08092024 WEEKEND by tribune242

events

MenSpeak: Daddy and Me in “The Kitchen”

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

IN a heartwarming and delicious twist on traditional bonding, Bahamian businesswoman and leadership strategist Simmone Bowe recently hosted an innovative event called the “Daddy and Me Cooking Experience” at The Kitchen Baha Mar.

Under her MenSpeak initiative, this unique cooking experience for dads and their children aimed to foster stronger familial relationships and challenge societal stereotypes about men.

With aprons on and recipes in hand, fathers and their kids worked side by side, creating not just meals, but memories, proving that the kitchen can be a powerful space for growth and connection.

Simmone L Bowe, known for her dedication to empowering individuals and fostering community connections, envisioned the event as more than just a culinary experience.

“Our focus is on not only uplifting supporting understanding men and boys but also fostering gender harmony which by extension creates stronger families, and so when we think about a lot of the events that we see, it’s mommy and me.

It’s always building the relationship between the mom and the child. So we thought it ﬁtting from our male centred focus, that why not have a daddy and me event? Where we have lots of men that do things with their children, you know, things that we don’t talk about. Men that take their daughters to ballet and men that take their sons to soccer, baseball and all that other stuff. So why not create an event where men can continue to bond and encourage that bonding with their child,” she said.

The event saw a diverse group of fathers and their kids, from seasoned chefs to kitchen novices, all coming together to share stories, laughter, and the joy of cooking. Through the act of preparing meals together, participants discovered new facets of their relationships and broke down barriers, demonstrating that true strength lies in vulnerability and connection.

“It was a cooking experience, so the dads all had their own stations and worked with their child to create the menu that the chef of event led them through. We had some giveaways and the host Ray Morrison hosted the event for me, so it was a really nice Sunday afternoon for dads and their children to come out and bond and do something fun together,” said Simmone.

“I think the event was very important because by putting a spotlight on how important the father

-child relationship is, it is critical for our society moving forward because we have people who walk around with what we call daddy wounds and mommy wounds - and it impacts their ability to perform and to function in daily life.”

As an HR professional herself, Simmone said she sees it happening at work and when people are counselled, only then it is realised that a lot of what people are manifesting is based on childhood trauma or things they were deprived of at a very early age.

“It now impacts their ability to function effectively and successfully in society, and in

relationships, at work, in church etc. Some people have a skewed relationship with God because they think he’s a male and they have that ‘my daddy wasn’t good to me so how could God be good to me’ attitude. I mean there are so many ripple

effects. And so it’s very important that we focus on healing.

“Address the issues, process them, so that we can move forward. So that we don’t have to continue to stay in these cycles of dysfunction of pain and anger and violence. You know, we have to

break it in some way. And we see this as our effort to be a part of the solution,” said Simmone. Simmone said MenSpeak was a platform she created from her women’s empowerment work.

“This was for men to be able to share from their perspective so that women could better understand them and by extension, we have better relationships and better understanding between the genders. So that was the whole intention behind that. We’ve had other events in the past, we call them conversation socials where we would have a topical issue that we wanted our male panel to address. Those have been our typical events,” said Simmone.

this weekend in history

August 9

1173 - Construction began on a bell tower in Pisa, Italy. It would later become famous internationally as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

1945 - The United States dropped its second atomic on Japan which struck the city of Nagasaki.

August 10

1846 - The US Congress founded the

“So with this, the goal is again to foster greater relationships, particularly with men and their children and also to break the stereotype that men don’t want to have relationships with their children. There are a lot of myths and stereotypes out there. Some are rooted in reality, but then some of them are really outdated societal expectations that we put on men and women. And so it’s really about heightening awareness of what parenting is, what having positive relationships with the opposite sex looks like. We really are about disrupting old and outdated expectations, opinions and stereotypes that are hindering us and

Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC with funds bequeathed by English scientist James Smithsonian.

1993 - Ruth Bader Ginsberg became the second woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court when she was sworn in as an associate judge.

