Dazzle Magazine Issue 8

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How to Score on Your First Date!

Issue 8

Jordan Khan

to the Rescue – helping Caribbean Youths Conquer Maths

Super-talented

Sharleen Lagon

– a class-act fashion designer

5 Reasons why Competition is Good for your Business

Sirsean Arlain

Changing Lives and Championing the Rise of Local Tennis

The Healing Power of Soursop

Inside the Dazzling Musical World of

Courtney ‘Curty’ Louis Try me!

Transforming Your Business in the Cloud

limi t ed

We Create and Build Amazing Websites E: info@123digitallimited.com T: 758-452-0123 Int’l: 888-228-3312 W: www.123digitallimited.com Caribbean . UK . Canada . USA

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from the publisher As I sat putting my thoughts together, I couldn’t help reflecting on the evolution of Dazzle Magazine & all the wonderful & intelligent people I’ve met on this exciting journey. With each issue I felt motivated & inspired by the aspiring young Saint Lucians whom we have featured, & what I have learned from them. Among other things, they have taught me never to give up on your dreams & hard work and dedication pays off.

It is definitely not easy being a young entrepreneur & starting a new business in these difficult economic times.

Entrepreneurs spend a lot of time talking about the constant challenges they face & what they need to do to satisfy their clients & customers & gain their confidence so that they continue to patronize their business. They work hard seven days a week, & often endure sleepless nights since you have no specific open or close times when you operate your own business.

Although you can reap many benefits from starting your own business, there are also some risks as well. However, with hard work, commitment & determination you can successfully achieve your goals and aspirations. So even though the overall economic outlook may not seem bright at the moment, you must keep pressing on because the key to success is perseverance. Don’t quit prematurely & then afterwards start wondering, ‘What if I had held on a bit longer, would it have worked out after all?’ Remember, success does not come overnight. It takes time to build a solid clientele.

In this issue, the sons and daughters of Saint Lucia have made us proud once again. We cover a wide cross section of achievers from music to the fashion industry, sports to education & we also touch on one of Saint Lucia’s great legendary heroes. I won’t give away too much, except to say that Dazzle Magazine Issue 8 is very diverse and hugely inspiring.

I wish you happy reading & thank you for picking up another fantastic issue of Dazzle Magazine.

Please feel free to “Like” us or leave feedback on our Facebook page (facebook.com/dazzlethemag).

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

34. Inside the Dazzling Musical World of Courtney ‘Curty’ Louis 44. Super-Talented Sharleen Lagon – A Class-act Fashion Designer

Profiles

22. Jordan Khan to the Rescue – Helping Caribbean Youths Conquer Maths

Sports

28. Sirsean Arlain – Changing Lives and Championing the Rise of Local Tennis

The 411

10. SauceKrew and the Rise of St. Lucian Gamers 15. Celebrating the Legacy of St. Lucia’s Artistes 19. Capella – Aiming to Deliver the Ultimate Luxury Experience 32. Taking Design Building and construction to a higher level 40. Bristol University Celebrates the Life of Brother George

Mastering Marketing

Publisher Rankin Morgan Editor Tony Williams Sales & Marketing Alana M.I Morgan Graphic Design Aldrin Henry Contributors Reginal Andrew Michelle S. Charles Mindy Luquiana Chicot Kaywan Lord Laura Morgan Tony Williams The Computer Store Studio MIA SLYBT Photography Aldrin Henry Cameron Browne Royan Descartes Wavemaker Photography Accountants BDM Consulting

39. Transforming Your Business in the Cloud

Professional Progress

16. 5 Reasons why Competition is Good for your Business

Health & Fitness

13. The Healing Power of Soursop

Style & Fashion

38. How to Score on Your First Date!

Eating In

47. Making the Perfect Tablet

Gadget & Gizmos

48. HMDX Audio L JAM Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Instagram 50. Local

On the Cover Courtney “Curty” Louis Cover By: Aldrin Henry

contact us

For more information visit us at www.dazzlethemag.com or call us at 758.452.0123

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Read about Curty on page 34

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DIGICELSTLUCIA.COM

SauceKrew and the Rise of Saint Lucian Gamers

by Kaywan Lord

T

he highest-grossing industry in the world today is the gaming industry. The videogame industry grosses more than the movie and music industries combined.

If that’s not head-turning enough, the game GTA 5 (Grand Theft Auto 5) has earned the title of the single greatest grossing piece of entertainment ever conceived, earning a staggering US$800 million in one day. One game … One day - almost one billion dollars.

These facts point to a trend and an untapped niche long foreseen by a group of talented, visionary Saint Lucian pioneers. They are known as the SauceKrew. The current executive comprises of the gifted and able Donnelly John, Valdez Franklin, Kaywan Lord, Kurtney Montoute, Alister Daniel, Charlette Chitolie, Royan Descartes and Kervin Charlemange.

SauceKon, a large-scale local gaming tournament was the brainchild of the SauceKrew. Founders Donnelly John and Kaywan Lord had no doubt that these competitive events would gather momentum and mushroom into the spectator sport that they have now become.

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This year marks a new era in the development of the local gaming scene. Through the concerted marketing efforts of Valdez Franklin and his team, three international gaming icons visited the island for the first time to scope out the potential market for the sport. They attended a SauceKon gaming tournament held at the BayWalk conference room on February 1st 2014. Gaming gurus such as CAPCOM’s Combo Fiend, LI Joe and Big E were impressed by the turnout and the competitive spirit that the Saint Lucian gamers displayed.

The conference room teemed with gamers of all ages, some curious, others supportive spectators, some of them hardened experts with twitching fingers ready for battle. Throughout the day a steady stream of gamers and spectators moved through the massive hall, soaking in the culture shock. Gaming is serious business. SauceKon Infiltration provided the gamers with an opportunity to meet and battle like-minded international and regional competitors. They were

vying for a variety of titles, namely Fifa 14, NBA 2K14, Street Fighter 4, MVC3, Call of Duty Ghosts and Injustice. Players from Barbados participated in the tournament and they vowed to return for the next event.

The winners were rewarded with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes for their proficiencies. Aside from gaming, the crowd was entertained by a modelling show featuring Cosplay models, as well as a paintball shooting range and the dynamic deejaying skills of Scady dot P. The Saucekrew believes in the slogan “Play Hard, Party Harder� coined by Rolando Brison, an organiser of the popular VXG gaming tournament in St. Martin, so naturally they threw an epic two-part victory celebration for the gamers.

The gaming scene is developing exponentially.

Regional and international gamers are willing to travel to Saint Lucia, fill hotel rooms and shop in our stores just for the thrill of the competition. Gaming is leisure and part of the lifestyle of more than a billion people around the globe. Aside from Facebook, gaming accounts for the greatest volume of internet usage and upgrades. Connecting and facing off against players in Japan, Switzerland, Africa and Vieux Fort is a nightly routine for many. Gaming is here to stay, and in Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean the SauceKrew is ahead of the game.

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Jordan Khan to the Rescue – helping Caribbean Youths Conquer Maths

Read about Jordan on page 22

Soursop The Healing Power of Soursop

by Laura Morgan

S

oursop is a long, prickly green fruit, generally oval shaped and it comes from the graviola tree. It is an evergreen plant which is commonly grown in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America. It is also called custard apple and in Brazil it is known as paw paw.

