RG Winter December 2017 by webmx04

December 2017 | WINTER ISSUE

Are we doing enough?

Collect a piece of Bermuda Our banknotes and commemorative coins are popular collectors’ items, making unique gifts and perfect mementos of the island. Bermuda’s first commemorative decimal coinage was issued in 1970. Since then, coin sets have been minted in a number of precious metals. A worldwide first, the island’s three-lobed sided triangle coin was launched in 1996 and voted ‘Coin of the Year’ in 1998 by World Coin Magazine. Bermuda’s $2 dollar note, issued as part of a new vertical series, was recognised as ‘Banknote of 2009’ by the International Bank Note Society. The 2009 vertical banknote series was commemorated by six colourful coins including the Bluebird, Whistling Frog and Longtail. Will you collect one?

AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT: Bermuda Monetary Authority BMA House, 43 Victoria Street Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda Tel: (441) 295-5278 Email: currency@bma.bm www.bma.bm

Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm

BERMUDA MONETARY AUTHORITY

RGMAGS ON THE SCENE

Bermuda Fashion Festival Mask’d @ The Loren

FROM OUR READERS

1 Emanuel & Teresa Humphrey 2 Brenda Simmons & Troy Burrows 3 Errol & Paula Taylor 4 Aloma Musson & Egbert Simons 5 Carlton Johnson & Claudette Simons 6 Eldon & Beata Rego

We don’t like to blow our own horn all that often, but the article on some of our island’s amazing male entrepreneurs in the autumn issue certainly struck a chord with some of you. ABIC, Association of Bermuda International Companies was delighted to have been able to share the October issue of RG featuring 12 amazing Bermudian male entrepreneurs with a S4 CedarBridge Academy student eager to pursue a career in entrepreneurship. From this resource, he is sure to identify a mentor and connect with a network of like-minded examples of hard-working, dedicated and driven individuals brave enough to follow their life passions. Greta Peters at the Association of Bermuda International Companies

EDITOR’S NOTE

March 2017 | SPRING ISSUE

June 2017 | SUMMER ISSUE

lunch time

eats

fresh & hungry Nikki Bascome

Outdoor Retreats

Creating your private oasis

I AM NO LESS THAN YOU:

SO WHY DO YOU IGNORE ME?

The Big Give $3K

love on the rock

October 2017 | FALL ISSUE

WE’RE MAKING BIG CONNECTIONS...

Dating in Bermuda

FASHION TRENDS

the Beauty OF

SUMMER

Alshante Foggo

THEMENSEDITION 12

FEATURING:

ENTREPRENEURS

Some food for thought We began the year at RG Mags with a determination that, alongside the fashion, the food and the feel-good articles we would also tackle the difficult and uncomfortable. Our homeless story in RG Spring was our first foray into this area. Gang violence is our second. It is an issue that seeps into every aspect of Bermuda life, even if you do not realise it. That there is a marginalised section of society that believes the only way up and out is through drugs and violence should be to our eternal shame – and yet it does not always feel like that is the case. Whether we want to admit it or not, our society is selfish, self-absorbed and self-obsessed. We appear more concerned with the number of likes received on a social media post, or expressing a well-thought-out opinion in 140 characters – as if that was possible – than the plight of the poorer members of our island. If we are honest with ourselves, there is a feeling among all of us that as long as gang members are fighting each other, hurting each other and killing each other, it is not our problem. As with conflict in any Third World country you care to mention, it is something to be “tutted” over and then forgotten about. It has been this way in Bermuda for some time. The communities that are most affected by these acts are finally coming around to the realisation that prevention

would be better than prison; for the rest it remains to be seen how quickly we can progress beyond the talking shops and focus groups that invariably follow one incident or another.

Meredith Photos @meredithphoto

Change, then, will come only when the problem is tackled head-on; with practical solutions developed with real people, and not abstract concepts, in mind. The police, community activists and some charities have already started this work, and it was from this viewpoint that we decided to do a gang story with the theme “what can we do to stop it?” We asked the gangsters, the grieving families and those at the sharp end what they believed the solution to be. I challenge you to read Arretta Furbert’s account of holding her dying son’s hand and not feel some sense of shame at our lack of real action.

Nadia

Writer @nadiatakesflight

We hope this and other responses will provide some food for thought – and not just because it is the season of goodwill, for this is a problem that knows no season. We believe as a member of the community it is right that we talk about these things, and we thank you, our readers, for supporting us in this endeavour. From our family, to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy and joy-filled end to the year.

Robyn Writer

See you all in 2018.

Josh Ball, Special Sections Editor

WINTER 2017 Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Howes

Content Specialist Rajan Simons

Director of Sales Michael Grier

Sales Team Shawn-Nae Cann Brad Tatem Andre Bolotenko Marguerita Carter

Publications & Product Development Manager Carlene SpencerDarrell Creative Director Nikeisha Burrows

Photographers Akil Simmons Blaire Simmons

Designers Byron Muhammad Terrina Nolan Zaire Quenette-Lowe Christina White

Printed By Bermuda Press Ltd.

Published By The Bermuda Press [Holdings] Ltd.

December 2017 | WINTER ISSUE

Are we doing enough?

Established 1828; Incorporating The Colonist and Daily News (Established 1866). Member of the Newspaper Association of America. The Royal Gazette Ltd, a subsidiary company of Bermuda Press (Holdings) Ltd. BPH incorporated in Bermuda, publishers and printers of The Royal Gazette. The Royal Gazette Ltd’s Electronic Edition is published daily at www.royalgazette.com

Tia Columnist Want to be a Contributor? Email us at magseditor@bpmedia.bm

#rgmags #rgwinter

CONTENTS

FEATURE FINDS + READS

HOME + LIVING

Doing it Yourself

Winter jobs around the home

66 WINTER ESSENTIALS

Must Haves for the Holidays

Gangs In Bermuda

ARE WE DOING ENOUGH?

Art as Therapy ART + ENTERTAINMENT

Behind the Scenes @ BFF

BEAUTY + FASHION

Big World: A man Down Under TRAVEL + LEISURE

Power of One

COMMUNITY + SPORT

12 ART + ENTERTAINMENT Portrait of an Artist Selaah Stephenson in profile

MORE FINDS + READS

Pantos & Plays

Cool Beans

HOME + LIVING Winter gardens

The Rock Label

RGMAGS Puss in Boots goes to India

Holiday Party Favours

FOOD + DRINK Getting the party started

Mind the Gap

TRAVEL + LEISURE Taking off for a year

Overseas Mission

BEAUTY + FASHION T-shirts with Theron Williams

TRAVEL + LEISURE Making a difference in Malawi

55 FOOD + DRINK Ahh-vocdo

RGMAGS.com

BOOKS We all have that one family member or friend that simply loves to read. It does not matter what it is, be it a trashy beach read or the next Booker Prize winner, nothing escapes their clutches. Here, then, are some suggestions for what to buy the book worm in your life. Roomies, by Christian Lauren, is the story of a marriage of convenience that becomes decidedly inconvenient when the two main

GADGETS

protagonists, Holland Bakker, a New Yorker, and Calvin McLoughlin, a musician in the country illegally, discover they actually like each other. For something with a little bit more action in it, the End Game, by David Baldacci, is the fifth novel featuring Will Robbie and Jessica

Reel, two government assassins who find themselves facing a domestic threat they never saw coming.

THE OJO SMART ELECTRIC COMMUTER SCOOTER If you’re a techie on the move and looking to add to your green credentials then look no farther than this, the OjO Smart Electric Commuter Scooter. With a top speed of 20mph (32km/h), and a range of 25 miles with one charge, it might not be ideal if you live in Somerset or St George’s, but it will make getting around town a breeze. It also doesn’t need a licence. Check out brostrick.com for a look at some of the best tech gifts of 2017.

MOVIES Do you care that the next instalment of Star Wars is just around the corner? We think you probably do. There isn’t much longer to wait before we find out if Luke Skywalker is (spoiler alert) Rey’s father. Or how about a mammoth plot twist where it turns out Rey is actually a Solo and Kylo Ren is her brother? Mind blown. This works if you consider that Luke and Princess Leia were siblings, and as Leia’s son it is not

beyond reason that Ren also has a sister. Even if it’s wrong, it’s not the wildest Star Wars theory out there at the moment. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi is due on our screens on December 15, but until then here are several other films that will demand your attention. For every Look Who’s Talking in John Travolta’s résumé there is a Pulp Fiction, and fortunately this Christmas is one of the good ones. Gotti, out December 15,

charts the rise of notorious mob boss John Gotti with Travolta in the title role. If you’re looking for something a little more family-friendly, then Downsizing (December 22), a Matt Damon comedy, or The Greatest Showman (Christmas Day), with Hugh Jackman, are both worth a look. For trailers and more information on this winter’s big releases, check out our movie guide at rgmags.com

RGMAGS.com

PANTO & DANCE PRODUCTIONS

A FRESH TAKE ON AN OLD FAVOURITE THE BERMUDA MUSICAL & DRAMATIC SOCIETY is putting a spin on the classic European literary fairytale Puss in Boots this holiday season. This year’s pantomime will include the usual mayhem with a lot of audience participation as writer and director Carol Birch gives it a Bollywood-style twist. After a trip to India with her daughter-in-law — Carol fell in love with the culture. “Shabnam is of Indian decent and we took a trip with her parents to India,” she said. “The women looked so vibrant in their outfits and I loved the music and pure joy when they danced. I also love the Bollywood movies and the sheer extravagance of it all.” Carol has been working on the script for the past year and decided on Puss in Boots as it is one of the lesser known stories and has been done only once at BMDS back in the early 1960’s. “It’s not a particularly inspiring story and doesn’t lend itself to panto so well, which gave me the licence to really change it up and give it some sparkle. So I had the bright idea of placing it in an imaginary place in India, and it has worked out really well.” In addition to dancing, silly gags, IN MOTION SCHOOL OF DANCE will also be hosting and participating in a few events this holiday season. On November 26 students danced in the streets of Hamilton for the seventh time at the annual MarketPlace Santa Claus Parade. This was followed by a preview performance of the Nutcracker, Holiday Spectacular at the Bermuda National Trust Christmas Walkabout on December 1. This year, In Motion’s annual Nutcracker show will be revamped with a Bermuda theme, featuring backgrounds, characters and a storyline that will highlight Christmas on island. Director and owner Lizz Pimentel said: “It’s still the Nutcracker, as some of the music will be the same but we’ve put a spin on it and made it Bermuda-themed — playing with it over the past two years as we’ve had Bermuda elements in it before. But this year it will be the whole show from beginning to the end of Act 2. “We’re so excited and heavy into rehearsals. We have our alumni students who are overseas at university studying dance coming home to join us, which is awesome.” The Holiday Spectacular will be taking place on December 15 and 16 at the Ruth Seaton James Auditorium. Tickets will be available at www.ptix.bm. Visit www.inmotionbda.com for more information.