August 11

1929 - New York Yankees player Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run during a game against the Cleveland Indians, he was the ﬁrst baseball player to do so.

1984 - Carl Lewis became the third trackand-ﬁeld athlete to win four gold medals in one Olympics at the Los Angeles games. He joined fellow Americans Alvin Kraenzlein (1900) and Jesse Owens (1936) who both achieved the feat.

really fostering a lot of the conﬂict that we have in our community.”

When asked what’s more to come from her creative platform for the remainder of the year, Simmone said she is looking forward to hosing an all-male-expo.

“The same way that we would have femalecentric expos of vendors and speakers of different aspects of the life related to men. That’s what we intend to do for International Men’s Day, coming up in November. And so we’ll have more details, of course, as we roll the plans out for that,” she said.

“We have a Facebook page; it’s called Men Speak. Persons can keep up to date with what we have going on there. And we’re looking to build our reach by starting a podcast. We typically would go live on social media with our panels if we’re not doing it in-person. But we feel that going the route of a podcast would be a more sustainable, evergreen route because people can go onto their podcast and ﬁnd us there. And then we’ll continue to have our lives as well on Facebook so people can participate in those conversations.”

Nakita Andrews

With thousands of followers on TikTok, Nakita Andrews is becoming a wellknown ﬁgure in The Bahamas. She talked to CARA HUNT about how she tries to use her platform to encourage young people and to make a difference.

Nakita Andrews is all about using her social media presence to promote The Bahamas and make life better for young people.

Her TikTok channels have thousands of followers, but beyond being an entertaining and wholesome environment, she had always used her inﬂuence to form a social outreach programme.

Nakita graduated from CV Bethel where she was part of the Technical Cadet programme and the magnet programme and where she studied marine science.

But while those programmes and studies were not her ultimate career goal, they were something to challenge herself with and, as she said, she has never been opposed to learning something new.

Instead of a science-based career, Nakita instead focused on the arts - in particular, graphic arts and photography.

The ﬁeld became a passion for her and over the years she has captured weddings, funerals, parties, portraits and done freelance photojournalism work.

Nakita always worked to improve her skills.

“The biggest investment that you can make is an investment in your self,” she explained.

Throughout her career, she has sought avenues for growth and enhancement.

In 2016, she came across the National Training Agency and her love for service propelled her to pursue formal training to obtain an International Butler certiﬁcation.

And in October 2023, she made another pivot, transitioning into social media where she started her live streaming and has now garnered the attention and support of people all over The Bahamas.

With more than 6,000 followers under her workaholic babe brand and 3,000 on her Lighten Up Bey game channel, she is becoming a household name.

“I have always had a TikTok page and then eventually I got started doing the battles,” she told Tribune Weekend.

TikTok Live Battles are one form of entertainment on the platform where streamers can compete against each other and solicit donations.

“Its a way to show support and love for someone you follow,” she explained.

And Nakia is using that to sow to others and give back.

Her gaming channel is another fun way to use the space. Each Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm, she goes live with her followers and they play interactive games such as racing to complete challenges online.

“Its all about good fun and good vibes,” she says.

Originally, she used her own money to fund the channel, but thanks to her hard work and persistence, she has been able to secure coporate sponsorships.

“I want my brand to remain relatable and a family brand. With my workaholic brand, I want to also tackle the tough conversations though.”

Nakita says she is overwhelmed by the love she has received and says it motivates her to give back as much as she can.

There can often be negativity associated with social media especially with so many kids wanting to use the platform.

And she wants to use her own experiences to help children understand what is involved and what is at stake when it comes to their online activity.

“I want them to understand that their digital footprint can last for a very long time and so I want to help them understand how they can use it properly,” she explained.

“Education is key and we need to teach them how to do the right thing.”

On Wednesday, August 28, Nakita will host a Lighten Up Seminar and Brunch. It will be held under the theme Positioning Yourself for Greatness from 9am to 2pm. In addition to Nakita, other speakers will include Pernellya Johnson and police ofﬁcer ASP Burrows.