The tree is grown for domestic use and commercially.

It emits a white flower which exudes a very pleasant smell in the early morning.

When the fruit is mature the skin is yellowish-green and it can be picked and left to ripe in a dark corner.

When ripened, it should be handled with care as it

could be easily bruised or punctured. It can be eaten raw. The soursop has a white edible pulp which is often sweet. Sometimes it can be subacid or acid. It

also has an indigestible core and black seeds and a distinctive flavour.

From a nutritional standpoint the fruit contains an abundance of vitamin C, B1 and B2. Both the fruit and the leaves have lots of other beneficial uses.

• The pulp is used to make fruit juice, fruit nectar and smoothies. Sometimes it is mixed with milk and other flavourings like vanilla essence.

• As a dessert, the pulp can be used to make ice cream, sorbet and sweets.

• Both the soursop fruit and the graviola tree leaves can be used as herbal medicines for the treatment of stomach disorders, fever, parasitic infections, hypertension and rheumatism.

There have been claims made across the internet that the Soursop extract can be used for the treatment of certain cancers. While research suggests soursop can fight cancer, it has not been studied in humans.

In the absence of data to support this claim, experts warn against using the fruit for this purpose because there is no evidence of either its safety or effectiveness for cancer treatment.

• Soursop leaves can also be used as a sedative by infusing a few of them in a cup and drinking the tea before going to bed. It will make you sleep like a baby.

• The leaf is also used for tenderising meat.

• The fruit can be placed in fish traps as bait.

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Celebrating the Legacy of Saint Lucia’s Artistes

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s Saint Lucia gets ready to celebrate the 2014 Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, the Saint Lucia Youth Business Trust (SLYBT) pays due recognition to the island’s artistes and entrepreneurs who have contributed significantly to the development of the creative industries.

In order to ensure that the festival is a success, the organisers have come to rely heavily on the talent available in the local creative sector to give patrons the opportunity to experience a wide range of offerings, from music and art to cuisine, dance and sculpture.

Saint Lucia has produced many renowned entrepreneurial artistes, including Shane Ross (music), Jalim Eudovic (sculpture), Francis “Leebo” De Lima (music production), Richard Ambrose (dance), Ted Sandiford (animation), Tiege La Borde (events

management) and the internationally recognised Nina Compton (culinary arts). Many more Saint Lucians contribute to this sector in various ways, all excelling in their field.

Commenting on the development of local dance, Richard Ambrose asserted, “I think it is the aim of dance and the arts as a movement to shift us to another level. It is also about inclusion and the sharing of forms and history ingrained in each of us to an end that is unbound and beyond the scope of any one imagination.”

All these artistic professions have become an indelible part of the fabric of our Saint Lucian culture, and now find full expression in our annually celebrated Jazz & Arts Festival.

They have brought worldwide acclaim to our island, showing not only the potential of Saint Lucians but also the viability of the creative industries. Our artistes and creative entrepreneurs also inspire the next generation of artistes and motivate them to explore their talents and creativity and view the arts as a lucrative and fulfilling career option.

In celebrating another Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts festival, as many get ready to enjoy the range of planned activities, we encourage Saint Lucians, especially the youth, to appreciate the valuable contribution of our nation’s creative sector to the island’s economic development.

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5 Reasons why Competition is Good for your Business

by Michelle S. Charles

I

n discussion sometime ago, a friend asked “Why do businesses that are similar in nature always seem to set up shop next to each other?” She went on to say that she had observed in metropolitan countries how all the fast food restaurants are lined up alongside each other. Where there is a McDonald’s, there’s a KFC, there’s a Wendy’s, a Burger King and even a Nando’s! Even here, DIGICEL and LIME are in close proximity to each other. She was puzzled as to how this could be good for business.

Indeed, competition is healthy! There are benefits to setting up next to the competitor. Let’s take a look at some of these.

Fosters Innovation: Competition promotes creative thinking. If you’re working in a crowded market, you won’t succeed by doing what everyone else does. Healthy competition encourages change, which will distinguish your company from others through technology, product alterations or by improving the customer experience. Creative thinking is the foundation of any success-minded enterprise!

Improves Customer Service: As one of several companies offering a similar product, you are forced to compete for customers. The onus is really on you to determine how to retain these customers who walk through your door. The key to this lies in your level of customer service. Great customer service will garner loyal followers.

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Stops Complacency: Competition pushes you out of your comfort zone. It forces you to constantly review your strategies with a view to maintaining your strengths and working on your weaknesses.

Competition keeps you on your toes. It makes you try harder to get better.

Provides an Education: Seeing what your competitors do well can teach you certain things about your

business. Their practices will provide you with valuable insight into the state of the market, and help show you what works and what doesn’t.

Lowers Business Costs: There are benefits to be gained from your competitors’ research results! Yes, why reinvent the wheel? Your market research will cost less thanks to the information gleaned indirectly from the competition.

So, don’t be afraid to take on the competition. If you are, you leave room for failure to set in.

Resources: www.forbes.com www.tweakyourbiz.com

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Staying At Capella Is A Little Different Shining its brilliance bright. Guiding you homeward. Marking a new epoch in luxury.

Capella Hotels and Resorts luxury hotel group have created a truly unique experience.

One that is steeped in luxury and personal choice. An experience that doesn't only cater to your preferences, it comes to define them.

It is everything you have ever sought, but have yet to find.

For reservations please call 1 758 458 5300 | Toll Free 1 877 384-8037 or email res.marigotbay@capellahotels.com

CAPELLA MARIGOT BAY RESORT & MARINA P.O. Box 7227 | Marigot Bay | Saint Lucia M: +1 954 999 8847 F: +1 758 458 5299 www.capellahotels.com

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Capella – aiming to deliver the Ultimate Luxury Experience

U

ndoubtedly, Marigot Bay’s unspoilt natural beauty and idyllic seaside setting promises an awesome experience to any visitor.

Now the international development group who recently acquired the former Discovery Bay and brought on-board the acclaimed, Capella Hotels and Resort company to manage the property is aiming to provide its guests with even more thrills along with a breathtaking and adventurous holiday experience.

‘Quality pesonalised service’ is Capella’s motto as they gear up to provide the ultimate dream holiday at Marigot Bay to satisfy even the most avid adventurer, as well as land and sea vacationers.

The hotel acquisition was a ‘fait accompli’ business deal for Capella, their first in the Caribbean. Saint Lucia was the ideal choice and Capella’s vision is to transform the Marigot Bay into a world-class hub bubbling with activity.

After 23 years working in the industry it has become a passion for Quint, who hails from the Netherlands.

With his wealth of experience in the hotel business, he brings a strong work ethic and a clear-sighted vision to the resort’s operations.

Personalised comfort and satisfaction are guaranteed in this holiday haven ideally located in the most picturesque cove on the west coast. High service standards are the hallmark of Capella’s operations and Marigot Bay offers a ‘private luxury setting with pleasurable experiences and memories to last.’

Jeroen Quint’s progression to the upper ranks of the hotel industry has been quite an amazing journey. He got his initial break working at the Hyatt Hotel in Germany and went on to graduate from the College of International Hospitality and Business Management in the Hague.