and lots of laughs and surprises, the panto will showcase original music from composer James Burn. “I have an amazing team of very dedicated people; if I added them all up there would be well over 100. As they say, it takes a village”. BMDS Puss in Boots will take place at 7pm on December 7 and 16, and at 2pm on December 9, 10 and 16 at the Earl Cameron Theatre in City Hall. Tickets are $35 and will be on sale on www.ptix.bm

ART+ENTERTAINMENT

BY NADIA LAWS PHOTOGRAPHY BY AKIL SIMMONS

Selaah Stephenson was tired of setting new year’s resolutions, only to see them fall by the wayside a few months later. Determined to make 2017 different, the 17-year-old made a commitment to work even harder to capitalise on her passion for art. So far this year, the recent high school graduate has sold a total of seven paintings. Her collection of 11 to 13 pieces of art for her Warwick Academy International Baccalaureate exam received incredible feedback and also earned her top marks – a six out of a possible seven. “This has been a really productive year for me and has taught me so much,” Selaah said. “It’s shown me that I can use my talents to help other people. I feel like it’s also helped me to unveil my purpose in life, which is to give or offer people a new perspective through my talent. “All this actually started out as a new year’s resolution – I know how people are always making them and not often sticking to them. I kind of fell victim to that in the past as well, but I knew I wanted to make 2017 different and set a big goal for myself. I’m so happy I followed through with it. “I set my new year’s resolution to push myself further with my art and saved it as a screensaver on my phone, and reminded myself of it every day to stay focused.” Selaah has been dabbling in the arts since she was a child. Then, while studying at Somersfield Academy in 2015, her interest in painting was taken to new heights. For a class assignment, she decided to create a mural of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist and Nobel Prize laureate, on the walls of her school. “I chose Malala as the face of my mural because she’s an educational activist and speaks of how education should be valued and not limited based on colour, gender, religion or economic status,” Selaah said. “I wanted to make people more aware and introduce my perspective, so my way of approaching that was to tell a story through art, and it turned out well.” Over the past year or two, Selaah’s art style has become more “free and lively”. She has also been exploring different ways to market her creations through social-media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.

ART+ENTERTAINMENT

@goldvnxx piece a different look and I feel that helped me to better express myself. “It was also more fun for me and brought the works to life. They just existed differently and truly spoke to each individual I painted and their personality so much better. “I received so much positive feedback from people about the meaning behind the work and the tools I used. This has motivated me to further develop my technique and style.”

“For my IB programme, we had two years to create a collection of art to be presented in an exhibition,” the teenager said. “I started out with a theme of portraiture because I love painting faces. It’s something I have enjoyed since I was little. “But then three-quarters of the way through my series, when I had only a few months left to go before my art exam was approaching the end, I decided my theme was too broad,” she said. “I felt like it wasn’t showing off my full potential. I believed I could still do better and I wanted it to be stronger and more of a

Some people get quite emotional when they see my work

reflection of myself and how I see things differently, so I decided to start over.”

Although a natural at art, Selaah in fact has her heart set on studying biology and sciences in university, starting in January. Her hope is to one day become a paediatrician. “Once I feel established in my medical career, I will start my own practice or at least I plan to,” the teenager said. “I hope to implement creative sides to the business as well and would love to one day create a series of art pieces for children at a hospital or doctor’s office.”

Racing against the clock, the teenager put down her painting brush and instead picked up construction tools, including a finishing trowel, and painting knives. “By using unconventional instruments, it allowed me to vary the texture and change the way the paint was applied to the canvas,” she explained. “It gave each

In the meantime, Selaah admits it has been rewarding to give back through art. “Some people get quite emotional when they see my work,” she said. “It’s something I never anticipated. Some people have cried. I have given a few of my pieces away as gifts and the feeling I get from giving, it’s incredible. It’s unmatched.”

in a variety of forms, can give a voice to those that have been shut out of the community.â&#x20AC;?

Felipe Costa, an occupational therapist at MWI, right, and Andrew Williams

ART+ENTERTAINMENT

S H A R E D S PA C E S BY ROBYN BARDGETT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAIRE SIMMONS

Art has a way of connecting communities, never more so than when it shows us that we have more similarities than we have differences. Now in its eleventh year, the MindFrame PhotoVoice Exhibition, which runs from November 22 to December 18 at the Bermuda Society of Arts, has successfully proven that art, in a variety of forms, can give a voice to those that have been shut out of the community. What began as an exhibit of service users’ artwork in the lobby of the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute has created opportunities for the artists to exhibit in shows outside of MindFrame, as well as sell their artwork and creations. “These are service users who have gone from not having much interest in art and just being part of the art therapy group to being bona fide artists in their own right,” said Morrisa Rogers, clinical supervisor and occupational therapist at MWI. More importantly, for most of the service users that have been involved with exhibiting through MindFrame, they have been given a sense of accomplishment, pride and self-confidence. Schizophrenia was diagnosed in Andrew Williams in 2012 and he was introduced to the art therapy group when admitted to MWI where he discovered a deep love for painting and sketching. His involvement in the art therapy group and his participation in MindFrame have reignited his dream of becoming an architect. “From a child I always wanted to become an architect but that never seemed like a realistic dream,” Mr Williams said. “Now I have become more confident with myself and with my drawings that I believe I can do it.

“The world is a beautiful place, you just have to use your imagination. I see myself as a creator or a designer and that I can do anything if I put my mind to it. I am a beautiful person and I am full of love. Having been able to do my paintings has allowed me to appreciate myself more and believe in my dreams of becoming an architect.” Mr Williams finds most of his inspiration in nature, from flowers to the shoreline, which are both themes of the artwork he will be exhibiting in this year’s MindFrame Exhibition. While painting and sketching have inspired Mr Williams, it’s writing that keeps Changa Mire going. Mr Mire, who spent almost 30 years in prison for manslaughter, continued to write while behind bars. “It [the crime] is something that I wish I didn’t do but back then it was called diminished responsibility. I lived through that and I liked to write – that’s how I express myself.” Mr Mire has written three books, including a book of poetry called The Qualities of Changa Mire while he was in jail. For the exhibition, Mr Mire got a chance to explore photography and write about the inspiration he found behind the lens. “I did photography when I was younger but it was an expensive hobby. What I like is to write. I don’t write every day but if I get a thought in my head, I write it down. I write about feelings, love, peace, understanding, kindness and gentleness, stuff like that. I was born handicapped and I just want the world to know that this is the way I see life.” The power of the MindFrame exhibit has been opening a conversation about how mental illness affects the artist. And this year’s theme, “Share Our Space,” brings to the forefront the importance of opening up our spaces to everyone. “The theme this year came about from a discussion earlier this year when our service users were reflecting on all of the events that Bermuda was hosting this year,”

explained Felipe Costa, who is heading the organisation of the exhibition. “The Tall Ships were coming in and the America’s Cup [was about to happen] and there was a lot of hubbub, and the service users were reflecting on wanting to go out and share their space. It’s definitely a reminder that we’re here, too, and we are also a part of this community, and for some service users I think it’s a way for them to say, ‘I’m here’.” Visitors to the MindFrame Exhibition will get to view the art as well as get an insight and perspective to each artwork, as each piece is given a “voice” with words directly from the artist. “The community has had a new appreciation over the years of what somebody with mental illness can do,” Ms Rogers said. “Many times with stigma we tend to place everyone in a box. It’s really recognising sometimes that they can still create beautiful art and it may cause us to step back and think that people who have mental illness still have many abilities.”

HOME+LIVING

DO IT YOURSELF

DO IT ALONE

HOME+LIVING

Your DIY Experts: GORHAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

@gorhamsbermuda

DIY

The winter months are traditionally a time for finally doing those odd DIY jobs around the house that you have been putting off.

HOME+LIVING

From painting indoors and out, to fixing those faulty shelves, and repurposing the side table that looks out of place anywhere but in the shed, the next few weeks are perfect for completing jobs you can never bring yourself to do when the weather is nice outside. So, with that in mind, rgmags paid a visit to Gorham’s to ask some of it’s experts what tasks they get asked about most. From the keen amateur, to the DIY professional, here’s a list of things you may fancy having a go at.

Painting

It helps that a new product from Aqua Vision, who have designed a water-

come to see Greg Nisbett, Gorham’s floor manager and paint specialist, on

seamlessly.

Hardly an original concept, but you’d still be surprised how many people a daily basis. Gorham’s called it the “single biggest project of the fall and winter months on the island”. “I get people almost every day who say ‘I want to paint my house but I’ve

proof laminate faux wood flooring, comes with instructions on the packet. A floating floor, it does not need to be glued down, and snaps into place

TOP TIP: When laying flooring start at the left side of the room and put the grain with the light that’s coming in from the window.

never done it before’,” Greg said.

is. The retailer’s paint spectrometre helps in that regard.

Lighting

“We make our own paint, I can mix the right shade in about four or five

ral light into homes has always driven the amateur Do-it-Yourselfer.

The other big request Greg gets is for help with paint colours from people who want the same look, but don’t know what the exact shade they want

minutes right in the store,” Greg said.

TOP TIP: According to Greg the best thing you can do is prepare your wall properly before you paint it. To do that, he suggests a quick treatment with Jomax, a mould killer, before using some Start Right stain-blocking primer and sealer. After that the finish coat is up to you.

One definitely for the more proficient handyman, the desire to bring natu-

While putting in a window is not always easy, the new Solatube Daylighting System is supposedly a task that can be completed relatively quickly – as long as you’re comfortable knocking holes in your roof and ceiling. “Believe it or not, it is a do-it-yourself project, or it can be done by a contractor, but what’s fantastic about this product is that it allows you to add light to any room without elec-

Flooring

Not something that immediately comes to mind when you think DIY, laying a floor is not normally a simple task. However, Blake Simons, who is the Building Materials Manager for Gorham’s, believes it is a task that can become relatively simple with just the right approach. “It’s very realistic for people to be able to do it themselves,” Blake said.

tricity,” said Tyrone Sampson of Aurora Enterprises. TOP TIP: While it is a “quite simple installation project” Tyrone said it is essential to get the outside correct. Making a mistake between the roof and ceiling is “not a problem” but you don’t want to get the roof wrong.

“A lot of people come in, they ask us for advice on how to do it, and we tell them. “It’s project lots of people might think they can’t do, but they can do.”

