A 16-minute walk around Nassau, Bahamas; let’s embark on this novel experiment

an expansive Nassau-by-foot itinerary. We will present you with an experience that one could cover in about 16 minutes without stopping - but of course, we recommend taking time to appreciate each one. Without further ado, let’s get walking!

Fort Fincastle

The Supreme Court of The Bahamas (Bank Lane, Not Open to the Public)

With gorgeous white sandy beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas, is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and vibrant culture, making it a popular destination for tourists.

The Bahamas is situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, providing an ideal environment for vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life. Nassau has a fascinating history and a vibrant local culture. It showcases charming colonial architecture, pastel-colored buildings, and historic landmarks like Fort Charlotte and Government House.

The bustling old town of Nassau is packed with things to see and do. Occasional spots of traffic can make it harder to get around by car or taxi, but a self-guided walking tour suffers from no such pitfall. With such an incredible climate, some locals even believe that the best way to experience The Bahamas is on foot - with your feet in the sand and the cool breeze at your back. Rich in both history and beauty, Nassau is an ideal locale for an unforgettable walking tour.

With so much to see in Nassau we are going to embark on a novel experiment. In the next two editions, we will take you on

Bennet’s Hill, Prison Lane, open daily, with guided tours between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m We start our expedition off with much gusto, arriving first at the imposing Fort Fincastle. Time your visit on Wednesday or Friday to catch the historic re-enactments at 11:30 a.m. concluding with the noon gun. The fort was constructed in 1793 from local limestone by the Governor who named it after one of his lesser titles. The fort, whimsically shaped like a boat, was equipped with half a dozen guns to protect the town from pirates. However, none of the guns was ever fired in anger. (Most asked question? “What time is the noon gun?”)

Queen’s Staircase

(Elizabeth Avenue, Always Open)

Descend from the fort to the town by stairs carved out of solid limestone rock and finished in 1794 to create an escape route from the fort above. The staircase was eventually named to honour Queen Victoria, many years after completion. Water cascades down the side of the stairs to a pool below, where a walkway goes between high stone walls, tropical plants and trees, keeping the area cool. Originally 66 steps, one was paved over when the lower pathway was covered in asphalt.

This grand Neo-Georgian-style building built in 1921 is worth a look for its handsome design. It is similar to the Central Public Building to the north. Due to a serious break-in a decade ago, the building is no longer open to the public. The exterior remains impressive, rendered in a gentle pink - a quintessentially Bahamian aesthetic.

Parliament Square (East Bay Street, Always Open)

This elegant public space is always busy, surrounded by impressive public buildings including the Parliament of The Bahamas, which was constructed in 1815 and - as you might now predict - is a pleasing pink! If you happen to visit on a day in which the House is in session, you can even watch the government at work via the visitor’s gallery.

Queen Victoria’s Statue (Parliament Street, Always Open)

One of many statues around the British Commonwealth dedicated to the Queen who ruled an Empire between 1837 and her death in 1901. This statue was dedicated in 1905 and makes a great backdrop for a photo op. It sits in front of the Bahamian Senate Building.

Nassau Straw Market (West Bay Street, open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m)

If, at this point of the tour, the Caribbean sun is beginning to take its toll, take a detour to this world-famous straw market, where visitors can buy handmade hats, baskets and bags locally made from straw. The tradition of straw weaving dates back to the days when Bahamians made straw fish traps and baskets to carry fruit. Conch shell jewelry, wood carvings, gifts and souvenirs are also available in profusion. Currently, about half of the 300 pre-pandemic vendors have returned and opened their stalls.

The Last Stop: Pink Bricks Hide an Important Story

Pompey Museum (Bay Street, open Monday to Wednesday and Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m)

The Museum of Emancipation and Slavery is housed in a 1760s original arcaded building. It is still distinguishable by the pair of Corinthian columns in front, along with its traditional colonial pink colour. Originally, it was used as a market from which commodities of all kinds were sold, including human beings. The museum, which opened in 1992, is named for Pompey, an enslaved man who raised a revolt against unfair plantation conditions. Changing exhibits and multimedia kiosks are packed with content and relics of slavery. In 2018, a powerful mural was added to the building highlighting events in Bahamian history. With a good bit of walking and a whole lot of history now under your belt, we recommend finishing this easy walking tour of the Bahamian capital with a visit to one of the many excellent bars, cafés and restaurants along Bay Street. We hope you’ll look forward to Part 2 of our walking itinerary next month, which starts nearby and ends at a famous rum distillery. In the meantime, head over to www.bahamas. com to start adding a few of your own stops.

Last week I received an interesting, and I must say disturbing email from Gregory Tomchyshyn and the entire CitizenGO team.