Capella Marigot Bay Resort & Marina, which aims to be amongst the world’s top luxury resorts, was recently awarded the AAA Four Diamond Award. It is a member of Leading Hotels of the World and was listed in the 2007 Condé Nast Traveller Hot List.

Whilst studying hotel management in Germany, Quint was able to learn about, Horst Schulze, CEO and Owner of Capella Hotels and Resorts, whom he rates highly and regards as his mentor, and one who has been very influential in his career path, including landing his current job.

“We want to make Capella Marigot Bay a unique vacationing experience and give people a reason to come to Marigot Bay,” says Capella’s exuberant general manager, Jeroen Quint.

Quint says he is indebted to Schulze and other persons who helped to nurture his career. Schulze started the Ritz Carlton Hotel line in 1983 and is widely regarded

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as the man who transformed the luxury hospitality industry. Quint worked with Hyatt before joining the Ritz Carlton, which would lead to a strong business partnership with Schulze.

Discovery Bay hotel - with the marina, marina village , shopping gallery - and to put it all together as one luxury Caribbean Resort & Marina destination. We want to be the best that we can be.”

After Schulze’s retirement from the Ritz Carlton, which was sold to the Mariott Hotel, he decided that he wanted “to do this all over again.” But this time around it would be a hotel group that offered more personalised service to clients.

Having worked his way up from the lower ranks in the hotel circuit to the upper management levels, Quint is unequivocal about what is required from everyone on the job in order for a resort to be successful. “Love the work that you do, then the guests will be happy, staff will be happy and management will be happy, and this will lead to a harmonious operation.”

As Quint explained, “We needed to start a company that focuses on about 100 rooms per hotel, so that we could offer really individualized and personalized service to our guests.” And so the Capella brand was conceptualized.

Capella was established in 2002/2003 with a dream “to become that hotel luxury brand that really serves up to a small group of people with quality service.”

During a five-year job stint, Quint managed Capella’s hotels in Europe before he got picked for the job in Saint Lucia.

Quint gladly embraced the opportunity to return to the Caribbean. “I am very excited about it,” he adds.

“It’s a beautiful island with great people and this presents a great opportunity to create from what already is a very good vision from the former 20 DAZZLE

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He emphasises that the major stakeholders in the Capella setup involve employers, employees, guests and the surrounding community. Capella operates as a management company, says Quint, and “our goal is to show people that they can transform their lives.”

The Capella resort places strong emphasis on service standards and empowering staff “with a sense of purpose and belonging to the resort.” Its service mantra is to harness the workers’ skills and provide quality service.

“We believe in growth, we believe in people choosing a career path and not just a job,” said Quint. “We believe in promotion from within and enriching our employees’ lives in the

community as a result of this.”

Capella takes its corporate social responsibility seriously and this ideal is embedded in its approach with regard to community outreach. The resort plans to work hand in hand with the Marigot community with the aim of developing strong social partnerships with the residents.

Quint adds that among Capella’s goals is to provide a ‘safe harbour’ in an idyllic setting to accommodate adventure seekers, as well as luxury chartered yachts.

The resort is keenly focussed on clients from key markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and the USA. Catering to visitors from the other Caribbean islands is also a priority. Locals will have preferred access to the resort and be able to enjoy its thrilling array of 5-star services.

What distinguishes Capella’s service from that of other hotels on the island? Quint says Saint Lucia is blessed with some very good hotels. “To me, some of the best hotels in the region are right here … some of them are known for their service and exquisite setting. To me it is exciting because I want to be competing at that level,” he added.

Quint explains that what sets Capella apart is the quality and scale of the service offered. “We want to create experiences for our guests by bringing in local artistes and giving them the opportunity to spend time with the guests one-on-one, to share their vision of how and why they create their craftwork, and to show what is special about Saint Lucia,” he said.

“Marigot Bay is a unique destination because it is a hurricane hole for super mega yachts,” Quint noted.

“In my opinion, you cannot ask for a more beautiful spot in the Caribbean. But you need to create something for people to do.”

Over the next six months Capella will embark on extensive renovation works to enhance the property.

The Food and Beverage service will showcase a Show Kitchen and an Exhibition Kitchen offering an exclusive fine-dining experience. Rum Cave at the lagoon will be the spot for casual entertainment and a Marina Village casual bar and sitting area will serve up ‘high energy’ entertainment aimed at attracting young people to a cool hangout featuring lively music.

According to Quint, the hallmark of the resort will be providing exquisite amenities “in an intimate environment for guests using every possible modern facility, including the Lapli Spa, a fitness centre, shopping, bars and restaurants for the ultimate vacation experience.”

“In Marigot Bay we want to give you a reason to come visit us. And between the Marina and all the Marina Village experiences, we need to have weekly activities that give people a reason to come here,” Quint added.

The Capella Marigot Bay Resort & Marina GM is excited about the hotel’s prospects for success and remains steadfast in his belief that everything will work out fine.

“We need to create something that will drive people here,” Quint stresses. “Something that is good for employment, for the business sector and for the economy; that is good for social awareness, and that is going to be crucial to us.”

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Jordan Khan to the Rescue – helping Caribbean Youths Conquer Maths

by Reginald Andrew

H

e may not be your typical Math Genius or Science Whizz Kid but Jordan Khan sure knows how to push the envelope when it comes down to tackling the tough subject of mathematics.

Call it the ‘Field of Dreams’ if you will, Jordan’s Maths project is gathering momentum as he reaches out across the region to help students tackle the subject. He is the creator and developer of w w w. C X C M a t h t v. c o m , an interactive and very stimulating on-line tutorial program.

He was born in Jamaica but moved to Saint Lucia with his parents at an early age.

He was attending the Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School when he left for Trinidad & Tobago where he spent most of his teenage and adolescent years. His mom is a Trinidadian and his dad is the prominent Jamaican insurance business executive,Leathon Khan.The family has been based in Saint Lucia for some time.

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This enterprising 21 year-old Caribbean-bred native has launched an innovative on-line tutorial project aimed at helping students enhance their knowledge of mathematics.

It was while studying in the United Kingdom that young Jordan became concerned about the dismal performance of many Caribbean students in mathematics. He felt the urge to rally to the cause.

Saint Lucia is blessed with two distinguished Nobel Laureates in the persons of Sir William Arthur Lewis and Hon. Derek Walcott. As the island celebrates its 35th Independence Anniversary it highlights the outstanding works of these regional statesmen showcased in the annual celebration of Nobel Laureates Week.

Jordan could not have chosen a better time to embark on such a noteworthy project, especially as more young people are preparing to go in search of employment in a very competitive business environment. He describes the program as a ‘private online community’ of students from across the Caribbean learning and preparing for the exams together.

He was only 18 when he launched the program with little web development experience but he said he “believed with a deep sense of conviction that I needed to do something.”

Moreover, Jordan was the top mathematics student at the Harmon School of S.D.A in Tobago and he also won the award for “Best Science Student of 2009” at his graduation. “I helped friends and other students with their homework and assignments and I aced the CXC mathematics exam with a distinction,” he says.

Jordan has recently launched a brand new product called “The Ultimate 5 Week Mathematics Exam Training eCourse”, which he has been developing over the past few months.

