06012023 WEEKEND

Guests shine bright for Cancer Society’s ‘Golden Celebration’

Members of Nassau’s social scene stepped out dressed to the nines last Saturday to mark a very special event: the 21st annual Cancer Society Ball.

Held in Atlantis’ Grand Ballroom, this year’s theme was “Met Gala: A Golden Celebration”, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Bahamian independence.

(The “Met Gala” part of theme is inspired by the famous annual benefit gala held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City.)

It was an evening of high fashion, raffles, with a lineup of popular Bahamian entertainers and a Junkanoo rush-out.

The annual ball is a significant fundraiser for the Cancer Society, contributing the ongoing housing and care of cancer patients from the Family Islands and the Society’s educational and outreach programmes.

KRIZIA Farrington and Pauline Bowe

THERESA Sonovia

THERAN and Tiffany Rolle

SHEVONN and Mirielle Cambridge

SERENA Chan and Lunnise Gibson

ANASTASIA and Azia Gray

Photos: Moise Amisial

First Curry & Jerk Festival kicks off this Saturday

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemeda.net

If the sum total of your experience with curried and jerk dishes has been enjoying it with chicken as the main course, then you have been seriously depriving your taste buds.

Curry and jerk chicken are extremely popular in the Bahamas, but a new event this weekend seeks to take people on a food excursion to challenge them to view this type of cuisine in a different, delicious light.

Those who have a knack for preparing curry and jerk dishes will be showing off their repertoire at the inaugural Curry & Jerk Food Festival happening this Saturday.

Presented by DMG Promotions, the event takes place at Collins Grounds from 12noon to midnight.

Foodies who have a big appetite for Caribbean dishes, or those who

“Food always brings people together and this event is going to highlight the very best in curry and jerk dishes, some that you have come to know and love already, and some you probably never imagined could be cooked in both styles.”

are just curious, are all invited to attend.

Organiser Denise Reynolds is a Jamaican native, big foodie and lover of home-cooked meals. As a person

whose favourite place is the kitchen, she was eager to introduce an event that will show people the many different ways they can enjoy curry and jerk dishes.

The event will feature a multitude of curry and jerk variations that aim to inspire festival-goers to take a stab at them in their own kitchens.

Several local vendors will be showcasing the interesting things that can be done with different mains dishes.

The event will also feature Bass Odyssey out of Jamaica as well local entertainers including DJ XtraLarge, A I, DJ Bredda, Selecta Zoe, Super C and others.

The event is being hosted by the Natural Empress.

Denise said everyone to come to the festival and enjoy the blend of Caribbean flavours.

“The festival was inspired by thinking out of the box. I thought it would be awesome to have a curry and jerk event. It is something different and is also family function,” she told Tribune Weekend.

Vendors will have diversified menu options that include but are not limited to curried tuna, crab, fish, mutton and even curried cow feet.

As for Denise, she likes to enjoy her curry in different ways.

“My favourite is curry chicken. But I also enjoy curry crawfish, jerk chicken and jerk fish,” she said.

It is her hope that those who attend the event are as explorative as possible.

Natural Empress said she is looking forward to the event which she is sure will offer some of the best in curry and jerk dishes.

“This event is one not to be missed as it is an amalgamation of cultures coming together as one. Food always brings people together and this event is going to highlight the very best in curry and jerk dishes, some that you have come to know and love already, and some you probably never imagined could be cooked in both styles,” she said.

“We are very excited for the event. With it being a holiday weekend, we invite people to come out. No need to cook. Come to experience the very best in jerk and curry dishes.”

Entry to the festival is $15 per person.

For more information, contact 242-826-6046.

Johnette Ferguson-Morris

This Teacher of the Year is thrilled she is able to inspire her students to consider science-related professions after finishing school. She tells Cara Hunt about the importance of hands-on lessons and parental involvement.

Johnette Ferguson-Morris is all about planting seeds in the minds of her students encouraging them to embrace the science related studies. And she was recently named Teacher of the Year 2022-24 at CR Walker Senior High School for her efforts.

Johnette has been teaching for almost a decade, although her path to the profession took a slight detour along the way.

“I have always loved teaching,” she told Tribune Weekend.

“I think I realised way back, from like the age of 10, that I had a passion for teaching. I was a community Sunday school teacher at Bahamas Harvest Church. I loved being around the kids and watching them grow sparked my curiosity and made me want to be a teacher.”

While she had a natural love for teaching, she was also greatly inspired by a particular teacher of her own.

“My science teacher back in high school really made science fun,” said Johnette.

“I was always excited to go to her class and that made me want to enter a science related profession. In fact, I actually thought that it might be pharmacology. I was in pharmacy school for a while before I realised that I needed to go back to my first love, which was teaching.”

Johnette got her teaching degree, but concentrated on the subject of science. Currently, she serves as the subject coordinator for the Science Department at CR Walker Senior High School.

Science and Biology can be difficult subjects for students to master, but Johnette said that the key is to keep students as engaged as possible through hands-on activities that can make the subject come alive for them.

“For example, we have a greenhouse at school and I can take the students there learn about farming technology so we can do hands-on activities to help them get a better understanding,” she explained.

Her desire to be a role model like the ones she had at school is paying off. Many of her students have expressed an interest in entering a science related profession.