There are recent events that transpired at the annual Pride Toronto parade on June 25th, 2023, that are alarming, and to the CitizenGo team, these shocking incidents must not go unchecked. Apparently fully naked individuals were openly flaunting their nudity in front of children, promoting the normalization of the LGBT sexual lifestyle.

Toronto’s Pride Parade has not been without controversy with some individuals finding public displays of affection between same-sex couples, and individuals dressed in provocative attire during the parade inappropriate, and offensive.

This year, some attendees have expressed their outrage at what they witnessed and have spoken to the fact that these actions blatantly violate Canada’s public decency laws and negatively impact our children’s impressionable minds.

It was reported that newly elected Toronto Mayor, Olivia Chow, was even seen participating in the parade where these actions took place. The CitizenGo team wants to hold her and the City of Toronto accountable for allowing and endorsing these deliberate violations of section 173 of the Criminal Code.

So far, over 13,322 individuals have demanded that the City of Toronto enforces the Criminal Code regarding public exposure!

“Scantily clad people in hyper- sexualized clothing displayed immoral sexual fetishes, while some individuals even chose to GO FULLY NAKED in front of children to normalize the LGBT sexual lifestyle,” shared Gregory Tomchyshyn, Campaigner for CitizenGo Canada. “These naked men held signs such as, ‘Life is short: play naked’ and ‘Good things happen when you are naked,’ openly flaunting their nudity in front of children. This behavior clearly violates Canada’s public decency laws and aims to indoctrinate our children into the LGBT lifestyle, exposing them to inappropriate sexual content.”

I was curious, so I went and took a look at Section 173 of the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC), which explicitly states that: Every person who, in any place, for a sexual purpose, exposes his or her genital organs to a person who is under the age of 16 years

1. Is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of 90 days: or

2. Is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of 30 days.” paul@carib101.com

It looks like Gregory might have a point. Does this mean that the Pride Toronto parade is blatantly violating laws with the full approval of the city administration. Hmmmm!

Community, I would love to hear your thoughts, and I would love to hear what the federal government has to say about this. Are we dealing with a clear double standard, and if so, why? Also, who are the parents who brought their children to this event knowing that nudity was on the agenda?

The Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI) through its signature flagship program Leadership by Design continues to make a difference in the lives of Black, African, and Canadian youths across the Greater Toronto Area. It is currently accepting applications for fall 2023 at the website: www.1lilelongleaders.com.

Students who have completed Grade 9 and are starting Grade 10 in September 2023 are encouraged to apply. The LBD is intended to inspire and prepare our youth to be responsible leaders at all times, in all spaces, locally, and for the good of all.

The special programs titled “SummerUp 2023,” are designed to serve and support the personal and profession- al aspirations of Ontario’s Black youth. The program is developed and presented by the Lifelong Leadership Institute, and the quality of the SummerUp experience is assured by the contributions of a diverse group of individuals, educators, institutions and corporations. All are committed to championing the well-being, development and advancement of Black youth.

One of the SummerUp courses being offered is titled, “SummerUp Electronics & Robotic - Using the Arduino.” In this course participants will learn the basis of the physical and programming components necessary to create circuits and devices. Through activities using a virtual circuit simulator and a physical electronic kit, students will practice creating technological solutions to real-world solutions.

Another one of the SummerUp programs is “Microsoft Excel - An Introduction.” This course introduces the effective use of Excel, which is a part of a package of business applications known as Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Microsoft Office). Among other applications, Microsoft 365 includes: Excel, Word and

PowerPoint. This course can potentially benefit high school or post-secondary students by ensuring that they understand that without data-management skills, it is near impossible to be proficient in most careers. Learning Excel will appeal to the student who understands the value of adding expertise in Excel to their resume. Students who have no previous knowledge of Microsoft Excel, or little knowledge will benefit from these three virtual sessions held on: Monday, August 14th, Tuesday, August 15th, and Wednesday, August 16th.

One of the unique programs that LLI will be offering during the summer of 2023 (in partnership with University of Toronto School) is Global Perspectives. In the promotional material sent by the LLI, it states that in this big-ideas course students will explore big thoughts and concepts through reading, writing and unusual games. They will collaborate in their search for new knowledge, and they will end up more curious than ever. As well, they will improve their writing skills. If ever there was a course that gave students a challenging and enjoyable platform for learning, and preparing for school in September, this one-week course is it.

Some of the benefits of Global Perspectives include the following:

• An opportunity for Black youth to socialize and collaborate

• Pathways for unconventional ways of thinking and viewing their world

• An environment for fresh and novel ideas

• An innovative platform for learning and future academic success

• Exercises that develop writing and discussion skills

Students who are accepted in this SummerUp program will engage in five days of classes from Monday, July 31st to Friday, August 4th at the University of Toronto School located near the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street. There will be a showcase of student’s work and a tour of the UTS campus for any interested parents.

Anyone interested in learning about LBD can check www.ifelongleader.com