01202017 weekend

The Tribune

Friday, January 20, 2017

art books design film fashion music entertainment food puzzles

Weekend

belles of the ball Pages 14&15

Seafood and spice Waterfront dining at The Pier Food, page 8&9

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

life through a lens Photos/Felipé Major

The Bahamian spirit in DC

T

he Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Office in the US capital rolled out the red carpet for the 13th annual Washington DC Travel & Adventure Show.

The show, which was held at the Walter E Convention Centre January 14-15, is one of the biggest travel shows in the US, with destinations from all over the world represented.

Gabrielle Archer, the area manager of the Bahamas Tourism Office, noted that the Bahamas was well represented at the show.

“The Bahamas displayed a vibrant booth with information about the islands of the Bahamas. In addition, the upcoming Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival

festival was promoted as models were present wearing costumes donated by Bahamas Masqueraders,” she said.

“Bahamian songwriter and entertainer Julien Believe was also present to close out the travel show with an energetic performance showcasing Bahamian music at its best.”

Over 13 years and 68 events, the Travel & Adventure Show series has connected more than 1.25 million travel enthusiasts with more than 3,100 unique travel marketers in a professional setting that facilitates face-toface conversations and has impacted over $2.4 billion in travel bookings. Each year, America’s most avid travellers flock to their favourite travel show to find, plan and book their dream vacation.

Have you taken a selection of photographs that might make a Life through a lens feature page? If so please submit it to weekend@ tribunemedia.net for consideration

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Friday, January 20, 2017

Inside Weekend Interview

4-5 Cara Hunt talks to the last president of the IODE, Jane Lloyd, about the charitable group’s historic contributions

Art

7 Jeffrey Meris presents an art asue project

Food

8-9 The Pier Restaurant & Lounge livens up Elizabeth on Bay plaza

Music 10 - 11 Travis Bowe scores spot on awardwinning ‘Moonlight’ soundtrack, plus Dr Sparkman Ferguson hosts annual Epiphany organ concert Entertainment

12 UB students launch poetry reading nights

Books

13 New releases reviewed

Belles of the ball 14 - 15 Bahamas Council of Deliberation’s Testimonial Ball honours Basil Sandsr Podcasts

18 Shows featuring the best and worst of movies

Design your lifestyle

19 Victoria Sarne on life’s small challenges

Film and television 20 - 21 BIFF 2017 calls for submissions, plus new Galleria releases and Lifetime’s ‘Beaches’ remake Literary Lives 22 - 23 The secret and spicy tale of vanilla Forgotten Facts

24 - 25 When oil was stored in big tanks on Hog Island

Animals

27 A review of “It’s a Potcake Life” documentary, plus Pet of the Week

Gardening 28 Jack Hardy talks sweet corn Cover photo | Terrell W Carey

My perfect Bahamian weekend Margaret Isaacs Owner of Dignity Memorial Mortuary Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday brunch?

“Saturday breakfast, because Sunday is family time and I don’t do that much on Sunday.”

Q: Beach or sofa?

“I love home, so the sofa.

The crime level is so high it’s frightening, so I prefer the sofa.”

Q: Wine, rum, Kalik or cocktail?

“Wine. I don’t like too much of the heavy stuff.”

Q: What is one thing that you can’t live without?

“My kids. Life would just not be the same without my kids.”

Q: Weekend away; where would you go and why?

“I’d prefer to take my kids to a Family Island so that they could experience another part of Bahamian culture.”

Things 2 Do this weekend Saturday • The Power of Her Time: 9.30am - 3.30pm Venue: British Colonial Hilton Kick it with the Bahamian queens Simmone L Bowe, Duquesa D Dean, Melisa Hall, Raquel Clarke and Sandena Neely as the host a one-day seminar on pursuing your vision, inner-healing, self-care, building wealth and more. Admission is $125.

Contact 424-6012/458-8938 or e-mail info@makestrategictransitions.com.

• Men, Mission & Money Time: 6pm - 10pm Venue: British Colonial Hilton The Good Man Campaign hosts its first ‘#MenSpeak’ empowerment summit called “Men Mission & Money”. The event is open to all men age 18 and up.

SEE PAGE 17 • FEVER – Faddah Yardie Birthday Bash

Time: 7pm Venue: Walker’s Hall, Bethel Avenue Celebrate with Faddah Yardie, with music by DJ Vante, DJ Steel, Starboi TVM and Premiere Boyz, as well as dance competitions and prizes.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Security will be strictly enforced.

• Quartetto Di Cremona in concert Time: 7pm Venue: St Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk The Nassau Music Society presents two concerts featuring internationally acclaimed Italian string quartet Quartetto Di Cremona and chamber violinist Ambra Albek.

Tickets are $10 for members, $35 for non-members and $10 for students. For reservations contact nassaumusicsociety@coralwave.com or call 322-7427.

Sunday • Boas Housewarming Party at

Ardastra Gardens Time: 2pm - 4pm Venue: Ardastra Gardens & Zoo Bring the family to help celebrate the housewarming party for the Bahamian boa constrictors, a native species found on almost all major Bahamian islands. As tree-dwellers, these snakes are non-venomous and enjoy a diet of frogs, birds and rats, and, if allowed to live a full life, will consume thousands of rats and mice in their lifetime.

• Quartetto Di Cremona in concert Time: 5pm Venue: St Paul’s Cathedral Hall, Lyford Cay The Nassau Music Society presents two concerts featuring internationally acclaimed Italian string quartet Quartetto Di Cremona and chamber violinist Ambra Albek.

Tickets are $10 for members, $35 for non-members and $10 for students. For reservations contact nassaumusicsociety@coralwave.com or call 322-7427.

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

interview A surprise discovery of historical documents has helped bring to light the century-long contributions of the Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire to the Bahamas. The organisation’s last president, Jane Lloyd, lets Cara Hunt in on some of the charitable group’s secrets and its tireless efforts to assist Bahamians over the decades.

Jane Lloyd

I

n her new book, “The History of the IODE (Bahamas) 1901 - 2005”, Jane Lloyd provides readers with an insight into a women’s organisation that played a major, and often forgotten, role in Bahamian history for more than a century.

The Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire (IODE) was initially founded in the Bahamas in 1901 as an affiliate of the IODE Canadian chapter.

“It was stuff that had been locked away, in some cases for more than 50 years.

There were newspaper clippings which were so old and weathered that they literally crumbled in my hands. I found the original minute books and records of meetings and many original photographs.”

The mission of the organisation, Mrs Lloyd told Tribune Weekend, was to conduct charitable and educational work throughout the Bahamas and to provide war relief during the First and Second World Wars.

The group continued its work in various capacities until 2005, when it eventually disbanded. Mrs Lloyd, who was born in Rochdale, Lancashire in the UK, served as the organisation’s final president.

Before relocating to the Bahamas

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Friday, January 20, 2017

and joining the IODE, she worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. When she knew she would be living in Nassau permanently, she was given a transfer to the British High Commission where she served as the Commercial Officer and was responsible for promoting trade between the UK and the Bahamas. In her new home country, she married Chris Lloyd, who is the operations manager for the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA).

Mrs Lloyd explained that after more than 100 years in existence, the Bahamas chapter of the IODE simply began to lose relevance.

“The Daughters were getting older and membership started to decline, and the daughters of the Daughters were joining other organisations and doing other things, and so it was decided to eventually close off the accounts and donate what was left to various charities and end the club,” she said.

But this was not to be the end of Mrs Lloyd’s involvement with the IODE. Three years ago, Historical Society member Jim Lawlor showed her a cupboard in the IODE building that housed old memorabilia and asked if she would sort through it.

What she found was a treasure trove of information that she said provides a fascinating look into an era of Bahamian history that is gone forever.

“It was stuff that had been locked away, in some cases for more than 50 years. There were newspaper clippings which were so old and weathered that they literally crumbled in my hands. I found the original minute books and records of meetings and many original photographs,” she said.

“There were records of the RAF cemetery, which the IODE had the responsibility to maintain. The secretaries were meticulous in their record keeping, every single document was in place and in pristine condition, and they had the most beautiful penmanship.”

The original intention was to sort through the documents and find a way to display some of the more interesting items, but it soon become clear to her that something more permanent and wider reaching needed to be done.

“It took me three years to sort through the documents and compile the information for the book,” said Mrs Lloyd.

“And it has truly been a labour of love, and has been just fascinating. It really stands as a tribute to what the ladies of the IODE were able to accomplish.”

Photos/Shawn Hanna

“It took me three years to sort through the documents and compile the information for the book. And it has truly been a labour of love, and has been just fascinating. It really stands as a tribute to what the ladies of the IODE were able to accomplish.”

Mrs Lloyd said that the IODE was more than “just ladies sitting around drinking tea.” In fact, some women with the most prominent last names in the country were members.

She noted that the group would often hold “pink teas”. These events, for which pink was décor colour, were a way for the ladies to discuss women’s rights., unbeknownst to their husbands who thought their wives were just attending a social outing.