Targeted at children aged 12-17, it will feature topics such as the pros and cons of social media, the digital footprint, conﬂict resolution, anger management, building a healthy relationship and communicating effectively.

To ﬁnd out more, visit lightenupbey.com/workshop.

THE ALPHABEATER

Black squares: 2, 5, 9, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 32, 37, 38, 40. Across: Blank, Cheques, Frown, Geraniums, Edge, Rota, Purpose, Aqua, Spry, Dissolves, Nylon, Silvery, Woman. Down: Errand, Lurid, Ibis, Expansive, King, Ever, Clerk, Wheat, Ooze, Snow, Squirrels, Helm, Rioja, Snazzy.

THE ALPHAPUZZLE

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. Yesterday’s Answers

ARROW-WORD

Across: Thomas, Sara, Oven, Anna, Hen, Alba, Noth, Nib, Keen, Add, Ride, Nigella, Weep, Allowing, Obi, Bang, Spelt, Ones, Ray, Batter, Sol, Earth, Tirade, Oak, Des, Stone, Cement, Tan.

DITLOIDS

BATTLESHIPS

6 Popular Democrat outside certain to be covered (7)

7 Western rodent, hot, displaying anger (5)

8 Strange guy seen collecting royal from island (8)

9 Future spouse at home, looked after (8)

TRIVIA WORDSEARCH

Across: Mode, Jodhpurs, Bazooka, Drive, Lunch, Upshot, Tawdry, Change, Alpaca, Altar, Giant, Hideous, Exercise, Sell. Down: Mobility, Ague, Dozen, Welfare, Gopher, Attic, Opaque, Bathos, Hides, Hoards, Unicorn, Those, Seek, Reprisal (clue).

Down (left to right): Eli, Lop, Aside, Roseanne, Gilbert, REM, Mann, Once, Oil, Tease, Jar, Nat, Law, Tread, Sawalha, Arrest, Drawn Boy, Andi, Egan, Shoot, Dee, Ne-Yo, Ana, Bee, Pigs, Loken. Shaded letters: The Talk

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.

14 Lie in bed, shaky, not fit to eat (8)

STORE WORDS

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

TV CROSSWORD

Across: 5 Alba, 7 Barlow, 8 Noomi, 11 Heart, 12 All Stars, 13 Greg, 15 Gary, 16 Schmidt, 17 Dawn, 18 McCall, 21 Lena, 22 Twin. Down: 1 Jane, 2 Montag, 3 Joel, 4 Milano, 5 Aykroyd, 6 Bing, 9 Barrowman, 10 Isaac, 14 Gemma, 17 Deal, 19 Cat, 20 Len.

MUDDLESOME

SUMTHING SMALL CROSSWORD

16 Repeating it, English traitor in Gateshead (9)

17 Fascinate one entering e.g. Turin somehow (8)

Wendy Houvenaghel Victoria Pendleton Bradley Wiggins

SMALL

SMALL CROSSWORD

CLOCK-WISE

Diva, Vane, Nemo, Momi, Mimi, Midi

QUIZ OF THE WEEK 1 Her trunk, 2 The Hawthorns, 3 ASH, 4 Holly Johnson, 5 Forrest Gump, 6 Maple Leaf, 7 The Beach Boys, 8 Branch, 9 Woody Harrelson, 10 Rowan Williams.

SMALL CROSSWORD

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

19 Cur goes off with whip (7)

21 Car dial design is extreme (7)

22 Attitude of man, extremely capable (6)

you crack the Alphabeater? It’s

your mental muscles to the

Each in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the

Trident, 13 Headline, 15 Nylon, 18

SMALL CROSSWORD

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Direct (8)

6 On top of (4)

8 Shut (5)

11 Not awake (6)

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.

Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

today’s solution call: 0907 181 2583

TODAY’S TARGET

Good 12; very good 18; excellent 23 (or more). Solution next Saturday.

1 Carriage, 6 Obey, 8 Dream, 11 Repeat, 12 Side, 14 For, 15 Water, 16 Rid, 17 Sons, 19 Recent, 20 China, 21 Else, 22 Employed. DOWN 1 Construct, 2 Reed, 3 Identical, 4 Get, 5 Impressed, 7 British, 9 Rates, 10 Amounts, 13 Eaten, 18 Only, 19 Rim.

