facebook.com/dazzlethemag
Junior Achievement Our Stories of Success ‘Don’t Judge Me by the Colour of My Skin’ Breaking Boundaries: the amazing art of
Kimberly Solana
Feel the Riddim, Catch the Vibez
Miguel ‘Migz’ Joseph
Issue 14
‘Know where you are, and where you want to get to’
Kurt Elibox Corniel Lionel
Blazing the tracks! How to Get Your Site Top Spot in Search Results Should you do a business plan?
Try me!
6 Reasons you Should Upgrade to Windows 10
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D
uring the last week of September, I travelled to Barbados together with two young Saint Lucian entrepreneurs, namely Mandisa Morrison, managing director of Shoe Rehab, and Monetta Wislon, the managing director of Sayana Yoga. We embarked on this journey on behalf of the Saint Lucia Youth Business Trust accompanied by Titus Preville, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Chris Husbands and Agnella Joseph, the chairman and the program coordinator of Junior Achievement Saint Lucia respectively. It was definitely an inspiring experience. I was able to meet and network with other regional entrepreneurs who market different products and services but share a similar drive and passion for entrepreneurship. I also had the opportunity to share my entrepreneurial experience with the audience at the summit. I emphasized that doing business is not as easy as it may seem and one needs to be focused and dedicated in order for their business to survive. Young entrepreneurs also need mentorship from people who have succeeded in business. Grant funding should also be readily available to help them develop and grow their business. As long Dazzle Magazine exists, we will continue to feature inspiring young Saint Lucian entrepreneurs and professionals. They play an important role in the country’s economic development. By investing their time, energy and resources – and their passion – into creating new businesses they are helping to expand the economy, generate new wealth and create social change. All too often, because of their hard work and commitment to product and service innovation, they are helping to bring about positive changes in the way we live and work, and do business. Last but not least, they contribute to the development of their communities and they nuture and inspire other like-minded individuals who also dream of starting their own business. With that said, I wish you happy reading and hope you enjoy yet another great issue of Dazzle Magazine. Please remember to ‘Like’ us on Facebook (fb.com/ dazzlethemag) and feel free to leave feedback on our website (www.dazzlethemag.com). Rankin Morgan Publisher/Managing Editor
Dazzle Magazine is a new and dynamic Saint Lucian bi-monthly publication that provides much-needed exposure to young professionals and entrepreneurs, and established businesses. It covers an array of topics and categories key to starting and running a business. It also offers practical advice on everyday living, tips for a healthy lifestyle and interviews with popular and up-and-coming personalities. Dazzle Magazine is designed to appeal to a diverse range of readers but is especially targeted at working professionals and business owners between the ages of 21-50 years. We provide our advertising clients with value for money by offering them a powerful medium to market their products, offer deals and build their brand. Best of all, we give them the opportunity to be a part of a nationwide and online marketplace of actively engaged consumers who are ready to buy, all at an affordable price. To advertise in Dazzle Magazine, contact our sales agent via telephone (758) 452 0123 or email advertising@dazzlethemag.com for more information and terms and conditions.
table of
contents Features
14. Corniel Lionel - Blazing the Tracks 22. Kimberly ‘8ttava’ Solana - Breaking Boundaries: the amazing art 32. Kurt Elibox - ‘Know where you are, and where you want to get’ 42. Miguel ‘Migz’ Joseph - Feel the Riddim Catch the Vibez
The 411
12. Junior Achievement - Our Stories of Success 38. One Music One Medium One Drop 40. Don’t Judge Me by the Colour of My Skin
Professional Progress
20. Should you do a Business Plan?
Mastering Marketing
26. How to Get Your Site Top Spot in Search Results
Health & Fitness
Publisher Rankin Morgan Editor Tony Williams Sales & Marketing Alana M.I Morgan Art Director Aldrin Henry Contributors David E.M. Du Boulay Phoebe Fraites Dahna Jn Charles Gary S. Jules Ashley Mc Lean Alana Morgan Rankin Morgan Leila Williams Sporte Avis Photography Omar Frederick Aldrin Henry Ashley Mc Lean Rankin Morgan
11. 10 Hydrating Foods
Lifestyle
25. Necklesses for the Neck Line 45. Wineknowledge
Gadget & Gizmos
30. 6 Reasons you Should Upgrade to Windows 10
Eating In
46. Green Figs & Saltfish
Out & About
48. Out & About
Instagram 50. BLISS
facebook.com/dazzlethemag
Junior Achievement Our Stories of Success ‘Don’t Judge Me by the Colour of My Skin’ Breaking Boundaries: the amazing art of
Kimberly Solana
Feel the Riddim, Catch the Vibez
Miguel ‘Migz’ Joseph
Issue 14
‘Know where you are, and where you want to get to’
Kurt Elibox Corniel Lionel
Blazing the tracks! How to Get Your Site Top Spot in Search Results Should you do a business plan?
Try me!
6 Reasons you Should Upgrade to Windows 10
On the Cover Kurt Elibox
contact us
For more information visit us at www.dazzlethemag.com or call us at 758.452.0123
14 32
22 42
//Feature
Kurt Elibox ‘Know where you are, and where you want to get to’ pg. 32
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//Feature
CORNIEL LIONEL Blazing the tracks! pg. 14
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10 Hydrating //Feature
lemon
90
Foods
%+Water
lettuce
96
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coconutwater
99
%water cellery
95
%water lime
90
%+water
starfruit
92
%water
watermelon
96
%water
cucumber
96
%water
grapefruit
90
%
water
tomatoes
94.5
%water
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DAZZLE 11
Our Stories of Success
J
unior Achievement St. Lucia held its 19th Annual Awards ceremony on September 17, 2015 under the distinguished patronage of Her Excellency Governor General Dame Pearlette Lousiy. The theme of the celebration was “Promoting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship among the Youth.” Recognition was given to primary and secondary schools that participated in the programme for the year 2014/2015. The ceremony climaxed with a presentation of awards to participants of the Company Programme. This programme allows secondary school students to establish and operate a company within an allotted timeframe, using capital from the sale of shares to finance their operations. 12 DAZZLE
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The recipients of the individual awards were: National Achiever of the Year 2014/2015 1st place - Keeghan Patrick of St Mary’s College 2nd place - Valerie Baptiste of Choiseul Secondary School 3rd place - R’ Monty Regis of Soufriere Comprehensive School. The Sales Person of the Year is Kamaliah Monroque of JA Xpress Designs from Babonneau Secondary School.