For more tips and tricks on doing it yourself, visit www.gorhams-ltd.com

HOME+LIVING

Coupon Expires 12-23-17

20% OFF

Kongtractor’s Depot or Paint Dept. Only items in Kongtractor’s Depot and Paint Department qualify. Purchase total must be $200 or less.

coupon

Enjoy the savings!

Coupon Expires 12-23-17

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Value:

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Photo-copies not accepted. Limit one coupon per customer per day. Coupon must be surrendered at time of purchase. Coupon must be ﬁlled out with name and email address (if available.) Coupon must be used at customer service counter. Oﬀer does not apply to previously discounted items or items on sale. Purchase total must be $200 or less. No rain checks. ALL SALES ARE FINAL WITH COUPON. Only good for the paint department and Kongtractor’s Depot.

Store Hours: 8am - 6pm Monday - Saturday | 10am - 5pm Sunday | Phone: 295-1550 Fax: 292-1368 | www.gorhams-ltd.com All prices shown are net prices. Valid while supplies last. Items may go fast. Limited quantities. No rain checks. No additional discounts will be applied at the register. Limit 3 per customer (Limit 1 per customer on power tools & appliances).

HOME+LIVING

Coolbeans

Keep your green space in tip-top shape this winter It isn’t just indoors that you can get some DIY done, the garden needs plenty of care too over the winter months – and there is a lot to be said for gardening when it’s not quite so hot outside. It’s the best time to get cool-season crops such as broccoli, spinach, lettuce and carrots to grow properly. Plus, there’s less work involved. For the gardener, there’s less weeding, watering and care involved and more comfortable weather to work in. Weeds will germinate, but they will not grow strongly during the short days and are easy to remove. Moisture holds in the soil longer in fall so the garden requires less watering.

PREPARING YOUR GARDEN Start your winter garden by turning the soil, removing perennial weeds and grasses, and amending it with compost. Consider growing plants in raised beds. This will keep the soil drained and help avoid waterlogging if we have a wet winter. Amend the soil before planting and add an organic fertiliser at, or just after, planting time. That’s usually enough to carry your plants through the winter.

WHAT TO PLANT Winter in Bermuda lets us grow cool-season crops. Greens such as arugula, spinach, collards, lettuce, Swiss chard, mustard and kale thrive.

Root crops such as carrots, beets, onions and radishes grow well. Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage form large heads. Legumes, such as fava beans and peas, grow and flourish. All these cool-loving vegetables have better flavour and texture than if you tried to grow them during the heat of spring or summer.

There’ll be a moment this Xmas when you’ll be really grateful you went to

GARDEN MAINTENANCE With the average rainfall in Bermuda during the winter months being about one inch a week, watering is less of an issue for your garden than in the summer months, but it’s still a good idea to mulch your plantings to preserve the soil moisture and keep the weeds away. While most pests are not active in winter, cabbage worms and slugs are two that never seem to rest. Watch for cabbage-worm droppings on your broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage plants, and control them at the first sign of activity. Slugs and snails are a particular problem in Bermuda. Protect raised beds with copper flashing. Slugs and snails don’t like touching copper. They also do not like the feel of coffee grounds. Spread them around to deter pests. For a full list of what to plant over the winter months, check out the Garden Club of Bermuda website gardenclubbermuda.org/horticulture

European gifts, natural skin & hair care, and Bermuda’s best toys, all for one all-important moment. Open 8 – 7:30, Sun 4 – 6. Our Xmas hours will be on Facebook. 24 York Street, St. George’s 297-1828

BEAUTY+FASHION

BERMUDA

FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY BY AKIL SIMMONS

Evolution Retail Show

BEAUTY+FASHION

ON FESTIVAL @bdafashionfest

International Designer Show PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAIRE SIMMONS

BEAUTY+FASHION

Local Designer Show PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAIRE SIMMONS

BEAUTY+FASHION

behindthe

SCENES BY NADIA LAWS

It is an hour before showtime – and backstage at the Bermuda Fashion Festival it’s eerily quiet. Models are calmly getting dressed and having their make-up applied before they strut down the runway for the Local Designer Show 2017; meanwhile, two or three local designers have yet to arrive.. This week marks my first time behind the

Once the show gets started, the pace

rations for the catwalk can take hours,

scenes at a local and international fash-

definitely picks up, the teenager assured

you’re only in the spotlight for a few short

ion show. It’s not as frenzied as it appears

me.

minutes, she said.

Models cast in more than one scene can

During the Local Designer Show, Ms

have as little as two minutes to undress,

Lake-Waldron was picked to model for

on FashionTV, but then again the evening is still young at this point. I kill time before the show by talking to a few of the models who are dressed and waiting for their moment to shine. Jaaziah Richardson-Webb is a 15-yearold walking in Bermuda Fashion Festival for the first time. With mile-long legs, a slim physique and beautiful espresso

change their outfit and shoes, touch up their make-up and catch their breath (hopefully) before greeting the audience again. In order to cope with the last-minute rush, event organisers try to be as prepared as possible.

two collections: Lunar Soul and ieShun S. She said it was refreshing to see fashion lines being developed with fuller-figured women, like her, in mind. “I love that Lunar Soul was designed for plus-size women,” she said. “It’s a lot of the sexy outfits that thinner people can

complexion, it’s no surprise her friends

Some models have to be on hand as

wear, but made for us and our bodies.

encouraged her to audition.

early as 4am – 14 hours before curtain

Usually plus-size collections look like

call – to get their hair styled and make-

they were made to suit someone’s gran-

“To be honest, I didn’t think I was going to make it through because I had tried out two years ago and wasn’t successful,” Jaaziah said. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but when I heard I finally made

up prepped. For Vanessa Lake-Waldron, a 32-year-old plus-size model, she was up earlier than normal to start getting

ny, so to me this is a very big deal. ” Around me, many of the local designers

ready for the Evolution Retail Show. Her

look composed.

hair appointment was scheduled at 9am;

Cary Butterfield and Patricia Borland, cre-

it I was excited. I almost cried; I was that

make-up followed a few hours after at

surprised.”

noon.

For her, the atmosphere backstage could

The curvy beauty describes the experi-

collection long before the action is due to

best be described as “organised chaos”.

ence as “a waiting game” – while prepa-

start.

ators of HAMEC Bermuda, have all their models dressed in their tropical-inspired

BEAUTY+FASHION

They have time to discuss last-minute de-

Her collection is stunning – sexy evening

prove,” the designer said. “It’s taken lots of

tails such as what earrings their girls should

wear, trench coats and bodysuits – featuring

long hours and I have fallen asleep at my

wear, while their gorgeous models snap

earth-tone shades. However, some pieces

sewing machine a few nights. That was my

photos to fill up their Instagram feeds.

are held together with only a few pins and

biggest challenge – balancing this with my

loose threads.

heavy work and home commitments, but it

As time inches on, however, it’s clear not all the Bermudian designers are as cool, calm and collected. Stress begins to mount in certain parts of the backstage tent. One designer, Mo’Nique Stevens, is yet to arrive; her friends reveal

was a great experience overall. I got to un-

“

You just want to make sure everyone looks good

designer and what it takes to showcase a complete collection.” For other designers, such as James R. Lee, whose black and gold collection won him

she is busy sewing and adding last-minute touches to finish the collection.

derstand a lot more about being a fashion

one of the top prizes of the night, including Moments before the models are set to go

a cash prize of $5,000, it was a moment of

Another designer casually saunters in at

down the runway, one of their tops bursts

pure elation.

6.15pm – just moments before the show

open, exposing her chest. If I wasn’t nervous

is due to start – with a suitcase filled with

before, I’m certainly feeling it now. I can only

garments. His entourage takes a big sigh of

imagine how the designer must be feeling.

relief.

The outfit is repinned before the model goes

Both designers have to utilise every second

on stage; however, she has limited move-

before their collection is revealed to a live

ment of her arms and takes a few seconds to

audience. Luckily, they have a small team of

practise her restricted strut before heading

supporters and Bermuda Fashion Festival

down the catwalk.

volunteers helping them to steam the clothing and dress the models, as they complete their stitching and focus on the meticulous details.

I’m worried by this point. There could be a major “wardrobe malfunction” taking place in front of a couple of hundred people – including children and media cameras, but

Outside, fashion show guests appear to

thankfully the pieces hold up as far as my

have no idea about the anxiety rising behind

eye can tell.

the scenes. Soft jazz music plays and guests chat excitedly before the show begins.

It’s a bitter-sweet moment for the designer. After the show, Mo’Nique gets a hug from New York-based fashionista Shiona Turi-

After checking out a few collections that

ni, who tells her how proud she is of her

go off without a hitch, I revisit backstage.

collection. Mo’Nique, however, does not

It feels like Project Runway, as Mo’Nique, a

seem as impressed with her own work.

busy mom who works full-time, rushes to get her wardrobe items down the runway in one piece.

“This experience highlighted some of the things I already know I have to im-

He said he “couldn’t have asked for a better turnout” and experienced a rush of excitement when seeing his pieces drift down the runway. “I wouldn’t say I was nervous tonight, but there is a little anxiety,” he said. “You just want to make sure everyone looks good and you’ve presented something to the best of your ability.”

Behind the Scenes

back tage AT THE BERMUDA FASHION FESTIVAL 2017 PH OTOS BY MERED I T H AND REWS

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“I want to take it as far as it can possibly go; I want it to be a special brand”

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Theron Williams –

The Rock Label

Dress it up, dress it down, wear it with jeans, shorts or a jacket, Theron Williams does not mind how people wear his Rock Label T-shirts – just that they do, and that they like to do so. The casual line of short-sleeved Tees, soon to be followed by long-sleeve versions, hoodies and caps, is starting to gain some traction at home and abroad. Already popular in Europe, the United States and Canada, Theron brought his Bermuda-inspired line home for the Bermuda Fashion Festival, with a popup shop at the expo on the final day of the weeklong event. “At first I thought I knew who the Rock Label customer was,” Theron said. “In my mind it was street wear, but that’s not really the case. I want it to be whatever anybody thinks it should be. I want people to just be comfortable wearing it.” For Theron the journey his brand has taken to this point has been less than smooth, filled with false starts, failures, long days and longer nights. A degree in textiles was followed by jobs in hotels and

door-to-door sales, a first child, and a first launch that “bombed”.

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Theron said: “I bombed because I was working in sales, 12 hours a day, six days a week, and then the baby came and I didn’t have any motivation to do it.” Visa issues in Canada, where Theron lives with his family, left him unable to work for a year, and gave him the time he needed to figure out what he wanted Rock Label to be, what the brand’s identity was, and why he wanted to do it. “I want to take it as far as it can possibly go; I want it to be a special brand,” he said. “I want the brand recognition to be of Bermuda, the feeling it evokes, the attitude, the atmosphere. “I’m at the very beginning of the process; I’m not even close [to where I want to be]. Right now it’s about taking a risk, putting myself out there, letting people know I’m here and getting people to buy into the concept of Rock Label.”