The very first item of business for the newly formed group was to commission the statue of Queen Victoria that still sits in Rawson Square today.

The ladies collected the funds for the memorial and also paid for a clock at the post office in Nassau and for three large water troughs for horses.

Mrs Lloyd explained that during the First and Second World Wars, the IODE was instrumental in war relief efforts, hand-knitting more than 2,000 mittens, making helmets and other items for the troops.

“And in fact, after World War II, the IODE was instrumental in establishing the Bahamian chapter of the Red Cross,” Mrs Lloyd added.

Another little known fact about the IODE is that they were originally the representatives of the Earl Haig Poppy Fund, a charity set up in 1921 by Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, to assist ex-servicemen. Today, the Haig Fund continues to support veterans from all conflicts and other military actions involving British Armed Forces up to today. Its members sell remembrance poppies in the weeks before Remembrance Day/Armistice Day. Here in the Bahamas, the IODE would arrange the sales of the red poppies to help raise money for veterans through the Royal British Legion.

Mrs Lloyd explained that initially all of the funds raised were sent directly to England. However, the IODE were instrumental in a successful campaign for the poppy funds to remain in the Bahamas to benefit local veterans.

Another major accomplishment was the construction of their headquarters in 1952, a dream that was 15 years in the making. The IODE Hall building sits at the corner of Shirley Street and Elizabeth Avenue.

In 1974, the organisation decided to gift the building to the Historical Society of the Bahamas under the conditions that the building continue to be called the IODE Building, that the stage area be used for displaying items of the IODE and that the members be able to continue to use the space for their meetings.

The IODE Building continues to be used as the headquarters for the Historical Society today, and visitors to the space can enjoy the IODE exhibit and the museum run by the Historical Society.

Mrs Lloyd will host an official book launch at the IODE Building at next Thursday’s meeting of the Historical Society.

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

section

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Friday, January 20, 2017

art

An artful asue Jeffrey Meris hosts unique project at NAGB

A

rtist Jeffrey Meris has taken the popular Bahamian practice known as “asue” and translated the concept into an interac-

tive art show.

This Saturday, from 4pm to 6pm in the National Art Gallery of Bahamas’ Project Space Room, Mr Meris will present his “Asue: 20/20” project and participate in an artist talk.

“Asue: 20/20” is a series of participatory objects, experiences and interventions drawn from the Yorubic tradition.

Mr Meris invited 19 people throughout New Providence to interchange objects in response to a prompt or an object he creates. Much like an economic asue, each week one person receives all 20 objects created/exchanged until the cycle is completed and all 20 participants have received an item.

This cultural practice of communal saving is quickly dissipating from the Caribbean Diaspora. Mr Meris examines the cultural institution, while simultaneously building bridges that technology is dismantling.

The work, according to the artist, is also positioned in relation to blackness, as the practice of asue was a form of cultural resistance formed in response to slavery and the aftermath, which prohibited black people from saving money in banks.

During Saturday’s artist talk, Mr Meris will speak about the genesis of

Objects in the “Asue 20/20” show

y Meris

Artist Jeffre

the work with his collaborators.

Mr Meris is a Nassau based artist born in 1991. He received an Associates of Art in Arts and Crafts from the College of the Bahamas and a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Sculpture from the Tyler School of Art, Temple University in May 2015.

Mr Meris is the recipient of 2010 Popopstudios Junior Residency Award,

2012 Harry C Moore Lyford Cay Foundation Art Scholarship and Temple University 2012 Scholar Award, winner of 2013 Central Bank of the Bahamas Art Competition and Guttenberg Arts Artist in Residence 2016.

He has shown locally and internationally in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Austria and Haiti.

The “Asue: 20/20” show is the first of

three special projects to be hosted as a component of the National Exhibition 8 (NE8) at the NAGB. The National Exhibition stands apart from the gallery in that is serves as a laboratory – a site where artists can question, interrogate and develop ideas about their current concerns while witnessing and paying testament to complex global dynamics.

08 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

food

Step out on ‘The Pier’

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

T

he story of The Pier Restaurant & Lounge began when seven men met by accident during a search for the perfect location to open a new restaurant in Nassau.

As they each checked out the venue in the Elizabeth on Bay plaza, they got to know one another. Finding out they all had the same objective in mind, the group over a short period of time developed a bond, built friendships and became business partners. And now this partnership has borne fruit in the form of The Pier, a restaurant that offers a fusion of Caribbean, Latin, Asian, American and Italian cuisine.

Since opening last June, the owners said business has been booming, with patrons not only enjoying the diverse menu, happy hours and specialty evenings, but also the incredible view of the harbour and Atlantis.

“I am from Toronto, Canada, and I started coming to the Bahamas back in 1998, going to Bimini, and my thought was to always have something here,” said Marvin Kirkpatrick. “I kept on coming back even after going to work in the Middle East for 10 years.

Talking about the business partners’ first encounter, Mr Kirkpatrick said: “I tried to get this location and couldn’t get it because there were some other persons who were interested and looking at it. I left and came back, and when I did the guys who were trying to open it were here, so it was like, ‘Oh my goodness, we all just got connected’. It was crazy.”

He said they all had such similar backgrounds, with some of the Bahamian partners having also resided in the Middle East in their past. As their ideas for the space proved compatible, Marvin said everything turned out perfectly.

“If you look out here, the view is unbelievable. We weren’t really concerned with what occupied the space before The Pier, we just knew what we

The Pier Restaurant located Elizabeth on Bay.

“I think people are surprised when they see the stuff that we do here because we try to be as creative as possible...The kitchen is a very small team of seven persons, all Bahamian, and they all have a passion for it.

Everyone has an opinion, and that is important.”

had it and figured if we could put all of our ideas into this collectively then we could come up with something that is pretty good. When you think of the Bahamas and think of Nassau, you think of water, and this is what sells, so it was perfect,” said Mr Kirkpatrick.

He said the interior as well as the outside deck make up an upscale lounge with a twist.

Upon opening, The Pier offered only a happy hour menu, but later expanded to serve lunch and dinner, even introducing sushi selections.

Chef Antonio Huyler told Tribune Weekend that is has been very satisfy-

ing to work with the team at The Pier.

A cook for 15 years, Chef Huyler said it has always been his goal to prepare food that reflects the islands of the Bahamas, and The Pier does this perfectly.

“We take local products and fuse them with international flavours. We also want to create food that matches this ambiance. I have been here since the opening, and again with the food we are building consistency and helping the team get closer to perfection,” said Chef Huyler.

The menu at The Pier includes choices like the popular vanilla poached

Friday, January 20, 2017

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Photos/Terrell W Carey

lobster tail, the signature Big Mouth burger, coconut curried shrimp, seafood scampi, grilled steak, conch chowder, conch fritters, salads, and more.

“With the lobster tail we make our own butter and vanilla sauce and slowly cook the lobster, so if we do our job right it will literally melt in your mouth,” said Chef Huyler.

“With the sushi, we incorporate a Bahamian style of cooking. For example, we have the cracked conch roll. We have a fried tuna roll and a raw tuna roll; it is all about your taste. Even with the chicken wings we have mango and barbecue... we make the sauces from scratch.”

The most important thing, Chef Huyler said, is that the guests are satisfied.

“For people to appreciate what we do and appreciate the experience, that is more important than anything else. For someone to say ‘wow’, that makes it special, especially here at The Pier. The ambiance, the service, the food – people think it is amazing. I think people are surprised when they see the stuff that we do here because we try to be as creative as possible,” he said.

“The beauty is that the team that we have in place is open to creativity and it is fun. The kitchen is a very small team of seven persons, all Bahamian, and they all have a passion for it. Everyone has an opinion, and that is important.

The Pier has also proven to be a popular venue for party promoters and event organisers. The team also played host to their first wedding party last year.

“You can look at it as a wedding venue as well,” said Mr Kirkpatrick. “We have about three weddings in the bookings for this year, so it is becoming popular. We have people that are actually getting married here on the deck.”

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

music

Master of the pipes Dr Sparkman Ferguson hosts annual organ recital

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

I

T may be one of the world’s most difficult musical instruments to play, but watching Dr Sparkman Ferguson’s fingers running across the keys, coaxing melodious sounds from it, almost makes it look easy. But that is because the learned dentist has being playing the organ for decades.

Dr Ferguson’s profound love of the instrument has led him to host a special recital once a year. Currently, he is preparing for his 18th annual solo concert on January 26.

The event takes place at Christ Church Cathedral where is the lead organist. It begins 7.30pm.

Dr Ferguson is the sole musician at the recital and will perform the entire 70-minute programme, something he is excited about and looking forward to.

“People should come to the event because it is a rare type of performance in the Bahamas. In 2016 there were only two solo organ recitals in the Bahamas,” he told Tribune Weekend.

The most recent was given last November by Diane Bish at St Agnes Anglican Church.

“People can expect to see and hear the brilliance of Christ Church’s magnificent 64-rank pipe organ, which is known to be one of the best instruments in this region of the world,” he said.