12 Viewing organs (4)

14 Social insect (3)

15 Hospital rooms (5)

16 Animal doctor (3)

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

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.

24 Broad road not originally a meeting place (5)

25 Pontoon, 26 As white as a

the given letters and the given black squares To add to the fiendish

25 Something used for measuring monarch (5)

TODAY’S TARGET

Good 12; very good 18; excellent 23 (or more).

DOWN 1 Safety, 2 Boyfriend, 3 Refined, 8 Greeting, 9 Restless, 14 Informed, 16 Leftovers, 21 Windsor, 22 Instil, 24 Rower, 25 Piste.

CAN you crack the Alphabeater? It’s a tough twist on our popular Alphapuzzle, your mental muscles to the limit. Each grid number below represents a in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet is used. But now you have to the given letters and the given black squares below the main grid to start.

Solution next Saturday.

To add to the fiendish fun, Alphabeater is ‘rotationally symmetrical’. same if you turn the page upside down.

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

17 To bridge (4) 19 Feebly (6)

today’s solution call: 0907 181 2583

cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access

Tempest (5)

Container for flowers (4)

SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

ACROSS 1 Carriage, 6 Obey, 8 Dream, 11 Repeat, 12 Side, 14 For, 15 Water, 16 Rid, 17 Sons, 19 Recent, 20 China, 21 Else, 22 Employed. DOWN 1 Construct, 2 Reed, 3 Identical, 4 Get, 5 Impressed, 7 British, 9 Rates, 10 Amounts, 13 Eaten, 18 Only, 19 Rim.

today’s solution call: 0907

SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

ACROSS 1 Carriage, 6 Obey, 8 Dream, 11 Repeat, 12 Side, 14 For, 15 Water, 16 Rid, 17 Sons, 19 Recent, 20 China, 21 Else, 22 Employed.

1 Construct, 2 Reed, 3 Identical, 4 Get, 5 Impressed, 7 British, 9 Rates, 10 Amounts, 13 Eaten, 18 Only, 19 Rim.

Gives permission (8)

1 Oversee (9) 2 Flower (4) 3 Frozen treats (3,6) 4 Jump on one foot (3) 5 Senescent (anag.)

airmail alit amir amrita aria aril armpit atrial atrip impair impala impart IMPARTIAL lair lariat liar lima limit limp lira mail marital martial milt mitral pail pair partial patrial plait prim prima primal rail raita rial tail tapir tiara trail trial trim trip

O Call 0907 181 2586 for today’s Target solution

So, for example if there is a six-letter word Across which starts in the a

Oversee (9)

Flower (4)

Frozen treats (3,6)

Jump on one foot (3)

Senescent (anag.) (9)

Sum (7)

Advances money (5)

Sabbaths (7)

More secure (5)

Scheme (4)

Court (3)

word Across which ends in the bottom right

Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer

but the ‘twin’ may not always number. This can help identify other black squares. Of course if the

Saying yes to God

By Åke Wiberg

In a fast-paced world ﬁlled with uncertainty and doubt, Alexis Mackey emphasises the importance of saying yes to God in her new book.

The recently published author and Acadia University graduate has released her debut book, “Saying yes: A fragrant surrender to God’s will from an alabaster heart”.

The book offers biblical teachings and devotionals that provide solutions to keep the ﬂame of faith burning bright.

A recurring thread that runs through Ms Mackey’s book is the simplicity of receiving the miraculous from God when you offer him your unreserved “yes”.

She said: “He can do amazing things with it.”

Said emphasised the importance of saying “yes” to God, even when uncomfortable or complex, and noted how this willingness can lead to a deeper relationship with Him.

She said: “Saying Yes: A Fragrant Surrender to God’s Will From An Alabaster Heart can, if you let it, serve as a guiding light.”

She said the book encourages readers to deepen their relationship with God.