“A lot of my students have expressed interested in becoming farmers or other careers in agriculture or nontraditional roles in science, or entering pre-allied health. We also have a lot of students who want to enter nursing,” she said proudly.

Johnette has also volunteered at the Bahamas Conference of Youth on Climate Change, and at BREEF’s summer camp as well as her school’s environmental science club.

She considers the profession her dream job.

“I just love being in the presence of my students. Every day is new and exciting and I always learn something from them. It has been a wonderful experience.”

However, teaching does come with some challenges and Johnette said the two things she wishes she could improve on are having access

this weekend in history

June 2

• In 1886, at age 21, Frances Folsom marries US President Grover Cleveland, 49, in the White House. She becomes the youngest first lady in American history.

• In 1953, Elizabeth II, the elder daughter of King George VI, is crowned Queen of the United Kingdom at Westminster Abbey. She is 27 years old.

June 3

to more resources and seeing more parental involvement.

“The majority of my parents do work with me and engage with me,

but as a teacher you always want your parents to reach out to you and how find out how their child is progressing,” she said.

Another big challenge was navigating education through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schools were forced to close and students had to attend virtual classes.

Johnette said it was quite the challenge as many students struggled to keep up.

“A lot of our students were not able to get devices or be consistent with attending classes. And so, it was a challenge, but once we got them back it was really easy to start rebuilding and getting them back to where they need to be. It has just been so much better, because they prefer to be in school,” she said.

Teachers have worked tirelessly to get the students back to pre-pandemic levels, which is why Johnette said it’s disappointing when the public blames teachers for poor national results.

“Many of us go above and beyond; having extra classes after school and on Saturday for external classes.”

Johnette was named Teacher of the Year after a nomination process.

“You have to had been a teacher for five years, and have a received a five on your performance evaluation. I was very excited and very grateful that my hard work and dedication has not been overlooked and has been appreciated,” she said.

Governor of the colony.

June 4

• In 1783, brothers JosephMichel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier launch an uncrewed hot-air balloon. It is the first public demonstration of the discovery that hot air in a large lightweight paper or fabric bag rises.

THE NOW extinct great auks

• In 1844, great auks become extinct as the last two known specimens are killed by fishermen on Eldey Island, Iceland. They were a large flightless birds native to the North Atlantic which once numbered in the millions. Their fat, eggs and feathers were sold as commercial

goods over the centuries.

• In 1937, six months after abdicating the British throne, Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor weds American socialite and divorcée Wallis Simpson in France. Three years later, the couple move to the Bahamas upon his being appointed

• In 1937, the world’s first shopping carts are introduced by inventor Sylvan Goldman at his Humpty Dumpty supermarket chain in Oklahoma. Although not an immediate hit – men found them effeminate; women found them suggestive of a baby carriage – they eventually helped Goldman become a multi-millionaire.

Arsenal, Traverse, Fear.

down: Applique, Slot, Short, Bonanza, Damson, These, Occult, Bypass, Hocks, Remiss (clue), Umpteen, Venue, Dune, Jeweller.

tV croSSword

across: 1 Khloe, 6 Fern, 8 Kangaroo, 10 Front, 11 Thora, 12 Andrea, 15 Dale, 16 Steele, 17 Meat, 19 Raymond, 21 Kate, 22 Outen. down: 2 Hugh, 3 Ekland, 4 Dara, 5 Your honor, 6 Firefly, 7 Not, 9 Natalia, 13 Also, 14 She Wrote, 17 Mork, 18 True, 20 You.

tV show: Mayflies

MuddlESoME

SWIPE Monty’s Pass L’Escargot Corbiere

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.

clock-wiSE

Stab, Abed, Eddy, Dyne, Nene, Nest

QuiZ of thE wEEk

Diffident about island, and

SMall croSSword

across: 1 Paralysis, 7 Enid, 8 Gouda, 10 Can, 11 Seaman, 13 Expedient, 14 Bureau, 16 UFO, 18 Tyrol, 19 Aver, 20 Extremely.

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 Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

1 Conservatives, 2 Argentina, 3 West, 4 Squid Game, 5 The Fall, 6 Robert Burns, 7 Alfred Hitchcock, 8 David Hockney, 9 The Cobblers, 10 Zimbabwe.

down: 1 Persecute, 2 Annexe, 3 Adam, 4 Yob, 5 Succeed, 6 Sanctuary, 8 Gradual, 9 Rapport, 12 Enamel, 15 Roam, 17 For.