According to Dr. Harold A Munnings, Christ Church Cathedral has a history of fine pipe organs that date back to 1864, when an organ made by Lewis and Sons was installed. The air supply was by manual labor until 1920 when an electric pump was installed.

Today, the church boasts two organs,

“I do recommend that young people learn to play a musical instrument for a few reasons. It can be a relaxing experience, it helps in maths, it develops discipline in the music, mind and body.” both installed in 1986, made by the Oberlinger Company. The great organ was featured in the American Guild of Organists Journal. It has three manuals, 64 ranks and 3200 pipes.

Dr Ferguson has produced a fresh new recital each year since this first recital back in 2000. This year, he will highlight Widor’s Toccata, Stanley’s Suite for Organ, Bach’s Toccata in F, and Cesar Franck’s Piece Heroique.

Dr Ferguson has been an organist since 1966, playing for his first service at Bethel Baptist Church, Nassau. During that period he was also a college student and played the organ at the Florida Memorial University and also the Memorial Temple Baptist Church in Opa-locka, Florida.

He has also played the organ for Christ Church Cathedral for the last 30 years.

“Prior to 2000, I did not play any recitals. My organist duties were by choice limited to service playing. I introduced my first solo recital in 2000 but had not really intended to make it

a yearly performance. Over the years I have attempted challenging organ literature and in so doing I have become a dual organist – one who plays for church services and one who performs recitals. These two are not the same,” he explained.

While he believes that learning an instrument like the organ can be very beneficial, he does not think that many young Bahamians would be interested in it, given the demand of time, level of commitment and passion that organ playing requires. However, he remains willing to impart his skills to others.

“Young people are generally not

interested in learning to play the organ.

The ones that I have known have trained for a few months and drop out.

I suspect that the demands of learning to play the world’s most difficult instrument, coupled with the fact that playing for a church would probably follow, is not too attractive for most young people. It is my experience that individuals over the age of 40 are more interested,” he said.

“I do recommend that young people learn to play a musical instrument for a few reasons. It can be a relaxing experience, it helps in maths, it develops discipline in the music, mind and body.”

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Friday, January 20, 2017

music

Travis Bowe finds golden success with ‘Moonlight’

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

B

ahamian rapper Travis Bowe is getting is first taste of international success after one of his songs was featured on the soundtrack for this year’s critically acclaimed, multi award-winning film “Moonlight”.

The song is called “Play That Funk” and is the first song Travis recorded with artist Prez-P at Miami’s legendary Circle House Studios.

Learning that “Moonlight” was named the Best Motion Picture Drama at this year’s Golden Globes was an exhilarating feeling for the Bahamian artist, especially since he had no idea how big the movie would become when his song was first selected for the soundtrack.

“I can’t go a day without someone asking me if I’ve ever watched the film.

The movie is about a young man growing up, battling with homosexuality, and reflects on the conflicted and fluid masculinity of young black men. From his childhood to adulthood he struggles to find his place in the world with feelings that it will not allow him to explore,” said Travis.

The song was officially released a few months prior to be chosen for the film and Travis said the whole production process was a very exciting one. Being able to record at the Circle House Studios where artists like Janet Jackson, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne have recorded was an honour, he said.

“Seeing their plaques on the wall just gave me a different feeling that night.

The instrumentation for the song is hip hop at its core, but the vibe of the song sounded very Houston, Texas, to me.

It’s slow and has a bounce, but with a little aggression,” Travis explained.

“We tried to create a hook to match that feeling, and Prez did. Most of the time when I feature on a song I try to write my guest verse in a way that I think the other rapper wouldn’t. So I started the verse off with a melody

Travis Bowe’s “Play That Funk” is featured on the soundtrack for “Moonlight”. and then flipped it into an up-tempo rap flow, which in my mind would not only keep the listener interested but surprised. The song is a feeling, it’s a vibe, it’s that funk.”

Talking about his musical background, Travis said it was his mother and sister who really shaped his taste in music, and ultimately his career, by providing him with recordings of hits from artists that they thought he should listen to.

As a child, his CD player had artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson, the Wu-Tang Clan and Sade on constant rotation.

“I always thank them for introducing me to so many sounds because it gave me a universal ear. Meaning, I don’t put myself in a box with what I listen to, and even with what I create. Sometimes I think about me as a kid, laying down on my bed and writing verses with my headphones on, and I can’t believe some of what I’ve accomplished. But then reality hits me and I’m back in my 20s, still hungrier than ever before to be the greatest,” he said.

Now, after the success of “Moonlight” track, Travis said he is grateful for the opportunity but still not content.

His goal is be on an international stage himself one day, receiving awards just like the producers of “Moonlight”.

“My sister Stacey asked me the other day, ‘Do you realise that your song is in

a Golden Globe-(winning) film?’, and my response was just a simple, ‘Yeah’.

I still do understand that this chance and opportunity is one that I should not take lightly and use this as a moment to propel my name and brand to the same standard as the film,” he said.

“My advice to Bahamians is to never give up on any dream and keep working with the utmost confidence. Most of my accomplishments have come from people seeing my confidence and pas-

sion and wanting to give me a chance.”

Meanwhile, Travis promises that 2017 will be his best year yet, with more music, more videos, more interviews, the release of his “Here We Go” EP and a brand new website. His intent is to also attract an international fanbase by performing more in Toronto, Canada, where he presently resides.

Fans of Travis can keep up with the rapper on all social media platforms via the handle @traviebowe.

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

entertainment

UB Students launch poetry reading nights

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

W

hether you want to read your own poetry, recite another poet’s work, or just simply sit and soak in the talent and imagination on display, the University of the Bahamas’ Tingum Collective student group is inviting all interested persons to attend their new monthly poetry reading night beginning next Friday at 7pm.

The event will take place at the Antonius Roberts Studio and Gallery Hillside House, which will be the home of the poetry sessions and where students will offer members of the community the chance to express themselves through poems or engage with other poets.

“We not only plan to read and listen to original poetry and known works, but also spark conversations about how poetry can be linked to social justice issues,” said Tiffany Austin, Creative Writing and Composition faculty member at UB. A poet herself, who interested in social justice, it was Ms Austin who advised the Tingum Collective to host the monthly poetry evenings. She said the goal is to have audience members go on a journey though conversations and contemplate poetry. Looking forward to a great turnout, not necessarily in terms of numbers, Ms Austin said she is excited to hear poems from audience members.

“It perplexes me that there has been this historical argument about whether poetry should be political or not, when the political alludes to the people. It’s not original for me to say, but we’re always writing politically as people. I truly believe if we use new language, which is proffered through poetry, our perspectives and how we engage with problems will change as well,” said Ms Austin.

While there are other platforms for poets to read their work, Ms Austin

University of the Bahamas students hope for community participation in their new monthly poetry nights

“It perplexes me that there has been this historical argument about whether poetry should be political or not, when the political alludes to the people. It’s not original for me to say, but we’re always writing politically as people. I truly believe if we use new language, which is proffered through poetry, our perspectives and how we engage with problems will change as well.” said the students wanted to do things a little differently, offering this series as an opportunity for community engagement, not solely attended by poets and also not solely featuring performance poetry.

“We desired a place for an eclectic group of people to come together to intimately engage with poetry as an artistic and communal space. I approached Hillside House about their place being the venue for the series and they were excited about the possibility,” said Ms Austin.

“An art space offers the most apt fit for our approach to poetry as an interrelation site. In the future, we hope to hold musical and dance performances that incorporate poetry as well.”

She is hoping monthly poetry readings will continue for years to come.

The students also hope to collaborate with other groups interested in forming a relationship with a view of providing readings and workshops.

“We desire to break the divisions sometimes created between community spaces and artistic spaces. Poet June

Jordan talked about bringing poetry to the people, but we also want the people to bring the poetry to us. We hope that audience members will see language, poetry and social justice with a new lens. We want audience members to assert a type of power in listening to the possibilities for poetry as social action. Our most vulnerable sites in terms of creative expression can become our most powerful means for shifts. That’s the conversation to be had,” said Ms Austin.

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Friday, January 20, 2017

books

sacred city in Honduras known as the White City or the Lost City of the Monkey God. For generations, indigenous people passed along stories of ancestors who fled there to escape Spanish invaders and that anyone who enters would get sick and die.

In 2012, Preston joined a group of scientists, archaeologists, photographers and film producers who traveled to La Mosquitia, an unexplored and dangerous region of Central American jungle. They faced floods, mountains, jaguars, deadly snakes, disease-carrying insects and other inherent challenges.

They brought along a new piece of

NASA-owned laser technology known as LIDAR or Light Detection and Ranging, which confirmed a sprawling metropolis inhabited around the same time as the Mayan civilization in modern-day Mexico. Their intent was to map the city as well as explore and protect its rumored riches.