Company Awards were presented to: Best Attendance - JA Xpress Designz of the Babonneau Secondary School Best Records - Tie Dazzle of the Choiseul Secondary School Highest Return on Investment - Gem Papier of the George Charles Secondary School Governor General’s Award for Innovation, Originality and Creativity - Gem Papier of the George Charles Secondary School The Company of the Year 2014/2015 was also awarded to GEM Papier of George Charles Secondary. Tie Dazzle of Choiseul Secondary School placed second and the third-place winner was JA Xpress Designz of Babonneau Secondary. Managing Director of RJB Hotel Supplies, Mr. Rick John Bernard was the featured guest speaker of the event. He shared his experience on becoming an entrepreneur, providing inspiration to the students.
present were the Minister of Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs, Emma Hippoylte, and Dr. Robert Lewis, Minister of Education, Human Resource Development & Labor. This year’s ceremony was included in the calendar of activities for Business Month, an initiative of the Ministry of Commerce.
He assured them that, “Having a dream, hard work, determination, passion and staying focused brings about lasting rewards”.
Junior Achievement St. Lucia congratulates all the participants and encourages them to continue developing their entrepreneurial spirit.
This year’s awards ceremony was attended by principals, teachers, students of infant, primary, and secondary schools, along with specially invited guests from the private and public sector. Notably
As we prepare for the start-up activities which signifies the commencement of the new business year, please call or email us at 452-5995 or jaslu@candw.lc to find out how you could partner with JA St. Lucia.
www.dazzlethemag.com
DAZZLE 13
By Sporte Avis
M
ost young athletes grow up emulating a hero of their sport, aspiring to be as good as them. Our next sports feature, Corniel Lionel, never aspired to be as good as them; he aspires to be better! Raised in Marisule, Corniel developed a love for track from a young age, and has since gone to enjoy many successes in the sport. He recalls the thrill of the yearly Inter Secondary School Championships, and its contribution to honing his talent as a student of the Entrepot Secondary School. The Championships fueled great rivalry, heartbreaking disappointment, and it encouraged the building of lifelong friendships. The rivalry in particular, infused a great sense of pride and a love for competition at the Secondary School level, something which our sports feature alludes to. Corniel, or Jessie as he is widely known (His name is actually ‘Jaycee’), presently attends the Abilene Christian University (ACU), where he is pursuing a degree in Communications. As a student athlete, Corniel takes great interest in the ‘student’ aspect of the phrase. The opportunity to receive a university education is something which had always worked towards, and was extremely grateful that his athletic ability led to the realization of that dream. For him, educational is an integral part of self-development, and he sees it as vital in opening doors for young people such as him.
‘I came here firstly to get an education, and then to compete. For now, my studies take priority.’ At present, Corniel’s roommate is another rising star in St Lucia Athletics, in the person of Rosen Daniel. He credits Rosen’s presence as a contributing factor in helping him remain grounded and focused. Corniel and Rosen’s friendship dates back to the Secondary School circuit, and they continue to inspire each 14 DAZZLE
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other at school. The assortment of local dishes which is often cooked up by the two athletes is an added bonus. Corniel chuckled when he revealed that they enjoy most when they cook ‘dumplings.’ A career in the culinary arts after track possibly? Don’t count that out! Corniel points at the training techniques as one of the main differences between his sport in St Lucia and the United States. It must be acknowledged that the United States is miles ahead of St Lucia in terms of sports development, as there is a substantial amount of money being pumped into the development of athletes and sporting infrastructure. However, the differences in the training techniques are something which local sports clubs and athletes can improve on. ‘In the US, training often consists of foundation, circuits, gym work and running. It is not so indepth in St Lucia, as most training sessions involve just running.’ On April 18th 2015, Corniel lined up against some of the best young Athletes in the United States, at the John Jacobs Invitational in Oklahoma.He ran a brilliant 200m race, setting a new national record of 20.63 seconds in the process. When asked how he felt after breaking the record, he recalls the events leading up to the milestone. ‘I was speaking with Lennie Leonce before the meet, and we were joking about the possibility of breaking the record, Amazingly, I went out to compete and that is exactly what happened.’ Despite his achievements so far, Corniel has remained humble, and acknowledges that he still has much work
fun facts Favorite snack: Chips ahoy Pepsi or Coke: Neither, I don’t drink soda. Song that describes life: Wiz Khalifa- ‘Work hard, play hard’ If you could go anywhere in a time machine, where would it be? 3 or 4 years into the future, to see who I’d marry!
to do to improve. He takes pride in representing St Lucia and credits the support of the nation for keeping him grounded. For him, young athletes should aspire to represent their country at the highest level. ‘I am aware of the support at home, and it makes me really proud to represent. I enjoy it especially because of the feedback which I receive.’ In 2015, Corniel was shortlisted for the Sportsman of the Year award at the National Sports Awards efforts in track during the 2014/2015 season. His nomination had been on the back of a string of consistent performances at meets across the United States. Although he eventually lost out to Darren Sammy for the award, he remains upbeat about the possibility of capturing the coveted award in the future. ‘If I become fortunate enough to win the award in future, I will dedicate in to God. He has always been there for me, even during my toughest times.’ Corniel’s career so far hasn’t been without its share of challenges. According to him, his biggest challenge is in trying to motivate himself. He remains thankful for the few people in his life who have always been there to motivate him. His mother Cornielia Jn Baptiste, Aunt Naomi Jn Baptiste, cousin Phillipa, grandfather ‘Joey’, Dorothy Odlum and Miller Charles form part of his motivational circle. While qualifying for the Olympic Games is high up on his list of short term goals, Corniel looks forward to becoming his grandfather’s first grandchild to obtain a University degree. In the long term, he hopes to continue excelling for St Lucia on the International scene. He eventually hopes to acquire his own business when he hangs up his track boots. Corniel is of the opinion that track in St Lucia is not where it should be, and aired a few suggestions on how the sport can be improved to benefit as many young people as possible. ‘We are in need of better training programmes in St Lucia, especially within our schools. Public and Private sector partnerships are also vital in sustaining and improving the sport. Most importantly, every stakeholder needs to take some level of responsibility for improving the sport, instead of constantly relying on the authorities.’ It is clear that in Corniel, we have a young athlete capable of representing St Lucia with distinction, for years to come. We salute him on his achievements thus far, and encourage him to keep striving to accomplish his goals. www.dazzlethemag.com DAZZLE 15
//Feature
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CHANNEL LETTERS 3D LETTERS BILLBOARDS VEHICLE WRAPS PYLON SIGNS LIT/ NON LIT SIGNS DIRECTORIES SEAMLESS WRAPS BANNERS BUS SHELTERS LED SIGNS DISPLAYS (PULL-UPS STANDS) FLAGS/ TABLE CLOTHS FEATHER BANNERS FE TENTS / UMBRELLAS ENGRAVING STANDIES POSTERS/ FLYERS NUMBER PLATES NAME TAGS LIT/ NON LIT FRAMES EXTRUSION FRAMES BUMPER STICKERS/ LABELS PROMOTIONAL ITEMS (PENS, PENCILS, OPENERS, MIRRORS) GRAPHIC DESIGNS
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DAZZLE 19
Should you do a Business Plan? By Stacia Howard
W
e’ve all been taught that when we’re starting out, we should develop a business plan for our company. I’m sure when you started your business you spent countless hours working on yours. But have you looked back at it? Does it really form part of your day-to-day management and strategic planning?
