The Tribune
Friday, July 15, 2016
art books popular culture film fashion music pageants food
Weekend
LITERARY LIVES Pages 22-24
Preserving the past Portraits capture Bahamian history
Interview, pages 4&5
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Friday, July 15, 2016
life through a lens
Bahamians celebrate Independence in the US
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AHAMIANS in the United States celebrated the 43rd anniverary of Independence at the weekend at picnics, high tea parties, flag raisings and concerts in Chicago and Washington, DC, hosted by diplomats. Michael C Fountain, Bahamas Honorary Consul to Chicago, joined local and visiting Bahamians at the annual Bahamas Association picnic at Foster Beach on Saturday and announced that the Bahamas flag is now on permanent display alongside 49 others at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport international terminal 5. In Washington, Dr Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, and Paulette Zonicle, Bahamas Consul General to Washington, welcomed guests to a reception held in
the ballroom of the Hyatt, Bethesda, on Friday night. The evening included an art exhibition featuring the works of Patrick Delaney, a Bahamian who lives in Maryland; entertainment by Dillion McKenzie (D-MAC) and gospel group Shaback; and a rush-out by the Junkanoo Gawds group. On Saturday afternoon scores of Bahamians and friends of the Bahamas enjoyed a picnic organised by the Bahamian American Association in the DC area, while at the High Tea and Concert, Beth Stewart, proprietor of Beth’s Kitchen in Nassau, gave a brief talk on the various bush teas she produces. In addition to Shaback, opera singer Bridgette Cooper, who has roots in Eleuthera, and the Have you taken a talented Bahamian concert pianist Dion Cun- selection of photographs ningham, performed. that might make a Life through a lens feature page? If so please submit it to weekend@ tribunemedia.net for consideration
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Inside Weekend
My perfect Bahamian weekend Trevor Tucker Artist
Interview 4 - 5 Cara Hunt talks with photographer Duke Wells about the importance of preserving the country’s heritage through the Bahamian Project Food 7 Margaritaville serves up menu faves and laid-back atmosphere
Pageants 8 - 9 BTVI students wow with high fashion, plus Miss Bahamas contestants participate in triple header event
Art 10 The Place For Art celebrates its students’ work
Music 11 Bahamian blues musician Stone McEwan gets international exposure
Entertainment 12 - 13 MAVS gives aspiring artists a platform, plus St George’s hosts popular annual grill-out
Fashion 14 - 15 Husband and wife team successfully launch luxury jewellery line Popular culture 17 Bahamians go wild for Pokemon Relationships 19 Dr Edrica Richardson asks, ‘Are you a relationship addict?’
Literary Lives 22 - 24 Sir Christopher Ondaatje returns with the remarkable story of Sir Sidney Poitier Forgotten Facts 25 Paul Aranha explores Nassau’s cemeteries Animals 27 Kim Aranha on the importance of money in maintaining an animal shelter
Gardening 28 Jack Hardy discovers his garden’s African roots Cover Photo | Shawn Hanna
Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday lunch? Saturday breakfast is a no go for me. That is the one day I get to go out and do some work. Q: Wine, Kalik, rum or cocktail? I can’t drink a bunch of spirits and I like my mixer flavours, so I say cocktail. Q: Beach or sofa? The beach. I love the outdoors and
“I love the outdoors and the air. I rather that as opposed to being inside on the sofa.”
the air. I rather that as opposed to being inside on the sofa. Q: What could you not do without? There are quite a few things that I could not do without, but what comes to mind is art. Q: Weekend away: where would you go? I would probably go to a Family Island, though I am not sure which one; once I am away from Nassau...
Things 2 Do this weekend Friday • Torchbearers’ Karaoke Night Time: 7pm - 11pm Venue: Eddie’s at Fish Fry Join the FNM’s youth organisation Torchbearers for a night of karaoke, which is part of a series of events leading up the party’s convention later this month. • Emanji Circus Arts presents “Flight Plan” Time: 8pm (continues until Sunday; matinees at 3pm on Saturday and Sunday) Venue: National Centre for Performing Arts, Shirley Street. The Bahamas’ first circus is back with its aerial performances, juggling, trapeze, fire manipulation, contortion and more. Tickets are $15. • Island Rock Concert Series Time: 9pm Venue: Hard Rock Café Hosted by Sawyerboy TV, this week features performances by KhingKloud and Chase Fernander. This six-month long concert series will culminate in the patrons’
favourite band winning a trip to an international Hard Rock to play live. Admission $10 at the door. Proceeds go to Royal Nassau Skate Park.
Saturday • Polished - Etiquette Essentials for Teens Time: 10am - 2pm (continues on August 13) Venue: Mario’s Bowling and Family Entertainment Palace The one-day interactive and educational event seeks to build confidence, self-esteem and character. The event is free. To register, e-mail register@transitionmentoring.org. • Junkanoo Summer Festival Time: 12noon - midnight Venue: Arawak Cay The even is street festival designed to capture the competitiveness and excitement of Junkanoo every Saturday during the month of July. The major Junkanoo groups will leave the shacks and march to Arawak Cay, West Bay Street, for a spectacular, fun-filled rhythmic cultural
competition. Week two will also feature a choreography and dance competition. • Green Parrot Summer Beer Festival Time: 2pm - 10pm Venue: Green Parrot at Harbourfront Enjoy more than 10 types of craft beer from around the world, including the Bahamas’ own Pirate Republic Brewing Company beers, and a live performance by Ronnie Butler at 8pm. Admission is free.
Sunday • KLASS Live in Concert Time: 8pm Venue: Black Legend Hall, Prince Charles Drive. The successful Haitian band out of Miami will bring their signature konpa sound to the stage here in Nassau. Tickets for general admission are $40 in advance and $50 the door; VIP tickets are $75. For more information call 3222288.
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Friday, July 15, 2016
interview As the Bahamian Project wraps up its latest series of portraits, photographer Duke Wells tells Cara Hunt about documenting the faces of the Bahamas and the need for a national portrait gallery.
Duke Wells
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eteran photographer Duke Wells feels the portraits he takes for the Bahamian Project are more than just “nice pictures”; they are images that will help preserve the heart and soul of the people of this country for generations to come. The Bahamian Project was created five years ago under a simple premise: to have talented, professional local photographers provide candidly unique portraits of Bahamians from all walks of life. The initial collection of portraits was presented at an exhibition at the National
Art Gallery of the Bahamas as part of their programming for the 40th Anniversary of the Bahamas’ Independence. As an established photographer, Mr Wells was instrumental in setting up this first collection of portraits “The Bahamas is losing its history, culture and heritage faster than it can be documented,” he told Tribune Weekend. He noted that it is a shame that many prominent Bahamians have died without there being any iconic photos that capture their essence. “The Bahamian Project is photographing the people who have helped shape the
“The Bahamas is losing its history, culture and heritage faster than it can be documented...The Bahamian Project is photographing the people who have helped shape the heart and soul of the nation, in an effort to archive our history and cultures.”
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heart and soul of the nation, in an effort to archive our history and cultures. It is not a contest. Persons selected for the Bahamian Project need not be famous or successful by today’s commercial standards. It is not about how much someone has accomplished, as how much they have lived their lives. We are documenting both the bright lights and the raw gems of Bahamian society,” he said. While some of these “bright lights” have included politicians and cultural icons, other lesser known persons have also been included, for example a local phone vendor and a peanut man. Mr Wells emphasised that inclusion in the project should not be considered an award. “While awards are something tangible, or monetary, being selected for the Bahamian Project is intangible, yet priceless in value. Awards can be passed to different people over time; they are impersonal and temporary in nature. The Bahamian Project celebrates persons for who they are and what they do, and it is quite permanent.” Ensuring that permanency is another goal of the Bahamian Project. “We are trying to have an unprecedented body of work that will eventually become the foundation for a national portrait gallery, where they could then be on permanent display,” said Mr Wells. “We are in a unique position because the country is so young that we can still document persons who are in effect the founding fathers of the modern Bahamas; it is like Americans being able to photograph Lincoln or Jefferson today. It would not be responsible to not acknowledge these persons. We are working on creating the images which we can then donate to the government or whomever it is who can secure a permanent gallery for them to be on display. They are priceless and need to be archived for future generations.” Since the initial series of
“We are in a unique position because the country is so young that we can still document persons who are in effect the founding fathers of the modern Bahamas; it is ‘being able to photograph Lincoln or Jefferson today.”
Valentino Brown photographed by Lisa Wells
Darren Cox photographed by Duke Wells
Duke Wells with his wife Lisa, artist and project manager
photos, the Bahamian Project has been quietly and steadily working on additions to its collection. “We have been right here for the past five years selecting subjects and working with photographers to arrange photo shoots,” said Mr Wells. “We will be having a major exhibit in 2017 with about 100 photographs of Bahamians. It will be the largest photographic expo and portrait display in the Bahamas.” He explained that putting on a display of this magnitude requires a great deal of time, coordination and talent. “We ask the photographers to submit at least three images per subject, and as you can imagine, that takes time. You have to coordinate schedules and ideas so to get the volume of shots and all the subjects we want.” It also takes money, he said. “The photographers who shoot for the Bahamian Project do so on an entirely volunteer basis, and so you have to be flexible about that. It also means that we are sometimes limited to who we can select. For instance, we have some persons from the Family Islands that we would love to include. But you can’t ask
a photographer to spend the money to go there. And so you have to hope that they either have their own business to do on a Family Island and have some time to fit in a shoot, or that we can have someone sponsor the trip.” Mr Wells added that sponsorship is also needed for the portrait presentations. “Each portrait costs around $500 when you consider the printing and framing. What we are hoping is that we can get either family members to sponsor the cost of the project or we are hoping that we can get various industries to sponsors subjects in their field. So for instance, the Ministry of Tourism perhaps could sponsor people in the tourism industry, or the business community could sponsor business persons to help defray the costs. We would love to see more corporate sponsorship,” he said. The Bahamian Project team – which includes Mr Well’s wife, artist and project manager Lisa Wells – is currently also working on producing a special coffee table book that will feature the portraits taken so far. “When the portraits were first displayed they were accompanied by a brief description. We now have writers who have volunteered to write a more detailed description for each picture. So the plan will be to sell the books and all the profits will be used to fund the Bahamian Project,” he said. There is a small committee that decides who the subjects for the portraits will be, but Mr Wells noted that anyone can recommend a person they would like to see included simply by visiting the Bahamian Project’s website and going to the ‘Submit a Subject’ section. “We are looking for people who sum up what being Bahamian and what the Bahamas is about,” he said.