Preston unspools the history of the White City, the expedition and the journey itself in detail — sometimes in too much detail. The book originated as an article in National Geographic and it may have been a better story if kept restrained to magazine size. Lengthy discussions of scientific equipment, aircraft, landing zones and, later, infectious diseases, while fascinating on their own, feel somewhat superfluous and ill-placed.

The latter especially — an in-depth history of smallpox and other deadly diseases that systematically wiped out indigenous peoples — was a compelling read, but its contribution at the end of this book felt out of place.

It’s possible that part of the dissatisfaction at the conclusion of this tale was rooted in the dissatisfaction in the expedition itself. While a remarkably important scientific discovery, the team’s chief archaeologist decreed nothing could be excavated from the site at the time, which feels anticlimactic to the general public — and readers.

KIM CURTIS Associated Press

Most neighbours in her workingclass area of Queens, New York, shunned Ruth for defying convention by leaving her seemingly hard-working, faithful husband, Frank. The police, especially Sgt. Charlie Devlin, are even more dubious about Ruth when they find her trash overflowing with empty

liquor bottles, a suitcase full of letters from men, many of them married, and provocative clothing strewn around her apartment. That she’s out drinking and dancing days after the deaths of her children further cements their disgust and their belief that she’s guilty.

After Ruth’s conviction, cub reporter Pete Wonicke begins to wonder if she was convicted because of her character, rather than real evidence.

Author Emma Flint captures the loneliness, struggles and ennui of the residents of working-class Queens in the mid-1960s, especially the women who, for the most part, are stay-athome moms.

While Flint bases her novel on the real case of Alice Crimmins and her controversial conviction, she turns “Little Deaths” into a poignant look at a woman fighting for her emotional independence, who keeps her grief, heartbreak and frustrations deep inside her soul.

OLINE H. COGDILL Associated Press

review

‘The Lost City of the Monkey God’

by Douglas Preston

T

o pigeonhole Douglas Preston a true-crime author is a gross understatement of his skills as a writer. Yes, his many best-sellers with Lincoln Child are fun, suspenseful romps chronicling the adventures of an FBI agent. But he’s also an extremely capable investigator who, along with Italian journalist Mario Spezi wrote 2008’s fabulous “The Monster of Florence: A True Story,” a spellbinding work of nonfiction about a series of grisly murders in Tuscany.

This time, the subject matter is equally compelling — an ancient and

review

‘Little Deaths’

by Emma Flint is mesmerising “Little Deaths,” Emma Flint’s mesmerising debut, works well as a look at misogyny, gossip, morals and the rush to judge others when a child goes missing.

The novel opens with Ruth Malone in prison, convicted of killing her two children, Frankie, almost six years old, and Cindy, age four. Ruth was the immediate suspect — single mothers were an anomaly in 1965, especially those who work as a cocktail waitress.

John Lewis books sell out on Amazon day after Trump’s tweets

T

wo of John Lewis’ books have sold out on Amazon after the Democratic congressman claimed the top spots on the retailer’s best-seller list.

Sales of the civil rights leader’s graphic novel “March” and his 2015 memoir “Walking With the Wind” skyrocketed following his feud with President-elect Donald Trump over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. After Lewis questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s victory, Trump tweeted that the 16-term Georgia representative “should spend more time on fixing and helping his district.”

Support for Lewis among Democrats sent sales of his most popular books soaring late Saturday and early Sunday. A collection of his “March” trilogy” ranked no. 1 on Amazon, and its individual volumes also charted high. “Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement” ranked number two.

NEW YORK The Associated Press

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

fashion With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt

HIT

SPLIT

HIT

FAIL

SPLIT

Emma Stone “La La Land”

Naomie Harris “Moonlight”

Maisie Williams “Game of Thrones”

Niecy Nash “Scream Queens”

Karin says: “It’s very oldfashioned, but in a fabulous way. And very appropriate for her ‘La La Land’ awards campaign. The rust colour shouldn’t work on her, but it does. The harsh black shoes are a bit jarring though, but everything else about this polka dot ensemble is charming.”

Cara says: “This is such a fun dress. It immediately reminded me of the dress Julia Roberts wore in the polo match scene in ‘Pretty Woman’. Very cute and fun.

My only complaint is that the matchy-matchy part of me is upset about the black shoe choice.”

Karin says: “It’s a bit like a patchwork quilt and THIS close to being a mishmash mess. But somehow this bedspread looking dress works for me. The pastel blue, pink and yellow work really well together, and she’s got matching pumps to boot!

However, I am not a fan of the somewhat lank hair.”

Cara says: “I am here for the level of ‘matchyness’ she has achieved with the dress and the shoes. That takes some serious skill. However, I just don’t like the dress. It’s got way too much going on. Very confusing.”

Karin says: “It looks like she’s going to Oktoberfest or some sort of country hoedown. But it’s cute and age-appropriate.

Simple, but stylish enough paired with the cool little alternative looking clutch.”

Cara says: “This is adorable.

I love the shoulder detail, which takes a basic gingham dress and makes it something extra cute. I also love that she contrasted the sweetness of this dress with the black handbag, which looks a little gothic to me, and the black shoes.”

Karin says: “No to the totally mismatched fuchsia lipstick, no to the shiny faux leather jacket, and heck no to the bumble bee skirt. She looks like a little girl playing dressup...a little girl with no fashion sense, mind. Also not a fan of the centre part ‘do.”

Cara says: “Niecy looks like the good little bumble bee in the hive who wants to be bad.

Her skirt and top scream good little bee, but then she had to throw on her bad boyfriend biker’s jacket. Also, her toes look like they are screaming for release in those tight shoes.”

Michelle Williams “Manchester by the Sea” Karin says: “Yes, it totally washes her out with her pale complexion and platinum blonde, but it also looks ethereal. Michelle already appears fairy-like with her petite figure, and this very simple peach shift dress just emphasises that delicate and pretty image.”

Cara says: “Just bland and weak. I give her points for the half-hearted attempt at some pop of colour with the shoes, but it doesn’t seem like her heart was in it. She needed to do something – anything – more to make this work.”

Photos/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

The Weekend Fashion Report BAFTA Los Angeles Awards Season

The Tribune | Weekend | 17

Friday, January 20, 2017

motivational

‘MenSpeak’ at this weekend’s empowerment seminar

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

A

n upcoming event for men only promises to provide empowerment and inspiration, while also offering answers to burning questions and issues by audience members.

The Good Man Campaign will be hosting its first ‘#MenSpeak’ empowerment summit called “Men Mission & Money” this Saturday from 6pm-10pm at the British Colonial Hilton. The event is open for men age 18 and up.

According to organiser Simmone Bowe, the aim of the event is to continue the movement of heightening awareness of men’s needs, issues and rights, in addition to supporting positive relationships, families and communities.

She said participants will come away from the event with the tools and information to manage themselves, their money, their careers and their role in their families.

“After hosting five successful conversation events last year, I wanted the events this year to focus on areas that provide practical development and training, support services and motivation for men. These types of events are typically hosted for women and youth. Men are always asking if they could attend them as they are also interested in that information. While we will continue to host joint events for men and women, this is an opportunity for men to gather, connect and discuss issues that relate to them specifically,” she said.

Ms Bowe said events such as this are vital because it gives men who are sometimes left out of the equation to get much needed answers to the questions they may be facing about their life.

“For so many, their relationships are struggling, families are broken, children and spouses are hurting, single people are finding the dating scene difficult. Empowerment events that are

“We must take a more holistic approach to healing the emotional wounds and traumas in each individual, whether male or female, and work together to make our country better. True equity means we all come to the table to sit and speak.”

inclusive of all stakeholders are vital, and not from the other side’s vantage point. In other words, some womencentered events would include men from the perspective of telling men how to treat women without asking men how they really feel, how they want to be treated, or what may be the root cause of certain behaviours,” said Ms Bowe.

She continued: “We must take a more holistic approach to healing the emotional wounds and traumas in each individual, whether male or female, and work together to make our country better. True equity means we all come to the table to sit and speak. This event for men only will offer for the men who attend a forum to share their experiences, get advice, set goals and create a frame-

Adrian “Lovebook” Carter will discuss “Today’s Man: Empowered to Lead”

Co-host and speaker Epic Forealz work to live an empowered life. As a result, men will be equipped to build legacies in our communities. This is where change begins. We want men and young men from all walks of life to be there.”

The event will have feature four speakers, including Lincoln Bain speaking on “The Male Identity”; Simmone L Bowe on the topic of “Uncovering Your Personal Mission”; Adrian “Lovebook” Carter talking on “Today’s Man: Empowered to Lead”, and Herbert Cash discussing “The Man, His Mission and His Money”.

Simmone Bowe, seminar organiser There will also be a panel led by co-host Epic Forealz who will discuss “Men, the Workplace, Professional Development and Self-Management”.

The panel will feature seasoned and emerging professionals including Deno Cartwright, Nathaniel “Nate Da Great” McKinney, Valentino “Scrooge” Brown, Tecoyo Bridgewater, Shannon Bethel, Jason Styles and Rashad Johnson.