I doubt it. Don’t feel guilty. You’re not alone. I’ve spoken to loads of successful small business owners who haven’t given their business plan a passing thought in years; some have never even done one. That doesn’t mean they aren’t useful, just that they aren’t used properly. I’ve noted below a few suggestions on when to develop a business plan, and when to forget it.
When to develop a business plan When you’re seeking financing. Let’s face it, lenders and other financiers need business plans. I don’t think there’s a single lender in St. Lucia that does not ask for a business plan. If they don’t specify it, they create an application form that requires most of the business plan elements. Obviously, the most crucial part of your plan when you’re talking to lenders is your financial 20 DAZZLE
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projections. So get that part looked over by a professional financial advisor. When you’re hiring staff. This may seem a bit odd, so let me explain. Many people hire their first team members based on necessity; i.e. they’ve reached a stage in their business when they know they need additional help. They look at everything that they need help with and create a position to fill that gap. This works fine in the short term. But over time you’re overwhelmed again. A better approach would have been to develop a business plan (or look back at the one you already have) and determine what skills you will need to have on your team to achieve your goals. If any of those skills are needed today, fill that position first, even if you know the role will need to evolve over time. The added benefit is that when you present your plan to potential lenders, the Team section would be strong.
To help you plan. The main benefit of a business plan is to help with strategic planning. Developing all of the sections should help you align your vision of your business with the practical steps you will need to take to get there. Some people don’t need a business plan to do this. But in my experience most new business owners need a structure to help them create a cohesive strategy.
When not to develop a business plan When you’re first testing your business idea. Too many of us create business plans before we’ve figured out if our product/service is even marketable. This is a huge waste of time. Why would you spend hours, and sometimes money, developing a plan for something that no one wants to buy? It may seem obvious, but
for most new business owners it’s not. Many people create business plans before they’ve figured out if there is a market for their idea. Don’t do it. Test your idea first. Not only will this save you time and money, it will also help you develop a better business plan down the road. When a strategic plan would be better. For most of my small business clients I develop strategic plans rather than business plans. Strategic plans focus exclusively on how to get your business from Point A to Point B. Yes, we cover some of the same ground as a business plan, but we don’t have to bring someone who’s not familiar with your business up to speed (as with business plans). We focus on determining the best strategy to grow your business and the steps, big and small, to get there. When you’re not clear on your numbers. One of the biggest reasons why lenders reject business plans is because the numbers don’t add up. Maybe the revenue growth projections are too optimistic or the expenses too low; there is no basis for your price points; your wage bill may not reflect market conditions; etc. Good accountants can help you with this, but the onus really is on you, the business owner, to back up every number with facts. So, until you get some concrete data to base your numbers on, you’re not ready to do a business plan. You can consider your business plan as a work in progress. You can start it when you first conceptualise the idea for your business and tweak it as your ideas evolve.
www.dazzlethemag.com
DAZZLE 21
Breaking Boundaries: the amazing art of
Kimberly Solana K
by David E.M. Du Boulay
imberly Solana lives and breathes art and it practically flows through her veins. Despite that, she struggled with it at St. Joseph’s Convent, to the extent that she could never have imagined that her childhood home would eventually house the future 8ttava Boutique where art envelopes every single detail of the atmosphere.
8ttava Boutique is located at McVane Drive, four houses to the left of the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association in Sans Souci. This is where she spends most of her time lost in music, painting, piles of beautiful clothing and handmade jewelry. Kimberly is the creative director of 8ttava, the brand which epitomizes her rebirth. She was born in Abeline, Texas and has spent exactly half of her life in the United States. The other half she has lived in Saint Lucia, the “beautiful rock” she calls home. Dazzle had the pleasure of chatting with her about her work.
What does 8ttava mean? 8ttava is a combination of the Latin word ‘Ottava,’ which is the musical symbol denoted as 8va, meaning higher Octave. When I decided to brand my pieces I wanted to come up with a symbol which encompasses the thing that inspires me the most, which is music. Octave is also the last name of a very inspirational person in my life who pushed me to start sharing pictures of my work on social media outlets such as Instagram.
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What made you decide to open your own boutique? Opening the boutique was always in the cards for 2015, I just happened to speed up the process when I decided to quit my job and focus entirely on art and jewelry making. It got to the point where I could barely focus on projects at my day jobs because I was so consumed by thoughts about my future paintings. I would sneak beads and wire to work to wrap natural stone pendants in the lunchroom at work and at my cubicle. Creativity was an obsession and I needed a very big outlet.
Why now? I vowed from very young that I would start up a business by the age of 30, and somehow I blinked and I was suddenly on the brink of 30, struggling at two day jobs and juggling graduate school classes. I knew that I needed to invest in myself at some point or I would be stuck working a 9-5; or in my case, sometimes 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Have you had any formal training in art?
I worked very hard to be where I am today, and I have only just begun developing the 8ttava brand. I can’t tune in to the chatter of those who would prefer to compare me to other artists, especially those who have yet to visit the boutique. I choose to embrace the positive feedback from complete strangers who support me and come up to me at the bank or supermarket to tell me that they love my work. It is those random conversations which spark ideas for paintings. I am usually very busy and I know for sure I have that in common with other local artists, many of whom I have actually collaborated with. The boutique houses pieces from a growing list of brands, including EB Sandals by Keitha Noel, Paradise Prints by Fiona Compton, and Bijoux by Cecilia Augustin, and I am truly honored to be surrounded by the products of the sweat and dedication of such talented artists.
You are now part of the Saint Lucian Family of Artists, an ever-growing group with the recent focus placed on the arts. What can you tell us about your other art siblings?
Besides struggling with art when I attended the St. Joseph’s Convent, no. I secretly began what I hoped would become a double major in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry and art but I quickly found that a double major is quite costly, so that never materialized into anything that I could brag about. I was only able to afford a few art history classes which are prerequisites to the major practical visual art courses.
Tell us about your influences and/or favourite artists? Romero Britto is my favourite pop artist. Pop art is exactly what I wish my entire world looked like. He knows no boundaries and I paint with this same attitude. I also decorated the boutique with very lively and ‘in your face’ artwork, which keeps evolving anytime there is downtime in between projects. I hope to reincarnate as Françoise Nielly one day. Her giant knife portraits are so refined, yet unapologetically honest and brute. There is so much energy that exudes from each piece and I hope that my pieces reach out and touch people in a similar fashion one day.