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GANGS ARE WE DOING ENOUGH? BY JOSH BALL

That there are gangs in Bermuda is not news – they were here long before the ill-advised assertion in the 1990s that there were no gangs, only “loosely organised groups”. That these gangs are populated by young men who operate on the fringes of society is also not news.

conviction for manslaughter

Between January 2009 & November this year

shot and injured

STATS

“We try to show the community that if you continually turn a blind eye to what’s going on, one day it maybe on your doorstep...

ANTOINE DANIELS

Between January 2009 and November this year there were 35 gun deaths attributed to gang violence in Bermuda, with another 90 people shot and injured. In the courts there have been 20 convictions for murder, 19 for attempted murder, 17 for firearms offences, and one conviction for manslaughter. During that time the police have seized 47 guns.

convictions for murder

There have also been stabbings, drug busts, petty thefts, and myriad other offences that are associated with gangs and the crimes they commit.

firearm offences

For some these young men are “a cancer”, an “enemy within” and an “evil minority” (The Royal Gazette editorial, Wednesday, June 1, 2016). Others take umbrage at this characterisation of the more marginalised members of our society, suggesting demonising them ignores the root causes behind gangs and deprives the community of its “grief and angst around these issues” (A.S. Simons, Letter to the Editor, June 3, 2016). There are merits to both sides, although neither completely addresses the reality of the situation. On the one hand there is little understanding of, or appreciation for, how and why young men are being drawn into a life outside the boundaries of what is acceptable in civilized society.

guns seized

On the other is the long-standing inability to address the issue honestly, if at all, which is not something that Bermuda, with its small close-knit community, has historically been good at; be that talking about gang violence or drink driving. “I think for a long time people turned a blind eye,” said Antoine Daniels, the Assistant Commissioner of Bermuda Police Service. “They said ‘this is Bermuda, it doesn’t happen here’, or the other one was ‘it doesn’t affect me’.” The unwillingness to speak ill of the dead reflects the realities of living on a small island, but it also exacerbates the situation by papering over the cracks of the problem. Having an honest conversation about the person who died and their lifestyle, while expressing sympathy for the family left behind, are not mutually exclusive.

attempted murder

Someone can be a “loving father or son” while also acting in such a way that their death or incarceration becomes a foregone conclusion. But, baring a few rare cases, people are not inherently evil, nor born killers, they do not grow up dreaming of being gangsters, there is a moment when that becomes the most appealing, or sometimes only, avenue available to them. It is in understanding that, talking honestly about the realities of a life where anger dominates love, and learning how to change those realities that lies at the heart of reducing the violence that has gripped the island for the past decade and more.

gun deaths Thursday, August 24, 2017

Spence, Crockwell stress importance of education in wake of stabbings

Community must have ‘courage’ to steer youth away from violence

THE COMMUNITY ACTIVIST

DESMOND CROCKWELL

Desmond Crockwell is a passionate believer in prevention being better than punishment; unfortunately he believes he is in the minority and that people in Bermuda do not care enough to stop gang violence from happening. “The problem is the attitude people have; ‘as long as it doesn’t happen to me, or my immediate family, I really don’t care’,” he said. “Our children can die and we do nothing. No one is marching up and down for that. Two guys want to get married and people are marching up and down. “We [Bermudians] are very proud, but we don’t want to get our hands dirty. We’ll talk about everybody in the world, we love running our mouths, but tell us to go out there and do something, and it’s a whole different story. We need to make sacrifices, if we don’t we’ll just continue to talk.” For Desmond there is no mystery in what propels young men towards gangs, he has been there, and come out the other side. He understands the anger and the frustration that comes from feeling marginalised and isolated in your own country, from feeling trapped by a lack of opportunities and forgotten by a political class that seemingly does not care – or cares only when it comes to photo opportunities and good publicity. Desmond sees the decades of investment in the court building, police station, airport and sporting events as ample evidence of where the Government’s priorities lie, and he does not believe it is with those that are suffering the most.

“Government has to take a lot of the blame for the way things are,” he said. “They spend millions on prosecutions but tell us [in prevention] that there is no money, so I know you don’t care. “Where are the community centres, where are the schools for troubled kids? The sporting clubs are kicking them out. There is nowhere for them to go to vent their anger, their frustrations.” Ultimately Desmond believes the solution lies in a reworking of priorities and investment, not just of money, but of time. The emotional needs of children coming from broken homes require just as much focus as those whose anger stems from an education system that has let them down badly. “The feeling [in the gangs] is ‘you’re going to wait for me to shoot somebody before you recognise I’m here’,” he said. “You’re not coming to me, so I have to shoot now before you even understand that I’m frustrated. “We need to talk to them, to understand why they are so upset. There all these underlying issues that we don’t know about, that we don’t take the time to know about. Sometimes they just need someone to talk to because otherwise they are bottling up that anger – and it comes out. “Not listening has a serious impact on our community. Sometimes it’s just a case of talking, they might have trouble at home, be hungry, and they are angry because they don’t think they can tell anyone. There are underlying things at home that we don’t know

about, which is why we need facilities in these areas where children can go to be safe, to talk to people.” For Desmond one of the most telling moments in his life came through such an opportunity, a chat with a neighbour who told him to focus on the positive aspects of his own character. “Those people [the ones who listen] are the heroes,” he said. “A guy no-one would have thought about said to me ‘listen Desy man, you’re a good person you know, I’ve seen you do good, all those good things that you’ve done and this [the bad] is what you want to dwell on, because everyone is dwelling on it? You need to see yourself as this; then you can help the ones coming behind you’. “You can’t tell a youth ‘you’re a bad child’. You can say ‘you’ve done a bad thing’, but not ‘you’re a bad person’ there’s a difference. There has to be a difference in the way we talk about our children. If you tell a child ‘you’re never going to make it’, eventually they will believe you. Tell a child they’re trying, they’ll keep trying until they make it. “The little things we say, the little things we plant into our children’s minds, the places that we take them has a lot to do with how they think about themselves. That is something I really try to emphasise; we don’t have bad people, just bad choices. “What we do and tell them [the youth] matters, we can’t just keep telling them ‘straighten up before I help you’.”

Page 2

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

A lack of love and acceptance leads many youths to the streets Paul Johnston A need for love and acceptance led many youths to the streets, an anti-violence event heard at the weekend. Ralph Burrows, who spent more than two decades living the street lifestyle, said he grew up in a home where love was a foreign word. “When I started hanging on the streets and using, I felt love,” he told the audience at a packed anti-violence event held over the weekend. “That’s where my acceptance came from — the guys on the streets.” Mr Burrows was one of several speakers at a pre-launch party for the second issue of Visionz magazine. The anti-violence publication is the idea of Desmond Crockwell. According to Mr Burrows, much of today’s antisocial activity is not motivated by what many might think. “People say it’s about drugs and territory — that’s not what it’s about,” he said. “These little guys are poisoned,

Chance to be a reporter at the Youth Olympics in Argentina News Staff

Tackling violence: Desmond Crockwell, right, and Michael Doucet with Visionz magazine “I had the main job, so whenever things went wrong, I was the one punished. So I used to be angry.” But Mr Burrows said: “It is not just youths with hard home lives that are drawn to the

Crockwell said, had “no type”. A “small number” of people — known to the community and law enforcement — are “holding our island hostage”, she said. Ms Crockwell added: “We need Bermuda to come together

said, had lost its sense of community. And she added: “This is a long, lonely road if we don’t speak up.” Andre Minors agreed the violence impacting the island was a

Photograph by Akil Simmons

for attempted murder. While inside, in addition to pursuing academic achievements, he said he found God. He added: “I was released from prison in 1998. To this day, 2017, I’ve not even had so much

The Bermuda Olympic Association is calling on up-and-coming Bermudian journalists to bid to be part of the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina. The International Olympic Committee’s Young Reporters Programme will take 30 young reporters from five continents to the games, to be held in Buenos Aires from September 30 to October 19, next year. “The young reporters will be accredited and have access to all the sports, and work and train in the main press centre alongside other journalists,” the Bermuda Olympic Association said. “They will also receive mentorship and training from seasoned Olympic reporters in the areas of written, broadcast, social/new media, and photographic sports and event coverage.” Half of the 30 young reporters will also be invited to a second stage of training taking place at the Winter Youth Olympics in

THE GANG MEMBER

ANONYMOUS

It is difficult to get gang members to talk for obvious reasons. The fear of being identified, of being accused of talking outside the gang, for bringing unnecessary attention to themselves; all of these things play a part. Still, to truly understand the reasons someone might have for joining a gang you have to go to the source. The concerns lessen for those who have been caught and now reside at Westgate, although they never go away, which is why this interview was conducted with the understanding that the person giving it would not be identified in any way.

How did you get started in a gang? “Speaking on my perspective, coming up some people’s not really got it [academics], and so you’re struggling. A lot of us turned to hanging on the streets, then it leads to selling drugs and some people get the impression…they feel they are upgrading themselves. “I guess people just get over their heads with certain things and they feel that they are bigger than other people, and it becomes a pride thing. “I wanted to be a mechanic; I used to like to fix bikes. But, I got caught living in the fast lane by selling drugs, and I thought that was the right way to go because I was waiting for a paycheque, but I was getting that in a week what I was earning in a month. So, I was hooked on that instead of the job, but now I feel it, and I have regrets. “I wish I had…it was a good job, and it was a well paying one, but I just got caught in the fast lane. But, that happens to a lot of people. If you can make $500 dollars in day, instead of waiting a whole week, then why not go for that.”

How do you get the gang members today to understand the reality of what they’re doing? “The only way they will get understanding is if they get it from somebody who has been there, has been in the lifestyle, thought that what they were doing was right, but end up finding out down the line that it’s not right, because friends that you think have got your back out there, they don’t have your back when you come jail. “They [friends] don’t put money at the canteen for you, they don’t phone, half of them you can’t even get to come visit. And the people that are looking out for you are the ones that are hurting, your family. They are the ones that will be there for you, for the rest of your life. But the hurt, it always leads back to the family members.”

Isn’t providing for family what it’s all about? “To a certain extent, because at the time you think you’re doing the right thing. But then the shoe falls off the foot and you find out that path was really the one you shouldn’t have been walking down, that’s when reality sets in. “Some families wouldn’t know because a lot of men are not going to go home and tell their Momma ‘somebody’s trying to kill me’ or ‘I’m in this lifestyle’. They try to shield it from their family, and if something happens around the house obviously they [the family] are going to be very frightened.