The event will also feature a performance by Dyson Knight.

For more information call 458-8938 or info@makestrategictransitions.com.

18 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

podcasts

Talking pictures choices, while being outright mystified by some others.

Choices such as “Drop Dead Fred” and “My Girl” crop up much to the confusion of the film buff hosts, but the debate is lively. It would have been nice if they had gotten into more detail on each movie and why it stands out, though, so the analysis is rather light – and having listened to a few of the shows, it could all do with a bit of editing to keep things a bit tighter. The shows run a bit longer than they probably need to, and ramble a bit in the content.

Keeping tighter to the theme of the show and cropping out the unnecessary bits would do the show a world of good – but it’s still a decent listen.

Website: http://www.thefilmvaultpod. com

By Stephen Hunt shunt@tribunemedia.net

T

here are a host of movie shows on podcast sites, but this week’s selection takes a sideways look at the silver screen.

Video Negative Some shows look at the best that cinema has to offer, but not Video Negative. No, while others surround themselves with the brightest stars in Hollywood’s firmament, Video Negative rolls up its sleeves and delves into the worst that the 90s could serve up.

We’re talking the dregs here – “Street Fighter”, “The Colour of Night”, “Showgirls”, “The Phantom Menace”, “Batman Forever”... and anything starring Hulk Hogan.

You’ve got to feel for these guys – they’ve dared to sit through the likes of Spice World and Super Mario Bros.

It seems to have brought them quite the following, with plenty of tweets for the three hosts to read out on the show before they dive into first listening to and commenting on the trailer, then taking apart the plot – albeit wafer thin in some of these movies.

The show I tried first covered “Home Alone”. No, not the first one. Not even the second. We’re talking “Home Alone 3”, by which time Macauley Culkin was long gone and seemingly any other talent with him. The glee with which the team tears apart the leaden and clumsy script is more fun than watching the movie itself – albeit with a significantly higher age rating for listeners as things get a bit sweary.

It’s fun to listen to and reminds me of all those years hanging out with friends, watching movies that weren’t so great and ripping them apart for a laugh – so dip your toe, search through the shows and find one you hate too. It won’t be hard to find one in this list of dodgy remnants of the 90s.

Website: https://soundcloud.com/ video-negative

The Film Vault Film Vault hosts Anderson and Bryan cover all kinds of topics – but

The Video Negative podcasts review critical and financial flops

The Film Vault features many of the hosts’ personal top fives in various categories the latest show is clearly a very personal one, inviting their wives onto the show to choose their top five movies of all time. Babies come too – so don’t mind an occasional bawl in amidst the film chat if you tune in.

The team seems to do a lot of top five shows – top five boat movies, and top five pool movies feature recently, but handing over to guests Gillian and Christie has the hosts cringing at some of the

“Doug Loves Movies” will offer humourous commentary on “50 Shades of Gray” this weekend.

Doug Loves Movies If the others are a step away from your usual kind of movie show, Doug Loves Movies is all the way across town, hanging out in a favourite bar.

This is a great, great podcast – it’s basically a stand-up comedy show that has been recorded live, with movies at its heart in the quizzes and games that guests play with host Doug Benson, but the format is just the beginning.

Picking guests with good knowledge of cinema or enough to bluff by while making people laugh, this is a real treat.

The latest show – with adult language, be aware - featured guests such as Mark Normand, Mike McRae and John Erler, and a fine impersonation of Mark Wahlberg that still has me doubting it wasn’t really him. There are quizzes about actors’ most famous roles and their other, lesser, roles that perhaps might be best forgotten, and it’s all played out by performers comfortable in keeping the crowd bubbling along.

Benson also does what he calls movie interruptions – where he watches a movie but breaks into it with his own commentary. He’s got one coming up this weekend for “50 Shades of Gray”, recorded live in San Francisco.

The show runs perhaps a little longer than you might expect – so not quite a lunch break listen, but great to crack a smile with at the end of your working day.

Website: http://douglovesmovies.com/

The Tribune | Weekend | 19

Friday, January 20, 2017

design your lifestyle

Brain freeze Victoria Sarne continues her examination of lifechanging moments and daily challenges

Victoria Sarne

I

t never fails to amaze me or, more correctly dismay me, how I can be defeated so easily; my equanimity and patience disturbed, by the challenge of minor incidents or things which are obviously normal for everyone else.

Yet I stay cool, calm and collected over major personal issues and find resolutions without ruffling my hair.

World peace? No problem!

The ‘things’ without fail involve one of the following: a sense of geographic direction and automated machines. I remember on one notorious occasion, driving with my then fiancé through France. Unaware of my impediment, he foolishly designated me navigator. We had a detailed map showing directions to and from our destination.

For a good two hours into the trip I read one page going towards our location, but unfortunately misunderstood how the pages worked and simultaneously read the directions for our return.

After a couple of hours of literally going round in proverbial circles, my partner snatched the map from me with more than a few choice words to

Sometimes even mundane tasks can drive us to distraction say about my navigation skills – clearly non-existent! Happily for me I then became the designated driver and left the navigating to this more competent, albeit annoyed, person. And yes, we did get married.

Today, don’t even mention sat nav or Google maps!

I recently spent an anxiety-riddled solo trip to visit friends in the country north of Toronto. An easy two and a half hour drive although I hadn’t done it in a few years. Five frustrating hours later, having made one wrong turn, I was close but not at my destination, with anxious friends texting me to follow the Google map, which I rather huffily thought I had been doing.

Clearly the voice emanating from the

Google app was a spiteful and maddening woman plotting to keep me in circular mode.

Finally, my friends got on the phone (I didn’t care at that point that it is illegal to talk on a cell in Ontario unless it’s hands free. In fact I hoped for a policeman to come along so that I could coerce him into escorting me to the correct road) and they laughingly guided me in.

I was, in fact, less than three miles away – hardly lost in the wilderness! As we all have a sense of humour we had a good laugh once the coffee was poured, even if mine was slightly hysterical.

Until recently my nemesis has been self-service gas pumps. Why anyone wants to pump their own gas, especially

in winter, is beyond me. In Canada I find myself at a perplexing face-off at the pump as most service stations no longer offer service! I have been known to drive for many tense miles out of my way to find one which might.

The first time I desperately attempted the do-it-yourself option it was winter, so I spent five irritable minutes trying to decipher the instructions on the little screen in my brain frozen state. In my pathetic state I asked a woman at the adjacent pump for help, abjectly using my status as a visitor without revealing I had once lived in this chilly country.

On subsequent visits I tried to cajole my brother into taking the car and filling it up. This only worked once after which I got the benefit of his brotherly, not so polite advice. My sister-in-law was an easier sell. I elicited her help with the promise of a Tim Horton’s coffee and donut. Recently, in avoidance mode, I deferred filling up until the little red light was blinking furiously.

An idiotic move as I was on a long road which I knew had no gas stations.

Arriving at one, hot and very bothered, on the last fumes of gas, out of sheer desperation I managed to successfully decipher the automated directions. A piece of cake. Making me wonder who the demented woman is who occasionally kidnaps my brain! I even ordered a car wash last time, I might add. You should see me now – nonchalant my middle name!

• Victoria Sarne, formerly a wedding and event planner in Nassau, is happy to stay in touch with readers from the Bahamas and welcomes comments and questions. E-mail her at vixanwriter@ mac.com, call 437-992-9093, or visit www.lifelineswritingservice.com.

20 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

film and television

BIFF calls for film and script entries

T

he Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) will be celebrating its 14th anniversary this December and is now looking for script and film entries for this year’s event. The deadline to submit films is June 22.

Organisers this week also announced the return of BIFF’s popular Screenwriters Residency Programme with Aliv, the University of Georgia, the Cocoa Coffee House the Romora Bay Resort and Marina, and Source Management + Production.

BIFF aims to connect auspicious writers with industry professionals in an intimate setting, allowing them to receive first-hand knowledge as well as establish lasting relationships with field experts.

Screenwriters Residency Programme returns Six fortunate applicants will be extended the opportunity of attending a complimentary mentorship in Harbour Island, December 10-13.

The Screenwriters Residency Programme provides screenplay writers from around the world the opportunity to receive invaluable mentoring from industry professionals and compete for a cash prize for the first, second and third place, sponsored

by Source Management + Production.

“The Screenwriters Residency Programme is not only an important component to BIFF, but to the world and its flourishing filmmaking industry,” said Leslie Vanderpool, founder and executive director of BIFF.

Leslie Vanderpool, founder and executive director of BIFF.

“The industry professionals that lend their time and expertise to BIFF on an island for four days, a programme like this could not be replicated anywhere in the world. We are proud to have a forum to nurture the next generation of screenwriters.”

Over the years, the Screenwriters Residency Programme has attracted big names in the

industry such as cult director Roger Corman (“The Fantastic Four”, “Scream 3”), producer Vince Gerardis (“Game of Thrones”), director Malcolm D Lee (“The Best Man”, “Barbershop: The Next Cut”), and producer Tom Heller (“127 Hours”, “Foxcatcher”), to name a few.