croSS douBt across: SPOKE down: MOPED

THE ALPHABEATER

Quick croSSword

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

Across

1 Leaders of fashion have a sort of advantage, right? (5-5)

6 We hear he has left some clothes (4)

10 Country involved in formal talks (5)

11 Ring tuner about paying another visit (9)

12 Extremely difficult and not properly finished (8)

13 Aside given to an actor to speak? (5)

15 Hanger-on employed by key man in security work (7)

17 Rest of the wood comes on Saturday or Sunday (7)

19 Wrongly presume it’s the highest (7)

21 Folds when credit becomes derestricted (7)

22 A revolting subject (5)

24 Particular mixture of ale and spice (8)

27 No maid of the mountains is homely (5,4)

28 Device that’s defective for example is rejected (5)

29 It was heaven on earth while it lasted (4)

30 Unlucky enough to be badly cast as a leading actor (3-7)

Down

1 Prepares to meet an invasion from Mars (4)

2 Everyone bound to be properly arranged (3,4,2)

3 Direct transport (5)

4 Highly upset? (7)

5 Abandons lands in the sea (7)

7 Boy gets a girl, name of Heather (5)

8 Correct attire for Army manoeuvre (5,5)

9 Rate modified by undoubted wealth (8)

14 Sign for a missing letter (10)

16 Islanders cannot make such journeys abroad (8)

18 One who only watches will make a bad sentry (9)

20 Watch the dance in which one has a pupil (7)

21 Policemen make very little money (7)

23 A verb wrongly used to describe daring (5)

25 Hooded killer has firm support of ladies (5)

26 Crazy about energy-packed drink (4)

Across

Across: 1 Acerbic, 5 Haste, 8 Like a lamb, 9 Apt, 10 Wage, 12 Anathema, 14 Client, 15 Way-out, 17 Inedible, 18 Star, 21 Pip, 22 Sacred cow, 24 Rigid, 25 Disobey.

Down: 1 Allow, 2 Elk, 3 Bear, 4 Cranny, 5 Habitual, 6 Scapegoat, 7 Extract, 11 Guinea pig, 13 Unbiased, 14 Clipper, 16 Placid, 19 Rowdy, 20 Less, 23 Cub.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

Across: 1 Tear gas, 5 Pedal, 8 Medallist, 9 Pit, 10 Orbs, 12 Novelist, 14 Arrive, 15 Scraps, 17 Duty call, 18 Zeus, 21 Nun, 22 Irritated, 24 Arson, 25 Capstan.

Down: 1 Tempo, 2 Add, 3 Gilt, 4 Suitor, 5 Patience, 6 Duplicate, 7 Litotes, 11 Baritones, 13 Eviction, 14 Addenda, 16 Cleric, 19 Sedan, 20 Stop, 23 Tot.

EASY PUZZLE

Down

Yesterday’s Easy Solution 12345

1 Be sold very cheaply (2,3,1,4)

6 To utter (4)

10 Edible juicy gourd (5)

11 Retrace one’s steps (9)

12 A subsidiary trade (8)

13 In pursuit of (5)

15 Devious (7)

17 Valedictory gathering (4-3)

19 Make believe (7)

21 Developing promisingly (7)

22 Stringent (5)

24 A marine painting (8)

27 Filled with wonder (9)

28 Layabout (5)

29 Of sympathetic nature (4)

30 Harbinger of doom (5,5)

1 Eager and willing (4)

2 Express angry denunciations (9)

3 A selection (5)

4 Exalted (7)

5 Central part (7)

7 Intended (5)

8 Find shelter from danger (4,6)

9 Tense (8)

14 Maintain secrecy (4,2,4)

16 Absolute sameness (8)

18 Reacting to sudden desire (2,7)

20 To contest (7)

21 All-inclusive (7)

23 Inexperienced (5)

25 A slit (5)

26 Spoken examination (4)

across: 1 Unbelievable, 7 Slang, 8 Prawn, 9 Cue, 10 Aggregate, 11 Minute, 12 Relief, 15 Elongated, 17 Air, 18 Extra, 19 Purge, 21 Uncharitable.

a s r d Y t B N e

down: 1 Unencumbered, 2 Lea, 3 Engage, 4 Apprehend, 5 Llama, 6 Interference, 7 Stern, 10 Autograph, 13 Inane, 14 Stupor, 16 Often, 20 Rot.

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here?

In making a word, each letter may be used once only. each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No plurals. Verb forms ending in s permitted.

TODAY’S TARGET

Good 27; very good 41; excellent 54 (or more). Solution tomorrow

Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition) call 0907 181 2585 for today’s target solution

*Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

BATTLESHIPS

FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off.

Solution tomorrow

targEt

lEukaEMia

alee alike alum email kale kalmia kame lake lama lame leak

LEUKAEMIA mail make male maul meal mealie umiak

caN you crack the alphabeater? each grid number represents a letter – or black square. as in alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet is used. But you have to complete the grid too! Use the given letters and black squares below the grid to start. the grid is ‘rotationally symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the same if you turn the page upside down. Solution

Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer

● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to your mobile, text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus your usual operator

WORD BUILDER

Answer the clues so that each word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one.

Da chirren dem say…the darndest things’ A new show for the whole family

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

Most of us are familiar with Psalm 8:2, “…out of the mouths of babes”; and we also know the expression “kids say the darndest things”.

And now a new Bahamian show, ‘Da Chirren Dem Say’, will offer entertainment for the whole family by giving kids the opportunity to speak their minds.

With their extremely active imaginations and no filters in place, children can often speak unexpected truths and wisdom, and also make very funny observations. They can be not only amusing, but shocking as well.

Unfortunately, the humour of children is mostly confined to their family and friends, and not often experienced by others.

Sensing there was a market to tap into here, Canadian-born American radio and television personality Art Linkletter started interviewing kids for his extremely popular variety/talk show ‘House Party’ in 1945 (the show ran until 1967). This led to a series of books quoting children and guest appearances on the late 1990s show ‘Kids Say the Darndest Thing’ hosted by Bill Cosby. The show was briefly revived with Tiffany Haddish as host in the year 2000.