Naturally, and as I am sure you are aware, there have been analogies drawn between some of your work and that of some other local artists. What say you? www.dazzlethemag.com
DAZZLE 23
I am familiar with some of the other artists and designers in our midst, and I am so amazed that many of them are very young and also female! Christine Samuel who is my soul twin, collaborated with me for my 2015 Hot Couture collection, and I admire how she speaks colours and themes into existence with ease. Her presentation of Christy Creations handbags blew everyone away and she keeps surprising me every single day with her new ideas. What I have noticed is that our artists, poets, designers and photographers are very supportive of one another. We all recognize that art is a very under-appreciated avenue and we all have to hustle to make our mark, and we are guaranteed to be successful if we do it together.
So you majored in biological sciences, give us a little of that history… I have always been fascinated with science, and my parents even built me a ‘science lab’ next to our house where I would ‘observe plants and animals’ when I was seven or eight. I have worked in almost every field of science imaginable, from pharmacies, hospitals, clinical research labs and even vitamins and supplements. The plan (designed by my parents) was for me to become a doctor, which was never ever something I envisioned for myself. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences from Georgia State University and I am finishing up my Master’s Degree in Public Health. My dream career is to run a non-profit humanitarian organization focusing on disaster relief and to be able to continue my charity work with Charity:Water and APOPO Hero Rats.
fun facts Your most interesting design piece? My most interesting design piece is on a green skirt I painted for my Charity:Water campaign. I merged many painting techniques, and I was only able to see the finished design when it finally dried completely after two days. What was the last book you read? Thousand pieces of Gold by Ruthanne Lum Mccunn Your lucky number? Lucky number 3 Dogs or Cats? Dogs AND Cats...and Hamsters and Turtles... 24 DAZZLE
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Necklesses for the Neck Line 1 Turtle Neck with Long Chains 2 Crew Neck with Bib Jewelry 3 Scoop Shorter with Volumed Pendants 4 Strapless Top with Choker 5 Square Top with Angular Pendants 6 Off Shoulder Top with Asymmetical Jewelry
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DAZZLE 25
How to Get Your Site Top Spot in Search Results By Rankin Morgan
S
earch Engine Optimisation or SEO, is one of the most commonly used terminologies in discussions surrounding web design and development.
What is SEO? Search Engine Optimisation can be defined as the process of maximising the visibility of a website by ensuring that the site appears high on the list of ‘natural’ or unpaid results returned by a search engine. This process is important as it allows users to search for your website on popular search engines such as Google, Bing, Ask, Yahoo etc. Once your website is optimised properly, it should appear in the top 10 rankings in search engines. 26 DAZZLE
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Search engines use various techniques to rank websites. Google, for instance, uses a patented PageRank™ algorithm that considers over 500 million variables.
Writing for the web is definitely not the same as print because online users do not read every single word on a website. Users usually scan through (browse) to find what they are looking for or they use search engines to simplify their search.
Here are some elements search engine algorithms consider: • XML Sitemaps • Meta Elements • Domain Names • URLs • Inbound Links • Keywords • Content
The content on a website needs to be conversational as web users search in a conversational manner. For example, when searching, a user may ask a question like: “Where can I find the best flower shop in St. Lucia.” The content on the website should contain a phrase like: “At stluciaflowershop.com we offer the best flowers in St. Lucia”. Writing on a website must be done in such a way so that: • It can be easily scanned • The writing style must be in the right tone so that it can appeal to its target audience • Be of assistance to the users. Once these steps are followed, your website should be able to obtain a high ranking in the popular search engines.
The most important and inexpensive way to get to that top position is to write SEO-friendly content. How to write SEO friendly content
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DAZZLE 27
Blueprint Construction Ltd is a legal LLC founded by Kurt Elibox in 2011. The Company comprises of a group of creative, enthusiastic and hard working honest St. Lucians. Blueprint Construction Ltd can best be described as the most reliable, convenient, innovative and modern construction company that you can find in the Caribbean right now. The company aims to meet and exceed all its clients’ expectations and to explore all avenues as it relates to minimising on any costs associated with projects that the client intends to undertake. The company boasts being able to materialise “any dream” that a client can have as it relates to construction in the most timely, cost effective and magnificent manner in St. Lucia presently.
SUBSIDIARIES
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SERVICES OFFERED Blueprint offers professional services to include: - Full Design & Build Services - New Construction - Renovations - Repairs - Project Management Services - Troubleshooting of Problems - Civil Works (roads, bridges, jetty’s) - Property Development
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DAZZLE 29
6 Reasons you Should Upgrade to Windows 10 By Rankin Morgan
W
indows 10, which was officially launched in July 2015, is Microsoft’s most important release to date. Many users would probably agree that after Windows XP, the operating systems that followed did not live up to their expectations until now. Microsoft is making a statement. They’re changing everything, from introducing a new business model to providing new controls over updates.
The most frequent questions asked are; is it going to mess up my computer? Am I going to lose my data? Will my programs work properly after I upgrade? How much does it cost?
Some Windows users reading this article may have already updated their Operating System. Others are probably hesitant to do so because they don’t know what to expect and are not willing to take the risk. The notification to update pops up in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen and you have the option of declining the request to update.
Here are 6 reasons why you should upgrade to Windows 10
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For all those who don’t know, Windows 10 is FREE with no hidden cost. If you previously had Windows 8 on your machine, the upgrade does not take more than 60 minutes to complete.
It’s absolutely FREE. You can only get this free upgrade within 12 months of release, which ends on July 29, 2016. Mainstream support (adding new features) will
carry on until October 13, 2020 and the Extended Support, which entails security updates will last until October 14, 2025. Windows 10 is the only operating system that will run on all Microsoft’s desktops, tablets, laptops and phones. Unlike Apple who constantly highlight building iOS on the core of OSX, with Microsoft Windows 10 the user interfaces of the various devices may be different but the codebase is the same
If you are a gamer, Windows 10 may be your reason to upgrade. Reports have concluded that the performance gain over Direct X 12 is between 1020%, and that Direct X 12 is the future of PC gaming. Windows 10 can also stream Xbox One games directly
to PCs and laptops, depending on the performance of your WiFi. Cortana which is Window’s version of Apple’s Siri is baked into Windows 10 so that you can voice-activate many commands, such as open browser, create an email, set reminders, calendar appointments etc.