BIFF, which will be held December 10-17, is a non-profit festival aimed at providing the local community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world. In addition to offering films that might not otherwise be released theatrically in the Bahamas, BIFF strives to provide a unique cultural experience, educational programmes, and forums for exploring the future of cinema.

Idina Menzel and Nia Long tackle ‘Beaches’ remake Idina Menzel prefers creating roles rather than following in someone else’s footsteps. Yet when it came to a remake of “Beaches,” the Broadway veteran couldn’t turn it down.

Menzel tackles the role played by Bette Midler in the 1988 theatrical film for the Lifetime TV version costarring Nia Long that airs this Saturday night at 8pm.

She also recorded Midler’s No 1 hit from the movie “Wing Beneath My Wings,” a 1990 Grammy Award winner.

“I have been singing this song my whole life, ever since I was a wedding singer and bar mitzvah singer,” she told a television critics gathering last Friday.

“Every single 13-year-old

boy danced with his mother to ‘Wind Beneath My Wings.’

I was trying to find my own spin on it.”

Menzel first gained fame for Tony-nominated roles she originated in “Rent” and “Wicked,” for which she won a best-actress Tony. After leaving those shows, Menzel was replaced by other actresses.

“I have learned that the show goes on without you; that people are very talented, and that if something is written beautifully, you can be great, but there’s always somebody right there that’s just as good,” she said.

“Sometimes that’s hard for me.”

PASADENA, Calif.

Associated Press

Nia Long and Idina Menzel star in the Liftetime TV remake of “Beaches” this Saturday

The Tribune | Weekend | 21

Friday, January 20, 2017

film Vin Diesel returns with “xXx” entertainment XXX running time: 110 mins

A

fter more than a decade, the “xXx” franchise is back and featuring its original star – Vin Diesel.

The third instalment, “xXx: Return of Xander Cage”, hits theatres this weekend, offering up an interesting mix of actors, including Samuel L Jackson, Toni Collette, Rogue One’s Donnie Yen, The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev and Orange is the

Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone in “xXz: Return of Xander Cage.”

New Black’s Ruby Rose.

The high-octane action film focuses on extreme athlete-turned-government operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel), thought to be long dead, as he comes out of self-imposed exile.

He is recruited by the CIA to race villain Xiang (Donnie Yen) to recover

A first look at “Orange is the New Black” star Ruby Rose in “xXx: Return of Xander Cage”. a powerful weapon known as “Pandora’s Box” which can control military satellites that could cause catastrophic damage.

Recruiting a group of thrill-seeking cohorts (a sharpshooter and a hacker), Xander finds himself caught up in a deadly conspiracy of corruption among

review

Fun performances aren’t enough to save ‘Split’ SPLIT running time: 116 mins

“Split “ is a movie in which James McAvoy plays a man with 23 personalities. Some of them are kind. Some are strange. Some are talented. Some are deranged. One is a woman. One is a child. And one of them likes to kidnap teenage girls, lock them in a basement and make them dance naked. As with any thriller, of course, this one from writer-director M Night Shyamalan chooses to focus on the increasingly scantily clad teenage girls in peril.

Forgive me if I’m a little bored already,

James McAvoy plays a man with 23 personalities in M Night Shyamalan’s “Split” but not even McAvoy sporting a tight turtleneck and pleated midi skirt while affecting a posh accent as one of the personalities, Miss Patricia, is enough to really save this film.

To be clear, McAvoy is delightfully

weird playing the various iterations of Kevin, although it might ruin him as a romantic lead for anyone who revisits “Atonement” after seeing this. It’s actually a shame that the story, which keeps reminding us that there are 23

world governments including insiders in his own country’s government.

The team behind the movie promise it will feature the signature deadpan wit and “bad-ass attitude” the series is known for, as well as some of the most “mind-blowing stunts to ever be caught on film”.

personalities, only chooses to show the audience about eight of them for no particular reason.

The story of Kevin and all of his personalities feels like a crazy X-Men spinoff in some ways. He’s being treated by a psychiatrist, Dr Karen Fletcher (a perfectly campy Betty Buckley), who believes to her core that people with dissociative identity disorder are actually super humans.

She’s staked her career on it and Kevin is her model patient. He usually sees her in the form of Barry, a kind fashion designer, but lately she’s starting to suspect the person visiting her is actually the perverted, OCD alter ego Dennis pretending to be Barry. It’s a construct that should increase the tension immediately (especially knowing that there are three girls in his basement and wondering what he’s capable of), but it never really lands despite some menacing ambiguity in McAvoy and subtle terror from Buckley, who gets some terrific close-ups.

“Split” isn’t a disaster; it’s just all over the place and not nearly as effective as it should be for something with such a good premise and performances. For some M. Night Shyamalan devotees, it’ll be enough though — and that’s not even counting the surprise of the final shot.

LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

22 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

literary lives tim ecott

A secret and spicy tale Sir Christopher Ondaatje stumbles across the story of vanilla and how it became one of our favourite flavours

T

im Ecott’s autobiographical memoir ‘Stealing Water’ reveals a personal history of white hardship in colonised South Africa - a reversal of fortune that many colonials had to endure in the dying days of a collapsing British Empire.

However, one of his more unusual stories is told by Ecott in his earlier well-researched history, ‘Vanilla: Travels in Search of the Ice Cream Orchid’, and the secretive trade that has mystified and tantalised man for centuries.

It begins with the story of how a young slave boy from the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean became the first person to hand-fertilise a vanilla flower.

In 1841, a wealthy planter was surprised to find two fruits growing on his solitary vanilla vine, which had been sterile for 20 years. lnspecting the orchid with one of his slaves, the planter was further astonished when the young boy, Edmond Albius, claimed to have fertilised the flower himself.

Albius then ‘proceeded to peel

back the lip of the small orchid with his thumb, and with the aid of a small stick, lift the rostellum out of the way and press the anther and the stigmatic surfaces together’.

A different version of the now famous legend was told to the author by another grower in Réunion: ‘Edmond was in the garden with a Creole girl … Well, to impress this girl, the boy told her he could show her the male and female parts of an orchid. You can imagine - la fécondation - it is a very sensual process. Afterwards, Edmond suggested that he could do to the girl what he had just done to the orchid.’

Whatever the truth about its origins, the young slave’s trick, le geste d’Edmond, changed the commercial future of vanilla forever. Up until 1841, the British in India, the Spanish in the Philippines and the Dutch in Java had come to believe, resignedly, that outside its native Mexico, where bees fertilised flowers naturally, vanilla would only bear fruit by luck.

The vanilla vine can grow to a length of over 100 feet and is one of over

25,000 species of orchid. Strangely, it is the only one that is able to produce an agriculturally valuable crop. The plant itself has only a slight smell. However, when the pale yellow flowers are pollinated the ovaries produce long pods containing thousands of tiny black seeds: ‘The growing process lasts up to nine months, but only when the pods turn brown after being dried and cured do they develop the distinctive aroma we call vanilla’.

The drying and curing are part of a complicated process of conditioning the pods that takes another nine months, making vanilla ‘the most labour-intensive agricultural product in the world’.

Not surprisingly, the vanilla economy goes through periods of ‘boom and bust’. The $500 per kilogram price for high-grade pods in 2004 was the most inflated ever, creating tensions between importers and resulting in incidents where ‘men carrying vanilla beans to market in Madagascar and Mexico have been murdered for a few kilos of their crop’. The fewer than a dozen commercial buyers who control the world

Author and journalist Tim Ecott

“Vanilla and orchid share an irredeemably erotic etymology, given that ‘orchid’ derives from orchis, the Greek word for testicle.”

- Tim Ecott

The Tribune | Weekend | 23

Friday, January 20, 2017

“It is an intriguing tale that revolves around a multimilliondollar industry where murder and corruption are prevalent.”

Vanilla beans are to this day an important export product for many countries.

Following Hernán Cortés’ conquest of Mexico in 1519, the love of vanilla spread to Europe. market are vying to secure reliable supplies of the valuable commodity in the face of a global shortage. The market crashed due to a glut after the price peaked and is now still relatively high at $200 per kilogram.

When Hernan Cortes began the conquest of Mexico in 1519, one of his officers, Bernal Diaz, became interested in the Aztec chocolate beverage xocoatl. It was flavoured with tlilxochitl the ‘black flower’ (vanilla) - and honey.

Vanilla soon became popular in Europe too, and for more than three centuries Mexico was the world’s leading

Drawing of vanilla from the Florentine Codex (circa 1580) and description of its use and properties written in the Nahuatl language

producer, despite efforts to plant vines in other countries. Vanilla planijdia is indigenous to Mexico and other parts of Central America, where it is pollinated by the Euglossine bee. The Spaniards called the orchid’s fruit vainilla (‘little pods’), a diminutive of vaina - a word derived from the Latin vagina, which in turn means ‘sheath’. ‘Vanilla and orchid share an irredeemably erotic etymology,’ writes Ecott, ‘given that “orchid” derives from orchis, the Greek word for testicle.’