He sat down with Dazzle magazine and took us through the ropes of his project.

Dazzle: Tell us briefly about your passion and how you got involved in this on-line tutoring exercise.

Jordan: I had a few passions; firstly I wanted to be a chef and had enrolled in a Culinary Arts course while I worked in the industry for a while. Then I wanted to get into film making and went to England to pursue studies. I still enjoy them both today but they’ve become hobbies rather than a profession for me.

While in the UK I came across an article about the pass rate of Caribbean students in mathematics. At the time, the pass rate was a minimal 33 percent among students in the region. I figured out there was a downward trend and the grades kept declining every year. I had been very good at maths during my school days and I felt that I could definitely contribute something. I might not be able to change the percentage rate but I figured that I might be able to help at least some people better their grades. I felt that I could pass on my knowledge.

Dazzle: How much of a challenge was it for you to develop this program?

Jordan: I had no formal training in web development and decided to do the training on my own. The biggest challenge was explaining to friends and family what I had planned to do. Everything else came with learning the technical skills and basically I took off with the project from there. I gave up 100 percent of my time and I was totally committed to pursuing this venture however with that being said, I still got major love and support from my family and my girlfriend Hannah especially.

When I first started I did it full-time but things did not take off as I had planned. So with limited resources I had to kick back and get a part-time job. I did that for a while but eventually left to continue with my project full-time. Right now it is my main source of income.

Dazzle: What has been the response thus far?

Jordan: A big part of my market is on Facebook and I try to leverage the power of social media. After I managed to figure out and implement effective strategies, in one month we had over 900 students registered for the new program and this has been my biggest feat so far. It has been approximately 18 months since I established this website and though the first 15 months were kind of difficult, I have been able to pull through.

My biggest step forward since I started has been the launch of ‘The Ultimate 5 Week Mathematics Exam Training eCourse’, which is a huge breakthrough for me. Now over 1,500 students from across the Caribbean have registered for the eCourse. We’ve also got a growing community on Facebook with over 3,300 fans and counting.

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The eCourse was recently introduced to the form 5 students of the Babonneau, Entrepot and Castries Comprehensive Secondary Schools and the responses were great and the teachers were very supportive.

As the name suggests, the “Exam Training eCourse” is a digital 5-week program that guides users through a series of automated, scheduled lessons which show them how to answer exam style questions via video tutorials and detailed solutions.

The eCourse also features interactive CXC style practise quizzes on each exam topic which automatically marks their answers and provides step-by-step solutions at the end.

Dazzle: Do you have plans to upgrade this program in the future?

Jordan: Definitely, although these recent developments mark a significant milestone for me, it is still in essence, just the beginning of what I plan to achieve. I can already envision releasing several editions of the eCourse as well as working with professional teachers and expanding into other subject areas in the near future. One step at a time though.

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Dazzle takes the opportunity to wish Jordan all the best with his endeavours and resounding success as he reaches out to students across the region.

fun facts Most Interesting thing you saw this week?

A movie entitled ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Golden apple or passion fruit juice?

Passion fruit Favourite Caribbean artiste?

Bunji Garlin Soccer, basketball or cricket?

Basketball Favourite Hang-out spot?

Beach

CHANNEL LETTERS LIT SIGNS / NON LIT SIGNS 3D LETTERS BILLBOARDS / SEAMLESS WRAPS ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNS DIRECTORIES VEHICLE WRAPS BANNERS BUS SHELTERS LIGHT FRAMES / SNAP FRAMES A-FRAMES LARGE FORMAT PRINTS POSTERS / FLYERS BUMPER STICKERS NUMBER PLATES PULL UP BANNERS ( WITH STANDS) FEATHER BANNERS BUNTINGS / TABLE CLOTHS STANDIES RAGS / FLAGS / CLOTH BANNERS WIND WINDOW CLINGS MESH BANNERS NAME TAGS ENGRAVING ACRYLIC DESKTOPS

e-mail:exelsign@gmail.com . exelsign@candw.lc website:www.exelsign.com P.O. Box RB2695 Marisule Gros Islet St. Lucia, W.I. www.dazzlethemag.com

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RADIANT ORCHID

2014 PANTONE COLOUR OF THE YEAR

Sirsean Arlain Changing Lives and Championing the Rise of Local Tennis

by Mindy Luquiana Chicot

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W

hen he was asked to give up football for tennis at the age of ten, Sirsean Arlain had no idea what life would serve him next. So, as most kids would do, he just went along with his mother’s wishes. Years later who would have guessed that Sirsean would describe himself as a tennis enthusiast? Moreover, he never imagined that he would become a coach, using his skill to change the lives of others.

Sirsean was able to use tennis as a means of advancement. He acquired a scholarship to attend Southern University and later transferred to Averett University where he majored in biomedicine with minors in sociology and psychology. He explains that what he finds most fascinating about tennis is that “it is never the same.” The adrenalin that he gets from it is unsurpassed, so he keeps on playing.

After many years living abroad, Sirsean decided to return home in 2007. Surprised by the deterioration of tennis in Saint Lucia, he decided to quit his full-time job and take on the colossal challenge of engendering what some might call the “resurgence of tennis in Saint Lucia.” As a result of his passion and love for the game, and the fact that sitting behind a desk was just not in his nature, the Tiger Tennis Club was born.

For some it would be for more than just fun and games; it would be an opportunity to improve their playing skills and further their educational pursuits, including for coaches. Sirsean and his team fervently believe that having adequate facilities is essential to the growth of any sport. This affords the players and tennis aspirants a great opportunity to train in state-of-the-art facilities. It also puts them at less of a disadvantage when they come up against opponents from other countries who have no difficulties in that area.

With a dynamic and committed team and access to improved and less restrictive facilities, Tiger Tennis Club decided to extend their programme to the primary and secondary Schools in the north of the island. This was one of the club’s original goals. They are passionate about promoting youth development and health and want to facilitate not just training but also offer a comprehensive, life-changing experience to all their members.

The club was founded three years ago by Sirsean Arlain, Ron Blanchard, Janeva Mathurin, Robert Huggins and Danny Augustin. Its goal is to eliminate the stigma once attached to tennis, namely that it is an elitist sport, and make the game more prominent in Saint Lucia, especially at the school level. Sirsean had concluded that the decline of local tennis was due to the loss of some great coaches and the lack of facilities and corporate sponsorship. This was about to change.

The construction of the Kenneth “Wriggler” King Multipurpose Sports Centre in Conway was a milestone in the development of tennis in Saint Lucia.

It proved to be a step in the right direction toward the development not just of tennis but sports in general. In addition to the Multipurpose Sports Centre, the construction of the Saint Lucia National Tennis Centre in Beausejour was another milestone that helped to further the development of the game.

Its construction gave Tiger Tennis Club the avenue they needed to take what seemed to be a dwindling sport and revamp it so that anyone who wished could participate in this extraordinary experience.

They have since written to the Ministry of Education urging it to incorporate tennis into the schools’ curriculum. The club shares the sentiments of former US President John F. Kennedy who said, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.”