Window 10 requires minimal spec in order to facilitate the upgrade. Below are the low specs needed for the upgrade: a. Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC b. RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit c. Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS; 20 GB for 64-bit OS d. Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver e. Display: 1024×600
Windows 10 now allows users to create multiple Virtual Desktops. So instead of having one desktop with all your programs you can now categorise your desktops. This means you can have one for work which contains all your desktop publishing applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, to name a few, and you can also have one for leisure containing games, videos, picture gallery etc. Windows 10 is definitely worth the upgrade, as it is faster than previous Microsoft operating systems, it has great security, a cool interface and the Start menu is back where it originally was. We would love to hear your Windows 10 experience. Log on to www.dazzlethemag.com and share your thoughts.
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Kurt Elibox
‘Know where you are, and where you want to get to’ by Gareth Jules
T
here have been many cries in our society regarding the heightened levels of unemployment, particularly among the youth.
Sometimes it is necessary to take things into your own hands by creating employment, not just for yourself but for others as well, rather than depending on other people or the government to provide jobs for the youth. Meet 28-year-old Kurt Elibox, the founder of Blueprint Construction Ltd. Kurt is a back-to-back winner of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for 2013 and 2014 in the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. A past student of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the Castries Comprehensive Secondary, he was born to Franklyn Emmanuel and Magitha Elibox and hails from the community of Bexon. Kurt founded Blueprint Construction Ltd in 2011 after a five-year stint at Sandals Resorts. Growing up, he enjoyed building kabowé (toy cars) and birdhouses. It was this passion and the desire to realise his dream of owning his own construction company, which led him to the creation of Blueprint Construction Ltd. To date, Kurt owns a group of companies comprising more than five subsidiaries, managed by Blueprint Group Inc. They include Blueprint Construction Ltd., Blueprint Entertainment Inc, Blueprint Farms, Blueprint Handyman Inc, Blueprint Tool Rentals & Blueprint Hardware Ltd. In addition to being the 2014 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner, Kurt’s company, Blueprint
Construction Ltd captured the Green Award for that same year. A few months prior to capturing the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce “Green Award” the company was officially certified by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and designated a global leader in residential green building. We sat down with Kurt at our office to chat about his foray into the world of business and to learn more about his life story.
What led to the formation of Blueprint Construction Ltd? My first job was with my father. Going into construction with him after leaving school was great and it was more than welcoming until the day he made me offload a truck with 400 blocks and my hands got cut. Six months later I realised that it wasn’t where I wanted to be. It wouldn’t take me to where I wanted to go. We were doing a job for Sandals and I approached the project manager, Mark Harding for a job which I succeeded in obtaining. Five years later, I realised that I still wasn’t fulfilling my dream of having my own construction company and being my own boss. I liked being a leader and found myself in leadership positions growing up. I love St. Lucia and I have a lot to offer. I felt like I wasn’t achieving my full potential. I decided to start Blueprint. Instead of being an employment statistic, I was able to create employment for 125 citizens. That was an integral part of my decision, not to be selfish, but to create opportunities for my brothers and sisters of St. Lucia.
Where did the idea and name for the company come from? The name and the logo were probably harder to obtain than getting BLUEPRINT off the ground. At the time, I knew that I wanted the name BLUEPRINT to be a household name within four years. I didn’t want to choose a name that was too hard to remember, or too cliché or too ordinary, such as a personal name. I wanted it to be a name associated with the field/ industry I would venture into. Any plan that you’re making, the first draft is the blueprint. When people hear the name ‘Blueprint’, they think of plans for buildings, but the word BLUEPRINT in itself is the first draft that you make for any business.
How does Blueprint differ from the competition? What sets us apart is that we understand the needs of our clients. No matter the client, everyone has the same three basic needs from a contractor: Speed, Quality, Good Pricing. At Blueprint we understand
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DAZZLE 33
those three needs. We’ve developed in such a way whereby we do things out of the ordinary to help keep costs at a minimum for the benefit of our clients. We host training seminars for our workers, expose them to YouTube videos and send them on oversees training to improve the quality of work that you get from us. There is nothing else like Blueprint in St. Lucia and most of the other Caribbean islands.
What are some of the highlights of your career thus far? Definitely, one is winning the Chamber of Commerce award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year consecutively. Secondly, the company’s ability to secure a huge construction contract in Grenada in its third year. We were also awarded a huge project management contract in Barbados in 2014.
What are some of the hurdles you’ve had to overcome to achieve success? Any entrepreneur you ask about their hiccups in achieving success, you are guaranteed to hear FINANCE. Coming from a low to middle-class family, I had to explore with different financial institutions in and out of St. Lucia. Another hurdle is staffing. Sometimes you give people an opportunity and they fail during their probationary period. It hurts me but once I had to seek professional skills outside of St. Lucia. We set high standards for our company and sometimes you can’t find people who meet the minimum standards locally. Blueprint Entertainment, which is reportedly the most popular subsidiary besides Blueprint Construction, suffered a major setback this year with the cancellation of the annual H2O Wete Fete.
What led to the cancellation and what were some of the consequences for your company? Loss of money for sure. Two weeks before the scheduled date, the event got cancelled by the authorities. There was nothing that we could have done although we tried importing water from other islands and private water sources. None of them were approved by the governing agencies. We had no choice but to call off Wet Fete. It left us with a tabanca. We lost quite a bit of money, but in business you win some, you lose some. In no way whatsoever should patrons believe that this is the end of Wet Fete. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. In 2016, the new and improved Wet Fete will be one to look out for. 34 DAZZLE
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Your company is obviously not one to stay down. It recuperated with the first annual Caribbean Soca Festival dubbed by some as one of the best events coming out of St. Lucia.
What was the inspiration and idea behind the staging of this event? What our subsidiaries do is look for the voids in the market and capitalize on them. Year after year, big name artistes come to the island with hits that last a few hours, or sometimes a few minutes. They appeal to various age groups. In some cases, because of the length of their performance and the venue of the show, it may not be conducive for all crowds. Realising this, we decided to host an event that would attract people of all age groups. Caribbean Soca Festival is held on a Sunday, a quiet holiday-(holiday or weekend) for most people. It starts at 1:00 p.m. and ends around 10:00 p.m., which gives people enough time to get home, sleep and get up for work the next day, and not have to call in sick. You don’t want to go to an event and the main act comes on at 1:00 a.m. Many things were taken into consideration. When you focus on the quality of the entertainment, the flow, the setting and the ambience of the event, everything comes together. The event was very successful and exceeded our expectations. It’s on again next year and this time it will be improved significantly.
How difficult is it balancing your career and your personal life? Thank God I have an understanding wife (Katama Elibox) who is actively involved in the business, in the capacity of Managing Director. This kind of softens
fun facts Favorite Fruit? Mangoes Most Embarrassing Moment? None Zodiac Sign? Taurus If you had to be a St. Lucian Soca Artist, who would it be? Teddyson John or Arthur Allain
things up a bit. It makes it a little easier because she’s there 24/7. When I have to make calls at 1:00 a.m., she understands, so that makes it easier. It has its challenges but it works best. If she had been working for another company, I don’t think she would be as understanding.