“I believe Saying Yes is a catalyst for transformation,” explains Mackey. “It’s for anyone who dares to step out in faith, to say ‘yes’ to God’s call, and to experience the abundant life He promises.”

Ms Mackey said she had to make key decisions in her life to maintain stability and focus. She said this book serves as a hand, to guide you through all the pitfalls people experience in life, particularly those faced by young people or millennials, helping you learn how to steer clear from taking a quick-ﬁx road out of problems and decisions in life, rather than one of purpose and determination.

Ms Mackey hopes her book will help all those experiencing hard and confusing times to stay on the course of making the right choices in life.

“Saying Yes: A Fragrant Surrender to God’s Will From An Alabaster Heart” is available in Nassau at Oasis bookstore on Carmichael Road and Amazon.com in paperback and ebook.

AUTHOR, Alexis V. Mackey

pageant

Kailin Hanna second runnerup in international pageant

Teen queen also wins Miss Congeniality award

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

Miss Bahamas Teen queen

Kailin Hanna walked away with a crown, placing as the second runner-up in the Miss Teen Mundial Beauty Pageant, held in El Salvador.

It was the perfect climax to a long yet illustrious ﬁrst-time pageant journey for the teen beauty.

And for Kailin, this journey wrapped on a very high note when she ascended to the top spot of Miss Teen Mundial, wowing judges with her poise, grace and beauty. She competed against 25 other contestants around the world.

She also left a mark on the pageant competitors and ofﬁcials, being named Miss Congeniality.

Kailin was immersed in the full pageant experience arriving in El Salvador and putting The Bahamas on display.

She participated in the swimsuit competition, costume, best evening gown and the ﬁnal showcase.

Kailin soared to the top ﬁve ﬁnalists and then was named second runner-up.

The pageant scoring breakdown included 25 percent from the interview, 25 percent from preliminaries, 10 percent on promotion of the Miss Teen Mundial brand in The Bahamas, 10 percent on behaviour and 30 percent on rehearsals and ﬁnal night.

While her intent was to bring the Miss Teen Mundial title back home, Kailin is proud of her overall performance.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported my international pageant journey. I am beyond thankful for every monetary donation, sponsorship, like, share, comment, repost, and supportive message. Representing The Bahamas at this level has been an honour and it wouldn’t have been possible without your incredible support,” she said.

For Kailin competing in an international pageant brought along with it someone many highs including putting The Bahamas on dispel, meeting and engaging with the other competitors and learning of their unique cultural backgrounds.

The local Miss Bahamas Teen Organisation also extend its congratulations to the queen for her performance during the event.

“A true queen of queens, Kailin your dedication and grace have truly shone through. We are incredibly, proud of your accomplishments and look forward to seeing all the amazing things you will continue to achieve,” a statement by the organisation said.

While competing in the local pageant, Kailin shared that it was her goal to help promote a healthy and positive digital culture through her platform S.M.I.L.E - an acronym for Social Media Integrity and Lifelong Etiquette. She wants people to use social media for constructive purposes such as spreading awareness about topics “people are passionate about, inspiring others, creativity, building relationships and staying connected”.

She will continue to shine a light on this and promote this cause as she continues her tenure as Miss Bahamas Teen.

Helping creative minds to shine

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

IN AN effort to encourage Bahamian entrepreneurs to create unique products that harness the natural beauty and elements of the Bahamas - The Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) ofﬁcially launched its latest programme — the Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative.

The Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative, hosted in collaboration with UNESCO, the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture, and the Bahamas Baptist Union of Churches, is one of the many initiatives the SBDC has undertaken in 2024.

This initiative encourages creative entrepreneurs to showcase Bahamian culture through their work. It provides training in business formalisation, accounting, e-commerce, and more. At the end of the programme, participants will also have access to grant funding to support their businesses.

Alexia Johnson, SBDC communications and marketing team lead said the Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative was inspired by the SBDC’s recognition of the demand for uniquely Bahamian products and services in both local and global markets. It also addresses the challenges local creatives face, such as import dependency, brain drain, and cultural

seclusion. This programme, she said, aims to help entrepreneurs use native Bahamian elements to develop their products.