“It does have an effect on families, they have to live with that for the rest of their life, they’re not going to forget what happened. I’ve been shot at, it’s not a nice feeling, it’s not a nice sound, I’m just lucky I’m here to talk about it.”

How do you stop the younger generation wasting their lives? “The only thing I can suggest, as someone who has lived that lifestyle, is to show them the things that have happened in my life. Show them that, alright, cool, you might be living your life, getting away with doing your thing, bragging to your girl, your boy, you think they’ve got your back. “Those girls ain’t going to be your girl, she’ll be somebody else’s girl, and you’re going to have problems in jail. If they feel that that kind of lifestyle is cool, with one of their breddins in jail doing a life sentence then they’ve got it wrong, they’ve got it twisted. “I’ve heard a lot of guys say ‘I’ll go jail’, but they don’t know, even the hardest of guys in here breakdown crying.”

What would you say to them if you could? “I’d want them to know [that] no money can amount to human life and if the youths are thinking about picking up a gun, to just to show your girl that you’re some gangster, or whatever they have in their mind, let it go. Because, when you’re sitting up in this jail cell, it’s not a good thing. You have no friends around you, and when you’re in that quiet time by yourself, that’s when reality kicks in and you know you’re not going home. “I would tell them get out, get an education, raise your family the right way, rather than have your child come and visit you in jail.”

THE POLICE OFFICER

ANTOINE DANIELS

For Mr Daniels, the fight to combat the gang problem in Bermuda begins in the schools. With gang members getting ever younger, the Assistant Commissioner is under no illusions as to the task the police face in helping to solve the problem. “Bermuda is no different from any other Western civilisation, where you get a lot of the kids displaying a lot of antisocial behaviour and delinquency if you don’t get into them quickly,” Mr Daniels said. “That’s why we gear the gang resistance programme towards Primary 6 and M1. The 10, 11 and 12-year-olds; that’s the time of development where you see them bearing those certain characteristics.” Research tells the police that children primarily join gangs for one of three reasons: social status, financial need and fear. On top of that, there is the disenfranchisement that comes from feeling that society has no place for them, that there is no hope for the future, so they create an alternative society. “I was listening to the radio the other day where they were interviewing two teachers who were talking about the students in their classroom, and that they have to prepare them to learn. They arrive at school and they’re not ready; they’re hungry, there is trauma at home. The teachers have to deal with this before they can even teach. “This is the type of situation that you’re dealing with in Bermuda, so it’s not lost on me that we have some serious problems.” While the traditional aspect of policing – catch and convict – will always form the largest part of Mr Daniels’s focus, there is an appreciation, too, that the police can have a positive influence early on by working with charities such as Family Centre and Mirrors to provide safe and supportive spaces, mentorship and coaching for children that might not otherwise have access to those things.

Either get involved voluntarily, or you might get involved through some type of mishap. It’s not a threat, it’s not trying to scare people, it’s the reality of what’s going on. And I’ve seen that first-hand.” ANTOINE DANIELS

TIPS Programmes such as the Youth Leadership Academy, Homework Academy and Beyond Rugby are important, so too the Gang Taskforce, which at the height of the gang violence went into the schools to educate teachers and parents about what was happening. “We went to the high schools and middle schools [public and private] and had a real heart-to-heart with a lot of the teachers,” Mr Daniels said. “We’d bring them to the assembly and point out the gang paraphernalia that the children had on, and they [the teachers] didn’t even realise it. “At some schools we found that students would form in certain areas of the school where there were gang symbols on the walls. We had those painted over them to try and break that up. “It’s very sensitive how you do it. You never want to come out and say X-school is more gang-culture than Y-school. Although we know and recognise what is going on in those schools, we try and work with the principals and student body to resolve those various issues.” Building trust in the community is also essential, but Mr Daniels also knows that people have to want to help themselves. “The biggest thing for me is to try and get people to understand that handcuffs are not going to solve the problem,” he said. “We try to show the community that if you continually turn a blind eye to what’s going on, one day it may be on your doorstep, and that’s one of the biggest messages I try to get out there. Either get involved voluntarily, or you might get involved through some type of mishap. It’s not a threat, it’s not trying to scare people, it’s the reality of what’s going on. And I’ve seen that first-hand.”

One Dollar

According to people who work with gangs, there are several reasons why children join them. These are the most popular. • • • • • •

For money, jewellery, respect and power For a sense of belonging As a result of the neighbourhood where they live For protection Because they were forced into it Out of boredom

In the battle parents face in keeping children out of trouble, here are some tips from the Gang Prevention Unit on how you can spot if children are going down the wrong path. • Watch their friends and associations carefully and observe whether they move around the Island with friends for protection • Be concerned if they do not want to travel to certain areas • Monitor Facebook postings • Watch out for the use of multiple cell phones, which can be a sign of drug dealing • Look out for signs of drug and alcohol abuse and failing schoolwork • Be wary of them throwing up gang signs and being made aware of gang-related incidents instantly.

The best ways to prevent young people getting caught up in gangs are to:

• Give them as much encouragement as possible and encourage extra-curricular activities such as church and youth groups and sport • Encourage them to stay focused at school • Discuss the consequences of gang life and what it leads to • Open their eyes as much as possible about other countrieswww.royalgazette.com and cultures • Discourage any glorification of gangs, guns and drugs Today’s High 72F Friday, December 19, 2014 • Monitor what they see and listen to on the television and internet

SOLIDARITY AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE

MONEY STOP THENOKILLING By Sarah Lagan

“You are choosing to live in a dog-eat-dog world but you are not an animal — you deserve better than that”. That was stark message delivered by Nicole Fox to all the boys, men, women and girls involved in gang and gun violence in Bermuda. Ms Fox, whose son Ricco Furbert was gunned down and killed along with his close friend Haile Outerbridge in January, 2013, was speaking to The Royal Gazette at the Die-In event held at City Hall

CAN AMOUNT TO HUMAN LIFE

THE POLITICIAN MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY, WAYNE CAINES

If people want practical solutions to the problem of gang violence, then Wayne Caines knows exactly where they need to start looking – at themselves.

“

The Minister of National Security believes that while the Government has a responsibility to help to solve the issue, with improving education being a major focus, communities must also take a greater role in preventing young men from falling into a lifestyle that too often ends in misery and death for those around them. “In Bermuda, everyone wants to know what are the practical things we can do? On a practical level, we have to hold our sons accountable for their behaviour,” the minister said. “We cannot give

more likely to seek solace, comfort and guidance from those in his peer group,” Mr Caines said. “The Government will do its piece, community clubs should be held to account to their piece, but the last piece is the family. The family has to be encouraged to make wise decisions; we have to encourage the family to play an integral part in healing our country. “That goes to the next thing, mentorship. A lot of times we want performance without development. We have to ensure that we have every able-bodied man, whether they are black or white, getting back into our community and mentoring young men. We have a mentality of ‘that’s not my son’, or ‘that’s what’s happening in the back of town or Somerset’. We have to create a model of mentorship…I’m talking things outside of what the Government is already doing.”

ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL WE HAVE TO HOLD OUR SONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR BEHAVIOUR. safe harbour to anyone that is doing antisocial behaviour and it is as simple as allowing someone to use a car that is uninsured and unlicensed. This is fighting in the neighbourhood, this is selling drugs; all of these things are interconnected and basic things that we can do. “Our parents, our community, we have to hold everyone accountable for their actions. We have to make sure we create safe environments for our young sons. The sporting groups have to create an environment [that is safe] from first thing in the morning to last thing at night. A lot of our young men do not have safe environments, so we have to create surrogate families; whether it is our church, it’s the sporting groups, but they have to have a safe environment where they can develop, mentally and socially.” For the minister, the disintegration of the family unit is crucial to understanding the problem that the island faces, as is understanding the psyche of the young men that are attracted to that lifestyle. “We have to look, the black community specifically, we have to look at making stronger families because something that is crystal clear, when a young man does not have a father in the home, he is much

One thing the minister is not convinced by is the argument that successive governments have been more focused on punishment rather than prevention. What he does believe is that a section of society was ignored in the race for economic growth. “The reality of it is that for a very long time we have been successful as a business jurisdiction, a blue-chip jurisdiction,” he said. “We have allowed our success to permeate the business sphere, but the family was left behind. We are seeing the manifestation of the neglect to the social fabric of our country, but all is not lost. We have things to put in place that can solve this crisis and I believe together we can do it. I believe there is an opportunity to heal Bermuda. “I would say that we have never looked at this as a public health crisis. We have to take a more clinical approach, we have to deconstruct the psyche of those that are committing the violence and we have to incorporate what we have learnt, including from the police, and put all the different elements together. “The Government has a plan, but as far as the community is concerned, everyone has to row in together. Sport clubs, families, churches have to come together in a holistic approach to solve the problem.”

THE FAMILY MEMBER

ARRETTA FURBERT

Arretta Furbert has endured a mind-numbing grief that most mothers could not fathom. In October last year, her 19-year-old son, Isaiah, was shot dead in his bedroom as she folded his laundry in the room next door. She watched helplessly and hysterically as EMTs tried desperately to save her only son’s life before rushing him to hospital where she was told he had died. Just nine months later, Arretta saw her son’s best friend, Jahcari Francis, 20, murdered in almost identical fashion in the same Upland Street home as they sat down to dinner. Police have yet to charge anyone with either murder, but the grieving mother rejects assumptions that her teenage son was mixed up in the tit-for-tat gang lifestyle. She admits he had enemies, but insists his allegiance to the St Monica’s area was borne solely from family and friends that he grew up with, rather than any criminal enterprise. “I never felt worried that my son was in a gang; they were throwing up the signs of where they came from in middle school, but I did not see that as them being part of a gang,” Arretta said. “For Isaiah, it was where he was from. His grandmother grew up on Mission Lane and he would go up there to see his uncle. That recognition of 42 and 42nd Street to him was not what it may seem to a stranger. “A lot of the tension with others stemmed

from when they were at school and aged 11 or 12; punch-ups in the schoolyard and things like that. Call it naivety on my part, but I never took it to heart. I never imagined anything like this would ever happen.” Arreta and Isaiah had lived under the same roof every day of the teenager’s life. “As long as I can remember, it was always just me and Isaiah,” she said. “I worked two jobs all that time and he always wanted to be at home,” she said. “His friends would come over; they were always at our place, and that was just the way it was. “I didn’t want him hanging out on walls; I wanted to have him in my sights. My mother was always there too; we were a very close family.” In July 2016 Arretta, her elderly mother and Isaiah moved back to Upland Street for a second spell. She said: “We had toyed around with the idea of him going to Canada after he finished school, because he was a Canadian citizen through me, and I tried to push him in the direction of navigation and ships. “But he did not want to leave. He wanted to go fishing with his dad and spend time with his friends. “Then things started to go a little haywire. Before, he was never really involved in the street; he never really hung out at clubs or football games. But then in the summer, before his death, he started going to things like Beachfest, Cup Match and Non Mariners.