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To date the club has been established in five schools - Anglican Infant and Primary, Methodist Primary, Morne Du Don Combined, Vide Boutielle Secondary and Leon Hess Secondary. Its membership also includes students from St. Aloysius RC Boys Primary, Castries Comprehensive Secondary, St Mary’s College and St Joseph’s Convent, to name a few. The club believes this will help to minimise the disparity that exists between Saint Lucian players and their international and regional counterparts.

If there is to be a marked change in the public perception of tennis and people’s attitude towards the game, it must start with the kids while they are still very young. There is also an urgent need for resources and tournaments in order to give local players the best opportunities for training and advancement possible.

The Tiger Tennis Club has hosted several tournaments and camps, some of which have been televised. Its focus is on helping young tennis hopefuls develop and improve their skills and techniques and getting them used to playing in a competitive setting.

Coach Earl Blanchard has been imparting his knowledge and skills to the juniors. A Saint Lucian national known for his dedication and commitment to the sport, Coach Blanchard views his role as fundamental to the young players’ development.

He holds the distinction of being a PTR certified (Professional Tennis Registry) professional with over 30 years of experience.

The club has also received support from the Saint Lucia National Tennis Association and a number of sponsors who share their vision. The sponsors include Computer World, E-zone, LIME, Sandals, Subway, Voyager, Voice Publishing Company Ltd. and Western Union, all of whom, despite economic constraints, have maintained their support and help to keep the club’s programme going.

The Tiger Tennis Club caters to a wide range of players, from ages five to twenty-three. They are divided into groups and training times are segmented. The programme is normally held on Saturdays at the Kenneth “Wriggler” King Multi-purpose Sports Centre located at George V Park, more popularly known as ‘The Gardens’.

The beginner and intermediate groups (age five to eight and eight to eleven) are trained in the morning 30 DAZZLE

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from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. The tournament players train from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The club also caters to adult women and men who are interested in the game and offers a Ladies Night Class and Men’s Class.

If you’re interested in enrolling in the programme, you can contact the group at 486-1504; tigertennisslu@ gmail.com and www.facebook.com/tigertennisstlucia.

The Tiger Tennis Club has certainly made a huge difference in the growth and development of local tennis by helping to broaden its appeal at the grass roots level. More importantly, the club is helping to inculcate a sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie amongst the young players while helping them understand that “the will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential,” are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

Dazzle wishes the Tiger Tennis Club success in all their endeavours and hope they have a great year!

Read about Curty on page 34 www.dazzlethemag.com

DAZZLE 31

Tel. 758.572.3088 We b. ww w. beyondlimitscont.com

Taking Design Building and Construction to a Higher Level

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ith ambition and drive there is no limit to what one can accomplish. Taking modern construction standards to that next level fits squarely within the domain of this dynamic emerging local company.

Beyond Limits Design Construction Ltd gets the job done promptly and befittingly. When looking to get your building job done right and at a favourable cost—Beyond Limits Design Construction Ltd—is there right up your alley.

General Desilting Junior Ricardo Joseph is the company’s young ‘no-nonsense’ approach manager who provides that undaunted dynamism, which has propelled his two and a half year old construction company to break even into the thoroughfare of the local industry.

Beyond Limits Design’ is on cue to be ‘A cut above the rest’. The company focuses on general construction works and offers a full range of construction services including designing and building of residential, industrial and commercial properties, maintenance, cost estimates, civil works and contractual and project management. And as always,

Civil Works 32 DAZZLE

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High-end clientele demand quality standard work and Beyond Limits has been able to deliver the goods as professionally required. The company is currently on hire by Sandals Resort and has scored big to land some top projects namely construction of their Warehouse. This project which is near completion was undertaken over a period of eight months and Joseph cites this, as the biggest project to date embarked on by his company. Prior to this, high-end renovation works had also been completed at Sandals Grande by Beyond Limits.

Community Service with the interest of the client at heart Beyond Limits offers guidelines in building techniques.

Complete satisfaction of their clients is at core of the company’s operations and Junior is just about all of that and more. He states categorically, “to be a cut above the rest …involves being patient, knowing my stuff and advising my clients properly.”

But what sets Beyond Limits Design apart from their competitors? “Being knowledgeable in the business, advising the client when necessary and not going

Remodelling Junior expressed delight in the fact that the exposure gained from working with Sandals has been great and provides a good platform for advertising his company; to go along with the marketing and company profiles promote. He rates his biggest accomplishment over the last six months, as “building awareness and that awareness is growing.”

Beyond Limits Designs operates with a base of twenty workers consisting of five permanent staff and part-time crew. And since construction works is seasonal the company employs as many as 25 workers during busy periods.

Warehouse Construction there just for the monetary profits, but to provide satisfaction to a client by all means necessary to satisfy my client,” says Junior.

Pool Deck Renovations www.dazzlethemag.com

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by Reginald Andrew

F

or this special edition in observance of Saint Lucia’s 35th Independence Anniversary, Dazzle magazine features Courtney ‘Curty’ Louis - Saint Lucia’s hottest hit-music producer.

“All that I aim for, I work hard to accomplish and even more,” neatly expresses the sentiments of this accomplished song-writer, ace-producer and business entrepreneur.

What endears Curty to most people is his sublime humility and charm. This Saint Lucian is earmarked for stardom and continues to make his country proud with the production of several hit numbers spun locally, regionally and globally.

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C

urty attended the Canon Laurie Anglican School, St. Mary’s College, and the Barbados Community College before concentrating on developing his musical skills. He did a course in sound engineering but dropped out of college, confident that “School wasn’t where I wanted to be, I wanted to pursue it on my own.”

Curty’s first connection with a Saint Lucian artiste was with Ninja Dan, the two of them pioneers in the “growth of soca music in Saint Lucia.” Since then he has worked with other local artistes including Ricky T, Mongstar, Alpha, Ambi, Superman HD, Q-Pid, Scady Dot P, Selecta Twis and Marie-Anne.

Curty has also collaborated with regional artistes such as Machel Montano, Shurwayne Winchester, KMC and Naya George from Trinidad, Ce’Cile, Beenie Man and Christopher Martin from Jamaica, and Tall Pree and Mr. Killa from Grenada. He also worked with Tabia from Saint Vincent with whom he produced and wrote ‘Boom Boom Boom’ – one of his biggest singles to date that won awards in Bermuda and Saint Vincent.

His list of awards is quite extensive and spans across the region. In addition to the titles in Saint Vincent and Bermuda, he also won a Road March title in Trinidad for his work on the Machel Montano song ‘Jumbie,’ as well as the Power, Road March and titles in Grenada for the songs ‘Spice Isle Rock’ and ‘Warriors’ produced in collaboration with Mr Killa. Back home in Saint Lucia, Curty has won three Power Soca Monarch titles, one Groovy title and one Road March title. He is also the winner of three Copyright of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) awards and the Saint Lucian Producer of the Year award which he won in 2008.

During the 2011, 2012 and 2013 carnival seasons Curty released more music than every other Saint Lucian producer. He also scored the most songs in the Groovy and Power Soca Monarch finals.

In 2012, after the release of 40 songs, he would end the year with his first Power Soca Monarch title since ‘Happy Birthday Carnival’ in 2006. Superman HD captured the title with ‘Born to Mash Up,’ a song produced by Curty and co-written with Hollice “Mr. Killa” Mapp and Kwency “Superman HD” Griffith.