Now, Bahamian comedian Jaquay Adderley, also known as Das Quay, is following a similar format

with the upcoming show ‘Da Chirren Dem Say’, but putting a uniquely Bahamian spin on proceedings.

Produced by the Fincastle Media, the 10-episode series shows host Jaquay conversing with kids on different topics, allowing them to offer their distinct viewpoints.

Producers said they quickly realised that even in their innocence, kids can some “alarming things”.

They said with this show they wanted something for Bahamian families to watch and enjoy.

Jaquay, they said, brings his unique brand of humour and personality to the show which meshes well with the kids being interviewed. The show’s debut date will soon be announced on Facebook, Instagram TikTok and YouTube.

The Fincastle Media Group was established in 2015 as a full-service marketing and public relations firm. Through sound, research marketing practices, they provide research practices, industry-leading strategies and targeted campaigns to a wide range of clients, including government agencies, private entities and nonprofit organisations.

The company specialises in social media, special event production, crisis communication, visual storytelling, writing services, graphic design and integrated campaigns.

Fincastle Media currently produces ‘A Closer Look’, as seen on OurTV, ‘Born and Bred Bahamian’, and other special projects.

HOST Jaquay Adderley

Bahamian TV series ‘This is Paradise’ lands distribution deal with US streaming service

By Arthia Nixon | The Ambassador Agency

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – “This is Paradise”, the first Bahamian television series to secure a distribution deal with a major American streaming service, is officially on Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment’s free streaming service Crackle.

The show premiered on May 30. The six-episode series was produced and directed by award-winning Bahamian filmmaker Kareem Mortimer and can be accessed for free through Roku, Samsung TVs, and numerous other devices.

The series is considered a triumph for the Bahamian entertainment industry and Caribbean television as a whole. With an all-Bahamian/ Caribbean cast, crew and production team, “This is Paradise” is a representation of cultural authenticity.

Filmed on the picturesque island of Eleuthera, the production created employment opportunities for locals who worked as cast members, crew, caterers, and more.

“Securing a deal to reach millions of viewers in the United States has been a long time coming, and we are tremendously grateful,” said Kareem.

“Joining the Crackle family, associated with Redbox and Chicken Soup For The Soul, surpasses our expectations. This achievement demonstrates that perseverance is worthwhile. I am delighted to work with this incredible team and, as we say, take 242 to the world.”

“This is Paradise” tells the story of two contrasting women who discover their shared heritage as half-sisters after the sudden death of their father. United by this

revelation, they must come together to rescue their father’s dilapidated hotel in the Bahamas. It is a heartwarming narrative set against the stunning tropical backdrop of the island.

Joining Kareem are the show’s executive producer

Timico Sawyer, and Z’haneo Newbold.

The directing team consists of Kareem Mortimer, Henrietta Edgecombe and Lavado Stubbs, while the scripts were penned by Tim Papciak, Stephen Hanna, and Kerel Pinder.

“Highlighting and advocating for the diversity of Black cinema has been a core focus throughout my career,” said Gregory Maurice, senior director of global acquisitions and co-productions at Crackle.

“ ‘This is Paradise’ showcases a fun and refreshing portrayal of Black people that breaks away from stereotypes. Kareem and his team have made history, and it is an honour for us to be part of this groundbreaking series by presenting it on our platform.”

The premiere of “This is Paradise” coincides with Caribbean Heritage Month in the United States which is celebrated in June. As streaming platforms increasingly embrace authentic African films and shows, the series presents the Bahamas in its true light, featuring genuine accents and locations outside of Nassau, New Providence.

working on the project as incredibly thrilling.

“I was surrounded by a multitude of talented creatives and professionals operating on a grander scale,” said Zhane’o who plays the character of Walcott.

“Moreover, I am immensely honoured to share a slice of this Bahamian history. My hope is that the viewers will have the opportunity to witness the remarkable and varied talent that thrives in the Bahamas, brilliantly expressed through this captivating endeavour.

“Showcasing our talent on an international platform is an immense opportunity,” he added. “The Bahamas requires greater global visibility, allowing us to establish our unique identity and consistently demonstrate our exceptional abilities. I firmly believe that this is just the start of a remarkable journey towards even greater achievements.”

Dana Deveaux, who plays the lead role of Kiesha, agrees that being a part of the project is nothing short of amazing.

Julia Woolley Chatwin, producer Henrietta Edgecombe, and producers Nicole Sylvester and Trevite Willis.

The series features an ensemble cast of Dana Deveaux, Julia Woolley Chatwin, Michael Olodeye,

Filming took place on the island of Eleuthera, the first colonised Bahamian island known for its unspoiled natural beauty and celebrity residents that have included Mariah Carey, the British royal family, and local favourite Lenny Kravitz. It was also the film location of Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married, Too?”.

Zhane’o Newbold, a Bahamian social media sensation and comedian known for his Sarge character, described

“There was something very special about working on authentic Bahamian material while utilising the breathtaking landscape of the island of Eleuthera, which is also a character in the show,” she said. “It gives viewers a chance to experience the Bahamas in a completely new light, and I think this fresh take is only the beginning of the type of artistic work viewers can expect from Bahamian creatives. There is bigger and better to come - this is just the beginning.”