“I knew there were people who did not like him and he was smoking weed, but I felt I was in control. He wasn’t stealing or anything like that. I would ask him what their beef was; he just said they were just jealous. “He sometimes told us that he was not going to live to be an old man. Now that seems quite prophetic.” Arretta insists she kept close tabs on her son, always checking his drawers and pockets for any signs of trouble. “I don’t think I was complacent,” she said. “I felt like I was doing everything I needed to. Isaiah was not a good liar, so I never felt he was drug dealing or anything like that. “His behaviour was not strange. Some people had said to me you need to get him off island, but I remember him saying he would not let them chase him away. He said he had not done anything wrong. Even now I cannot figure out what the hatred was all about.” Arretta described her son as a “good soul” who was popular and would give friends the shirt off his back. “I feel like I ran out of time with Isaiah; they pulled the rug from under me,” she said. “He was no angel but I keep thinking, if only I had just had a little bit more time with him. “I would like some kind of closure. I want to see the man who did this to my son and ask why. I just don’t understand, but I refuse to let them win.”

BY SIMON JONES

THERE HAVE BEEN 35 GUN MURDERS IN BERMUDA SINCE MAY 22, 2009 IN 34 SHOOTING INCIDENTS* MALCOLM AUGUSTUS D E S H A U N J E R RY B E R K L E Y S T E FA N B U R G E S S G A R RY “ F I N G A S ” C A N N D AV I D C L A R K E FIQRE CROCKWELL J O N AT H A N D I L L PAT R I C K D I L L PRINCE BARRINGTON EDNESS COLFORD FERGUSON JAHCARI FRANCIS ISAIAH FURBERT RICO FURBERT KUMI HARFORD J A M E S L AW E S JAHMIKO LESHORE G E O R G E LY N C H DEKIMO “PURPLE” MARTIN F R E D DY M AY B U RY JASON MELLO SHANE MINORS HAILE OUTERBRIDGE JAHNI OUTERBRIDGE MICHAEL PHILLIPS P E R RY M O S L E Y P U C K E R I N R AY M O N D T R OY “ YA N K E E ” R AW L I N S ERIN LEE RICHARDSON JOSHUA ROBINSON K E N WA N D E E “ W H E E L S ” R O B I N S O N R A N DY R O B I N S O N JASON SMITH MORLAN STEEDE * This list does not include Shaki Crockwell, who was shot in 2007 before the big outbreak of violence started (his killer, Derek Spalding, was sentenced to life behind bars, and must serve 25 before becoming eligible for parole) or Jason Lightbourne, who was fatally shot in 2006 (Prince Edness was charged and acquitted in November, 2014 – shortly before his own murder)

LORENZO STOVELL R I C K A I S WA N K I M WA N D A E WA L K E R

caring for the naughty and the nice full service animal hospital mobile visits & in home exams canine & feline boarding 168 Middle Road, Devonshire Tel: 236-3292 24-HR EMERGENCY: 694-0703 www.endsmeet.bm

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

$48.00 per litre Tito’s is produced in Austin at Texas’ oldest legal distillery. Made in batches, using oldfashioned pot stills with every batch tastetested to guarantee quality and consistency. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is designed to be savored by spirit connoisseurs and everyday drinkers alike. Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the godfather of the craft spirits movement, is now the highest selling spirit brand in the US, per IRI data. Tito’s is the fastest growing vodka brand in Bermuda.

20% Discount

$60.00 per litre Distilled, aged and bottled at the most award-winning distillery in the world. Made from the finest corn, rye and barley malt, this whiskey ages in new oak barrels for years in century old warehouses until the peak of maturity. Buffalo Trace Distillery has been making bourbon whiskey the same way for more than 200 years. The taste is rich and complex, with hints of vanilla, toffee and candied fruit. The smooth finish lingers on the palate.

Monkey Shoulder Triple Malt Scotch Whisky $59.00 per litre A great blended malt should be more than the sum of its parts. Monkey Shoulder — a blend of the single malts Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kinivie — pulls that off in spades. It makes a solid match for ice and a splash of soda, and shows its versatility in cocktails.

Holiday Gift Coupon Bring this coupon into any Gosling’s store and receive a discount on any of these featured brands 750 ml and litre sizes only.

Offer valid until December 17th 2017

Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask $90.00 per 750ml The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old is 100% sherry-seasoned and 100% natural color, in keeping with The Macallan’s tradition, yet unique in the fact that it is defined by the unmistakeable prominence of an American oak style. The delicate flavor of American oak - vanilla, citrus, and light oak - rises in prominence as the traditional Macallan European oak character of dried fruit, sherry and wood spice affords a familiar foundation. Suitable for all occasions.

WARNING: Excessive alcohol consumption may be harmful to your health. Offer valid only while supplies last

FOOD FOOD+ +DRINK DRINK

Veuve Clicquot RICH An elegant start to any party! CLICQUOLOGY: THE PERFECT SERVE

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey $38.75 per 750ml A little bit of honey, a whole lot of Jack. A blend of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and a unique honey liqueur of our own making, for a taste that’s one-of-akind and unmistakably Jack. With hints of honey and a finish that’s naturally smooth, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey offers a taste of the unexpected.

1) Place ice cubes in a large wine glass 2) Add one of the recommended garnishes: (pineapple, grapefruit zest, cucumber, or bell pepper). 3) Finish with chilled Veuve Clicquot Rich Bringing a cocktail spirit to a House already known for audacity and innovation, Veuve Clicquot RICH is an invitation to en-RICH the tasting experience with a So Clicquot twist. From mountains to oceans, rooftops to canyons, winter or summer, day or night, Veuve Clicquot RICH is perfect anyway, anywhere and anytime!

Crown Royal Cookies Something for Santa! Amarula Cream $26.25 per litre An African liqueur, Amarula Cream is made from the exotic Marula fruit. From tree to bottle, it takes over two years to create each bottle of Amarula Cream Liqueur. The key ingredient, the marula fruit, is considered one of Africa’s botanical treasures. This excotic fruit, harvested by hand, gives Amarula its distinctive taste and smooth, rich texture. An excellent gift to give to an Irish cream liqueur drinker looking to switch things up.

Ingredients: • • • • •

1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 eggs

• 1/2 cup Crown Royal or Crown Royal Maple • 1/2 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 375. Cream butter, cocoa & sugar with hand mixer on low. On low speed, add one egg at a time. Add vanilla. Mix in the Crown Royal whisky. Add in flour, baking soda & salt slowly until combined. Form 1 tablespoon size balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on rack. Share and enjoy!

Bloody Maria Fireball Cinnamon Whisky $39.00 per litre Fireball Cinnamon Whisky needs no introduction. If you haven’t tried it yet, just imagine what it feels like to stand face-toface with a fire breathing dragon who just ate a whisky barrel full of spicy cinnamon. Live it, love it, shoot it - what happens next is up to you.

*All prices subject to change

Perfect for Holiday Brunch! • 2 oz Patrón Silver • 5 oz Bloody Mary mix

• 1 Lime wedge for garnish • 1 Celery stalk for garnish

Bloody Mary mix, or build your own: • 4 oz Tomato juice • 0.5 oz Fresh lemon juice • Dash each of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco • 1 tsp Horseradish

• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker or pint glass and “roll” the drink by pouring it back and forth between the two. Strain onto fresh ice in a Collins glass. If you like, rim the glass with kosher salt or a specially spiced rim of your choosing. Garnish with a lemon wedge and celery stalk.

FOOD+DRINK

chocolate avocado cake with chocolate avocado buttercream frosting PREP TIME: 15 mins COOK TIME: 55 mins TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 10 mins

DIRECTIONS FOR CAKE:

Ahh-vocado

We know, we know, avocado in chocolate cake, what weird vegany type came up with that idea? If your first thought when you see avocado, chocolate and cake in the same sentence is, “errr, that’s disgusting,” you’re not alone. However, you’d also be wrong, and here’s why. It turns out that avocado, as a substitute for eggs and butter, is amazing, once you get past the whole “why did you have to go and ruin my guilty pleasure” thing. And look at this way: with all the other bad-for-you-food you’re going to eat over the holidays, with this, you can have your cake and eat it, too. Here’s one of our favourites; a decadently delicious dark chocolate cake. INGREDIENTS FOR THE CAKE: 3 cups all-purpose flour; 6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 tsp baking powder; 2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 1 ripe avocado, mashed until very smooth; 2 cups water; 2 tsp white vinegar; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 2 cups granulated sugar. FOR THE FROSTING: 2 large ripe avocados, peeled and pitted; 2 cups powdered sugar; 4 tbsp cocoa powder

@lindosbermuda

1. Preheat oven to 350F. 2. Grease and flour a tube pan. 3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. 4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, avocado, water, vinegar and vanilla. Whisk until well combined. 5. Whisk sugar into the wet mix. 6. Add the wet mixture to the flour mixture all at once. Beat with a whisk (by hand) until smooth. 7. Pour batter into a greased tube pan. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. 8. Let cake cool in pan for 15 to 20 minutes on a cooling rack. Turn cake out on to cooling rack to cool completely before frosting. FOR BUTTERCREAM FROSTING: 1. Scoop avocados out into a food processor. Process until smooth, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down avocado with spatula if necessary. 2. Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder to puréed avocado. Process for another minute or until creamy and combined, stopping once to scrape down mixture if necessary. 3. Frost cake. Let cake sit a few hours before serving, allowing time for flavours to blend.

C hristmas Fi v e

THE

$53.25

As the festivities of the season commence, we have begun that special search for party favours & gifts to wish those closest to us a merry holiday season – not only for friends and family members, but also staff, clients, and suppliers. SURREY HILLS, ENGLAND

SILENT POOL GIN A classic gin at heart, this rich and clean juniper-driven spirit is produced using 24 botanicals and the cool, clear spring-water from the Silent Pool itself. Floral notes of lavender and chamomile combine with the freshness of citrus, grounded with the subtle sweetness of local honey. Best with a dry tonic and fresh slice of orange.

$24.70

VITTEAUT-ALBERTI BLANC DE BLANC NV ‘CREMANT DE BOURGOGNE’

BURGUNDY, FRANCE

$68.70

BURGUNDY, FRANCE

DOMAINE DU PÉGAÜ CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2009 DOMAINE PÉGAÜ Cuvee Reserve is a dark purple color, with flavours of spice and liquorice and a persistent roundness. Each vintage of the Reserve is an assembly of the various plots and various grape varieties and bottling takes place after two years of barrel aging. Drinking perfectly, it would partner deliciously with your roast turkey or beef bourguignon.