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Friday, July 15, 2016
food
Chilling by the waterside By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
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ith the hot Summer days in full swing, what could be better than cooling down and relaxing in an outdoor setting with a view of the water and some good food? That is the thinking of the staff at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville on Paradise Island. They say they are happy to add a little chill to your Summer heat with a refreshing list of margarita options and food pairings. On-site, patrons can encounter bartenders like Bianca Butler and Konrad Whylly, who mix favourites like the “Perfect Margarita”, made for true margarita aficionados only, the “Frozen Watermelon” Margarita”, the “Who’s To Blame Margarita”, the “5 O’Clock Somewhere”, and the “Last Mango In Paris”. Quick bites include the drunken shrimp skillet, chicken wings, taco salad, the famous “Cheese Burger in Paradise”, volcano nachos, conch fritters, Key West quesadillas and more. Since opening last December, the
restaurant has received great feedback from tourists and locals alike. One patron, Alexis, told Tribune Weekend that while she enjoys the food and drinks, it is definitely the atmosphere that keeps her coming back. “If you look at it, you are sitting inside but it is almost like you are also sitting on the outside. It is like an open house space. I like the sound of the ocean; the scenery is beautiful. It is hard to find places where you just feel comfortable to take your whole family and this is one of the places where I am OK with doing that,” she said. Tiona Williams, general manager at Margaritaville, said many visitors have told the staff that they enjoyed the Par-
adise Island restaurant even more than its counterparts in the US because of the relaxed atmosphere and location. Meanwhile, Bahamians said they like it because of “the reasonable prices and the atmosphere as well,” she said. “Margaritaville has always been huge in the United States since the 80s. There are locations in places like Key West, Chicago, New Orleans, Hollywood Beach Resort, as well as Jamaica. I have travelled all around the States working for Margaritaville and have been with the company since 2011, but I think bringing it to the Bahamas just fits the whole island lifestyle, and this is a popular island right outside of the States so it was ideal.”
Bringing her knowledge of the business to the Bahamas, she said the company tries to keep menu options and the level of service the same at all locations. “If you have been to the Chicago location and you come here, you should feel the same vibe and find the same order of drinks, nachos and things you love to order. What’s better here is that there is literally a beach right across the street; there are boats at the dock. It’s an open concept. As you can see, the interior is only partially inside so it gives persons that outdoor feel. A lot of people are travelling and they have cabin fever and they want to be outside,” she said.
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pageants PHOTOS/TARIQ CARTWRIGHT
The winning piece of the Bahamas Designer Showcase, made by BTVI graduate Mrylande Julien and modelled Miss World Paradise Island Pischia Adderley.
Second place winner in the Designer Showcase was BTVI student Janet Cooper. Her floral print creation was modelled by Miss World Bimini Bryneeah Gray.
This white suit won BTVI students Kirkwood Deal and Keisha Strachan third place in the Designer Showcase. It was modelled by Miss World Long Island Ashley Hamilton.
A high fashion look designed by Eldica Jackson and modelled by Miss World Abaco Whender LaFrance.
Miss World Staniel Cay Shanice Burrow models a headpiece and evening wear by Trineil Hanna.
BTVI students wow with high fashion creations By HADASSAH HALL
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tylish cuts, thigh-high slits, boundary-pushing head pieces, plunging necklines and overall avant garde fashion that could have graced the runways of Paris, New York or Milan were created by fashion students and alumni of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) for the Miss Bahamas Designer Showcase competition. Held at the Meliá Nassau Beach Resort under the theme, “I’m Every Woman”, the event attracted scores of fashion enthusiasts and supporters of the 10 Miss Bahamas contestants braved the brutal heat on the Independence Day holiday. And although the designer showcase was the third competition for the afternoon, following the swimwear and top model contests, it was an eclectic collection that was worth the wait. Whether they are currently enrolled or graduates, the emerging designers dished up a heavy dose of creativity, craftsmanship and originality that silenced any critics. Commonwealth Fabrics provided each designer with an $80 sponsorship to assist with materials. The partici-
pants took advantage of the opportunity to showcase their talents, showing edgy styles this year. This is the second consecutive year that the Miss Bahamas Organisation (MBO) and BTVI have teamed up. There was a consistent theme of womanhood throughout the showcase with symbols of femininity and empowerment, and designs ranging from the sleek and sexy to the bold and fierce, and even the playful. During the showcase, there were several pieces that started out one way, but were eventually revealed to have an underlying ‘wow’ factor. Who said evening wear had to be a full-length gown? The BTVI designers unveiled jaw-dropping petite skirts and rompers under capes. By the end of the evening, BTVI graduate Mrylande Julien broke ranks with the traditional evening gown and won the competition. Last year, she placed third with a three-piece white ensemble that incorporated pants layered with a sheer skirt and bustier. This year, what was supposedly an all black one-shoulder piece with an asymmetrical skirt, opened to reveal a peek-a-boo romper with a detachable African print coat that Miss World
Paradise Island Pischia Adderley threw over one shoulder. The audience erupted in applause and Pischia confidently sashayed down the runway. Mrylande’s victory was a sweet one, especially after having placed third last year. “I’m delighted. It validates to me that I am a good designer. I now know 100 per cent,” she exclaimed following the win. As for the design, Mrylande said she knew from the beginning that whatever she created it had to have the ability to be worn in different ways. Regarding the colour scheme, she said the black represented the power of women and the print was symbolic of women being queens. The peek-a-boo concept was to show a woman’s sensuality, while the romper was inspired by the comic book heroine Wonder Woman. Placing second was the design of Janet Cooper, whose cute, island chic creation was consistent with the floral trend that made a return to the fashion scene in 2015 and continued into this year. With her tiny frame, Miss World Bimini Bryneeah Gray perfectly fit into the beautiful creation that initially appeared to be a
sunshine yellow dress with a matching floppy hat and bag, but turned out to be a cover-up that hid a sleek floral mini skirt and top with a sweetheart neckline. Hopping into the third place spot was a duo: Kirkwood Deal and Keisha Strachan. They pulled off an all-white ensemble which included a striking pants suit and attached lace cape on the statuesque Miss World Long Island Ashley Hamilton. It was a cleancut piece of clothing and a breath of fresh air. BTVI’s Associate Vice President of Fund Development Alicia Thompson, who was also a judge, said the designers met and surpassed expectations. “We, the judges, had a difficult time selecting the top three winners because the pieces were so varied and it was clear that a great deal of thought, creativity and effort went into the construction of the garments,” she said. “We at BTVI are extremely proud to have participated in the showcase and we trust that the display of talent will attract corporate partners and individual sponsors who have an interest in assisting in our endeavour to further develop our fashion trades department,” she stated.
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pageants PHOTOS/TARIQ CARTWRIGHT
Miss World Eleuthera Geena Thompson
Miss World Acklins Zoe Hanna
Miss World Abaco Whender LaFrance
Miss World Bimini Bryneeah Gray
Miss World Cat Island Rotalya Williams
Miss Bahamas contestants compete in triple header event
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HILE many Bahamians were soaking up the sun and celebrating the country’s independence with fun events, the contestants of the Miss Bahamas Pageant were hard at work in their quest to win this year’s crown. Strutting down the catwalk before a capacity crowd at Albany’s Footprints restaurant on Monday, the beauty queens participated in an exciting triple header event.
Miss World Exuma Aria Romer in a Bahari dress
The ladies competed in the Sands Beer Swimsuit Competition, the Top Model Fashion Show and the Commonwealth Fabrics Designer Showcase, which featured the creations of BTVI design students. Placing in the top three in the swimsuit competition were in random order: Miss Long Island Ashley Hamilton, Miss Staniel Cay Shanice Burrows, and Miss Eleuthera Geena Thompson.
Miss World Staniel Cay Shanice Burrows in a Bahari dress
The top three finishers in the Top Model competition were in random order: Miss New Providence Andrea Bowleg, Miss Long Island Ashley Hamilton, and Miss Eleuthera Geena Thompson. Fans can see highlights of the preliminary competitions on MBO’s Road to the Crown Reality TV Show which airs Tuesdays at 8pm on Our TV. The shows will also be available for viewing in their entirety on Cable Baha-
Miss World Long Island Ashley Hamilton in a silk kaftan from Blue Moon
Miss World New Providence Andrea Bowleg in a Lilly Pulitzer dress from Aqua Soleil.
mas, Video on Demand. Next up are the float parade and national dress competition, scheduled for tomorrow in Pompey Square, and the Debonaire Boutique Evening Gown Competition and Talent Showcase, scheduled for Sunday at Sapodilla. The Miss Bahamas finale is set for July 24 at the Meliá Nassau Beach Resort. Tickets are available at Airbrush Junkies in the Mall at Marathon, or from any Miss Bahamas contestant.