“It provides education on protecting intellectual property, marketing online, and formalising businesses. Through workshops, training, and future grant funding, we hope to encourage entrepreneurs to highlight what makes The Bahamas unique,” she said.

“The goal of this programme is to address the challenges in the creative industry by providing resources that can stimulate growth. We aim to see more development of creative entrepreneurs and an increase in natively Bahamian products and services. In the future, we envision this program expanding to reach more entrepreneurs and fostering a vibrant creative economy in The Bahamas.”

She said this is the second time the initiative is being hosted; as the ﬁrst was held in 2023.

The initiative was developed in response to the need for natively Bahamian products and the necessity of providing education and a platform for creative entrepreneurs to grow, or start, their businesses in this industry.

She said some highlights of the program include Crafting the

Bahamas Workshops, which were fully subscribed early on. Over several weeks, these workshops have allowed creatives to produce jewellery, headbands, body soaps, soy candles, and cupcakes using native Bahamian elements like straw and seashells.

Additionally, the Business Blueprint Training Course that runs from August 5-24 is a self-paced course, facilitated by industry experts, covering topics like intellectual property protection, online store development, and accounting software. Once the course concludes, eligible participants can apply for grant funding for their businesses.

“Being part of this initiative is important because we aim to help. Creative entrepreneurs can uniquely capture and showcase the intricacies of Bahamian culture through native elements. This initiative has the potential to signiﬁcantly impact the orange economy, tourism, and beyond,” said Alexia.

Entrepreneurs who participate in this programme can experience numerous beneﬁts, including business growth or scaling opportunities. They receive training on protecting

their business ideas and accessing funding, which can alleviate ﬁnancial strain. Additionally, they gain valuable knowledge on formalising their businesses and marketing them effectively.”

She said interested individuals can sign up for the Business Blueprint Training Course via the website at sbdcbahamas.com.

“Following our Women’s Entrepreneurs Initiative, Young Entrepreneurs Initiative, and now the Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative, we plan to host more programmes addressing the needs of often-disadvantaged entrepreneurial groups. We are committed to supporting diverse entrepreneurial ventures throughout the remainder of the year,” said Alexia.

Photos: Christopher Catalano

What to stream this week entertainment

NEW MOVIES TO STREAM

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle

NEW MUSIC TO STREAM

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

NEW SHOWS TO STREAM

What a

Fun day in Fox Hill

A FAMILY fun day will be held on Saturday in Fox Hill in what is hoped to become an annual event.

The Fox Hill Festival Committee will hold the event alongside a fun run, walk and health fair. This event is in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

The day consists of two parts. The run, walk and health fair runs from 7am-noon and has free admission. The route will depart and return from the Fox Hill parade.

Once the run is complete at noon, the family fun day runs until 5pm. Activities include games, a bouncing castle, popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy, food, drinks, treats, law enforcement mini tattoos and prizes.

Sea Fest rocks at High Rock

The 18th annual High Rock Sea Fest opened on Monday - the Emancipation Day holiday.

The festival brings together the community and has a focus on a love of seafood.

Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey attended the event, and said the beneﬁts of the festival are immediate and long lasting and demonstrates to the world that East Grand Bahama truly embodies being the home of events and entertainment.

“Let me make it clear that Grand Bahama Island is indeed the place to be for events and entertainment and I make no apologies for this statement. This is our island and I claim it and wear it proudly,” she said.

“This High Rock Sea Fest is another shining example of what can be achieved when like-minded people come together for a common cause of breathing life into a community and invigorating the local economy.”

The minister said events such as Sea Fest are more than social gatherings and are a testament to The Bahamas’ heritage, love of community and shared passion for seafood.

“These festivals are more than just fun events, they’re a celebration of who we are. The restoration and enhancement of the sites where these festivals take place have made them better than ever. It’s fantastic to see how many have come together enjoying the music, food and traditions that make East Grand Bahama so special,” she said.