Any advice for young aspiring entrepreneurs? Many times you see young people sitting by the wayside and stretching out their hands to government. Like I always say, we live in an ever changing society. When I look around me I see many small voids in the society that can be filled. Some don’t require much finance to start off. There is a lot of room out there for entrepreneurs. If you decide to be an entrepreneur, thumbs up. Secondly, focus on what you love. Nurture your skills and go into something that you’re good at and you love. Nothing in life comes easy. Be prepared to put in the hours. You will encounter some closed doors. It’s a challenge. It’s an obstacle course. Once you run that race at your speed, you will make it. Don’t try to match up to your competition too quickly. Run your own race. “The race is not for the swift or the battle to the strong but to those who endure to the end.” And last, but by no means the least, maintain a very close and positive relationship with God. “God is my biggest mentor, and my best friend”. Treat God as that imaginary friend that you had when growing up as a child. Keep him close to you, and you will go to places you never expected. Remember: “Do good, and good will always follow you.
What’s next for Kurt? What’s next for me is to grow our existing companies by exporting our services. This involves growing them regionally and internationally by 2020. I want to thank my mother (Magitha Elibox) and my father (Franklyn Emmanuel) for everything; for all the support and encouragement, and my wife, Katama. She’s like the steel in my column – without her I would not be so strong. Being who I am today is as a result of a lot of hard work and sleepless nights. Persistence; Determination; Intrinsic Motivation. You cannot always rely on external sources to motivate you. It’s a lot of mental work, not just physical. A friend in Grenada once told me you must know where you are, where you’re going and where you want to get to. That has helped me a bit in laying out my path for the future.
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//Feature
Feel the Riddim, Catch the Vibez pg. 42
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ONE MUSIC ONE MEDIUM ONE DROP by Leila M Williams
Dazzle Magazine recently caught up with Shervon Monrose of One Drop Sound while he was on island to promote and market a few projects that the company is now involved in. He took some time to discuss with us the nature of these projects and the idea behind One Drop Radio.
Dazzle: Tell us a little about One Drop. Shervon: One Drop Radio, an affiliate of One Drop Sound (2007), started in November 2014 by myself, Cuthbert Didier and David ‘Shakes’ Christopher as an online radio station which concentrated on Saint Lucian music. We went this route because too many people had no idea that Saint Lucia produced music from all different genres and we wanted to let the world know that we had many talented artistes who produced quality music.
Dazzle: How did you decide on the name ‘One Drop Radio’? Shervon: The term ‘one drop’ was birthed through Reggae but we put a spin on it – all it takes is one drop of music, one message. We then took it a little further and produced a radio app to keep up with technological advancements. It’s a free app and is available on iTunes, Google Store and Blackberry and currently we have over 45K users of the app.
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Dazzle: Who is the current host of One Drop Radio? Shervon: Most times, I am the active host although Cuthbert sometimes logs on and does his thing. We have 2 live shows – on a Wednesday we host ‘Soca Wednesdays’ and on a Sunday, the show is a reggae roots reality show, ‘I Love Sundays’.
Dazzle: What is your campaign ‘Stop the Violence’? Shervon: On One Drop Radio, we push a lot of positive messages to try to influence the youth and because of this, I developed a school campaign, ‘Stop the Violence; take back Saint Lucia, one youth at a time.’ The initiative was launched at my alma mater, the Leon Hess Secondary School, on April 27, 2015 with James Adhodha of Wavemaker Photography and Leslie Collymore, President of the Saint Lucia Basketball Association, who are also heavily involved in this project. Students must concentrate on raising awareness by painting murals which deliver the message of the campaign, conducting research, creating action plans to communicate and deliver the missive of the programme, and participating in nonformal educational sessions to understand and discuss issues. We have developed a few slogans for a number of associations. E.g. for the Saint Lucia Basketball Association, we have ‘Shoot Jumpers, not Guns’; for Wavemaker Photography, the slogan is ‘Shoot
Cameras, not Guns’ and for the National Boxing Association, we have developed ‘Hands in Gloves, not on Guns’.
Dazzle: Is One Drop involved in any other projects? Shervon: One Drop is finalising another project called Made in Saint Lucia. It involves documenting Saint Lucian music as far back as the heyday of Dame Sesenne Descartes all the way up to budding artistes like Michael Robinson. We have no mediums for documenting music and this will provide one place from which to access all of Saint Lucia’s music.
Dazzle: How will ‘Made in Saint Lucia’ be different? Shervon: My partners on this project are Cuthbert Didier and Earl Valmont and to date we have about 50 interested artistes spanning varying decades and genres. The project will not just be a go to resource but will inform and educate Saint Lucian and international audiences alike as each of the genres will be shot in different iconic locations on island. The One Drop Radio app will be adjusted to include this documentary and the video will be aired on local television stations. We have been in talks also with local cable service providers to discuss the airing on cable stations. 2 major international television networks based in Florida are also willing to air the project.
Dazzle: Where do you see One Drop in the next 2 years? Shervon: We believe that by then, One Drop will be an international local house name even more than it is now. We are also hoping to be involved in a lot more than just radio and documentaries and produce a major show here to highlight Saint Lucian artistes alongside international performers– we will continue with the passion and drive that we have now to bring Saint Lucia to international awareness through one music, one medium, one message. https://www.facebook.com/One-Drop-Radio
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‘Don’t Judge Me by the Colour of My Skin’ by Phoebe Fraites
V
isual misconception is a term I have coined to illustrate my experience as an individual with vitiligo. I come into contact with people of all ages and from all walks of life, whether it is at airports, supermarkets and restaurants or even on the beach in the Caribbean. Ninety-nine percent of the times their reaction to my depigmentation is always one of uncertainty and initially they try to avoid any contact with me in the event it is contagious, hence my coined expression.
I was born in the Land of Many Waters, Guyana and lived most of my life in my homeland. My vitiligo surfaced in 2005, three years after I moved to live in Dublin, Ireland. It started out as tiny pecks between my fingers and toes and soon began to spread rapidly, just around the same time I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Sometimes in quiet moments, I often ponder, if maybe, the lack of sunshine and cold weather contributed to the rapid progression of this disease.
I have chosen to write this article in the hope that readers would be more knowledgeable and aware of the disorder and the effects vitiligo has on most sufferers. I do not consider myself a sufferer, not even in the initial stage when my hands began to change drastically. I was curious to find out why I was the only one in my family with this disease. I discovered that I was not the only one affected by it and that I have a maternal cousin who also has vitiligo. I concluded that it is a genetic predisposition in my family.