JULIA Woolley Chatwin and Timico Sawyer

CAST of ‘This is Paradise’

THE CREW at work

‘Krazy’ singersongwriter ready to release new EP

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net

Not the COVID-19 pandemic nor any of life’s other challenges were going to stop Alisha Bethel from pursuing a career in music.

Now, the artist – who goes by the stage name Krazy Ringo – is ready to release her first EP; a compilation of new R&B and pop tunes.

Alisha has been singing since she was in primary school. In fact, music runs in her veins.

“I have been around music my entire life. My father was a part of a singing group called D4U (Dreams 4 You) and my mother sang for many choirs and praise teams,” she told Tribune Weekend.

“My parents honestly supported me from the beginning. They would encourage me all through school to participate in various singing groups. They helped me practice my stage presence and bought me my very first guitar. My dad helped me compose my very first original song for various music competitions, and even now they both share my music and come to a performance from time to time.”

It wasn’t until 2017 that Alisha began seriously considering music as viable career path. That year, she helped form a five-member band named Black Sheep.

After an eight-month run, however, she decided to leave the band and strike out as a solo artist called Krazy Ringo.

This moniker does not come from, as many would assume, from the famous Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, but rather from a lead character of a popular manga/anime property.

“I adopted the alias of ‘Ringo’ after I graduated high school. It is the name of a character from an anime called ‘Air Gear’ that I heavily related to. ‘Krazy’ was a stylistic choice after becoming an artist, as I wanted my name to represent the passion and energy I would bring in my performances,” she said.

In December 2018, Alisha released her debut single “All Night” featuring TonAsh and written by Sacha the Duchess. The song was a fun party track which combined old school R&B vibes with catchy, upbeat lyrics.

She also did several features on fellow artist P. Dillon’s “Stuck Inside” album that came out in 2020.

Alisha is currently working on releasing an EP that was originally due to be released in 2020, but was delayed due to the pandemic.

The EP is being produced and co-written by Jeffery “Redd Chinn” Mackey and is set to feature collaborations with artists such as Dumbo

Skywalker and Navarro Newton, among others.

With so many setbacks surrounding the project, Alisha said it would just be good to finish it and see it through. She said she has learned a lot about herself as a musician and what it takes to be successful in the industry over the years.

“Like most artists, I tend to write about my life. It’s easier to write what I know than to try and come up with make-believe situations of scenarios,” she said of her songwriting process.

“It would be great to see if I can execute all that I have learned since putting out my first song, and continue to grow and learn in order to be able to achieve the goal of being an artist full time.”

Alisha said she would love work full time as an artist, but that’s not easy in the Bahamas.

“There are very few paid performance opportunities for artists in this country, especially those who exist outside of the genres of rake n’ scrape, Junkanoo, Goombay and soca. And even some of those artists aren’t full time,” she said.

Alisha said she is grateful for all the opportunities granted to her to perform locally, but recently she has also been trying to book performances outside of the country.

Alisha said music mainly falls under the genres of mainly R&B and pop. She has been inspired by the music her parents exposed her to, music from artists like New Edition, Boys II Men, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans. Artists she came to admire growing up include Ciara, Neyo, Bruno Mars and H.E.R.

Alisha usually performs at SoundWaves events. She recently performed at the Acoustic Brunch held at Studio Café and at the SoundWaves Original Music Festival in April.

“If you follow my social media pages you can see where and when I will be performing next. ‘Krazy Ringo’ is my handle across all social media and streaming platforms. The feedback and support of my music has been great over the years. The song ‘All Night; has seen great success; it’s been played on the radio and used in promos for events since dropping in 2018. I always manage to gain new fans and followers of my music every time I perform,” said Alisha.

KRAZY Ringo at the Acoustic Brunch at Studio Cafe

literary lives

Black is beautiful Part II

Sir Christopher Ondaatje continues to describe his hazardous encounter with a black leopard in the wilds of Northern Kenya

A black panther is the melanistic colour variant of the leopard (Panthera Pardus). Black panthers have excess black pigments, but their typical rosettes are also present. They have been documented mostly in tropical forests with black leopards in Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand Peninsula, Malaysia and Java. Melanism is caused by a recessive allele in the leopard.

- Wikipedia

We had no proof that we have seen the black leopard, and although Will Craig believed us when we told him of our sighting, we knew that we needed to get cleaner photographs of the black leopard. And so at five o’clock the following morning Mungai woke me again.

Twenty minutes later we crossed the Lewa River and wound our way across the plains to the foot of Cave Hill.

It was still dark when we stopped at the base of the hillock overlooking Cave Hill, but I got my cameras ready, as well as my video camerarecorder, and put them on the dashboard in front of me. We waited in silence, Mungai and I sitting, but the two other Maasai standing in the back of the Land Rover. We waited, looking out on the face of Cave Hill, where the sun’s first rays would hit as dawn broke.

Suddenly both Rikita and Alfred should “Chui. There’s the leopard.”