Miss World Paradise Island Pischia Adderley ina silk jumpsuit from Blue Moon
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art PHOTO/TIM CLARKE
Celebrating art education 24 students showcase their work
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n June 30, The Place For Art celebrated 15 years of specialised art education in the Bahamas with the 2016 Annual Student Art Exhibition held at the Central Bank of the Bahamas. Thirty-eight students were enrolled for the 2015/2016 academic year and 24 of these students presented their original art works to family and friends. Some students did not show their work due to their families relocating to different countries, summer travel budgets and other considerations. The philosophy behind The Place For Art, which is located on the Doongalik Studios compound on Village Road, is that art is a process rather than a product. Once a child or adult begins to explore art, there is no turning back or stopping, since art becomes
a passion. This is the view of founder K Smith, an internationally renowned pencil artist and art educator who designs and instructs classes at The Place For Art. The young students come after school or on Saturday mornings. With class sizes limited to 6 students, each child is able to receive personal attention in an art studio setting. Classes for adults are held in the evenings. The latest exhibition is open to viewing at the Central Bank of the Bahamas between 10am and 4pm daily until July 26.
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music
Bahamian musician gets the blues
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song written by a legendary Bahamian artist could help a British blues singer earn a coveted music award. Gladstone “Stone” McEwan’s “A Fool for You” has helped to land Wily Bo Walker among a special group of people who are nominated for the prestigious Kevin Thorpe Award in this year’s British Blues Awards. The song, which has a classic blues riff with an infectious edge, has listeners snapping their fingers and tapping their feet. It was recorded and produced by Daniel Flam in New York. Mr Flam is also a renowned trombone player and has put his stamp on many major artists’ recordings, including Kanye West’s “All of the Lights”. Mr McEwan said relished the opportunity to work with international artists while putting his Bahamian brand on the project. “The song I wrote was picked up by an international artist of repute,” he said. “It truly is an international project.” Mr McEwan could soon find himself enjoying international chart success.“Fool for You” is being released
in the United Kingdom and the United States Stone McEwan began his musical career at the age of 10, singing with Bahamian great, the late George Moxey. Over the past 40 years, he has led a few bands such as Willpower and Force; opened for many top acts, including The Manhattans, Red Foxx, Jose Feliciano and at “Drama in Bahama”, the final fight of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali’s career. He has also played with an extensive list of Bahamian artists and has a few local hits to his credit as well, classics such as “Say What You Like”, “Hangin’ Out in Abaco”, “The Thing So Sweet”, and “Party Movin’”. Mr McEwan still plays throughout the Bahamas and his cover of Tony McKay’s “Going to Cat Island” is still a crowdpleaser. The musician is currently writing, recording and producing for local artists whose work will be released in the coming weeks. • For more information about “Fool For You”, the song that Wily Bo Walker performs, and to vote for him at this year’s British Blues Awards, visit http://www.
Led by Alicia Keys, 23 stars appear in racial justice video ALICIA Keys and a host of other stars, including Beyonce, Bono, Rihanna, Taraji P. Henson and Chris Rock, appear in a powerful video released Wednesday that describes “23 ways you could be killed if you are black in America.” The video made the social media rounds after its release on Mic.com, spawning its own hashtag, 23Ways, and thousands of shares and comments. In black and white, it juxtaposes 23 artists with photos of 23 black victims of violence, with each star noting the acts that led to their deaths, mainly after interactions with the police. Many of the deaths led to intense anger and frustration among African Americans, and kicked off protests that led to the Black Lives Matter movement. NEW YORK Associated Press
Singer Alicia Keys
Gladstone “Stone” McEwan
British blues singer Wily Bo Walker
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entertainment
Aspiring Bahamian artists are given unique platform Second annual MAVS summer festival to showcase new talent By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
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For the second instalment of the MAVS summer festival, emerging artists will once again be able to network with and learn from more established names in the industry.
merging of different artistic expressions will take place when the second instalment of the Musicians Artists and Vocalists (MAVS) summer festival takes place. The event, slated for July 31 at Pompey Square, aims to give local artists a platform to share their talents, message and art with others. It begins at 7pm. The festival will feature rappers, singers and some spoken word artists. While the performances are taking place there will be live mural renderings by several visual artists. Art pieces will also be on display. MAVS is the brainchild of Victor Johnson, a young musician who sees value in Bahamian artists uniting. For the festival’s second edition this goal remains in place. It will provide an opportunity for musicians and artists to make mutually benefitting connections with others in the industry. “The aim of the event is to allow artists the opportunity to be a featured headliner at a big concert which allows them large-scale exposure. This then gives them the momentum and courage that they need to move forward and pursue their music careers with the alacrity and passion that they need to be successful,” he told Tribune Weekend. Another feature unique to the event is the inclusion of festival mentors who will coach performers and ensure their showcase is as good as it can be. Festival mentors for this year include well-known artists like Dyson
Knight, MDeez and Sonovia Pierre who will work along with the vocalists and rappers. Meanwhile Christian Justilien will mentor the participating bands and Allan Pachino Wallace will work with the visual artists. Other additions to the festival include several new artists such as Matthew “Tiger” Rolle along with Bahamian Icon Award nominee Jodi, Minnis, who is now the event’s art talent manager. “The only thing different about this event versus the previous is that we were able to put together a preshowcase development workshop in which the festival participants were able to enjoy live music, cocktails and a very informative presentation given by international recording artist,Tebby. The event was held at Hillside House,” said Mr Johnson. He said the event will be a worthwhile experience for all of those who have an appreciation for the arts. “People should come out to experience some of the best in young Bahamian entertainment, but most importantly to join us and others as we stress the importance of Bahamians supporting Bahamians. If we see either our fellow Bahamian brother or sister striving to reach a goal, we as our brother’s keeper should encourage them and push them to do better. It makes no sense trying to pull that person down as they try to reach for their goal – ‘Dimmin’ my light won’t make you shine’, as said by upcoming Bahamian rapper Julian ‘Ju’ Gibson. We have to drop the black crab syndrome if we really want to see our Bahamaland prosper, moving ‘forward, upward, onward together’,” he said.
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entertainment
St George’s explores the “Thrill of the Grill”
St George’s popular grill-out and parish fair returns this Saturday
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his Saturday, the community known as “The Valley” will come alive when the St George’s Anglican Church holds its annual Thrill of the Grill and Parish Fair. “Our Church fair is the major fundraising event which assists with the operating expenses of our church and its ministry to our members and the wider community,” said Adrian Archer, the church’s parish administrator. “Monies raised are used to fund our various ministries including our vital ministries to the sick and shut-in, and our ministry to the Valley community and beyond. “This year we have more than 15 booths, including food stalls, games for adults and children and our parish raffle, all of which we know will be great to patronise,” said Sandra Knowles, chairman of the 2016 fair committee “Of course, the cornerstone of the fair is our steak-out, being prepared by our award-winning ACM team which begins at 12noon,” said Darius Ferguson, president of St George’s Anglican Church Men. “Our steak recipe has won, for many years, the Father Anthon Roberts Grill Competition and we intend to show our patrons why on the day of our own event.” “St George’s is known to produce some of the best local foods around,” said Ms Knowles. “This year’s conch fritter stall will be as outstanding as in former years, but we will also have a home cookery stall, chicken in da bag, as well as an All Things Curry stall and locally made ice-cream of various flavours.” “Of course we can’t do without our cakes and pastries at an occasion such as this, so this year we intend to make
“St George’s is known to produce some of the best local foods around. This year’s conch fritter stall will be as outstanding as in former years, but we will also have a home cookery stall, chicken in da bag, as well as an All Things Curry stall and locally made ice-cream of various flavours.”
this stall even bigger and better,” said Betty Smith, president of the church’s Guild to Help the Sick and Needy. “Our guild goes all out to provide cakes, pastries, pies and tarts of every description and we expect no less this year In addition to all these booths, Agnes Munnings and Virgil Briggs will man the plants and books stall which has always been a hit, said Mr Archer. “Finally, we will have games of chance including bingo, white elephant, hoopla and punch board where a number of great prizes will be available.” “Even more important than the funds we hope to raise, is the opportunity to fellowship with each and to get to know each other better,” said Father Kingsley Knowles, rector of the parish. The grill-out and parish fair will end with a Junkanoo rush-out with the Valley Boys.
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fashion The Weekend Fashion Report Ghostbusters premiere
HIT
HIT
FAIL
SPLIT
FAIL
Melissa McCarthy, “Abby Yates”
Leslie Jones, “Patty Tolan”
Kristen Wiig, “Erin Gilbert”
Kate McKinnon “Jillian Holtzman”
Annie Potts “Janine Melnitz”
Karin says: “I think this is first time I’ve seen Melissa in a bright colour, and it really suits her. The yellow with the nude sheath is gorgeous on her. So is the A-line shape of the dress. It’s only sad that she had to have it custom-made because designers don’t offer bigger girls any options.” Cara says: “Oh wow, I have to say Melissa looks great here. The yellow is so summery and fresh, and I love it with the touch of nude underneath. She looks like she is having a great time. It’s one of the best outfits I have seen on her.”
Karin says: “She looks beautiful and statuesque, and the deep red is stunning on her. I love the off-the-shoulder look and the high slit. The only thing I would say is that it’s maybe a bit too fancy for a film premiere. This is a fabulous Oscar or Golden Globes dress. Still, love it.” Cara says: “Leslie is wearing all her clothes. She looks amazing, almost a bit too glam for the premiere of ‘Ghostbusters’. But the sculpted hair, the sweeping red train of her dress and the statement necklace are all amazing.”
Karin says: “Boring. Just boring. Unless you’re doing something amazing with your hair or wearing a statement necklace, the strapless look can get a bit ‘blah’. Especially when you’re going for extremely natural makeup. The feather design is interesting, but it’s not enough to save this dress.” Cara says: “The print is cute and I am sure that it looked even better in person, but the style is a tad boring. It really doesn’t make that much of a statement, does it? I like it, but it doesn’t blow me away. An effort was made, but fell flat.”
