NATIONAL WEEKLY | THURSDAY, MAY 11 – MAY 17, 2017 | VOL. 14 NO. 19
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by Karyl Walker
Wind of change sweeps Bahamas
Eulalee Bax has lived a storied life. One that saw her rise from poverty in Jamaica to become the mother of one of South Florida's most accomplished politicians. But her life has not been easy. Bax, 86, migrated to New York from Jamaica in racially-charged 1967. She overcame several challenges to nurture a daughter who became Mayor of Lauderhill Lakes --- Hazelle Rogers.
At the age of ten, tragedy struck when Bax' mother died. Five years later, she moved from Alexandria in St. Ann to Kingston in search of a better life. This was the era of colonial rule and life for a rural, black Jamaican female was hard. But, driven by a fierce ambition to succeed, Bax was undaunted. Several years later, she opened a supper shop in the Central Kingston community of Allman Town. Soon after, she became a mother and increased responsibilities influenced her to go to England in 1961 but the damp, cold climes were not to her liking and she returned home. “England was not for me,” she said. In 1967, Bax jumped at another opportunity to migrate, this time to Brooklyn, New York. There, she also fell on hard times. “In those times I could hardly get work. It was only housework. I was not a citizen,” she said. As fate would have it, Bax found work in hospitals and factories, all the time the single parent thought about sending for her three children in Jamaica. “I could not take them all at once so I sent for them one by one,” she recalled. Rogers, her oldest child, was the first to join her in 1969. After a number of years in New York, Bax again fled the cold and relocated to Florida with her children --- another daughter and a son. The year was 1982. Fourteen years later, Hazelle Rogers became the first CaribbeanAmerican elected to political office in the Southeastern USA. She became City Commissioner of Lauderdale Lakes, serving for 12 years before being elected to the Florida House of
by Kathy Barrett
Another wind of change swept across the Caribbean on Wednesday when the 180,000 registered voters in The Bahamas booted the Perry Christie-led Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) out of office. It was a keenly contested election that was marred by a technical glitches, but when the polls closed and as the ballots were counted, it became clear that the PLP was on its way out. Shortly before 10:00pm (local time), although the ballots were still being counted, Christie - the veteran politician conceded defeat to the Free National Movement led by Dr Hubert Minnis. "I called Dr. Minnis earlier this evening to congratulate him on his party’s victory. I understand as perhaps few others the challenges that await Dr. Minnis, and I wish him only success on behalf of our nation. He has my full support for a smooth transition," said Christie. He continued: "It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the Prime Minister of this great nation. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Bahamian people for that opportunity. To those who served alongside me, I thank them for their
Mrs. Eulalee Bax and Jamaica Consul General, Mrs. Sandra Grant Griffiths Daughter Paulette, Daughter Marlene, Ms. Eulalee, Daughter, Hazelle and Son, Herbert, Sr.
A6 – Bahamas elections
BOB MARLEY
Remembering
The Buffalo Soldier
A6 – Mama mentor
Yesterday marked 36 years since the death of Bob Marley. The reggae superstar died at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami (now University of Miami Hospital) at age 36. A6 – Marley
WHAT’S INSIDE NEWSMAKER
MOTHER’S DAY
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
FOR THE LOVE OF CRICKET A3
10 TIMELESS SONGS FOR MOTHERS DAY B1
TWENTY-TWO YEARS OF UNIFEST B2
HOWZAT! CPL LAYS WICKET FOR LONG SOUTH FLORIDA RUN C1