“Where?” I shouted, standing up suddenly and grabbing my video camera. I looked out on to Cave Hill. “No, not there – there,” Rikita yelled excitedly. And there on a small plain not fifty metres in front of the Land Rover, towards the base of Cave Hill, was the cat. I pressed the Sony camera into action, with fully extended telephoto lens. I kept filming while Mungai started the engine and very slowly drove towards the large, obviously male, black leopard. We guessed he had been down to the river to quench his thirst, but now he

had seen us and scurried away, but not far. I kept filming whether or not the leopard was in the frame, even though I sometimes couldn’t see him. He kept moving, and I kept filming. No one said anything. And then we lost him. I must have got about three minutes of the black leopard on film.

We looked up the hill and saw the leopard again, and I got perhaps another minute of the leopard on film, further away but still clearly visible. It was lighter now, and the leopard made its way up the side of the escarpment, up the hill towards the caves where it obviously planned to spend the day out of the glaring sun. We waited another half-anhour, but didn’t see the beast again. I replayed the footage I had just taken. It was all there. Some of it was poor and badly shaken, particularly the footage I shot while the Land Rover was moving. But it was definitely there, thank God. At least three minutes of black leopard on film. In

the excitement I had completely forgotten to take any still photographs.

The day was starting to get hot and the leopard would not show itself again until the late afternoon so there was no point in staying. There was a chance he would venture onto the plains to hunt, but this would not happen until much later, and so we decided to go back to the ranch for breakfast. None of us had ever seen a black leopard before.

* * *

“Where shall we go?” Mungai asked me as Rikita, Alfred and I climbed into the old Land Rover later that afternoon.

“To the plains between the river and Cave Hill,” I replied without much hesitation.

“Do you think it’s too early?” It was only half past three and the sun

was high in the sky. It was far too hot for predators to start out on their evening activities.

“It’ll take us about half an hour to get there,” Mungai replied. “If the leopard wants to hunt he’ll have to come down to the plains before it gets dark.”

And so we made our way out, away from the ranch, through the scrub jungle, across the Lewa River, and into the long dried grass plains below Cave Hill. On the left of the track a few impala grazed nonchalantly between the track and the river. A little further away some Burchell’s zebra lazily rolled in some dust. Mount Kenya in the distance was only a blurry image clouded with the African haze. I filmed a Ruppel’s vulture circling over the plains and a pair of ostrich females flapping their short wings over the backs. Mungai seemed in a sort of daydream and so

FEMALE black leopard

was Alfred. There was no sign of the leopard.

At the foot of Cave Hill a lone thorn acacia was obscuring part of our view of the hill face, and I had thought of asking Mungai to move the Land Rover further along the track to the base of the hill. But it was still too hot, so I simply focused on the hill and the shallow ditch at the foot of it. And then I looked over and into the branches of the acacia tree. I saw a very slight movement – a stick hanging down from the shadows under the tree about three or four metres above the ground. What was it? Only a twig, but I kept my eyes on it. Could it be? I kept looking at it. And then it moved again – only a slight sway. Could it possibly be the leopard’s tail? The tree was certainly an ideal platform for a leopard to prospect its territory.

“Mungai,” I said, “take these glasses and have a look. Don’t move. Don’t anybody move.” We were all sitting down.

“Where?” Mungai asked.

“Just to the right of the main trunk of the tree, on the right hand branch. Can you see something hanging down perpendicular? About four feet to the right of the trunk, below the first branch up from the ground. Do you see it? What do you think?”

“I can’t see definitely,” Mungai said. “We’re too far away. Keep your small camera on the branch and I’ll move the Land Rover closer.”

“Don’t move or stand up,” I said. “OK, Mungai. Go towards the tree, very slowly, really slowly. Not too far. Maybe about twenty or thirty yards.” And as we moved closer, the shadows above the low branches of the acacia grew a little less dark.

“Stop,” I said. “Give me the glasses.” And then my heart leapt. For there on the low right-hand branch of the tree, with its black tail hanging down, was the black leopard looking at us. Straight at us.

“Here, Mungai. Take the glasses. Keep looking at the leopard. Tell me if he moves.”

With that I focused the video camera directly on the creature, which was still quite far away. We had already switched the engine off. I filmed the leopard looking at us

from the shadows of the branching acacia for about a minute, but then he got up onto the branches.

“Damn,” I said. “We’ve disturbed it. We’ve come too close.”

I still had my camera on the leopard, which slowly crept down the jutting limbs of the tree and silently leapt down off the branch into the long brown grass below. We sat motionless for about five minutes, and then I said, “Mungai. Drive up to the tree slowly. Maybe he’s on the ground in the grass and we’ll see him move towards the hill.”

Very slowly we went forward until we were almost under the tree. But we saw nothing. And then I did a very stupid and dangerous thing. Desperate to get more footage of the black leopard, I got out of the Land Rover, slid myself into the long grass and strode slowly towards the tree. I told Mungai to stay with the vehicle, and told Alfred and Rikita to fan out either side of the tree about twenty metres away from where we had last seen the leopard. Then I waited until Alfred and Rikita were in place to

the left and right of the tree and only a few paces from the base of Cave Hill. I kept my camera on in case something moved, not really caring about danger and what a cornered leopard might do. I had reached the base of the tree in a few minutes and had not seen anything. I waited patiently. Surely he must be here. I looked back. Mungai was glancing at us anxiously. And then I quietly told Alfred to move towards Rikita on the other side of the tree.

“Just move slowly,” I said. Alfred moved.