Karin says: “The blue is beautiful on her. And I get what they were going for with the cut of the dress, but somehow it doesn’t quite work. It needed to be more fitted or made out of better material. Just a little tweaking could have made this dress an absolute hit. Also, she needed some more accessories.” Cara says: “That shade of blue is really, really pretty with her blonde curls. I like her dress; it’s simple but very effective. I don’t really like the bracelet ring combo she is wearing though. I feel like she could spice it up a little with something with a bit more bling.”
Karin says: “She looks amazing for her age, but sadly she is not doing herself any favours with this robe. Her hair is fabulous, but this tied together sack of a dress just makes her appear frumpy. It’s too aging. And what are those beige cuffs? Also, those kitten heels are hideous.” Cara says: “Annie Potts seems to be aging very slowly and gracefully. I am, however, not a big fan of her dress. Yes, she looks great, but I don’t know how I feel about the neckline and those brown cuffs on her sleeves; they look weird to me. I am also not sold on the shoes. I like the chunky earrings though.”
AP PHOTOS
With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt
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popular culture
Bahamians go wild for Pokémon
AP PHOTO/MARK THIESSEN
By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
I
t is a craze that has taken the world by storm, and naturally Bahamians have also been caught up in the Pokémon Go virtual game. Although the game was just released last week, it has become a massive social phenomenon for both adults who played the original games in their childhood (and throughout their adulthood) and youngsters who are discovering Nintendo’s little animated creatures for the first time. Pokémon Go allows players to capture, battle and train virtual Pokémon who appear throughout the real world. It makes use of GPS and the camera of compatible devices, in most cases Android and Apple cell phones and tablets. Once a person spots a Pokémon on their phone they have to fight and capture it. Bahamians who are interested in discovering Pokémon can join the Pokémon Go Bahamas Facebook page or several WhatsApp groups where players compare sightings and brag about their conquests. Tribune Weekend caught up with a few local players to find out just what the Pokémon Go appeal is. Candy just started playing the game and said it is simply a fun way to pass the time when she is at home relaxing. “They’re (Pokémon) are found everywhere. I only play at home in bed actually, because I don’t have time to do all the looking around. Anyone who used to play Pokémon years ago on Game Boy and Nintendo would understand what it’s about,” she said. “This is the same thing, except you are you are more physically active. Instead of pushing a button to walk, you actually walk.” Ricardo, also known as Seven in gaming circles, said he downloaded the app a few days ago and has already been drawn in. “I had heard a lot about it and I
Certain facilities like the National Weather Service in Anchorage, Alaska, have put up signs warning Pokémon trainers not to trespass on federal property while playing the game. Bahamians are discovering Pokémon and Poké Stops in popular areas such as downtown Bay Street and the Mall at Marathon.
Using the GPS and camera functions on a cell phone or tablet, the new game makes Pokémon appear throughout the real world. used to love to play Pokémon when I was younger, and this sounded really cool, and it is,” he said. He has been quite successful in finding and capturing several Pokémon already. “A lot of them tend to repeat themselves, but I work on Wulff Road and live on Solider Road, and they are all
over the place as I drive between home and work. The most I find are at the Mall at Marathon,” he said. He said the virtual Pokémon also love to hang out on Bay Street and he has found one or two at the gym. Pokémon Go has been credited with getting players out of their homes and actually moving around outside more
in their quest to collect all the creatures. Along with collecting Pokémon, there are also Poké Stops pinned to real locations where players can grab items. In Nassau, players said these stops seem to be downtown in the Bay Street area. The game is, however, not without controversy. Drivers have been warned not to Pokémon and drive, and in Wyoming one young girl walking through the woods in search of a Pokémon discovered a dead body, while another was hit by a car as she played. Some persons have also expressed concern that downloading the app will lead to identity fraud. But most players have had positive experiences and say the game is like any other in that users should just exercise moderation and common sense. “It is a lot of fun, but I am sure that you have heard some of the bad stories, so I would recommend it, but at the same time I would advise people to be cautious,” said Ricardo. “I will admit that when you are driving and your phone beeps on the dashboard it’s tempting, but you have to be cautious. I do play when I am driving, but I wait until I am stopped in traffic.” • See PAGE 18 for the best podcasts on Pokémon Go
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podcasts
Pokémon takes over the world By STEPHEN HUNT shunt@tribunemedia.net
Pokémon GO Podcast If you want to learn something of why this new version of Pokémon has become so popular, you could do far worse than listen to the Pokémon GO podcast, hosted by Beau York, Joseph Ard and Patrick Bailey. They are almost boundless in their enthusiasm and really get to the heart of what makes the new game so popular. For the uninitiated, the game loads into your phone and uses its GPS settings to point you to where you can find Pokémon characters in the real world – and see them in augmented reality, little computer generated images superimposed on your phone’s camera view. The side effects of this are getting people out and about rather than stuck at a console at home, and actually meeting other players and connecting socially. Beau York tells of some of the encounters with complete strangers that have come about through playing the game, such as meeting another grown man and each bluffing for a few seconds before admitting they just wanted to get their phones out and compare which Pokémon they’ve got. There are gym locations too which lead to players gathering there to build up their Pokémon. However, there are different sides that players choose to be part of, and only one team can control a gym at a time, which leads to one story with a group of players gathering at the gym and noticing a car lurking down the street which they suspect has players from another side. In the end, one player stands up and shouts at the car “This is our turf!” before the car sheepishly shuffles away.
Pokemon Go player Keyanna Arnett poses for a photo with her game at Augusta University, Georgia. It’s a smashing show, full of useful tips for players, such as looking for water-based Pokémon in real-life water locations, or ways in which you can get the starting character you want, and while it’s all splendidly geekish, there’s a real passion for the game in the hosts. A great listen. Website: http://www.podasterynetwork.com/2016/07/10/special-gotime/
Pokémon Podcast This show, hosted by LC and Ty, is perhaps the opposite of the previous podcast. It’s only four episodes in, but gosh, the hosts sound so bored with it all already. Where the Pokémon GO podcast bursts with enthusiasm, this show sounds dreary. They rate Pokémon characters in what they describe as always an interesting part of the show, but they barely sound interested themselves. It feels like a show that’s going through the motions in order to make a show, which is a shame, because these guys clearly know their stuff. If you’re a hardcore Pokémon
player, maybe the knowledge they have to share is more meaningful for you, but it’s far from a place to start. They also cover different aspects of the Pokémon world beyond the game, such as the TV shows and movies, so a wider perspective can be found here too. Website: https://soundcloud.com/ Pokémon-podcast
Wired: Culture Podcast The previous shows have been created by fans – but this one is a look at Pokémon by people drawn into the game as newcomers. The show title gives away where this show is going as they call out “Halp, We Can’t Stop Playing Pokémon Go!”. The show doesn’t just talk about Pokémon, they also cover the movie release of The Secret Life Of Pets and... well, you can just tell they want to get talking about their new augmented reality game. And before too long there they are, chatting about how you can see people out on the streets looking for Pokémon, how businesses are gaining
money from the game – such as pizza places finding more customers calling in because their store is at a Pokémon location, and even the evolution of the game becoming used for dating. All this within a week of it being launched. Co-workers are suddenly talking and hanging out together as they hunt Pokémon, but it can also prove disruptive – with conversations interrupted by a phone alert of a nearby Pokémon or people stopping in the street or, worse, zigzagging across the road through traffic in their hunt. If you want a broader discussion of the implications of how a game is changing people’s behaviour, then this is a fascinating listen. Taxis, for example, have started offering to drive people around slowly enough to catch the creatures they are looking for – there are real world effects that this game is having, and that is most definitely a new development in the gaming landscape. Website: http://www.wired. com/2016/07/culture-podcast56/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_ medium=twitter
MICHAEL HOLAHAN/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE VIA AP
A
NEW craze has swept the world in the past week. If you haven’t noticed, invisible creatures now surround us all, and they can only be seen by those whose phones can spot them. Pokémon has returned, and this time it’s offering a virtual world right beside our own. Time to delve into some of the podcasts that have sprung up to guide us through this new world.
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Friday, July 15, 2016
relationships
Are you a relationship addict? By DR EDRICA RICHARDSON
I
have built my career on this issue: working with people who are lost when it comes to finding and sustaining a healthy relationship; stuck in cycles of pain and disappointment in others and themselves. Relationship addicts live in a world of paradoxes that leaves them feeling they have no way out. They desperately want to get close to someone, but end up with a person whose problems make closeness impossible. They seek security, but end up with someone who always leaves the back door open for a quick getaway. Relationship addicts crave unconditional love, but live in constant fear of abandonment if they don’t live up to their own impossible standards. They want to be free to love, but often trap themselves in a relationship by becoming pregnant or by weaving some other type of emotional spider web. Drowning in the whirlpool of their own emotions, they turn to a rescuer who cannot swim. They believe that either they just can’t find the right one or some jump from one relationship to another in search of that wonderful feeling they once had. Others stay, despite feeling dissatisfied, harbouring secret thoughts of leaving, cultivating emotional affairs, or cheating from time to time, having no clue about the real problem. To be clear, addiction can be defined in a general way as a compulsive and chronic pattern of using a substance or behaviour for soothing, comforting and/or arousal as a means of medicating uncomfortable feelings. Addicts typically continue use of their “drug of choice” despite negative consequences. Love addiction is a little harder to define simply because by nature we are all addicted to love, meaning we want it, seek it and have a hard time not thinking about it.
Some relationship addicts stay in relationships despite feeling dissatisfied. Relationship addicts find themselves trying to fix the whole world, one relationship at a time.
We need attachment to survive and we instinctively seek connection, especially romantic connection. There is nothing dysfunctional about wanting love. Love addiction, like many addictions, follows certain patterns. In the realm of love, sex, and relationship addictions, there are a number of interlocking roles and complimentary patterns of behaviour.