Then, after Albius’ discovery of artificial pollination on Réunion, plan-

tations were set up on other islands in the Indian Ocean, and today the main producers of vanilla are Madagascar, the Comoros and Réunion (which together grow nearly 75 per cent of the world’s supply).

By the beginning of the 20th century no plant in the world was as widely used in confectionery and perfume as vanilla. The increased production of food increased the demand for vanilla both in Europe and the United States.

There has also been an ever-increasing global appetite for small luxuries, notably ice cream, and many of the

best-known colas contain real vanilla.

In perfume, vanilla is an extremely important ingredient, providing ‘a warm, sensual base’, and it has a variety of lesser-known uses too. It can be used as an antidote for jelly-fish stings; as a repellent against mosquitoes; to help persistent over-eaters lose weight; as an additive in hospital air-conditioning systems to calm patients; and as an aphrodisiac for men. The word ‘vanilla’ has even been applied by bankers to describe investments that are relatively risk-free.

Tim Ecott, in this absorbing book, traces the story of vanilla from Mexico to Madagascar; from Réunion to Tahiti; and from the botanical collections of Europe to the United States of America, where more than half the world’s supply of vanilla ends up. It is an intriguing tale that revolves around a multimillion-dollar industry where murder and corruption are prevalent.

The drama of the author’s travels does not match the eroticism of his early scientific descriptions of the vanilla plant and its fertilisation, but he has gone to extraordinary ends to investigate an industry which, like the plant it is devoted to, keeps its secrets well hidden.

NEXT WEEK: Bette Davis, the overbearing actress with the huge expressive eyes • Sir Christopher Ondaatje is an adventurer and writer resident in the Bahamas.

A Sri Lankan-born Canadian-Englishman, he is the author of several books, including “Hemingway in Africa: The Last Colonial”

24 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

forgotten facts

When oil was stored in big tanks on Hog Island

By Paul C Aranha

I

n 1954, after five years in an English boarding school, and having already passed the exams for entry into the Royal Air Force, I came back to Nassau thinking that I would prefer to make a career in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Nassau’s relaxed way of life was, however, more than I could resist, so I looked for a job and was offered two.

ZNS was willing to pay me £50 a month and Esso offered £53. The extra $7.40 a month convinced me that I should become an ‘oil baron’ and I started as a clerk in Esso’s Marketing Department, concentrating on serving Out Island customers.

Before I was allowed to sit at my office desk, on East Bay Street, I was given orientation/ training in all the Esso plants and my first day on the job was at the Bulk Storage Plant on Hog Island (now called Paradise Island), where a row of fuel tanks stretched from the harbour to just short of the north side of that island. In those tanks, Esso stored kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel and aviation gasolines (100-octane and 115-octane).

The Hog Island facility included a dock where Leroy Brown sold gasoline and diesel oil - to boats that were not welcomed at Nassau’s fancier marinas. The Inagua Shipper, a ‘large’ ocean-going tanker (but small enough to get into the harbour) docked here, to discharge fuels from a refinery in Aruba.

First thing every morning, we climbed to the top of each tank and, with a tape measure, checked the quantity of fuel, to determine that none was missing. Next, we had to make sure that the pipelines that ran under Nassau Harbour to Esso’s City Plant (behind the office) had not developed any leaks. This was done by leaving the valves at City Plant in the ‘closed’ position, while opening the valves at Hog Island, turning the pumps on and reading the pressure-gauge on each pipeline. If the pressure-reading didn’t hold steady, there had to be an undersea leak.

To find the leak, the Esso barge, under the command of Captain J B Key or Merrill Pinder, would follow the pipeline all the way to New Providence, keeping a lookout for tell-tale signs of oil on the water. When found, a hard-hat diver would be lowered to the seafloor to install

The smaller building on the left was used by Essoin the 1950s.

The building on the right was added after Esso moved to Clifton

The Tribune | Weekend |25

Friday, January 20, 2017

Approximate extent of oil storage on Hog Island a specially-designed clamp around the offending pipe. After that, the pumptest was repeated and, when all was in order, fuel from Hog Island could flow to City Plant.

City Plant was run by Captain Albury and Frank Treco. It was the only bulk fuel supply in the Bahamas. Apart from at the airport, Esso had only two competitors, Texaco and Sinclair. Both of them bought their fuels from Esso.

Esso bought fuels by the ‘barrel’ (meaning 42 US gallons) and sold fuels to the Out Islands in 54-gallon drums.

A drum of either kerosene or diesel oil cost £3-18-9 (three pounds, eighteen shillings and nine pence), while a drum of gasoline was £5-10-3 (five pounds, ten shillings and three pence). Mostly, these drums travelled on mail boats, but many went on sailing sloops and were often thrown overboard at their destinations and floated to shore.

Heavy Steel Drums (HSD) were tougher than Light Steel Drums (LSD) and better able to cope with such handling, but each drum had to be tested for leaks and cleaned, before it could be re-filled, and its life expectancy was

limited.

Supplying New Providence consumers was pretty straightforward but, as the Out Islands developed, and the demand for fuel grew, there were times when Esso did not have enough empty drums to fill large orders.

This was brought home to me when we had an order of several hundred drums, to be delivered to Marion Carstairs’ boat, scheduled to sail at 1pm on a certain day.

At 1.10pm, I received a call from Miss Carstairs, demanding to know what the **** had happened to her ****ing order. The conversation went on for quite a while and all I remember is never having heard a conversation of nothing but four-letter words before or since.

To cap it off, a short while later I was called into the Manager’s office, in response to a call from the Chairman of the Board of Standard Oil of New Jersey, to explain the Carstairs mess. I left his office wondering how somebody in the Berry Islands could get me in trouble at Board level. It was not until many years later, after I married Miss

Carstairs’ niece, that I found out that Marion Carstairs was the granddaughter of Jabez Abel Bostwick, one of the founders, along with Rockefeller and Flagler, of the Standard Oil Company.

The answer to the drum situation was to install bulk-storage tanks on islands where consumption of fuel justified the huge investment, and to lease a purpose-built inter-island tanker to fill those tanks. Staniel Cay, where a lot of fuel was needed, took special planning because there was no electricity to run the pumps. We got around this by placing the tanks on a hill and letting gravity push the fuels through the pipelines and meters into customers’ boats.

West India Shipping (the Erickson family at Inagua) was contracted to build a shallow-draught tanker, with a double keel (for protection from coral reefs) and a capacity of 70,000 gallons, which was given the name ‘Inagua Cay’. Until ‘The Cay’ was ready, Esso delivered fuels with a 10,000-gallon barge, towed by the m/v

Rock Sound, both owned by Arthur Vining Davis’ interests at Eleuthera.

Donald Archer was the chief mechanic, who tested regularly, to make sure that the quantity of gallons a customer received was the same as indicated on the meter.

Kerosene of a not-very-high quality was sold for lighting and cooking, until jet planes started coming to Nassau.

Jet engines needed huge quantities of jet-quality kerosene and, instead of building a separate tank, Esso upgraded to ‘Jet-A’ kerosene, to the benefit of the multitude of petty shops who bought their kerosene from Basil Sweeting, in his Esso truck.

Esso was the first business, of any kind, to move to Clifton, the only deepwater port on New Providence, where modern supertankers can now be seen.

On June 3, 1958, the first delivery into the Clifton Terminal consisted of some 810,000 gallons of kerosene - and Hog Island was soon forgotten.

• islandairman@gmail.com

US

26 | The Tribune | Weekend

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(Company Number 05037031) Registered ofďŹ ce: 24 Conduit Place, London W2 1EP Trading address: 164-168 The Broadway, Cricklewood, London NW2 3ED The Company was placed into members’ voluntary liquidation on 19 October 2016 and on the same date, Ian Franses (IP Number 2294) and Jeremy Karr (IP Number 9540) both of Begbies Traynor (Central) LLP, 24 Conduit Place, London W2 1EP were appointed as Joint Liquidators of the Company.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Creditors of the Company are required on or before 25 November 2016 to send in their names and addresses, particulars of their debts or claims and the names and addresses of their Solicitors (if any) to the undersigned Ian Franses of Begbies Traynor (Central) LLP, 24 Conduit Place, London W2 1EP the Joint Liquidator of the Company and, if so required by notice in writing to prove their debts or claims at such time and place as shall be specified in such notice, or in default thereof shall be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts are proved.

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The Tribune | Weekend | 27

Friday, January 20, 2017

animals

It’s a Potcake Life – the movie

“I

t’s a Potcake Life” is a movie that showed at the first (and I hope to be annual) Island House Film Festival this past

week.

Demand was so great for this movie that they had to move the viewing into the meeting room on the ground floor because the 48 seats in the wonderful little theatre could not accommodate the vast amount people who quite rightly wanted to see this film.