He had only taken about four steps when he pointed in front of him and said, “The leopard is here. He is going to go up the hill.”

I couldn’t see anything but I moved quickly forward, the camera still filming, trained on the direction Alfred was pointing. He was standing still. And then I saw the leopard again, moving slowly, carefully picking his way up the bank which was the base of Cave Hill, picking his way between the low scrub bushes, carefully, his long black tail

behind him, his large black head low to the ground. The sun was darting on his shiny black back, just allowing us to see the faint rosettes on his body as he moved purposefully away from us. I kept the camera on, never once looking up. And then in less than thirty seconds it was all over. The leopard disappeared into some thick grass further up the hill, towards the escarpment below the caves. I turned my camera off, looked towards Alfred and Rikita and smiled. When I looked at my boots and trousers I saw that my feet were covered in ticks. No one ever saw the black leopard again.

• Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial.

SIR Christopher Ondaatje

NORTHERN Kenya

Planes, planes and more planes

My article “First Runways in the Bahamas” brought a lot of favourable comments from readers, some of whom are too young to remember that Oakes Field was an airport and Bahamas Airways (BAL) was our first airline.

I was not the first Bahamian to fly for BAL. Far from it. I joined in 1963. Leonard Thompson and Philip Farrington joined when they came back home after World War II. Another pioneer was Michael Kelly.

Al Hall joined in 1960, as did Henry Pyfrom, after his stint in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Maurice Cole, who used to be Pan American’s chief engineer in Nassau, started flying for BAL in 1963.

Sammy Johnson and Paul Smith joined in 1964 and, in 1965, Harcourt Fernander became BAL’s first black pilot.

Raymond Carroll (’65), John Gordon (’66), Caius St George (’67), Howard Heastie (’67), Harry Pinder (‘69), Sammy Curry (’69), Lester Albury (’69), Ron Roberts (’69), Craig Flowers (’60) and Arthur Bunch (September 2, 1970) increased the number of Bahamian pilots.

Smith, Fernander and Pinder were among the students I taught to fly at the Nassau Flying Club.

The life of a pilot is controlled by his position (number) on the seniority list. I have no idea what my original number was on that all-controlling list, but in 1970 when BAL was put into voluntary liquidation, I was number 18 of 75 pilots.

The Bahama Islands Airline Pilots Association (BIALPA) had an agreement with BAL, defining the minimum qualifications a pilot had to possess to be promoted (from first officer to captain; from smaller planes to bigger planes, etcetera). Whenever an opening came up, the candidate with the lowest seniority number would be the first to be considered, and if he (there

were no female pilots) had at least the minimum qualifications he would be considered for promotion.

Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATP) and

first officers worked hard to qualify for an ATP and eventually become a captain.

My Bahamian ATP was #81. Philip Farrington’s was #4.

The majority of BAL’s pilots were not born Bahamians, but the airline could not have operated without ex-patriates, some of whom took Bahamian citizenship.

Flying is a serious profession, and a pilot keeps a logbook (probably more than one) in which he records each and every flight. I once met an Eastern Airline pilot who had 60,000 flight hours, believed to be the highest number of any pilot. In the early days of his career, there was no legal limit to the number of hours a pilot could fly (in a day or month, etcetera).

Eastern had sent that pilot in a Piper Apache as a gift to our Minister for Aviation, to whom I was giving flying lessons. I was so pleased when he turned the offer down.

My training with BAL was on a Douglas DC-3 that seemed multiple times bigger than it really was. Philip Farrington was my instructor.

With a northeasterly wind, we used runway 05 for take-off and landing. That DC-3 refused to do what I told it to do and the closer we got to the runway, it had to prove that I was not in control. But Captain Farrington was there, keeping me out of real trouble.

With each missed approach, I began to get a feel for the DC-3 and eventually did everything right. We were over the approach end of the runway when I heard Philip’s voice in my earphones saying, “You’re going to have a very short career with this airline if you land with the wheels up.”

That was 60 years ago. For the rest of my career, I heard that voice every time I landed any plane.

During my seven plus years with BAL, I flew DC-3s, Vickers Viscounts, Aero Commanders, Hawker-Siddeley 748s and BAC One-Elevens.

• For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@gmail.com

The dream of an airline pilot is to be promoted to the rank of captain (pilot in command). For this he must hold an

PAUL C ARANHA FORGOTTEN FACTS

A crazy situation

By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters

What sort of craziness has descended on these islands?

Dogs are going missing, dogs are being dumped, dogs are being overbred, and dogs are being neglected, forgotten, abandoned and starved. Facebook is full of desperate pleas to help good Samaritans who have found dogs in distress.

How can the people of the Bahamas expect a handful of dedicated animal lovers to solve the problem?

It is a cultural issue; I am frequently told. Well, the only response I can come up with is that burning so-called witches at the stake was cultural once upon time too, but the world has stopped doing that.

Let’s take some of these problems one by one.

At the Bahamas Humane Society, we tend to encounter all these issues rolled up in a big ball of suffering.

The innocent victims are undoubtedly the dogs themselves – born in large litters, sold off to unscrupulous owners, especially if they happen to be part pit bull, and then the poor females are forced to have one litter after another until their exhausted bodies give out.