Here are three initial steps for breaking the addiction pattern: 1. Stop what you are doing and take an inventory of your dysfunctional pattern in your current and past relationships. Write it down. Be honest without blaming anyone else for your choices. 2. Look for the common themes in your relationships. Does there appear to be a similarity between your childhood experiences and your choices as an adult? 3. Consider getting professional help with your self-evaluation before you begin your relationship search again. Relationship addicts find themselves trying to fix the whole world, one relationship at a time. Each time will be the last time, they tell themselves, because each time they are convinced that “this is the one that will work.” Or, in the case of a codependent who returns again and again to the same destructive relationship, “this time it will be different.” For some it’s love, for others it’s sex, for others again it’s food...What’s your addictive substance?
• Dr Edrica D Richardson is licenced marriage and family therapist in multiple states in the US and an AAMFT approved supervisor. She currently runs private practice in Nassau and the US. Her clinical specialities include relationship issues, stress management, family conflict and life coaching, to name a few. She works with adolescents, couples and families. For more information, visit her website at www.dredrich.com.
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books
Ace Atkins delivers rousing thriller with ‘The Innocents’
T
he heart of Ace Atkins’ novels featuring former Army Ranger Quinn Colson look at a community populated by people who want to do the right thing but whose good intentions are often thwarted by the evil that flows through the Mississippi town of Jericho. Horrible crimes come to Mississippi’s Tibbehah County, and Atkins delves deeply to thoughtfully illustrate how people cope with these intrusions and how Quinn’s sense of justice infuses his actions. “The Innocents” picks up a year after Quinn lost his re-election as sheriff. He then returned to Afghanistan as a civilian helping train the local police force. Now back in Jericho,
review
‘I Am No One’ is slow-motion thriller WHY would anyone want to spy on Jeremy O’Keefe? After all, he tells the reader, “I am no one,” just a history professor who recently returned to America after a decade teaching in England. But Jeremy can’t shake the feeling that he’s being watched. First, his computer is hacked. Then he spots a man in a ski mask standing on the sidewalk below his apartment, staring at his window. Next, he receives a series of parcels filled with paper records of every website he has visited, every email he has sent, every phone call he
Quinn is adrift, trying to figure out what is going on with his girlfriend who may not be getting a divorce, and contending with his estranged father, who has grandiose ideas about developing land adjacent to Quinn’s farm. His nemesis, the corrupt businessman Johnny Stagg, is in federal prison, but even more ruthless criminals may have moved in. The horrific death of teenager Milly Jones pulls Quinn back into law enforcement when his help is needed by Sheriff Lillie Virgil. Milly had been a popular cheerleader, but this year after high school graduation has been rife with family problems. Her latest job was working as a stripper. Milly’s death uncaps a swath of racism and
has made. Jeremy doesn’t know if the parcels are a threat or a warning; but someone, it seems, has taken an unnatural interest in him. Or, maybe, family members suggest, he’s suffering from a paranoid delusion. At first, this makes Jeremy doubt his sanity, but gradually he begins to reconstruct his past, searching for what he could have done to warrant the attention of a spymaster capable of unearthing his secrets. “I Am No One” reads like a collaboration between spy novelist John le Carre and Franz Kafka, the early 20th-century master of alienation and existential anxiety. It’s at once a beautifully written slowmotion thriller, an unnerving story of fear and paranoia, and a cautionary tale about the perils of spy satellites, security cameras and electronic surveillance by faceless government bureaucrats. “A country without privacy,” one character declares, “is a country without freedom.” BRUCE DESILVA Associated Press
fear as many suspects try to place the blame on others. Quinn’s friendship with Lillie and his love for his family are foremost, with his need for justice for Jericho and its people a close second. Yet Atkins allows Quinn to make mistakes and have foibles, making him an even more complex character. “The Innocents” moves at a brisk pace through Mississippi backroads to diners and cigar bars where deals are made but not always carried out. Atkins, who is continuing the late Robert B Parker’s Spenser series, delivers another rousing thriller. OLINE H. COGDILL Associated Press
Free love: E-book offers samples from romance novels ROMANCE readers can get a free peek at some of the year’s hottest love stories. “Buzz Books 2016: Romance” is an ebook featuring excerpts from 20 upcoming romance titles, including works by Mary Jo Putney and Kristan Higgins. It was released Thursday by Publishers Lunch, an online industry newsletter that also has assembled compilations of leading general fiction and nonfiction titles. The new compilation comes out the week before the annual Romance Writers of America conference, to be held July 13-16 in San Diego. Romance author/blogger Sarah Wendell wrote an introduction for the book, which features a wide range of subgenres, from historical romance to thrillers and Westerns.
• Readers can link to “Buzz Books 2016:
Romance” through publun.ch/BuzzBooksRomance (buzz.publishersmarketplace. com). NEW YORK Associated Press
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film PHOTO/COLUMBIA PICTURES
review
‘Ghostbusters’ takes aim at misogyny and scores GHOSTBUSTERS RUNNING TIME: 116 MINS
THE easy, electric chemistry of the four leads in Paul Feig’s “Ghostbusters” acts like a firewall against the supernatural and the adolescent, alike, in this spirited reboot of the 1984 original. Ghouls and anonymous Internet commentators — who have flocked to their thumbs-down buttons ahead of the film’s release — share plenty of characteristics. Each is likely to drool and quickly disappear when you turn on the lights. Feig’s “Ghostbusters” ain’t afraid of either. Why should he be, anyway? In his
corner he has the best comic actor of the decade, Melissa McCarthy, the klutzy wit of Kristen Wiig, “Saturday Night Live” standout Kate McKinnon and the big-screen breakthrough of Leslie Jones, the film’s secret weapon. His “Ghostbusters” makes some winks to the uproar that preceded his gender-swapping film, but it mostly steers straight ahead, too busy being funny to worry much about misogynist detractors. It does, however, pay a lot — too much — attention to placating “Ghostbusters” fans with the familiar showdowns and iconography of the original two films. I was proudly raised on Bill Murray comedies, but the preciousness many have over a “Ghostbusters” remake is nevertheless mystifying. This isn’t “Stripes” we’re talking about here. It’s not even “Meatballs.” Ivan Reitman’s “Ghostbusters” — equal parts spectacle and deadpan, inspired by “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” — was good, all right, but it wasn’t some sanctified ground never to be trod on again. It already spawned a mediocre sequel, after all. Here, the iconic ambulance has been traded for a borrowed hearse and cameos from original stars (excepting Harold Ramis, who died in 2014) have been awkwardly forced in. The team, once assembled, is astonished at the sky-high rent required for the original’s firehouse and instead relocates to a
The Ghostbusters Abby (Melissa McCarthy), Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon), Erin (Kristen Wiig) and Patty (Leslie Jones). Chinatown office above a takeout joint. (The film’s New York overall is refreshingly authentic.) After an early ghost sighting (featuring an excellent Zach Woods) and the familiar synths of Ray Parker Jr’s theme, screenwriters Feig and Katie Dippold bring the foursome together. Wiig is a physics professor trying to make tenure at Columbia but she’s disgraced by her latent belief in the paranormal. Her old friend, Abby (McCarthy, reliably solid if somewhat restrained), has stayed on the case, though, with her eccentric gizmomaking sidekick, Jillian (McKinnon). The bug-eyed, fizzy-haired McKinnon is like a blow torch of steampunk fire to the movie.
Jones, who plays a subway worker, might have been expected to be the broadest performer of the bunch, given the knockout punch of her “SNL” appearances, but her character is impressively grounded. She’s the best of the quartet, though Feig doesn’t give her enough to do later in the film. Murray, Ramis, et al excelled at finding laughs when nothing was happening, without seeming to be trying at all. Feig’s film never has that anythingcan-happen feeling, and it suffers for it. I wish he had let his talented cast truly loose. Big-budget special effects are the enemy of comedy: they suck the air out. In a sense, this “Ghostbusters”, which swells to a bloated CGI finale in Times Square, has overpowered one Hollywood specter — sexism — only to be stifled by another: the all-powerful force of franchise-making. It feels a little like this “Ghostbusters” was a cultural test that we (not the movie) have already failed. Feig’s film may be a feminist milestone: a big ol’ popcorn movie taken over by women (something that should have happened long ago and engendered far less vitriol). But it’s also simply a breezy good time, one that just happens to culminate with four very funny ladies shooting a monster in the balls. JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer
Jesus Christ film coming to virtual reality able for rent or purchase for VR systems such as Samsung Gear, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR and HTC Vive The film is directed by David Hansen and stars Tim Fellingham as Jesus. “The Passion of the Christ” executive producer Enzo Sisti is among the producers. VRWerx previously created a VR game based on the “Paranormal Activity” film franchise. LOS ANGELES Associated Press
AUTUMN VR INC. AND VRWERX, LLC VIA AP
THE story of Jesus Christ is coming to virtual reality for the first time. Autumn Productions and VRWerx announced plans Wednesday to release the liveaction film “Jesus VR — The Story of Christ” on all major VR platforms this Christmas. The 90-minute movie will depict such events as Jesus’ birth, baptism, crucifixion and resurrection in 360 degrees. “Jesus VR” was filmed in 4K resolution on location in Matera, Italy. The movie will be avail-
The story of Jesus Christ is coming to virtual reality for the first time this Christmas.
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literary lives Sidney Poitier
The man who broke down barriers
“Insulted, isolated and hurt he resolved at that moment that he would become an actor and embarked on a self-education programme. He read everything and anything. And he read aloud - speaking slowly and clearly. In doing so he subconsciously learned to act giving himself an identity and an ambition. More than that, reading gave him an education and an introduction to racial politics.”
The path to film stardom for a Bahamian Oscar winning actor was far from smooth. Sir Christopher Ondaatje charts the early years from Cat Island to eventual knighthood.