Currently working on material for Saint Lucia Carnival 2014, Curty sat down with Dazzle after another hard day’s work, to take us on a trek into his musical world.

Dazzle: What motivated you to get into the music industry and the show bizz scene?

Courtney: I always liked music and used to imitate a favourite artiste of mine back in the day when I wanted to become a singer. While living in Barbados I hanged out with my cousin who was involved in promoting events. He was part of the Lil Rick management crew and I used to go along with them to the studio where I met producer Peter Toppin and decided to get into production to do my own thing.

Dazzle: What’s the name of your company and what type of business do you conduct?

Courtney: My production company is called Dutch Productions. I also have a music label named ‘Stratosphere Muzic’ which consists primarily of 12 core persons. We inspire each other, creating a vibe built on ‘team work.’

Dazzle: You push and develop many young Saint Lucian artistes. Is this your company’s business model or does it just come naturally?

Courtney: It comes naturally because long before I established the companies I was already doing that, as an artiste and producer. I feel the label has helped to enhance and expand that vibe I started with Dutch Productions.

Dazzle: You are known for producing Saint Lucian Soca anthems. How did you conceptualize Glo Ko Ko in 2011, Saint Lucia We Love in 2012 and Nationality in 2013?

Courtney: It dates back to my early years when I was based in Trinidad & Tobago. I was like the Lucian out there trying to carry the flag. Being away from home, I guess you appreciate your local music more and teaming up with Mongstar who is equally patriotic, helps create these kind of songs. The concepts for each of the songs you mentioned were a collaborative effort. For instance, Mongstar was singing and writing Glo Ko Ko when I told him let’s make a story out of the song. So we sat down to work it out, just like other songs that I produced with other artistes.

When we’re at work in the studio you come up with a hook and then take it from there. I believe every song has a story to tell and I encourage every artiste I work with to write and tell that story with me.

Dazzle: Did you have a goal in mind when you started off?

Courtney: I like to analyse myself. I always evaluate and pose challenges to myself. Everything I aim for, I

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want to always accomplish and more and I thank God for my success thus far. For instance, I first wanted to be a deejay and then realise I wanted to be a singer; then a producer and then later realized that I wanted to have my own record label. I wasn’t the best DJ or singer but found my place in song-writing and production. So who knows where the wind will blow next?

Dazzle: How successful have those songs been locally and internationally?

Courtney: They have opened a lot of doors. Where I used to be three years ago and where I am now is a huge leap. For example, to be honest, three years ago I used to be interested in participating in T&T carnival and my ambitions have gone beyond that now; it is not even on my mind right now. I want our music, as in Saint Lucian music, to be heard and played throughout and out of this world.

Dazzle: What are some of the strong guiding principles that have enabled you to propel your career?

Courtney: To put God first and keep faith, trusting and having confidence in the Most High. I always believe in being humble, like you are never ‘too big’ to learn or listen to others. One needs to learn how to accept criticism too even though it’s hard because the work we do is so personal.

Dazzle: Besides Soca, what other musical genres do you produce?

Courtney: Reggae … I had a great collaboration with Ce’Cile and on her last reggae album a couple of the tracks were produced by me. I’ve gotten to like Soca music more now. It’s like it grew on me. I like a lot of techno, a lot of pop, dancehall, reggae and the like.

And I also like a lot of rock music. So I experimented and fused it with Soca and I developed my own Soca vibe. I always liked Zouk also but Soca grew on me.

Dazzle: What has been your biggest achievement thus far?

Courtney: The birth of my fifteen-year old daughter, Shayler, who resides in the USA. She is my only child and she could sing. She was born in Saint Lucia but is now a US citizen.

Dazzle: What is your ultimate goal both as an artiste and as a person?

Courtney: My ultimate goal is to take my label 36 DAZZLE

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Stratosphere Muzic, which means out of this world, to higher heights.

Dazzle: What other services do you offer and what other companies have you worked with?

Courtney: I produce jingles for the corporate sector and have worked with LIME, Digicel and other businesses. LIME was formerly Cable & Wireless and when they were officially rebranded, I did their theme song for the region in collaboration with top regional artistes like Beenie Man, Edwin Yearwood, Denise Belfond and Ninja Dan from Saint Lucia.

I have also produced several other jingles for LIME and Digicel, KFC and Orange Media. I also did the recent LIME jingle featuring Coaks and Anglasia and the folk group, the Secret Band. I also did the Digicel Carnival promotion and the Digicel Xmas promotion.

I did the H2O ‘Sa Se Glo’ promotion and have worked with Bryden & Partners and Peter & Company. I have also done carnival jingles for the Carnival Stakeholders Committee and produced last year’s Saint Lucia Carnival theme song.

Dazzle: What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs in the music industry?

Courtney: As I said earlier, you need to be humble and open to criticism; stay grounded, stay focused on your goal because distractions tend to lead to a lot of frustration and stagnation. I keep stressing being humble because it is so important not to get caught up in your own hype or success and most importantly, put God in everything that you do.

fun facts Favourite Music?

Techno Favourite Drink?

Hennessey…Hennessey Black If you were to be a dancehall artiste, who would it be?

Beenie Man Favourite Phone?

Android, iPhone

Read about Sharleen on page 44

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How to Score on Your First Date!

S

by StudioMIA

o you’re going on a first date - now what?

Been a little while and you accepted the invite but it just hit you like a ton of bricks, and you are now a little apprehensive. How’s this done again? What do I wear? How do I act? What do I say?

Breathe. Relax and take it step by step.

Get Groomed. Yes! Ladies love stubble but gents, do keep it subtle. If you do have a serious beard or moustache, keep it neatly trimmed. Keep the nails short and clean and don’t forget to use cologne. Just do not overkill!

Ladies, be sure to get your brows done as well as a mani-pedi, as this will complete your look and set you on the way to a great first impression. Natural-look makeup is recommended. Don’t go full club-mode on the first date. He wants to get to know you, and you appearing to be au naturel will help him do just that.

Dress the part. Guys don’t go black tie for Happy Hour drinks on the strip - or ladies, sky high stilettos to a picnic at Pigeon Island. Dress smart for the occasion and try to dress at the same level that you believe 38 DAZZLE

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your date may be wearing. Even if you really want to woo your date, do not pull out all your tricks on the first night. Let the first date be a tease so that they will want a second, third and fourth (and so on).

Most importantly, ensure the garments you choose are clean. Do not try to mask a stain or odour. Just don’t wear it!

Flaunt your best assets. You know what they are so highlight them in a tasteful manner. And if you are not sure, ask a friend to help you. Your colour selection is equally as important. Choose colours that complement your complexion, your eyes and hair colour. Colour selection can send a subliminal message to your date as well as set the mood for the evening.

Don’t try to over-impress. Don’t try to be exceedingly humorous or intellectual by rehearsing jokes or stats on recent trends or current affairs. Your date wants to meet the real you, not a version of, so do not try to be what you are not. Be as quirky, intelligent, funny, intriguing or as clumsy (well maybe not AS clumsy) as you are normally. Once the ice is broken, hopefully the awkwardness will fade and you both will feel comfortable till the end of the date. Until the next!