So, why are we, as a nation, behaving in such an irresponsible manner? Why are we dumping dogs just about anywhere and everywhere? Why don’t these people want their pets any longer?

I suspect these poor, ill-treated animals were never a pet, but always some useful addition to the yard or wallet, or both, without a nod to the fact that they are living, breathing, feeling, sentient creatures.We, at the Bahamas Humane Society, are constantly picking up abandoned animals. We are full and these animals deserve more care and compassion than they can be given in a full shelter. We are able to tend to their medical needs; we feed them, they are walked, but the one-on-one is almost impossible, because there are simply not enough people who can volunteer their time to help, and there is not enough money to

pay people to play with and sit with abandoned pets.

The BHS tries to encourage people to accept help with keeping the family united. We can give out packets of dog food, and if absolutely necessary, we can try to provide fencing. We want to keep animals with their humans.

What I feel that is missing so sorely is any commitment to animals anywhere under any circumstances. A puppy is not a box of Lego that can be discarded once it no longer provides entertainment to the individual. How do we educate people to understand that? I use the word

“educate” and I know it will annoy others because people think that means there are uneducated people out there who need to learn…. Well, yes. Why is that so painful to admit? There are people who need to learn, but, alas, they also need to care. You can educate all you like. You can tell people how to care for animals. You can show people what is required, but if they don’t care, if there is no interest or empathy, what does one do?

The strange thing is that there are also a lot of lost dogs, dogs gone missing from homes. I wonder how these two phenomena tie into each

other. The found dogs are not the lost dogs. People are abandoning dogs all over the place and on the other hand people are losing dogs. Are they being stolen or is the garden gate being left open all too frequently?

The breeding side of things is atrocious. There are unscrupulous breeders all over the island (and in the Out Islands) who breed the females every heat until they literally breed them to death. There is no consideration. The puppies bring in vast amounts of money. None of that money necessarily goes into the care and comfort of the mother dogs. Talk about puppy mills! We have it bad here.

The final concern of insane magnitude are the dogs kept on chains day and night and being starved to death. It takes a special kind of wickedness to be able to walk by an animal who is all skin and bones and deny that animal food and water.

We have rescues that are at death’s door. There are animal cruelty laws and we all collectively hope that these will be enforced to the maximum extent of the law.

But what I am really saying is: What is wrong with us? Why is all of the above cause for grave concern? How can we be so lacking in compassion and empathy? Even the individuals who look on and hear me speak give the impression that it simply doesn’t matter.

Many of us in the animal advocacy world shed tears regularly when we see what our fellow man is capable of.

If you need an exercise buddy, he’d be more than willing to help out. Solomon will be good company for you. Come to the BHS to see him or call 325-6742 for more information. Solomon looks forward to meeting you!

Solomon is somewhat of a mystery at the Bahamas Humane Society. This twoyear-old potcake appeared one morning in the paddocks and is now looking for his forever home.

He’s sociable with other dogs and enjoys going on the dog walks. Cats aren’t his thing, though.

• The Flower Power Paw-ty is back! Saturday, June 24, at the Nassau Yacht Club. Tickets are $125, available at the BHS or Fox Hill Nursery. Cocktails at 6.30pm; dinner at 8pm. Come dressed in your favourite ‘60s outfit and have a great time supporting the animals!

‘The wisdom of Solomon…’

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

(Photo/Linda GIll-Aranha)

pet of the week

After Atlantis concert, Pitbull promises more shows for Bahamian fans

By RASHAD ROLLE | Tribune News Editor | rrolle@tribunemedia.net

GRAMMY Award-winning rapper, singer and songwriter Pitbull delivered an electric show to a sold-out crowd at Atlantis on Sunday, May 28. His performance was the latest in Atlantis’ Music Making Waves series, which supports the Blue Project Foundation.

“It’s such an honour to perform in the Bahamas at the Atlantis,” the singer who is also known as “Mr Worldwide” told Tribune Weekend in response to questions sent to his team.

“I love visiting all parts of the Bahamas. The Making Waves Concert series is one of the first public shows I’m doing for the Bahamian fans.”

During the event, he performed all the crowd’s favourite songs, including some of the most iconic hits of the 21st century, “Timber” and “Give Me Everything.”

The performance was high-energy from start to finish.

This was not the artist’s first experience in the Bahamas.

“One of my favourite memories is when we filmed the ‘Timber’ music videos in the Exumas,” he said. “I love the Bahamian culture, people

and their generous hospitality. I appreciate every opportunity I get to visit. I love bringing people from all around the world together, and uniting them through the universal language of music.”

Pitbull’s Caribbean experience includes collabo rating with dancehall star Sean Paul, with whom he has also toured.

“I draw a lot of my music and live show from Caribbean music that’s why I’m excited to be play ing in The Bahamas this weekend,” he said.

Asked how he has remained a force in show business for so long, Pitbull said: “The key to longevity in the industry is hard work, independ ence and taking advantage of every opportunity you get.

The Atlantis Blue Project Foundation (ABPF) is a private nonprofit foundation that fosters the preservation and conservation of coral reefs, sea turtles, sharks, manatees, and cetaceans, along with their Bahamian ecosystems, through scientific research, education, and community outreach.

Previous performers in the Making Waves Con cert series include Lizzo, Sheryl Crow, Ashanti and Robin Thicke.