Representatives of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the High Rock Sea Fest Committee and Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson promised locals and visitors alike a day ﬁlled with games, succulent authentic Bahamian delicacies, drinks and musical entertainment with performances by local artists and the pulsating sounds of a true junkanoo rush out.

SEA FEST GOERS — Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey, Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation General Manager (Freeport) Nuvolari Chotoosingh, Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson and representatives of the High Rock Sea Fest Committee were among those enjoying the festivities on the Emancipation Day Holiday on Monday, August 5, 2024.

Photos: Ministry for Grand Bahama

animals

Animal matters

Kim Aranha

Why are animals treated so differently in Europe

Iknow - I can hear it already. Some of you are mumbling (or is it grumbling?) because of the title of this article.

I am in agreement, I almost manage to annoy and frustrate myself, why? Because every time I return from being away, especially in Europe, I am literally overcome with how differently the family pet is viewed, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Nine short hours (give or take) and we are a galaxy away in approach to animals.

Whenever we go away I am struck with a such a forceful blow how we, in The Bahamas, fall short so miserably. What is the cause?

People are everywhere in Europe (Continental and UK) with their family pets, and I guess by saying pet, in this case, I am essentially referring to the noble and beloved dog. I saw no cats on leashes sitting under luncheon tables.

What I pause and ask is why? Why do we have so few places that our family member, who just happenes to have a furry body, waggy tail and four legs, are allowed to go to with us?

It is so refreshing to walk through entire cities, drive through their suburbs, and not see teams of abandoned, scraggy, hungry, miserable dogs relying on their wits to survive.

I had a great vacation and can say that I visited over 14 large towns and cities and did not see one stray. I drove, and took the trains, through the countryside. I passed through less than wealthy communities. Yet the lasting memory of packs of wretched and needing dogs remained in the Bahamas because there were none where I visited.

In my humble opinion, our problem is like a fork. It is not a single issue. It

PET OF THE WEEK

is a social problem, it is ﬁnancial issue, it’s a priority issue.

In general, people don’t like ugly. They like things that are pretty, ﬂuffy, and easy to deal with. Starving animals do not ﬁt that description. However, it can be dealt with, it can be assisted, at least the priority side. Government has promised (Thank you, Minister of Agriculture Jomo Campbell) for promising, at our impromptu meeting on Tuesday, to move with speed for the Animal Protection and

By The Bahamas Humane Society

*Flips a coin* Heads you lose, Tails, you win! A very enthusiastic potcake puppy of five months, Tails would love to find a home with a yard where she can wander and sniff. Tails has a couple of siblings at the Bahamas Humane Society but adopting all three is definitely not a requirement, though you could if you wished! Tails gets along well with the other pups at the shelter, and could probably learn to live with a cat. She’s great with people, too. If Tails might be the right fit for you, come to the BHS to meet Tails or call 821-4121 for more information. Tails looks forward to wagging at you!

The BHS Thrift Shop has been closed this week, but will reopen on Wednesday, August 14th full of lovely things! All funds raised support the Bahamas Humane Society.

Control Board members to be appointed so that we can leap in to action. There is so much work to be done, With the right people at the helm, we can make in-roads, it won’t happen overnight.

Finances? Well, that is a government thing. They will have to budget something for us to be able to do a proper job. You cannot spend your life begging, and it is not appropriate for a government to do so. Lord knows, I beg enough for the Bahamas Humane

Society.

The biggest challenge? the Social side of thigs. I watch, I observe. Little children afraid to go near a dog, parents puling them away, the dreadful constant question “He does bite?” …fear, disgust and refusal to accept or befriend.

If there is ever an interaction problem between the human and the dog, it is instantly blamed on the dog. The fact that the person or child interfered with a sleeping, injured, hungry or protective dog, is not considered.

If you know that you own a reactive dog then you should be careful taking them to public places, I agree, but in The Bahamas trying to socialize any dog is practically impossible to take them anywhere. Thank you Spritz and Island House, if people can add to this list of where dogs are welcome, please do.