Filmed exclusively in Abaco, “It’s a Potcake Life” centers around the amazing work done by the two potcake rescue groups on that island, the dedication and compassion the passionate rescue workers show, and the resilient potcakes who spring from a life of abuse and neglect.

Uplifting and tender, this film follows the days of rescue by B-Humane Award winner Angie Pattusch and her fellow Abaco Potcake rescuers. We are introduced to many of the dogs they saved and were able to find wonderful homes for all over the world, one dog at a time..

The camera work is professional, as is the editing, and the overall story is encouraging. It warms your heart to see fellow human beings who give so willingly and joyfully of themselves to help creatures who are unable to defend, help or fend for themselves.

Particularly poignant was the story of the potcake who smiles, and had spent her entire life at the end of a relatively short rope/chain tied to a coconut tree.

Whenever the rescuers would come by to visit her or bring her food she would greet them with a potcake smile, and a tail wagging like the wind.

Finally her “owner”, a fisherman, was leaving for a few weeks during hurricane season with the intention of

pet of the week

A dynamic duo

By The Bahamas Humane Society

A

t school, the three Rs may be reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic, but at the BHS the two Rs stand for Rayj and Raven.

Both dogs in this duo are six years old. Raven, the female white one, is blind, and relies on Rayj to help her get around. Rayj, the male grey one, is happy to assist.

The two were surrendered to the Bahamas Humane Society after their owner became ill and was unable to care for them any longer.

BHS staff and former owner alike were in tears when they were dropped off at the shelter. Rayj and Raven are seeking a home that will keep them together as they are very dependent on each other. Do you have the patience and love to give this older duo a chance?

If so, come in to meet

Rayj and Raven them or call 323-5138 for more information.

Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday. Rayj and Raven look forward to meeting you!

• Do you have time in the day to volunteer? Can you make a commitment to an hour or two a week? The

leaving her attached to that tree. The rescuers managed to persuade him to let a family member have the smiling girl, and in turn she was given to the rescue group.

Seeing her step onto the grass of a fenced-in yard where she could move around untethered for the very first time ever was very moving indeed and brought tears to my eyes...and I noticed I was not alone in the audience.

Angie Pattusch was singled out by the Bahamas Humane Society last year as the 2016 Out Island BHumane Award winner for her tenacious and dedicated work with potcakes in

Patricia Vazquez

Animal matters Kim Aranha

dogs and cats at the BHS would love to see you and socialise with you. The dogs always appreciate a good walk and the cats enjoy play time with humans. Socialising with the dogs and cats helps make them more adoptable and helps keep your stress levels down, too.

Come and volunteer with the BHS today.

The locally produced documentary “It’s a Potcake’s Life” was shown at the first Island House Film Festival.

Abaco.

In the film, we follow Angie tirelessly up and down the length of the Abaco mainland, feeding, counselling, advising, and rescuing potcakes in need. She always looks upbeat and confident, though I am certain there are unquestionably days where she must want to tear her hair out by the roots and scream profanities into the wind.

The tragic reality of people discarding small puppies with their eyes barely open at the dump, or the sad tale of the family dog who had an eye infection so she was discarded at the dump with the rest of the trash… these stories cut to the quick if you happen to care and love animals.

They do raise the question of what is lacking in the make-up of persons who does this to defenceless animals, to be capable of such callous and cruel abandonment.

“It’s a Potcake Life” is produced and directed by Evelyn Vaccaro, and the assistant producer is none other than the ever-dedicated Angie Pattusch. You have to ask yourself where does Angie finds the time.

Bravo to all involved on a truly inspirational and professional movie that reaches out and touches you and must even make the coldest of hearts feel some warmth.

I know I came home to my band of lucky, overindulged and round potcakes and gave them all an extra hug It is clear that Abaco is blessed with many dedicated animals lovers, though not nearly enough. They are headed in the right direction. Their spay and neuter initiatives are more than admirable and they are most certainly making a huge difference.

However, when you watch this wonderful film you must realise that the Abaco situation is multiplied by every island that is inhabited in the Bahamas.

All these organisations are funded by donations and volunteer workers, many of who are not Bahamians but make their home in our country.

I honestly feel that this documentary should serve as a wake-up call to our government to recognise the work all the animal organisations do and accord privileges, such as, but not limited to: land grants, VAT exemption (without the paperwork), duty free status, medical assistance, and money grants, etcetera. The work all these groups are doing makes our country a better place to visit and to live in.

28 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 20, 2017

gardening

Sweet corn The corn grown in the Bahamas today is much sweeter than that of decades past, but it still poses several challenges.

Jack Hardy explains how to grow this sugary vegetable (which can also be classified as a grain and a fruit) even during the hot summer months.

C

orn (maize) is a very adaptable cereal. In the average household pantry you may find corn oil, corn syrup, cornstarch, corn flour, corn flakes, popcorn, hominy, grits, and canned kernels.

About 40 per cent of all corn grown is used to produce ethanol that is added to gasoline. Corn feeds cattle and poultry. In the world of agriculture corn is big business.

In the Bahamian home garden corn is the promise of golden sweet ears plucked ripe and boiled or roasted on the barbecue grill. Fortunately, corn can be grown at any time of the year in our climate and now is a good time to start planting.

Corn originated in Mexico and provided sustenance to the Mayans, Aztecs and native Americans in the southwestern States. The early form of corn had ears that were only one inch long and there was only one ear to a plant. Corn has been developed enormously and there are varieties for different usages: dent, flint, pod, pop, flour, waxy and sweet. The one we are interested in is sweet.

Sweet corn has a distinct vocabulary that we are all familiar with: ear, husk, silk, cob, kernel and, for gardeners, tassel. The removal of the husk and silk is called shucking. Sweet corn for the fresh market comes as su (normal sugary), se (sugary enhanced), and sh2 (shrunken). The sweet corn we raise is far sweeter than our grandparents ever tasted but, that said, there is still a love for the less sweet mealy toothsome kernels of old.

Although corn can be grown year round in the Bahamas it is more difficult to grow in the hot summer months because of insect predation. Even with winter-raised corn we will have to take

precautions against a variety of insects that love corn just as much as we do. A treatment such as Sevin can be used as a liquid spray in the early and middle stages of development and as a dust on the ripening ears.

Corn is pollinated by wind – or at least is airborne – and the pollen is produced by the male flowers – the tassels – that grow at the very top of the plant. The silk is really a collection of stigmas that fountain out from the top of the ear and are receptive to the pollen. Each strand of silk is attached to the cob and develops a kernel once pollinated. This sounds very hit or miss but as long as corn is grown in blocks the process is very efficient. If you take a productive tassel and shake it gently you can see the pollen rise from it like smoke. You may find one or two patches in the rows of kernels when you shuck an ear but often enough pollination is one hundred percent and the rows of kernels are complete.

Corn is a heavy feeder and the ground your crop grows in should be worked over and well fertilized a week or two before planting seeds. For the home garden the seeds should be sown 10 inches to one foot apart, planted an inch deep in clay soil and two inches deep in loamy soil. Seedlings appear after 10 days or so.

Plenty of water is needed for opti-

mum growth but the watering should stop once flowering occurs and the ears are plumping. It is at this stage that insecticidal dust should be applied to the tops of the ears. Open the top of the ears and apply a shake or two of insecticidal dust. It is here that grubs are laid as eggs and do their damage. The pollination period lasts from 10 days to three weeks.

To test for readiness you must open the top of the ear and press your thumb nail against one of the kernels.

If it spurts juice your ears are ready to pick and enjoy.

The kernels of your corn will be yellow or white or, as in the case of one of my favourite varieties -Peaches and Cream - both yellow and white.

Some types of corn have red or blue kernels and there are ornamentals that produce every colour on one cob.

Back in your grandparents’ days any corn you picked would be rushed to an already boiling pot of water and shucked and immersed as quickly as possible in order to preserve a fastfading sweetness. That is no longer necessary but it still makes sense not to pick your ears of corn until you are ready to prepare and eat them.

It is usual to boil corn on the cob in salted water and then slaver it with butter. Every season of the year in The Bahamas is barbecue season so we can open the ears, remove the silk, and rewrap the husks around the kernels and roast them on the grill.

The quickest way to cook and shuck corn is to place it in a microwave oven on high and zap for four minutes. Put the hot ear on a cutting board and slice off the stalk end where it thickens out.

You may cut through the last ring of kernels but this is of no concern. Hold the ear by its pointed end and shake.

The ready to eat corn will slide out free of silk.

If you need freshly cut kernels for a recipe use a special piece of equipment that holds the ear firmly in place while you cut vertically and also collects all the kernels tidily. You do not have one of these? It is called a bundt cake pan.

Stick the shucked corn stalk into the hole on top of the central ‘volcano’ and get cutting. No mess and no chasing kernels all over the kitchen work space.

Do not throw the residual cobs away.

Cover them with water and boil them for a few minutes. You will be surprised how much flavour goes into the water to give you the basis of a soup.

• For questions and comments e-mail j.hardy@coralwave.com