I must admit, it did knock my self-esteem for a while because of the way people stared at me. I became so conscious of my depigmentation that I welcomed the winter months when I could wear gloves and boots to cover my hands and feet. However, instead of wallowing in misery I began researching to learn more about the disease, its causes and effects.
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For those who might not have heard of vitiligo, let me briefly explain. According to the British Journal of Medical Practitioners, vitiligo is one of the commonest
skin disorders with a presumed autoimmune aetiology. It causes one to lose the pigment/melanin in the skin.
Facts: a. One to two percent of the world’s population suffers from this disease. b. It affects all ethnic, socio-economic and racial groups equally; however, it is much more visible in persons of darker complexion. c. Vitiligo is characterised by the destruction of melanocytes pigment cells that stop functioning, which causes the skin that is affected to become white in colour. d. There is no cure to the best of my knowledge, however, to date, researchers of large corporations continue to search for ways to reverse the depigmentation. In a recent medical journal it provided some hope that there are medicines existing in Brazil and Cuba that can tackle the progression, and even treatment to improve the appearance of the skin. e. Hypothyroidism is linked to vitiligo, they are both autoimmune diseases. f. Vitiligo can be hereditary, however not all vitiligo sufferers have hypothyroidism. According to Vitiligo Support International, half of the people with vitiligo have had the disorder before they reached their 21st birthday and 95% before the age of 40. I am an exception to this norm. My vitiligo developed in my mid-forties. Instead of spending thousands of dollars and frequent visits to many dermatologists, I opted to take extra care of my skin ensuring that I apply SPF 50 sunblock to my hands
and feet before venturing out to prevent burning and overexposure to the sun. I have also chosen to advocate for vitiligo sufferers. My first approach was to seek simple ways to explain my “skin change” to many, especially children who are the only ones bold enough to ask questions like, “what happened to your hands? Does it hurt?” I tell them the story of the butterfly-shaped gland that is malfunctioning, pointing to my thyroid gland and even their parents are intrigued by my explanation. There are several support websites and advocates scattered worldwide to support those who experience stigma and discrimination because of their skin disorder. However, on the other side of the coin, I have observed that many young people with vitiligo are coming to terms with their skin disorder and even capitalising on the fact that they look “different”. Recently a vitiligo sufferer participated in America’s Top Model and although her depigmentation was quite visible, she never tried to camouflage her “white” patches. Hopefully, her appearance helped to create some positive impact on her generation of young vitiligo sufferers. There are products used by many vitiligo sufferers to camouflage the depigmentation. They include Vicey Dermablend, La Roche-Posay Toleriane, Colour Tration and Natural FX Water-based liquid foundations. But these are all temporary solutions.
The famous King of Pop, Michael Jackson was among the sufferers of vitiligo. It was confirmed in his autopsy. Among other celebrities affected by the condition are Holly Marie Combs from Charmed, famous actors Dudley Moore, Steve Martin and Jon Hamm of Mad Men. As for me, whenever I encounter other vitiligo sufferers, I acknowledge their presence with a nod and a smile. Their responses are always positive. As for those sceptics, I smile and say in a most reassuring way “it’s not contagious.”
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Feel the Riddim, Catch the Vibez by Dahna Jn Charles
I
t’s time to put a face to the sound and introduce you to the man behind the music. To see him is not to know him or all he is about. His demeanour is unassuming. He moves through a crowd calling no attention to himself and stands in quiet observation. If you’re not told, you wouldn’t know because his passion lies in his music and not the superficiality of fame. His story began on December 12, 1984 when his Mom, Regina Joseph gave birth to this musical talent. Miguel ‘Migz’ Joseph was raised by his mother and grandmother in the quiet community of Entrepot. Whilst enrolled as a student at the Entrepot Secondary School, Miguel developed an interest in steel pan. This was the key which unlocked his potential, leading Miguel to pursue music professionally. He is a certified musician, having completed up to Grade 5 in Music Theory and Grade 2 in Music Practical, with steel pan as his instrument of focus. While he was a student at Entrepot Secondary, he joined the legendary Diamond Steel Orchestra, participating in national panorama competitions and performing at various hotels on the island. This experience led to Miguel landing his first job as the lead pannist at the then Almond Morgan Bay Resort for seven years. He, however, desired more job security, so in keeping with his passion and expertise, he decided to become a primary school music teacher. He describes the experience as challenging at times but very rewarding!
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Oh but there’s so much more to this story of a journey to greatness. You see, Miguel ‘Migz’ Joseph is much more than a pannist and school teacher. He is the mastermind behind the effervescent production house, Vibez Productionz. Vibez Productionz, the one-man musical chemistry lab, brought you the regional and international hit ‘Pandemonium’ sung by Sedale and Wildfire. Even before Pandemonium, there was ‘Nah Go Home’ by Mysterio, which Miguel believes is his first breakout song. Many viewed Vibez as having dominated Carnival 2015 with hits from the Island Vibez Riddim and Vestige 758 Riddim, featuring young, fresh and budding artistes, including Sedale, Mysterio, Imran Nerdy, Shemmy J and Toya, to name a few.
Enter Mobbla Productions. Why Mobbla? Well, you know how guys like to name their crews in ways that make them distinct on the social scene. It seemed convenient at the time. Mobbla Productions in collaboration with Hitty Lance had its first artiste release, ‘Rusty Waist’ sung by BVI artiste Jaleena. Aiming to advance his musical career, branding became of utmost importance to Miguel. He felt that the name Mobbla was simply not going to cut it. He sought the counsel of his friends, family and co-workers and requested their assistance with his rebranding.
Dazzle: How did you conceptualise the name ‘Vibez Productionz’?
Dazzle Magazine sat down with Miguel to gain greater insight into the refreshing sound emanating from Vibez Productionz. The ride to where he is now is truly something to admire and he proves that passion, faith and hard work are the ingredients to realising your dreams.
Miguel: It happened during a brainstorming session with co-workers at the hotel one day. We agreed that it was all about a vibe. When you come into the studio you must have a vibe. If the vibe isn’t right then it just won’t work. And so it became ‘Vibez Productionz’ Yes. It is that simple and makes perfect sense too.
Dazzle: How did you first get into music production?
Vibez Productionz had very humble beginnings. From a corner in Ms. Regina’s living room and a computer, it has evolved into a more established space (still at home) that can rightfully be called a studio. Considering how expensive studio equipment can be, you could well imagine that it was not easy to get to this stage, especially if you aim for a great quality sound. Miguel’s personal savings, a grant that he had been awarded, and a leap of faith were pivotal to this studio coming to fruition. Initially there was scepticism, as there usually is with most major investments that have no guaranteed success. Fortunately, Miguel’s passion for music was stronger than his niggling doubt.