I was in in the small city of Bratislava (I didn’t even know where that was until I got there!) in Slovenia. Dogs walked on the pavements with their owners, big wagging tails moving from side to side. Healthy, well fed, calm happy family members.

There is a cultural block somewhere here, that is telling the people of our nation that animals are not important to us, yet in so many ways from the ant and the bumblebee up they are essential, and we totally ignore and dispel this notion. Getting into the schools in a more effective manner is extremely important. I would love to hear inventive ideas from the teaching community.

This will take more than a village; it takes a entire nation of people who want to see change. People who have read this plea from me more than once, perhaps this time you will participate, reach out and help make us a better place for God’s creatures. While we were away some really horrible cruelty cases were revealed, these perpetrators need to be charged to the maximum extent of the law…. we can no longer be in the darkness over this.

The carpet is serious lumpy where we are brushing up our dirty little animal cruelty secrets.

Bahamians fans excited for Vybz Kartel’s return to music scene

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

BAHAMIAN fans are eagerly awaiting and anticipating an announcement from dancehall’s biggest superstar on his return to the stage after being released from prison.

Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, was freed last week in Jamaica, with family, friends and supporters waiting to greet the artist who had been incarcerated for over a decade.

According to Island Journal. com, the artist’s release follows a lengthy legal battle that began with his arrest in 2011 for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. Despite being convicted in 2014 alongside co-accused Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St John, the artist did not let up in the ﬁght for freedom. The Jamaican Court of Appeal initially dismissed their appeal in 2020, prompting them to take their case to the United Kingdom-based Privy Council. On March 14, 2024, the Privy Council overturned their murder convictions due to juror misconduct and remitted the case back to the Jamaican Court of Appeal. On June 10, a three-judge panel, comprising Justices Marva McDonald-Bishop, Paulette Williams, and David Fraser, decided against a retrial, culminating in his release.

Like others around the world, Bahamian fans expressed their excitement for Vybz Kartel’s freedom and an eagerness to see dancehall superstar return to the stage.

“Its been a long time coming,” Shakil said. “I attended the last Vybz Kartel that was so many years back in Nassau and boy I have had so much fun.

“Now there are deﬁnitely artists that have been keeping the genre going but everyone knows Vybz Kartel is legendary. His music still hits when you here it today. It sounds current still when you are out to an event or party. He is irreplaceable and his skills are unmatched. He’s like the Bob Marley of dancehall.”

Don said he has been a follower of the artist from his early days and is anticipating a stage performance by the artist.

“I am feeling the same way I felt when Buju (Banton) came out of jail. I am ready to book my ﬂight once he announces the ﬁrst concert. I am sure it will be in his home town of Jamaica,” he said.

“When I heard the news, I already began look for tickets to Jamaica to see how what I can afford. My friends think I am being a little over the top, maybe they are right but only true fans can relate.”

Fresh out of prison, the artist made a move that had fans all around the world buzzing with excitement: he

released a new 12-track compilation titled “First Week Out”.

The project, with a runtime of just over 32 minutes, showcases Kartel’s signature dancehall style and features a single collaborator, 6ix Boss Squash. Distributed by Hapilos, the EP immediately started generating buzz across streaming platforms and social media.

“EP out now, First Week Out,” Squash announced in his Instagram Stories, signaling the project’s release.

“I have been tuned into the EP from since it was out,” Ken said. “You know how long we have been yearning and waiting to hear something from him. And from the songs.

I listen to so far, Vybz has not lost his touch at all.

Ashley said she know every song from the artist verbatim.

“I am learning the new ones by heart too so that when he performs I can sing along and enjoy seeing him live and in person.

Ashely is especially looking forward because she has never seen the artist in a live concert.

“I love live concerts. You get to see the artist in a different light. So I am exciting for that. I am pretty sure his ﬁrst performance will be in the his home town. I am sure he will be making his way to The Bahamas in the not so distant future.”

VYBZ Kartel pictured in 2010

VYBZ Kartel and his ﬁancee Sidem Ozturk in an image from video posted to social media after his release