S
idney Poitier, although a native of Cat Island in the Bahamas, was born in Miami on February 20, 1927. His parents were poor tomato farmers who used to sell their produce in Florida. He was born two months prematurely and was not expected to survive. He weighed less than three pounds. But his parents stayed in Miami and somehow nursed him back to health. Poitier grew up in the Bahamas - then a British Crown colony - but because of his birth in the United States he automatically received United States citizenship. Poitier’s ancestors on his father’s side were from Haiti. His mother, Evelyn, had married his father, Reginald Poitier, when she was only 13. But she, like her son, was a real fighter. When Sidney Poitier was 11 he moved with his family to Nassau. This
Sidney Poitier was during the Great Depression when the prosperous Bahamian bootlegging industry had collapsed after the repeal of US Prohibition in 1933. The colonial Bahamian government stifled the black underclass. There was little work and Poitier is quoted as saying: “That place Nassau was not good for raising tomatoes or children.” His mother kept the family from destitution by crushing rocks into pebbles and earning a meagre 20 cents a day. Both violence and crime interfered with Poitier family life, and Sidney’s older brother, Cedric, spent two years in jail for theft. Sidney made his first visit to a Bahamian prostitute after which he was immediately strick-
en with a serious case of gonorrhoea and had to endure a long painful cure with sulphur treatments. He also went to his first movie theatre and saw a Western. He was instantly stage struck, not only with the uneven line between reality and fantasy, but with the power of film. The movies he saw also taught him about brutality. Poitier left Nassau in January 1943. By sheer luck he had acquired American citizenship and avoided a probable fate of delinquency. He joined his oldest brother, Cyril, who had himself obtained citizenship by marrying an American. But the streets of Miami were not paved with gold - especially for a dark skinned 15-year-old boy
with a sing-song Bahamian accent. He roamed the streets looking for work and had a series of jobs from delivery boy to parking attendant, cleaning rooms and working in kitchens. Less than a year later, fed up and discouraged, he used what little money he had saved to buy a one-way ticket for $11.35 to New York. Without knowing it he had participated in one of the great American migrations of the 20th century, when black Americans moved from the rural South to economic opportunities in the North and changed the nation’s political and cultural landscape forever. Harlem was the legend that promised so much to the young Poitier.
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“Daryl Zanuck offered Poitier the lead role in ‘No Way Out’ but Poitier refused it. Flabbergasted, Zanuck advised him to reconsider his decision and talk to an agent.”
Poitier’s performance as a doctor treating a white bigot (played by Richard Widmark) in the 1956 film “No Way Out” led to many more roles. But it wasn’t easy. Butcher’s assistant, porter, construction worker, drugstore clerk, dishwasher and a whole host of other manual jobs came and went. He didn’t care. He was free. He slept on park benches and was arrested for vagrancy. Lying about his age, he joined the US Army which required that he be 18. He was still only 16. He joined a Medical Detachment of a veterans’ hospital on Long Island but hated the experience. The rigidity of army life unnerved him. He tried to leave, feigning insanity, and very nearly had to succumb to shock treatment. Luckily a sympathetic psychiatrist got him transferred, and after another unhappy year he was transferred again and released. Destitution and insecurity nearly broke him as he returned to manual labour, scanning the advertisements in the black-owned newspaper the New York Amsterdam News. And then he saw the advertisement: “Actors Wanted by Little Theatre Group: Apply in Person at the American Negro Theatre.” Poitier’s 1945 acting interview was a disaster. He didn’t even know what a script was and couldn’t read it anyway. He blurted out single words in his tell-tale accent with interminably long pauses in between. His interviewer, Frederick O’Neal, co-founder of the American Negro Theatre (ANT), was horrified and dismissed the young
A scene from the play A Raisin in the Sun. From left: Louis Gossett, Jr, as George Murchison, Ruby Dee as Ruth Younger and Poitier as Walter Younger.
Poitier, stating the obvious that he couldn’t be an actor if he couldn’t read. He added too that he couldn’t be an actor with his appalling accent. He advised Poitier to return to dishwashing. Far from being discouraged, O’Neal’s words instilled in Poitier the opposite effect. Insulted, isolated and hurt he resolved at that moment that he would become an actor and embarked on a self-education programme. He did return to dishwashing but saved enough money to buy a small radio. He listened to it and repeated the words he heard - trying to enunciate the clear diction of radio announcers. He read everything and anything. And he read aloud - speaking slowly and clearly. In doing so he subconsciously learned to act giving himself an identity and an ambition. More than that, reading gave him an education and an introduction to racial politics. As Aram Goudsouzian stated in his absorbing biography: “Sidney Poitier entered the theatre in 1945 as an impulsive and illiterate teenager. He left for Hollywood in 1949 as a seasoned young actor, a man textured in American politics and culture, a member of a small black avant-garde, and a first hand witness to the ironies of racial integration.” Only six months after beginning his self-education programme Poitier had a second audition with the ANT. Seventy-five other applicants read their lines from recognised authors or playwrights. The confused Poitier had brought an excerpt from ‘True Confessions’ magazine - a love story. He was stopped in mid-sentence and asked
Continued on page 24
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Continued from page 23 instead to act the part of a soldier caught in the jungle. He pretended to be shot in the stomach - half falling to the ground. Amazingly he was accepted for a trial period of three months, mainly because there were so few male applicants. During the day he worked in the garment district, pushing carts, and spending his evenings - five nights a week for four hours - being taught acting, voice and speech, stagecraft, singing and even playwriting. He struggled. But heartbreakingly, when his three-month trial had ended, he was told that he had to leave. He was distraught. At the end of a week he returned to the Theatre and begged for a second chance. He would assume janitorial duties in exchange for another trial. Abram Hill, one of the directors of the ANT, impressed with his initiative, allowed him to stay on. Poitier did not need further encouragement. He worked in the garment district doing menial jobs during the day, his evenings at the ANT, and the nights doing all the janitorial work he promised at ANT. He was tireless and grasped his opportunity with both hands. He also channelled his raw energy into his stage performances impressing Abram Hill who noticed his expressive sincerity. Aram Goudsouzan has said in his book: “Poitier’s ANT education transcended acting. Harlem offered him first hand exposure to black America’s political thinkers and cultural movements. As he read the newspapers and entered discussions he developed an intellectual foundation for understanding his own experience. He formulated distinctions between Democrats and Republicans, Socialists and Communists, assimilationists and nationalists. His intelligent and educated friends at ANT became his informal tutors.” Poitier’s first performance came in the Spring of 1946. Disappointed that he was made only the understudy for the part of Liebman in The School of Drama production of ‘Days of Our Youth’ (a part curiously given to the young Harry Belafonte) he was nevertheless asked to play the part in a rehearsal of the play for James Light, the original Broadway director of the play. It changed his life. Obviously impressed, Light surprisingly offered Poitier a small part in his all-black production of the Greek play ‘Lysistrata’. He accepted - and history was made. Although the play was a disaster and Poitier himself stumbled badly with his
In 1964, Poitier became the first Bahamian and first African-American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in “Lilies of the Field”.
lines, he received some good reviews. John Lindberg, the producer, invited him to travel with his play ‘Anna Lucasta’ as an understudy learning parts and playing them when needed. He grabbed the offer. Eventually ‘Anna Lucasta’ was taken to New York and the entire cast, including Poitier (who played Lester, a rough sailor), received considerable praise. Poitier’s apprenticeship was over. He spent 1947 and 1948 mostly on tour, but 1949 was a bad year. Poitier scraped by with bit parts but refused to go back to dishwashing. Late in 1949, he auditioned several times for the part of Absalom in ‘Lost in The Stars’. Only after his fifth audition was he offered the part - his first leading role on Broadway. On the day he received this good news he also heard that Twentieth Century Fox were doing screen tests for their film ‘No Way Out’. Unethically Poitier auditioned for the film only one day
after accepting his leading role in the Broadway play. He didn’t think it would lead to anything as there were many others who had vied for the part of the 27-year-old doctor. A short screen test was sent to Hollywood, who demanded a second, longer one directed by Joseph Mankiewicz. Daryl Zanuck offered Poitier the lead role in ‘No Way Out’ but Poitier refused it. Flabbergasted, Zanuck advised him to reconsider his decision and talk to an agent. Broadway was offering him $75 a week. Mankiewicz and Zanuck were offering $750. Poitier wanted the Broadway part but he also wanted financial security. In the end the Theatre Guild saw this as a negotiating ploy and gave the part of Absalom to another actor. Poitier signed his contract with Twentieth Century-Fox and his movie career was born. Sidney Poitier’s performance as a doctor treating a white bigot (played by Richard Widmark) in the 1956
film ‘No Way Out’ got the young actor plenty of notice and led to many more roles, each considerably more interesting and prominent than most African-American actors were getting. Several roles and films catapulted him into fame: ‘Blackboard Jungle’ (1955) was the first, and then ‘The Defiant Ones’ (1958), for which he received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Five years later he won the Oscar for his performance in ‘Lillies of the Field’, the first African-American to win for a leading role. Characteristically he was concerned that this honour was more for the film industry congratulating itself for choosing him because of his colour and political opinion. Poitier maintained his activity on stage, screen, and in the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. ‘The Bedford Incident’ and ‘A Patch of Blue’ (1965) were his next films, but his roles in ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’, ‘In The Heat Of The Night’ and ‘To Sir, with Love’ (1967) were prominent landmarks in breaking down barriers between African-Americans and whites. Poitier’s popularity and integrity set him on the same level as any white stars of the day. In the 1970s he turned to both directing and producing and was equally successful in both fields. In recent years he has reduced the frequency of his film appearances but he remains one of the best loved figures in American cinema. In 1974 Sidney Poitier was made a Knight Commander of The Order of the British Empire (KBE), and in 2001 he received an Honorary Academy Award for his overall contribution to American cinema. He has written three autobiographical books: ‘This Life’ (1980); ‘The Measure of a Man’ (2000); and ‘Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter’ (2008). In 2009 he was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest civilian award of the United States) by President Barack Obama. Poitier was first married to Juanita Hardy from 1950 until 1965. He has been married to Joanna Shimkus since 1976. He has four daughters with his first wife, and two with his second. He has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is an ad-
venturer and writer resident in the Bahamas. A Sri Lankan-born CanadianEnglishman, he is the author of several books, including “The Last Colonial - Curious Adventures and Stories from a Vanishing World”
The Tribune | Weekend | 25
Friday, July 15, 2016
forgotten facts
Read all about them in Nassau cemeteries
The outlined headstones mark the cholera graves in the Eastern Cemetery at St Matthew’s.