At Discovery Wines, we have been working diligently sourcing products from world-renowned producers to find those memorable bottles that will ensure you are kept off the “naughty” list! Here are a few of our favourites, with some food pairing suggestions to assist all of us in our quest to Eat, Drink, and Discover!

BUTTERFIELD MEURSAULT 2015 Clearly it only seems right to include a wine from the Bermudian that started Discovery Wines, David Butterfield, who now makes wines in Burgundy. One of his signature wines, this Meursault has a complex nose with notes of toasted hazelnuts. With amazing purity of fruit which this should be your white of choice for roast turkey.

$71.75

SOUTHERN RHONE, FRANCE

Need the gift that keeps on giving? Join our monthly WINE CLUB! Discovery Wines at 296 WINE (9463) or info@discoverywines.bm #5 Bakery Lane, Pembroke

Searching for Champagne quality, without the price-tag? Marrying Chardonnay and Aligoté from the Côte Chalonnaise and Côte de Beaune, this Blanc de Blancs sparkling owes all its aromas to a 16 to 18-month period it rests in the bottle. Flavours of toasted almonds, brioche, lemon and ripe apple persist.

$29.20

VENETO, ITALY

ZENATO ‘RIPASSA’ VALPOLICELLA SUPERIOR 2013 Closely connected to Amarone, the greatest wine of Valpolicella. After pressing the dried grapes from which Amarone is made, the Valpolicella wine is passed over the still warm marc of Amarone. A second fermentation begins which increases the alcoholic content and the wine becomes richer in colour and bouquet.

FOOD+DRINK

57 RECIPES

Holiday Party Favours PULL APART XMAS TREE INGREDIENTS • 1 lb refrigerated pizza dough • Eggwash (1 egg whisked with 1 tbsp water) • 7 mozzarella sticks • 1/4 cup melted butter

• • • • •

1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan 1 tbsp Thinly sliced basil 1 tbsp chopped parsley 1 tbsp chopped rosemary Marinara, warmed (for serving)

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 450F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Cut mozzarella sticks into 1” pieces. On a floured surface, divide pizza dough into two pieces. Stretch and roll each piece of dough into a long rectangle, then cut dough into 2” squares (you’ll need 33 in total). Wrap a dough square around each piece of mozzarella, forming a

DIRECTIONS

• • • • •

1. Preheat oven to 375F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

• • • • • • • •

3. Meanwhile, whisk together melted butter, Parmesan and herbs. Brush on baked pizza doughballs. Serve warm with marinara for dipping.

OVEN-FRIED TORTELLINI

INGREDIENTS 1 package cheese tortellini 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 large eggs, beaten 1 cup panko 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan 2 tbsp butter, melted 1 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp Chopped parsley, for garnish Marinara, for serving

tightly sealed ball. Place balls seamside down on the baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree (they should be touching). Brush eggwash on dough balls and bake until golden 15 to 20 minutes.

2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook tortellini to al dente according to package instructions. Drain. 3. In a medium bowl, mix panko with parmesan, butter, oregano, garlic powder and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. 4. Coat tortellini with flour then dredge in egg mixture, then in panko mixture. Continue until all tortellini are coated. 5. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

BACON CRACK BITES INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

• 1 package bacon, 1. Preheat oven to 350F and line a large baking strips cut in half sheet with parchment paper. horizontally 2. Arrange crackers on baking sheet and sprinkle • 32 Club Crackers • 1/2 cup freshly grated with Parmesan. Tightly wrap each cracker with bacon and replace seam-side down, then Parmesan top with more Parmesan. • Freshly ground black pepper 3. Bake until bacon is cooked through and bites • Ranch dressing, are crispy, 48 to 50 minutes. Season with for dipping pepper and serve with ranch for dipping

GET MORE Visit RGMags.com

TRAVEL+LEISURE

BIG WORLD:

DelrayRawlins

Delray Rawlinsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cricketing journey has taken him from Bermuda to Delhi, Dubai and several places in between. Sydney is the latest stop on a road many expect will lead to a successful career in the English county game, and perhaps beyond.

TRAVEL+LEISURE

Spending the winter in Australia is a well-trodden path in the professional ranks, with the hard nature of the game Down Under, and the quality of opposition, often acknowledged as an essential part of any young player’s education. Attached to Sydney Cricket Club, Delray is based near the Balmain suburb of Sydney, some 20 minutes from the city centre and world-famous attractions such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Darling Rocks. In this issue of Big World, Delray talks spin bowling, leaving home, and why Christmas in Australia does not mean missing out on spending the day at the beach.

So, Delray, you’ve been in Australia for a couple of months, how are you finding it? “Pretty good so far, the weather has been average, but I’m enjoying it. It rained a few times but it’s been better and getting warmer the last few days. “I’m staying in Drummoyne, basically where the home ground is, just outside of Balmain, about 20 minutes out of Sydney. It’s a very good area.”

What’s first on the tourist list? The Blue Mountains, the Harbour Bridge? “I haven’t had a chance to do much exploring yet. The few days I was probably going to do something it rained. Also, more of the Sussex boys are coming out soon as well, so I will do some exploring with them when they arrive. “I haven’t really thought about what to see first. Some of the boys have been here before, so they know some of the good areas to go, and things to see, so I’m going to just roll with it.”

You’re no stranger to living away from home, but has it been difficult to adjust to being in Australia? “It definitely takes a while to get used to being in a new place. Obviously I’ve lived away from home for a while now, over in England, but moving away from home again for five or six months has taken a little bit of time getting used to. “But I got over things like jet lag, and I acclimatised and everything pretty quickly, and feel that I’m settled in and quite comfortable, and I’m just looking forward to the few months ahead, really. “I was sort of looking to come last year, but then I was involved with the [England] under-19s, so I couldn’t come. Hopefully it will be a pretty big eye-opener.”

What does a normal day look like for you at the moment? “At the moment I’m doing cricket-skills training twice a week with Stuart MacGill [former Austra-

lia spin bowler], on Tuesdays and Thursday, and club training on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. On the other days I’m in the gym and running – not a great deal at the start as I was having a bit of rest after the season. But these next few weeks I’ll hit it pretty hard before Christmas, and then after Christmas get right back into it to lead into the season.”

Will you and your Sussex team-mates get together over Christmas? “They’re actually all playing for other club sides all within 20 minutes to half an hour of here, so we’re all around each other, which is quite nice. We’ll see quite a lot of each other, which is great. “And I won’t miss out on being at the beach at Christmas. I’m looking forward to it, actually. I’ve heard a lot about Manly Beach. I’m looking forward to spending Christmas in Sydney.”

@drawlins09

TRAVEL+LEISURE

24Hours In Sydney

If you’re heading Down Under the chances are you’ll have more than a day to explore Sydney, but if you do find yourself short on time, here’s a guide to making the most of it in one of Australia’s largest cities. 9AM – BREAKFAST

learn more about this unique struc-

and personal to some of Australia’s

you cannot visit Sydney without

As with any city there are plenty of

ture. From here walk around the Roy-

wildlife. Darling Harbour houses the

climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

options for starting your day the

al Botanic Gardens to Mrs Macqua-

Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, and the

A must for any visit.

right way. Two spots that stand out

rie’s Chair; you’ll have picture perfect

Wild Life Sydney Zoo, while a short

among the crowd are: Two Good

views of both the Opera House and

ferry ride away is Taronga Zoo, home

7PM – DINNER

Eggs Café a rustic venue situated on

the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Follow

to some 3,000 animals from around

Head to The Rocks, Sydney’s histor-

Goulburn Street, just around the cor-

the walk around the water, through

the world.

ic precinct, for an afternoon cocktail

ner from the Capitol Theatre. And if

to The Domain and onto the Art Gal-

quality coffee in a relaxed setting is

lery of NSW, where you can view an

your thing, then Pablo & Rusty’s on

extensive range of Australian art.

and dinner. Grab a drink at The Ar-

2.30PM – LUNCH ON THE BEACH

gyle in its gorgeous cobbled-stone courtyard, followed by dinner at New

Catch a train to Bondi Junction, then

York-inspired steakhouse The Cut, or

NOON – A VIEW FROM ABOVE

jump on a bus from the Bondi Junc-

modern Japanese at Sake Restaurant

Walk back into the city and head up

tion Interchange to Bondi Beach and

and Bar.

10AM – TAKING A STROLL

to the Sydney Tower Eye observation

grab lunch at one of the world’s most

A walking city like no other, Sydney

deck for magnificent 360-degree

famous beaches! Enjoy the array of

has plenty to see if you don’t mind

views across the city. If you’re game

fabulous cafés and restaurants, then

9PM – A LITTLE LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

stretching your legs. Walk down

enough why not venture out onto the

go for a walk along the beach—or if

Head back to Sydney Opera House,

to Circular Quay and check out the

Skywalk for a breathtaking outdoor

you have some spare time, why not

where there is always something

hustle and bustle of the ferries de-

experience.

try out the Bondi to Coogee coastal

going on in the evenings, from live

walk.

music, to ballet, opera and comedy.

Castlereagh Street is as good a spot as any.

parting. Wander around the famous Sydney Opera House and discover

1PM – ANIMAL MAGIC

this incredible architectural landmark

Zoo or Aquarium, or both, in Sydney

5PM – SUNSET FROM ON HIGH

building. You can even take a tour and

the three best options to get up close

If you have a head for heights then

TRAVEL+LEISURE

Bermuda Overseas Mission:

o say that taking part in the Bermuda Overseas Missions trip to Malawi this year was an eye-opener would be something of an understatement. It is not that those of us who took part were blind to poverty in the Third World, but seeing it from afar and up close are two very different perspectives. In the Western world, constant access to news has, by and large, desensitised us to the suffering of others. A famine is just another famine; deaths from poverty, lack of infrastructure or fighting are quickly and easily forgotten by most. Similarly, the constant use of the word “tragic,” to describe anything from a massacre to a cat being run over, has taken away the power and emotion those six letters used to convey. In many ways that makes the impact of seeing people living in mud huts without running water, electricity or even windows all the more powerful. The village of Magereta is no different from countless others in Malawi. It has a chief, a collection of mud huts, a stone church built by a visit from a previous charity, a broken water pump, and not much else. Sitting in a valley dominated by the imposing Mount Mulanje, its inhabitants are subsistence farmers who work the land and make the most of the two cows and several chickens that roam the village.