Transforming Your Business in the Cloud - the new wave of the future

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magine a world where some individuals or businesses are privileged to have their own water reservoir or electrical power plant, while others have none. Now imagine a world where there is one massive reservoir or electrical power plant and a supply network that everyone can tap into for free or for a fee based on usage. Now substitute the water reservoir or the power plant for a computing network, and what you have is a comparative illustration of the world before and after cloud computing, and the fascinating interconnected world it has enabled.

Cloud computing is no longer just a buzzword you may have heard people touting loosely; the paradigm shift has happened, it is the wave of the future.

Essentially, it is a way for consumers or companies to tap into and utilize the vast IT resources (software and hardware) of another company (e.g. Amazon Web Services, Microsoft’s Windows Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Salesforce.com) via the internet, instead of using their limited resources to create and maintain their own IT network system.

Before the internet and cloud computing existed, only the privileged few were financially capable of

harnessing the power of large-scale computing services. Over the past 10 years a plethora of companies with massive amounts of computing resources have emerged, and they allow anyone to tap into their network systems for free or for a fee, which varies according to the package you subscribe to or the amount of IT resources you actually consume.

Why Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing through the internet helps level the IT resource and business-opportunity playing field for businesses of all sizes. Small to midsized companies can easily access these widely varied cloud services and use them to align and manage their limited human, financial and technology resources more efficiently. It also gives them greater flexibility and options to scale their operations easily and rapidly to respond to the unpredictable and ever-changing demands of today’s economic and business environment. This means they are better equipped to:

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DAZZLE 39

Bristol University Celebrates the Life of Brother George

A

by Tony Williams

s part of Black History Month held in October every year in the UK, the University of Bristol Union regularly celebrates the life and achievements of one of Saint Lucia’s most illustrious sons, the late Bro. George Odlum.

George made history as Bristol University’s first black Students’ Union President. While here, at home, George had gained near legendary fame for his political and mobilisational struggles, as well as his intellectual prowess and his oratorical skills and erudition, long before that he had made his mark at Bristol University, his alma mater.

In 2004 one of the rooms in the Students’ Union was renamed the Odlum Room. It has since undergone a major refurbishment programme and has been redeveloped. It will become part of a multi million pound International Foundation Centre. In the words of Chief Executive of the University of Bristol Union, Samantha Budd, George Odlum was “a voice for all of Bristol’s students” and a man with a sense of purpose” who “developed a vision of hope for change.”

In 2009 the Bristol University Students’ Union appointed Samantha Budd as its first Chief Executive.

Together with a team from the union, she set about transforming the Students Union “from the inside out” 40 DAZZLE

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to improve the Bristol student experience, according to the University of Bristol magazine Nonesuch. As part of the process, the team had been looking back at the Union’s history and in the process Sam Budd discovered a plaque dedicated to alumnus George Odlum, the first black President of the Students’ Union, from 1958-59. The following article was penned

by Samantha Budd as a tribute to Bro George.

The University of Bristol Union (UBU) has been working with its trustees, officers and staff to shape the union’s future, building on the legacy of past presidents to provide outstanding support to improve the Bristol student experience.

We’ve spent a considerable amount of time asking questions: who are we? What are we about? What do students and the university want from us?

To answer these questions, it’s important to remember where we’ve come from and to see what has gone on before us. Integral to this process was the discovery of a plaque dedicated to George Odlum (BA 1959), the first black president of the students’ union in 1958/59.

When I saw the plaque, something chimed for me and I wanted to find out more.

It described Odlum as “a man of immense political experience” and a “catalyst for mobilisation”. Inspired, I delved deeper into Odlum’s past, and what it could tell me about the union and what it has stood for. I spoke to alumni and searched through the university and theatre archives for images.

I uncovered newspaper articles and went to the far reaches of the British Library to learn more about Odlum’s remarkable tale and the union’s role in it. The son of a barber, Odlum had left the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia in 1956 to study English and philosophy at Bristol. He had arrived in a country that was still recovering from World War II and had not yet reformed its race relations.

Significant social and political events were still to come: the Notting Hill riots, Bristol’s boycott of the Omnibus Company and the establishment of the Race Relations Act. In spite of all the challenges he faced, Odlum maintained a sense of purpose and developed a vision of hope for change. In 1958 he was elected students’ union president and became the voice for all of Bristol’s students.

Not going to hide in the shadows It is the historical context that makes George Odlum and his achievements stand out as truly extraordinary.

As the daughter of a black man from the Caribbean

myself, I realised that I shared many of Odlum’s ideals as I continued my research.

Against this national and local background of challenge and racism, Odlum found a more enlightened and tolerant reception at the University of Bristol, which even at that time was reasonably international: in 1958, students from 28 countries around the world were studying at Bristol (this compares with students from over 100 nations today).

In 1958, Bristol was nearing its 50th anniversary, and was even then considered one of the better-established UK universities. Far from home and alone in a provincial city, Odlum, like many of his fellow students, gravitated towards the students’ union: the social hub where students could relax, have a drink, or develop hobbies or pastimes.

Odlum may not have been able to socialise easily in the wider Bristol community, but he was not a man who was going to hide in the shadows; it is clear that he was gregarious within the university community.

As president and figurehead of the students’ union, Odlum represented the students at university functions and events as well as on the national stage of student politics.

In 1958, he welcomed Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to the university during their visit.

TRIUMVIRATE – Majorie Loud (ladies’ president), George Odlum (president) and Roddy Hughes (vice president) – Photo credit: ‘The Western Daily Press’

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Bristol Students’ Union was a founding member of NUS. After the war, NUS was instrumental in establishing the International Union of Students in 1946, and in 1952 it joined other student organisations and established the International Students’ Conference.

Odlum had been on the committee of UBU’s international society, and it was in this increasingly internationalised backdrop that he began to operate on the national stage of student politics. NUS Council was debating issues that would have fired Odlum’s passion and provided him with the platform to demonstrate his emerging political and oratory acumen.

should be noted that only on rare occasion does a council act in such unison.” When Odlum left Bristol he went into a life of politics, changing the face of politics in Saint Lucia and beyond.

By enhancing the union’s partnerships with the university and its students, I believe that UBU can help to transform the Bristol student experience for the better, enabling today’s students, like Odlum, to be courageous and pioneering.

His legacy lives on

In addition to reforming the union’s structures and staffing, the building itself is undergoing a huge refurbishment programme, which includes the development of a new International Foundation Centre that will support international students when they arrive at Bristol.

Issues debated included: support for the ‘problems faced by colonial students’ (1957); ‘condemnation

After my own voyage of discovery about George Odlum and his life, the university corporate board,

George Odlum meets The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh when they visited the University in 1958. Image by Bristol University’s Special Collection of apartheid and violations of academic freedom in South Africa’ (1957); ‘condemnation of the policy of the French government in arresting the officers of the Algerian Students’ Union’ (1958); and the motion that George himself presented at the Easter Conference in 1958, calling for more co-operation between East and West.

The motion was passed unanimously, and the Bristol student newspaper, Nonesuch News, reported: “It 42 DAZZLE

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responsible for the refurbishment, will be putting the George Odlum Room at the heart of the centre.

Although Odlum died 11 years ago, his legacy lives on in the Caribbean and as a pioneering alumnus of Bristol University.