By PAUL C ARANHA
I
f you park at the eastern end of Dowdeswell Street, a short walk into the Centre Burial Ground takes you to the grave of John Wells (1752-1799), founder in 1784 and publisher of Nassau’s first newspaper, The Bahama Gazette. Sadly, his journal did not long survive the death of its creator but can still be read at the Archives Department, off Mackey Street. His tombstone fared no better and has been so badly damaged by vandals that some of it is illegible. In memory of JOHN WELLS, Esq Late Editor of the “Bahama Gazette” which he conducted 15 years with approbation. In him the public have lost a respectable and useful Member of Society, and his family have sustained an irreparable loss. He departed this life on Oct. 29th 1799. The island was without a newspaper for several years, until the void was filled by The Royal Gazette and Bahamas Advertiser. So we will leave Mr Wells (and his eldest daughter, who shares his grave) and walk to the north gate of St Matthew’s churchyard, to stroll uphill toward the church. On our right we pass the graves of Sir Milo Butler, the first Bahamian to be appointed Governor-General, and of Beryl Hanna, wife of retired Governor-General, Arthur D Hanna. Above these, is an area set aside for Anglican clergy, most prominent of whom is The Rt Rev Donald R Knowles, late bishop of Antigua and the first Bahamian to become an Anglican bishop. Nearby, I will pause to chat with my father, and various other Aranhas, then a few more steps will take us to the door of the church, outside which is the grave of my sister, my mother, my mother’s father and Niel McQueen, my mother’s second great-granduncle, and the longest-serving publisher of The Royal Gazette and Bahamas Adver-
A painting of St Matthew’s by Gaspard Le Marchant Tupper (1854)
The grave of Mary Moseley, MBE tiser, the island’s second newspaper. SACRED to the memory of NIEL McQUEEN ESQr an old and responsible inhabitant of these islands for 55 years a native of the Isle of Skie Scotland and for the last 25 years Editor and Proprietor of The Royal Gazette. He departed this life on the 12th day of June 1838 aged 71 years, in perfect resignation to the will of his Heavenly Father. His character throughout life was that of unsullied integrity and unswerving rectitude. McQueen was a trustee who founded St Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk but changed faiths and was buried as an
Anglican. If we walk westwards, we soon come to a wall that separates St Matthew’s churchyard from the governmentowned Eastern Cemetery. I’ve never seen the gate closed, so we can pass easily from church to state. There we are greeted by Sir George Ritchie Sandford, a former Governor of the Bahamas. He died in 1950, exactly seven months after taking up his post. Downhill from Governor Sandford, where the boundary wall comes to a sudden end, is a family tomb housing several prominent Bahamian family names, including Mary Moseley MBE (1878-1960), arguably the most famous editor of The Nassau Guardian, the newspaper founded, in 1844, by her grandfather, Edwin Charles Moseley.
The Dupuch family tomb Less than 100 feet away is the Dupuch family tomb, housing the remains of several members, including Leon E H Dupuch (1870-1914), the founder, proprietor and editor of The Tribune and father of its long-serving publisher, Sir Etienne Dupuch. Sir Etienne’s daughter, Eileen Carron, continues the business built by her ancestors today. If we leave through the Lych Gate, on Dowdeswell Street, as we descend, we pass a row of unusual stones that used to be more numerous and a favourite place for neighbourhood kids, of which I was one, to pass the day, jumping from stone to stone. Beneath these silent sentinels are the graves of most of the island’s cholera victims. • islandairman@gmail.com
A T E TARGETR L ETHE Chambers
26| The Tribune | Weekend
Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.
Friday, July21st 15, 2016 Century Dictionary (1999 edition)
Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
T AN A T E R L E
you have to grid too! Us letters and b below the gr grid is ‘rotat symmetrica words, it loo you turn the down. Solut
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HOW many words of four letters or more can you make CANfrom youthe crack the letters shown here? In making a Yesterday Alphabeater? Each grid word, each letter may be used Black squ 15, 19,a21, once only. Each must containrepresents the number let2 29, 33, 37 centre letter and there must be at – or black square. As in Across: S least one nine-letter word. No Preview, G plurals or verb forms ending in “s”. every Alphapuzzle, lette
The Target uses words in the main Pulmonary body of Quetzal, the alphabet is used. BuB TODAY’S TARGET Newspape Chambers Good 32; very good 48;have excellent you to complete Chatter, th A gridtomorrow. too! Use theDown: givenCar 21st64 (or more). Solution Echo, Exqu YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION letters and blackUrge, square Fam Century acid acrid adorn andiron anodic Zone, Raja below the grid to start. arid cadi canard card coda cord Hear, Alive Dictionary darn dinar DRACONIAN grid is drain ‘rotationallyExtra le (1999 inroad nadir naiad nard nicad symmetrical’ other nordic ordain radian radio radon – in 0907 edition) th raid rancid rand words, rind roadit looks the(Deduct same
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CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 Gold with light colour (6) 4 New crusades for old vehicles (4,4) 9 A stickler gets Dan in a temper (6) 10 The firm only retains two Frenchmen as a rule (8) 12 Luxury hotel provides legal documents at a hearing (4) 13 Erato came out to speak at length (5) 14 A row about it is put back (4) 17 Serious Australian sextons? (12) 20 Unable to say why you can’t solve a crossword? (4,3,5) 23 Conceited literary fellow given to publicity (4) 24 Soldiers invading England’s boundaries? Correct! (5) 25 A better mark (4) 28 He may go from one side to the other (8) 29 Romeo’s disposition is melancholic (6) 30 On the sly maybe, but in a sincere way (8) 31 Port is drunk to promote good health (6)
1
2
3
4
9
EASY PUZZLE
5
10 11
12
13 15
17
20 21
22
23
Yesterday’s Easy Solution
Down 1 The strength of the Across: 1 Cowed, 4 Spin-off, current? (8) 8 Act, 9 Open-ended, 2 Supporter of 10 Staunch, 11 Argue, 13 Climax, 15 Pent-up, 18 Tilth, 19 Bushido, one who is lying (8) 21 Prime time, 23 Due, 3 Fled before 24 Replete, 25 Lofty. the start of Down: 1 Classic, 2 With a will, the storm (4) 3 Drown, 4 Seethe, 5 Iterate, 5 Plot for play (6,6) 6 Odd, 7 Fudge, 12 Get wind of, 6 Made out to be 14 Achieve, 16 Progeny, a lady (4) 17 Oblige, 18 Taper, 20 Smell, 22 Imp. 7 A loose relation (6) 8 Detective writer speaks without hesitation (6) 11 A regular poser, no doubt (7,5) Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution 15 A bluff upstanding moralist (5) Across: 1 Purse, 4 Laments, 16 Stroke fawn (5) 8 Off, 9 Laterally, 10 Inertia, 18 Unusual price 11 Heave, 13 Sphere, 15 Calves, is nothing to us. 18 Corks, 19 Chimney, 21 In It’s just dear! (8) command, 23 Ugh, 24 Artiste, 19 Raged retinues, hungry 25 Sheen. and rapacious (8) Down: 1 Profits, 2 Refresher, 3 Eclat, 4 Lethal, 5 Morphia, 21 It makes things hard 6 Nil, 7 Style, 12 Adventure, for the laundress (6) 14 Resumes, 16 Say when, 22 A girl came in to study 17 Scrape, 18 China, 20 Indus, the weapon (6) 22 Cot. 26 Provides encouragement for poaching perhaps (4) 27 Open space with space to turn round (4) Down Across 1 Incorporating 1 Innumerable (6) latest trends 4 Relating to 6 7 8 (2-2-4) particular 2 Inclination (8) subject (8) 3 Obtrusively 9 Language (6) flamboyant (4) 10 Locate 5 Love of precisely (8) humankind (12) 12 Action (4) 6 Headland (4) 13 Retract 14 7 Minor (statement) (5) weakness (6) 14 Small jumping 16 8 Short insect (4) sleep (6) 17 On top of 11 Calm and steady everything 18 19 (2,2,4,4) else (2,5,2,3) 15 Company of 20 Suspenseful (5-7) witches (5) 23 Separate piece of 16 Remiss (5) news (4) 18 Trivial 24 Fire shots from details (8) hiding (5) 25 19 Disturbed (8) 25 Give up (4) 27 21 Very best (6) 28 Burly (8) 22 Story in separate 29 Short race run at instalments (6) full speed (6) 26 Go lightly over 30 In headlong surface (4) disorder (4-4) 27 Available to make 31 Become use of (4) affable (6)
24 26
28
29
30
31
you turn the page upsid HOW many words of four letters Yesterday’s Full Yesterday’s down. Solution tomorro Call 0907 181 2585 for 0907 or more can you make from the Sudoku Answer Kakuro Answer today’s Target solution *Calls cost cost 80p per minute letters shown here? In making aplus*Calls plus your tele Yesterday’s solutio your telephone company’s network a charge. squares: 1, 5, word, each letter may be used network access Black 15, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, once only. Each must contain the *SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390 29, 33, 37, 40.PLAY M centre letter and there must be at Across: Sneak, least one nine-letter word. No Preview, Gavel, plurals or verb forms ending in “s”.