Miguel: It was actually through a drummer friend named Channing. We worked together at the hotel. He put together this drum pattern using the programme Fruity Loops and insisted I put music to it. I was very reluctant because I had absolutely no experience using this programme. I initially declined but he was able to convince me and I accepted the challenge. My intrigue and interest grew from then. The year was 2002. Satisfied with what they had crafted, the two took their work to Derek Yarde, currently of DYP. A more experienced musician, Derek added his own spice to the fusion. Lyrics were then written to suit the sound with the intention of having it sung by Queen of the Jungle, Nicole David. The beat became something that simply happened with no follow through by its creators. Surprisingly, Miguel heard the song on the radio one day being sung by one Dun Mun. Miguel and Channing went on to form CMPro (Channing Miguel Productions). They created roughly two complete riddims as CMPro but none of these ever made it out of the ‘lab’. Channing eventually left the island to seek alternative employment. Miguel’s innate passion for music made him realise that it only made sense to shift gears into solo production. This would mean operating under a new name.
Dazzle: Who/what was influential in your musical career? Miguel: My mother is a lover of music and carnival so there was always soca, dancehall and reggae playing at home. My music teacher at Entrepot, Mr. Lewis has also been a great source of inspiration. Panman Aimran has been supportive of me throughout. When I started producing though, I listened to a lot of music produced by Studio 758, Curty and Leebo. I studied their music and how they arranged certain sounds and compared them to regional productions. I would sometimes sit at my keyboard while listening and try to match their tunes and add my own twist to develop my skills. I also work very closely with Leebo as my trusted sound engineer and try to learn a lot from him too.
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Dazzle: What would you say sets you apart from other producers? Miguel: I always start from scratch, No samples, no loops or old riddims. I always try to be different and fresh. It’s good to challenge myself that way. My motivation comes from wanting to do better than my last. Dazzle: What is your greatest achievement to date? Miguel: That’s a bit tough because I treat anything I’m working on as my favourite. If I had to choose one though, it would be ‘Pandemonium’. To see that it is still a crowd favourite and loved even outside of St. Lucia makes me proud to know I did that. Carnival 2015 was another great year for Vibez. Who remembers how they felt when ‘Neighbour’ dropped? It definitely added some sparkle to the celebration! Miguel explained that his season’s success was in the making from June 2014 with the prospect of releasing music as early as January 2015. A few setbacks caused him to hold it back till February, resulting in the release of Neighbour on the Island Vibez Riddim. The Vestige 758 Riddim followed which was another success. When asked his thoughts on this carnival season, Miguel humbly stated, “It was a good year.”
Dazzle: Are you currently working on any new projects? Miguel: Working on something for Jounen Kwéyòl which is around the corner. I’ve already started preparations for Carnival 2016.
fun facts What’s the most interesting thing you saw this week? A studio mic for US$6,000 How often do you get a haircut? Once a month maybe. I used to get one every week but then I started going bald (LOL) so I tried to preserve my hair with fewer cuts. Favourite TV Show? Sanford and Son. I catch the reruns on Monday nights. What do you do in your free time? Go out, have a drink or listen to music. Lentils or red beans bouillon? Lentils 44 DAZZLE
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Vibez Productionz genre of focus is soca. While he has done some dancehall music, Miguel believes the St. Lucian sound is rooted in soca and local artistes stand a better chance of success in that genre. He added, “I would fuse the soca with different genres, but it has to stand out.”
Dazzle: Where do you see yourself and Vibez Productionz in the next 5 years? Miguel: A bigger studio with my own sound engineers and artistes signed to my production house. Of course, more hits. For now the fruits are still green (LOL) but I see things progressing. They sure are, Miguel and we at Dazzle wish you all the best!
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ingredients 1 hand of green fig (green bananas) 1½ lb saltfish 1 small onion diced 2 garlic cloves chopped 3 medium tomatoes chopped 1 large sweet pepper (optional) 1 pinch of salt ½ tbsp. oil ½ cup water
method
Peel green figs and place them in a pot of water. Add ½ tbsp oil and pinch of salt. Boil until the skin changes colour and the bananas are tender.
Boil the saltfish for about 20 minutes. Clean and shred into smaller pieces. Please note that even after boiling the saltfish it may still be salty. Place in a bowl of water and squeeze the saltfish handfuls at a time to remove excess salt. Then place the saltfish in another bowl. Don’t over squeeze as some salt is needed for flavour. If you were to carry out a survey to determine what are the most popular and beloved St. Lucian dishes, Green Figs and Saltfish would surely be at the top of the list! It’s not only hugely popular, it is quintessentially St. Lucian and viewed by many as our National Dish. It is enjoyed at home and throughout the Caribbean and other parts of the Diaspora. Here’s how you can make the perfect Green Figs and Saltfish for Jounen Kwéyòl.
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In a skillet, sauté onion and garlic together under a medium flame until translucent, add sweet pepper, add tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes then add saltfish and mix thoroughly. Add ½ cup water and let simmer for 1 minute. Serve over green figs.
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Young, Empowered and Savvy and Making a Difference in Business
Knight of the DJ Round Table
Debbie KhodraJames
Sedale Simei
goes in ‘Deeper Than Soca’
Nurcia Paul
Turns Bridal Dreams into Reality
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The a B Redm Pow udget- i 2 – erh Frie ouse ndly
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Coaks
St. Lucia’s Undisputed King of Comedy
High-Flying Volleyball Star Has an Eye on the Big Leagues
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Stay Fit and Trim with a Fitness Tracker
Fascinating Journey Through Dance
Architecture is my Passion
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Seasons Greetings Protect Your Children From Impetigo
championing a New Era in LGBT entertainment
‘Swimming is my Life’
Living a Dream –
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Choosing the Right Phone for Mobile Gaming
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Rainbow Events The ultimate bag fashion vocabulary
Johann Deterville
Music in his veins
Make Business Networking Work for You
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David Worrell
Building beyond the Mind’s Eye
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Junior R. Joseph
Filbert Salton “Kayo”
Filmmaker Extraordinaire
weaves more than just another stylish curl
Behold, the Power of Twitter! Part II
Taribba Joan
Latoya Lewis Glitz & Glamour Galore
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From Humble Beginnings to Stardom
Michelle Serieux IA
Issue 9
Successful Event Designer & Virtuoso!
Prenatal or Antenatal Care All You Need to Know
Superman HD
Do You Know the Facts About Your Allergy?
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In the Spotlight:
Teige La Borde
A Rising Star in St. Lucian Business
Are you Linkedin?
Teddyson John
Issue 4
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Latoya Mitchell
Wins Praise from Young Entrepreneurs
Increase Business From Your Inbox
Jermile Daniel
Issue 3
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St. Lucia Youth Business Trust
INT LUC SA
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Darcel Frederick
NDENCE PE
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