George Odlum’s legacy will continue to live on within UBU and the university itself, inspiring Bristol staff and students as well as others as they hear about his achievements.

K's Lounge is a sophisticated bar in Castries. We offer a friendly and efďŹ cient service, where we serve international, local cocktails and beers, freshly prepared ďŹ nger foods are available for our guests.

We are also available to hire for parties and functions and we are open 7 days a week from 11am.

Free WIFI and LIME TV available.

For Bookings Contact Us at

37 Jeremie Street, Castries, St. Lucia | Tel: 758-458-1540 | ksloungeandbar@gmail.com 43 www.dazzlethemag.com

DAZZLE

Super-talented

Sharleen

LAGON

a class-act fashion designer

by Mindy Luquiana Chicot

A

rt is said to be a reflection of the soul; an out pouring of one’s innermost thoughts and desires. Sharleen Lagon says she has always been artistically inclined, practically glued to her sketchpad from a young age. Surprisingly, although she’s a fashion designer, she was not always into designing, but spent most of her early years dabbling in fine arts. It was not until Sharleen was 21 that she really began to take fashion designing seriously and now she has clients that span across the globe. She shares her journey in the world of fashion with Dazzle readers.

How and where did your journey begin?

I started dabbling in fashion design at the age of 21 but prior to that I used to design pieces off and on for people. I designed my prom dress and different party outfits for friends. I really decided to pursue fashion designing when Joyce Mederick hosted ‘The Aspiring Designer of the Year’ competition. I participated for three consecutive years, 2004, 2005 and 2006 before leaving for school in Barbados.

Were you always artistically inclined?

I would say yes. I started off doing fine art, namely paintings, drawings and later went into interior design and architecture.

I studied art at St. Joseph’s Convent and eventually went on to write it at CXC. I wanted to pursue architecture at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College but when that did not materialise, I settled for building trades. In my second year of the programme I realised that it just was not for me. So

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I decided to work with the family business for a while. It was during that time, I saw a commercial advertising the ‘aspiring designer of the year.’

What have been some of the defining moments in your career so far?

I would say, graduating from Barbados Community College with honours and winning a grant from CIE to start my own business. Every year I do shows that are bigger and better. I have had my work featured across the Caribbean, in islands like Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and the Bahamas to name a few. Last year I did Mission Catwalk which is a Jamaican version of Project Runway, which lasted for six weeks.

How did the opportunity for Mission Catwalk come about and describe your experience.

I was contacted by the organisers of the show who asked if I wanted to participate. I was like “sure!” The next thing I knew, they were sending me a plane ticket; all expenses paid … come on up to compete.

To be honest, it was intimidating. The show would be televised and I would be competing with other designers from other countries, some of whom I knew.

One of my competitors was a former classmate from school in Barbados, Alexis who is so good at what she does. I made it to the final six before I was eliminated.

Tell us a little about Hot Couture.

I was actually in Jamaica when I heard about it. When I heard that Vincent McDoom would be coordinating the event, I was like I need to work with him, especially with his big Diva status in Paris. So, when I got back I contacted Daune Charlery-John at the Saint Lucia Tourist Board and she eventually set-up a meeting between Vincent and myself. He guided me along in creating my new collection. He urged me to get out of my comfort zone and also to work with something other than madras which I was already known for.

What are some of your greatest challenges thus far?

One of the biggest challenges has been getting people to take you seriously, especially when you are doing something people tend to be sceptical about. The general opinion is either you can’t do that down here or you have to go to the US or Europe to be successful. I do believe there is scope for an industry here, it will happen in time. I have noticed that people are starting to take artistes more seriously. The Hot

Couture show really helped to show that Saint Lucia has talented designers.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Any and everything; sometimes it is listening to a song; watching a movie or reading a really good book and most times thinking, ‘How can I shock people?’

After which I just come up with a concept.

What do you believe sets you apart from other designers?

No two designers think the same. I do not limit myself to doing one set of clothing. It is all a work in progress, building my portfolio so I do not limit myself to one design aesthetic. I can do suits, children’s wear and accessories; I can do pretty much anything I set my mind to. Although I love working with madras, I work with all different types of fabric. I do not mimic people’s work; there are a lot of designers who do that but I try to always be original.

Describe what fashion means to you in three words?

Art, life…Me Can you share with us some of your future aspirations?

I would like to participate in some of the major international shows like Miami Fashion and New York Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. I would also like to participate in London, Paris and Milan Fashion Week. I am also keen on trying out Project Runway. I want to be recognised as a designer because aside from Anya Ayoung-Chee from Trinidad, you never hear about the design scope outside of the Caribbean. There are few Caribbean designers who are known internationally. I would like to change that.

Are there any persons you would like to work with?

I would like to work with Vincent again, the Governor General and the Prime Minister.

Internationally, I would like to work with Beyoncé, Celine Dionne, Angelina Jolie and possibly Rihanna.

In your opinion what can be done locally to assist designers?

There was a meeting recently to discuss a Saint Lucian Fashion Designers’ Council, which I think is a really great idea. Once it can get off the ground, it would be a great avenue for designers. I also believe that a fashion design programme can be introduced at Sir

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DAZZLE 45

Arthur Lewis Community College, which goes beyond what is taught at secondary schools in clothing and textiles.

Do you possess any other talents apart from designing?

Other than designing, I still paint and draw. I dabble a little bit in the literary arts with poetry and story writing. I also like making candles and accessories.

fun facts If you had to be a ChĂŠ Campeche character whom would you be?

Anglasia Last movie you saw?

Pirates of the Caribbean KFC or Dr. Freezers?

KFC Sneakers or heels?

Sneakers

46 DAZZLE

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ingredients

Making the Perfect Tablet

1 cup water 2 cups grated coconut 1 ½ cups brown sugar 1” cinnamon stick 2-3 cloves 1” ginger grated or 1/4” pieces (optional)

method Add the cinnamon stick, cloves, and sugar into a saucepan of boiling water.

Stir in grated coconut.

Reduce heat to medium.

Add ginger. Allow mixture to continue to boil for approximately 15-20 minutes stirring occasionally.

As the mixture thickens, continue stirring so that it will not stick to the saucepan.

Your mixture should be thick in consistency. Remove clove and cinnamon stick from mixture, spoon the mixture into clumps onto a baking sheet or wax paper and let cool before serving.

This recipe should yield between 8 – 10 pieces depending on the size of the portions. www.dazzlethemag.com

DAZZLE 47

HMDX Audio HX-P230BL JAM Classic Bluetooth Wireless Speaker Works With Most Bluetooth-Enabled Devices / Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery / Auxiliary Input

E

njoy sweet Sound in a sleek, portable design with this Jam rechargeable Bluetooth wireless speaker by HMDX Audio. Use the wireless speaker just about anywhere, from the kitchen or living room to a dorm room, office, back deck, or den. It can even be taken along to the beach when relaxing in the sunshine with friends.

• Incredible sound quality in a small footprint • Connects wirelessly up to 30 feet away • Works with all Bluetooth-enabled devices: smart phones, tablets and more • Rechargeable for up to 4 hours of wireless play

48 DAZZLE

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DAZZLE 49

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Follow US instagram/dazzlethemag

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