TODAY’S TARGET Good 32; very good 48; excellent 64 (or more). Solution tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION acid acrid adorn andiron anodic arid cadi canard card coda cord darn dinar DRACONIAN drain inroad nadir naiad nard nicad nordic ordain radian radio radon raid rancid rand rind road
Call 0907 181 2585 for today’s Target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.
*SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390
Pulmonary, Cafe, Up Quetzal, Beau, Roar, Newspaper, Attic, Chatter, Askew. Down: Carbon, Nyal Echo, Exquisite, Kelp Urge, Famed, Crumb Zone, Raja, Avuncul Hear, Alive, Yonder.
Extra letter clue
0907 181 256
(Deduct three minutes each extra clue letter he
Full solution
0907 181 255
*Calls cost 80p per min plus your telephone comp network access charg
PLAY MORE C
The Tribune | Weekend | 27
Friday, July 15, 2016
animals Animal matters Kim Aranha
I
suppose there are some who will flip past this page and think that it is a funny title for an article about “Animal Matters”. Well, in “Animal Matters”, animals do matter, and in order to care for animals we need money. There is an extraordinarily difficult mind set that my board of directors and I come up against time and time again when we solicit money for the Bahamas Humane Society. Some people will gladly (metaphorically) reach in to their pockets and be generous, and just as they are handing you their kind donation they will throw out the following caveat: “This money needs to go directly to the animals. I do not want this donation to go to payrolls!” My heart sinks. I, of course, accept the restrictions because I am able to channel the funds towards, food, litter, toys and medications. But I need to share a word or two about the difficulty this stipulation could cause. At the Bahamas Humane Society we have hundreds of animals at any one time. Cats, dogs, puppies, kittens, a wounded seagull who can no longer fly, pigeons, ducks, a pig, donkeys, and whatever animal that may be passing through, either looking for a home or as a resident, or a medical patient. However you look at it, these animals need to be fed, cleaned, their pens or holding areas need to be cleaned out twice a day, they need to be checked for their medical needs and receive medical attention. All of these essential services are provided by the staff of the Bahamas Humane Society. This staff, although dedicated to the animals in their care, are paid a salary because they have a life and commitments as we all do: elderly parents, a sick wife, kids to put through school, pets to feed and mortgages to pay. They need to be paid for their efforts on behalf on the animals.
By The Bahamas Humane Society
PHOTO/LINDA GILL-ARANHA
The importance of money
PET OF THE WEEK
Big at heart
D
on’t let my name, Big Boy, fool you; the only thing big about me is my personality. I’m a one-year-old charmer who is very affectionate and loving. I’ll settle right into your home and curl up on your lap for hours if you’ll let me. Just please be sure I’m an only cat. I don’t wish to share you with any other cats or dogs. I don’t mind children, especially if they’re happy with a cuddly cat. Please come in to the Bahamas Humane Society to meet me or call 325-6742 for more information. I am looking forward to meeting you! Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday.
Feeling hot, hot, hot... With our current high temperatures, please remember to consider your pets’ needs, too! Never leave a dog in a parked car. Temperatures can turn deadly within minutes. When walking, stick to the cooler times of day. Hot asphalt can burn your dog’s paws. If you can’t count to five with your own
hand touching the ground, it’s too hot for your dog. Be sure to provide your pets with plenty of fresh water. Add ice for extra coolness. If your dog is to be outside for any length of time, be sure there is ample shade and access to water. If you take your dog to the beach, bring fresh water along. A dog cannot drink salt water.
The Bahamas Humane Society shelter and headquarters The Bahamas Humane Society provides many different services to the community. We have a 24-hour ambulance service; we rush to an animal injured in a traffic accident. If the animal is wounded beyond being saved we end their misery
immediately, therefore saving it a painful and lingering death on the road, perhaps being run over multiple times or taunted by passersby. If the animal has a fighting chance we take it back to the clinic and call one of our vets in to check the animal out. We also
respond to cruelty complaints and our staff will collect information on a report and if it is in fact cruelty, we will take the animal into safety. Our inspectors and ambulance drivers spend long hours on rescue work and at times face the possibility of aggression from owners. The shelter has multiple clinics every week. Our three veterinarians work long hours, assisted by very dedicated and able veterinary technicians. Every facet of the Bahamas Humane Society requires dedicated employees. We simply could not operate, nor could we do the work we do without our salaried employees. We do have some very dedicated volunteers who are of huge assistance, but we do not have sufficient volunteers to run a shelter the size of ours without salaried employees. Most people such as veterinarians who have studied for eight years or more to become the very capable professionals they are do so in order to have a good profession; they need to get paid. They cannot live without having an income. They may even have student loans to reimburse. I do get that persons want to be saving the animals, feeding them, paying for their surgery. I understand why people say what they say, but do remember without those payrolls, without the people to run the shelter, keep it clean, answer the phones, do the accounts, make the phone calls and drive the ambulance, we would have no shelter to take the animals to. The specific donations are wonderful and greatly appreciated, but we do desperately need those donations that can pay the payrolls as well; the ones with no strings attached. They are also applied to insurance, BEC bills, generator fees, National Insurance, purchase of medical supplies, VAT, and a host of other mundane entities what keep the shelter running. I would be very surprised if many of our sister charities here in Nassau do not echo my sentiments. It is very costly to run a charity as large as the BHS and we need every penny that comes in and we are greatly appreciate every dollar generously donated. I just wanted to explain the importance of paying the payrolls and why it is very helpful to get help with salaries, too. Please remember the BHS whenever you are able.
28 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, July 15, 2016
gardening
Out of Africa Jack Hardy discovers just how many plant and tree species which are popular in the Bahamas today can trace their origins back to Africa.
I
always want to know the origin of plants I intend to grow as that knowledge often helps in the art of cultivation. Tropical and subtropical plants are shared in a belt around the world and most of our garden beauties come to us from Central and South America and the Caribbean.
A good number come from Africa, and it may surprise readers to find that two of the showiest trees found in the Bahamas, and a plant that many of us feel we cannot live without, come to us from Africa. In common with millions around the world, some Bahamians cannot begin their work day without the sustenance of a cup of coffee. The coffee shrub comes from Ethiopia but it should be pointed out that it only became an important commercial commodity when it was exported to the Yemen and thence to the rest of the Arab world. In the absence of alcoholic beverages, the Muslim world took to the stimulating drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. The more popular variety of coffee is called ‘arabica’; the other is called ‘robusta’ and also comes from Africa, in the region of the Congo River. Today coffee is the second largest traded commodity worldwide, after oil. Although Brazil is the world’s largest producer of coffee, Ethiopia is coffee’s birthplace. Desert rose is a very popular plant in the Bahamas because it is both beautiful and hardy; even brownthumb gardeners find it hard to kill off desert rose. The original plants had pink flowers and grew in the dry areas of East Africa. Today there are many hybrids and desert rose can be pink, red, white, and have variegated petals.
Although most hibiscus species originated in China and eastern Asia the Hibiscus schizopetalus (Dancing Lady) comes from tropical eastern Africa. Those two showy trees? One of them is the African tulip tree, a massive beauty with large cupped flowers that provide water for birds in the dry season. It is one of the world’s most impressive trees and I wish we had more in the Bahamas. Another tree from Africa that related to the tulip tree, less showy but remarkable in its own right, is the sausage tree. It is sometimes found as a specimen tree in large gardens. Dracaena is a popular garden plant because it is almost totally drought resistant. It is often used as a patio potted plant and is also capable of being shaped into candelabra by hanging half gallon plastic bottles from the branches and adding water to them until each branch grows parallel. Remove the bottles after a month or two and the effect will be permanent: parallel growth followed by vertical. The large island of Madagascar off the east coast of Africa is most famous as the home of the defunct dodo but is also a cornucopia of plant life. It is home to the second of those showy trees we love in the Bahamas – the royal poinciana. Another lovely tree from Madagascar, though less often seen, is colvillea that bears orange
flowers formed like a cone. Less often seen is dombeya, a shrub with canelike growth that is unsightly until the cool months come and pink balls of flowers are produced on the end of foot-long stems. Far more interesting is the travellers’ tree, related to bird of paradise, and used as a symbol of welcome throughout the tropical world, including Florida motels. The travellers’ tree can grow huge and despite its apparent fragility can withstand strong winds. Because it grows in one plane it can be established against buildings and gain extra protection. Here on Abaco there are travellers’ trees that have been through several hurricanes and are still standing. The ever popular crown of thorns also originates from Madagascar. The Republic of South Africa takes in the nether portion of the continent, which is cooler and has some distinctly different flora. Commonly seen in our islands are plumbago, pandorea and bird of paradise. Blue is a rare colour in subtropical gardens and plumbago is usually the source of the blue. Pandorea is a sprawling vine with lovely foliage and light pink trumpet flowers. Bird of paradise is usually seen in two forms: the one the florists love and the white, which grows much larger. The spider plant is probably the world’s most popular non-flowering hanging plant, so much so that many serious plant people will not touch it. Almost equally hackneyed is the jade plant that is ubiquitous in pots on porches, stoops, verandahs and decks. Finally, something to eat: the Natal plum grows in a dense, low-lying form and is often used as a dividing hedge within gardens. The fruit is red and exudes a milky liquid that puts some people off, but the taste is quite pleasant. Before I did my research for this article, my list of African plants included okra and pigeon peas. It turns out that okra is from Asia and pigeon peas from western India (despite being called Congo peas in some areas of the world). The early European explorers first encountered okra and pigeon peas in Africa and assumed they were native. Seeds of both plants were brought to the Bahamas (and taken to the southern states of the US) by captured Africans intended for slavery. Both have a serious African history but are not native.
• For questions and comments e-mail j.hardy@coralwave.com