my favourite projects to date has been the creation of a Female Condom Comic Strip, sponsored by the HIV/AIDS Commission, J.D.R Research Solutions and the Listen Charity. The comic will bring much needed awareness to the ‘Femidom’ and female empowerment and sensuality are also two topics very dear to me. I look forward to its launch via print media and on social media. I’m just glad to be a part of such wonderful initiatives.
A: In future I plan to enlist the help of a suitable teammate, who can take up the mantel and ensure that Miona Avenue functions even if I am not present. Although I have my creative network on hand, it’s not the same as having someone who is working with you towards a common goal and will be looking to remedy this in the next phase.
Q: What would you say are some of your greatest challenges as an entrepreneur?
A: I wouldn’t call them challenges per say, but necessary learning curves one must go through in order to grow in business; or www.bajansunonline.com/MAGAZINE/ | info@bajansunonline.com | @BajanSunOnline
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A
modern day love story that surely challenges the perception of adult relationships – two people from completely different walks of life connect. Rosalie A single mother, Rosalie was recently laid-off from her job and needed to find some source of income. Her first love, writing, quickly became a focal point for her and on the advice of her thirteen year old daughter she joined the Artista Network and entered the Poets’ Rendezvous.
DEC 2014
had been advised, by his students no less, to troll the social media, especially Artista Network and get a feel for the many poetry groups and their activities. He signed into the first poetry group he came upon – The Poets’ Rendezvous, what he found there would prove to send him off kilter for quite some time.
Virtuālis is a journey of two souls, a cry for solace and love; a conversation of the heart which is freely expressed and interestingly painted with the poetic words of two artists.
With much hesitation, she posted a poem and waited. What she found in her inbox was totally unexpected. DeCarlo A professor of Black American Literature had recently lost his only son in a tragic biking accident. He buried himself in his work and his research for his new book. He
“And what would the world say when they see it?” “What could they say but – Romeo and Juliet.” “But you do know that they both died in the end?”
©Cher Corbin 2014
BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
OCT 2014
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
By Raeann Beckles …If We Can Do It, We Will…
F
Signature Imagery’s Founder Shaun has been passionate about photography for six years but only took it seriously
rom Landscapes, and Models to Events and Cars -
over the past year. Now he enjoys taking in the difference
Signature Imagery captures it all. Being in opera-
in how life portrays itself each day, as you always see
tion for just six months, Signature Imagery is poised for
something different or meet someone new. When asked:
success with their fantastic images. Spearheaded by
‘what inspired the name Signature Imagery?’ Shaun stat-
Founder Alston Shaun Graham, and Creative Director/
ed: “the name Signature Imagery came about when I was
Make-up Artist Donn Warde; Signature Imagery has a vi-
looking for names for my business and I asked myself
sion to show the world what Barbados has to offer. Yet
what would best describe what I will be doing and I said
still make its customers happy with the work they produce
to myself ‘Signature’. Signature because I wanted to leave
for them. A happy customer means great business!
my mark on great things in the business and well Imagery just happened to fit in at the right moment.”
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OCT 2014 DEC 2014
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
In the next five years, much can be expected of this brand, as Signature Imagery plans to increase their team of photographers, videographers and possibly bring a graphic artist on board. A studio is also in the plans for Signature Imagery as well as to ensure that this brand is very well-known.
Q&A with Shaun of Signature Imagery: Q: What types of events/activities/models does Signature Imagery usually photograph? A: We do any events that we are privileged to be invited to do. Our Biggest event so far has been the Miss Big and Beautiful show and we look forward to doing many more events. We also did some shooting
DEC 2014
for the Strictly Bajan Rum Shop Tours and we look forward to more of those as well. We do any kind of models really, we do not discriminate against anyone. If we can do it how you want it, we will. We also did a fashion photo-shoot for Rustik the clothes store. We have also done some business promoting for Touch of Eden Spa. No matter the type of photography if we can do it, we will. Q: What gives photographers?
you
the
edge
over
other
A: I would have to say my personality and ability to make people feel comfortable and happy about the work being done.
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BAJAN SUN MAGAZINE
DEC 2014
Q: What do you look for when setting up a frame or about to take a photo? A: Firstly, I look at what position would best be for the shot for lighting purposes or background. Then, I would look for anything out of place after the models has been positioned, the smallest of things can ruin a shot sometimes.
Q: Is there a secret to good photography? A: If there is a Secret it would have to be hard work and lots of practice never believe you know it; instead learn it and practice it. Q: What would you say to young aspiring photographers? A: If it is your passion do not let anyone deter you from it. Take your time and practice a lot. People may have bad things to say but, always work to do better. If you can see a difference from what you first started to now, then you would have grown and lastly always keep a level of humility!
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