Ultimately the hardest part of a trip such as this is having to leave after two weeks with only four houses built And its men and women are dying of Aids-related diseases. Working alongside Habitat for Humanity, BOM has been on 19 build trips in 17 countries over the 15 years of its existence. Roughly 500 people now live in homes around the world built by some 600 people from Bermuda who have volunteered with the charity. There were 27 in the group that travelled to Malawi in the summer, enough to build four houses for families that the village council had deemed the most in need – which is saying something given the circumstances. Elena Khumbanyiwa is an example of what we found. A 90-year-old great-grandmother she was the primary caregiver to four great-grandchildren,

two boys and two girls, all of whom were 10 years old or younger. Their parents had died, their grandparents had died. All five live in a single room, which also serves as a place to cook, and eat, and other things that the body does naturally. “The roof leaks heavily when it rains at night,” she told us. “We just stand until it stops; we are really tired living this way.” Ultimately the hardest part of a trip like such as this is having to leave after two weeks with only four houses built. You could spend the rest of your life trying to make a difference and still only scratch the surface. Next year BOM will be travelling to Bangalore in India to try to change the lives of families there. If you want to do something worthwhile next summer, there are worse ways to improve our world. FOR MORE INFORMATION on BOM, contact David Thompson via e-mail at david@ams.bm

TRAVEL+LEISURE

Gap Year Gap years are seen as an essential part of growing up. Whether you go travelling with friends, get a job to pay for college, or volunteer in some farflung part of the world, they provide the perfect bridge between the child you were at school and the adult you hope to become. So, what do you do if you decide that you need to escape your normal existence, or discover who you truly are? You could go backpacking around Europe, or travel around the United States, but where’s the challenge in that? If you’re going to do something different, then why not do something really different.

Explore the Senegalese music scene by joining the Music & Culture project in this West African country. Volunteers work alongside a local band and learn to play traditional instruments, as well as learning about the culture and what inspires the musicians. Different aspects of the Senegalese culture are explored in daily lectures, and classes are given

in the local language, Wolof. There are evening performances in local cafés which you can attend and perhaps even take part in.

The Escuela de Equinoterapia Cochabamba in Bolivia is home to Projects Abroad’s Equine Therapy project. The aim of the project is to help disabled children (mentally, physically and emotionally) through interaction with horses. A trained horse can aid the recovery of children with disabilities, as it enables the child to focus on movement, spatial orientation, posture, language and muscle control. Volunteers are involved with looking after the horses and taking care of the children who visit the centre. Check out projects-abroad.co.uk for more information.

If you want a change, but need to earn some mon-

You don’t have to be a student to take a gap year,

ey at the same time, then why not take a working

although when you’re working they’re usual called

break. There are loads of options for earning mon-

a leave of absence or a sabbatical. Still, they make

ey while travelling. For example, you could teach

sense for several reasons, including avoiding burn-

English, be an au pair, or do a working-holiday visa

out, which can equally apply if you’ve just finished

scheme. Most working-holiday participants go to

nine years of school and the thought of more learn-

Australia, Canada or New Zealand. Depending on

ing makes you feel nauseous.

your nationality, there are several options available for working-holiday visas.

If volunteering isn’t your thing, and it’s fun and adventure you want, then the world is your oyster.

Teaching English in South Korea has become a pop-

From spending a year travelling around Europe, Aus-

ular option for recent college grads as well. This is

tralia or the Far East, there are plenty of options for

a great option if you want to pay off student loans

going solo or as part of a group. n

while travelling since the benefits are pretty good.

ART+ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY +SPORT

Rugby Classic For more than a generation the World Rugby Classic has been a staple of Bermuda life. Far more than what happens on the pitch, it has impacted the island’s economy, fostered countless friendships, and taken the island’s beauty into homes around the world.

6 million

A week of business, a week of fun, for some a week of hangovers, it is occasionally dismissed as not being “for Bermudians” – and yet the positive boost it gives cannot be argued with. From rental companies, to food and beverage suppliers, cleaning companies, and even babysitters, here is just some of what the Classic brings to the island:

The dollars the Classic pumps into the Bermuda economy every year

15,000

People who pass through the gates during the week. That means roughly 250,000 have watched games since the Classic began 30 years ago

6,000

People hosted in corporate hospitality

5,000

People served by food trucks and at the public bars

3,000

Meals served in the Members Tent

1,700

200

Hotel nights booked for teams, officials and media during the week. While some players stay with families who have become firm friends over the years, others stay at a variety of hotels and guesthouses including the Fairmont Southampton, Grotto Bay and Elbow Beach

Bikes rented for the week by visiting teams

Industries, from taxis to sound and lighting companies, which benefit from the Classic every year

COMMUNITY+SPORT

POWER OF BY ROBYN BARDGETT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAIRE SIMMONS

One person is all it takes to make a difference! That one person taking up the task is David Bascome with the Power of One, which he is introducing to Bermuda schools this year. Everything he has been through in his life has led to him pulling together what he calls a framework for success. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of what has helped him to endure and to grow.

@BascomeEnterprise

COMMUNITY+SPORT

“The greatest value of my life is my legacy,” Mr Bascome said recently while he was on the island working with teachers at TN Tatem Middle School, which is the global model school for the Power of One. “Power of One started from all of the things I’ve been through in my life that have made me successful. Through 18 years of playing football and ten years of coaching, a lot of those tools I learnt I can now teach others. One person can help others and they can then go on to help others. It’s simple but it works.” Mr Bascome is the assistant coach for the Baltimore Blast, and while he has Power of One implementation teams working in schools in the United States, it was in the Bermuda public school system where it made the most sense to create a model school. Power of One leaders will be able to witness the impact the programme has had on teachers and students, and how its effects can easily be transferred to anywhere in the world. “Bermuda gave me my voice and I wanted the opportunity to give something back that was home-grown. Our young people need to be empowered about their why – what is their purpose.” Students and teachers at TN Tatem and Victor Scott Primary, which is the model primary school, have been part of the implementation and development of Power of One. It has been a journey of three years for the initial programme to come to life.

Preparing Bermuda’s youth for success in the 21st Century athlete, by including a balance soccer camp that will include a concept of Business learning, Activity development, Social skills, Education and Sports. Young people who are

The Power of One is a four-part framework with the school as the “hub” having an impact on many facets, said Mr Bascome. “One starts with self-esteem: first I have to know myself and who I am and how that has an effect on what I do. “Two is empowerment, teaching leadership and how to lead. Three is the tools that I need to use, and four is engagement, using those tools and personality traits to figure out my why.” What this looks like within the schools is a change in language and a change in the way that the students view school. “The power of language is crucial,” said Mr Bascome. “There are power words that are embedded around the school that become part of the everyday language. For instance, instead of saying a student has been rude, we say they are tarnishing their brand; or polish your brand if you do something good. It’s the branding shop instead of school, and the kids have really taken to that: the language you use, the way you care for yourself and the words inspire confidence.” With the school as the hub that has an impact on academics, sport, culture and leadership, Mr Bascome is making sure to reach out and to involve everyone who has a role to play with influencing students, including teachers, parents and the community. It means that his involvement stretches far wider than the school’s gates, whether he’s on the football field coaching the junior players at Hamilton Parish, at his football camps or as a

Bermuda gave me my voice and I wanted the opportunity to give something back that was home-grown. motivational speaker through his organization, Bascome Enterprises. “The Power of One isn’t a replacement for a curriculum but a three-phase process of empowering students, parents and empowering the school. The third phase is building leaders and making them leaders in the community. It’s a cultural shift that has to happen within the school, outside the school and in the community. “My final outcome for this is to see our young people growing and having a positive effect on the community. We need to put young people at the forefront and focus on joyful positivity.”

Sports Leadership

“All the evidence and data finding has come out ofAbout spendingthe time in the schools, in the sports

Power of One camp

clubs on the island and in inner city schools in Baltimore.”

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BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

BY TIA SMITH Dun e’en vurry abou’ it. Is there any more truly

mom having to step in and say mildly with caution,

Bermudian phrase?

“Uh, no, we might need that shirt more than the next

At a bar? It translates to “Oh, no, let me get this

person, Straits.” But you get my point.

round.” At a restaurant? “It’s my treat.” Awkward

We aren’t always so much like that any more. We

situation? “No, of course, it’s no problem.” It is

still love to be known as that, but it doesn’t match up

literally the equivalent of the Scottish “Dinna fash

quite as much as it used to. Bermudians just aren’t

yerself”; the American “I got you, fam” and the

quite the friendliest people in the world any more.

Canadian “Oh, no, please let me” all in one amazing

The world has changed leaving us, much like the rest

Bermudian colloquialism. It is simply the truest

of the world, to become more insular, to become

Bermudian expression of goodwill.

more close-hearted as well as close-minded. It’s by

Bermudians love to be known as the nicest person

no means all of us, but it’s more than it used to be.

in the room. We love to be that benevolent and

However, it is times like now, in the build-up to holiday

gregarious mate who is happy to help anyone out

season that we show more of that truly Bermudian

of and – occasionally, but with much more hilarious

goodwill, our true friendliness. We help each other

results when the situation calls for it – into trouble.

out, we offer hands to hold and we remember to be

We love to be the one to help our fellow man with

friends with more than just our usual tiny circle. We

good-natured aplomb and self-deprecating humour.

smile more, we forgive more and “good mornings”

We strive to be “that guy”, the one everyone cheers

come out of our mouths more on instinct and less as

for to get the party started, while also being known

a way to actually get the lady at the cash register to

as someone who would give you the shirt off their

acknowledge you standing there.

backs.

Perhaps it’s the socialising more during the season.

That’s the world I grew up in. That’s “Straits” right

That basic human contact reminds us all of days

there (otherwise known as my dad) in those words

gone by in Bermuda when we were collectively

above. I grew up in a Bermuda where your neighbour

family by sheer virtue of being friendly, by being

was your friend and your friends were pretty

friends. And we say to each other, “It’s been too long,

much anyone you met. I have so many “aunts” and

we should do this more often.” (Which we totally

“uncles”, I actually couldn’t tell you all their names

mean… well, sometimes. We all know that person

(if I ever really knew them) to save my life. And not

we are DEFINITELY just being polite to…)

just Bermudians. Due to my dad’s ability to chat up anyone, I have aunts and uncles all across the States and Canada. They became friends and often family in the space of hours over a couple of drinks at the local. And once family, you had only to ask and my dad would tie himself into knots to help you in any way he could. Which sometimes necessitates my

So, the next time someone says “dun e’en vurry abou’ it” to you, just take a moment and truly appreciate just how much that small phrase represents the best of what Bermuda was, is and still has a chance to be in the future. Oh, and just a tip, it’s probably your round next…