02022018 weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

art books film fashion music travel culture gardening puzzles

Weekend

BELLES OF THE BALL Page 14 & 15

An unusual perspective Artist captures unique lives on camera page 21

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

community

I

t was a day of fun and excitement, as Special Olympics Bahamas recently held its annual holiday party at the Ardastra Gardens Zoo and Conservation Centre.

Athletes, coaches and other volunteers all thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the event sponsored by Scotiabank Bahamas, whose team was on hand to ensure that everything went according to plan.

Scotiabank has supported Special Olympics Bahamas for many years now and the staff and volunteers always have just as much fun as the athletes, said Maxine Seymour, Scotiabank’s manager of public and corporate affairs, sponsorships and philanthropy.

Special Olympics Bahamas provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

The programme is headed by its current national director, Gilbert Williams, with general oversight provided by a board of directors under the chairmanship of Amanda Moncur.

The programme has approximately 400 registered athletes, with active and ongoing training taking place through its various sub-programmes in New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera and Grand Bahama.

Sports training and competition is currently provided in aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling (New Providence), open water swimming (Grand Bahama), soccer and tennis.

PHOTOS/DAIJAH70 PHOTOGRAPHY

A special day at the zoo

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Friday, February 2, 2018

Inside Weekend

My perfect Bahamian weekend Keesha Bethell Communications specialist Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday lunch?

Interview 4 - 5 Cara Hunt talks to college student Laurent Rolle about his years-long addition to alcohol, how he battled it, and how he wants to inspire others with his new book.

Culture 6 - 7 The fate of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, plus Euphoria Madness unveils ‘Exotic Birds’ costumes

Music 8 Jamaican artist Di Ruption wants to conquer the Bahamas and the world

Entertainment 9 Celebrity line-up for “Live with Kelly and Ryan” at Atlantis revealed, plus ‘Melanin’ event kicks of new party series tonight

Film 10 - 11 Bahamian movie ‘Ungrateful’ set for red carpet premiere, plus ‘Black Panther’ gets rave first reactions

Belles of the Ball 11 - 12 The 46th Annual Red Cross Ball orders a “Code Red”

Books 17 The newest releases reviewed

Travel 18 The latest trends in cruising, from Alaska to the Caribbean

Gardening 19 Jack Hardy lays out a planting schedule

Art 20 - 21 A local photographer explores the journey of light, plus a mother-of-two finds fulfilment with handmade jewellery

Literary Lives 22 - 24 Joan Crawford – from Oscar winner to “Mommie Dearest”

Forgotten Facts 25 Britain’ first steam-powered warship runs aground in the Bahamas

Puzzles 26

Animals 27 A solution to overpopulation, plus Pet of the Week

Cover | Nowe Harris-Smith

“Saturday lunch! It’s a fabulous way to ring in the relaxation of the weekend, especially at the Cricket Club.

I breathe in the freedom of the weekend and exhale the stresses of the work week.”

Q: Wine, rum, cocktail or Kalik?

“I know you may not believe me, but unless you count Holy Communion wine, I don’t drink. Yeah, it sounds like a lie, but I promise you that it’s the truth.”

Q: Beach or sofa?

“Sitting on a deserted beach... there is nothing like listening to the sound of nature. For me it’s very therapeutic; a

good way for me to unwind.”

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

“I need a pen and paper at all times because I am writer at heart, and when the juices start flowing I need my tools close by. The second thing is my teddy bear Melvin. He has been my ride or die from I was three years old. He and I are inseparable and I have no shame admitting that.”

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

“I would run away to Eleuthera every time. I don’t like the hustle bustle of city life.

But Eleuthera lives up to its name. When I go there, I feel free and at peace and my gut is always satisfied.”

Things 2 Do this weekend Friday

• Stepping Stone Quilters Annual Show 2018

Time: 10am - 4pm (continues until February 3) Venue: Trinity Methodist Church Visitors can cast their votes for the various challenges, their favourite quilts, and as usual there are be various handmade items for sale, including full-sized quilts. For more information, call Irene Knowles at 466 - 2277.

• ‘Jesus Remains’ CD Release Celebration

Time: 7pm Venue: Gateway Outreach Ministry, Carmichael Road and Antigua Way Minister Oslien Jadorte and GOM Worship celebrate the debut of the ‘Jesus Remains’ album; featuring various artists and guests.

• One Blood XVII Old Skool Reggae Party

Time: 9pm - 3am Venue: Halcyon Restaurant Bar and Lounge Experience your favourite old skool reggae legends. Music will be provided by Selector Ty and Selector 3D.

Saturday

• 14th Annual Stride For Life Fun Run/Walk

Time: 6am Start: Cancer Society of the Bahamas, East Street Participation is $20 for adults and $15 for those 17 and under; a T-shirt and gift bag is included.

• Art Walk@Marina Village

Time: 2pm Venue: Marina Village, Paradise Island

Enjoy art, crafts and music by Bahamian artisans. Sample locally grown and made products.

• Roots and Routes: Guided Tour of “Medium” and visit to Nettie’s Tree

Time: 10am to 1pm Venue: The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas

The NAGB offers an exclusive guided tour of the exhibition “Medium: Practices and Routes of Spirituality and Mysticism” by the Chief Curator Holly Bynoe and Education Officer Katrina Cartwright. The exhibition tour will be followed by a saunter through the NAGB’s expanding Sculpture Garden to see Nettie’s tree. Then, participants will be shuttled to

Nettie’s “Cultural Centre” on Cable Beach. An assortment of bush teas and banana bread will complete this memorable experience. E-mail Katrina Cartwright at kcartwright@ nagb.org.bs by today to secure a spot.

• Annual Tru Tru Bahamian Festival

Time: 10 am - 8 pm (continues on Sunday) Venue: John Watling’s Distillery The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association and its partners host the third annual festival. The event will showcase Bahamian culture, history, art, cuisine, heritage sites, national parks, indigenous flora and fauna. It also features performers, fire and limbo dancers, culinary artists, straw weavers, and craftsmen from all over the islands. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids.

Sunday

• Superbowl Sunday Head over to your favourite sports bar, or gather with a few friends to watch the New England Patriots take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl L11

Time: 6.30pm

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

interview A seemingly harmless drink of wine when he was only eight years hold set him on a path to alcoholism. Now, the college student tells Cara Hunt about his battle with addiction, and how with his new book he wants to question the culture of normalcy surrounding drinking.

Laurent Rolle

L

aurent Rolle had his first alcoholic beverage at his uncle’s wedding when he was eight years. Egged on by his older cousins, it was only supposed to be a bit of fun. What Laurent did not know back then was that it was the first step which led to a years-long cycle of addiction from which he is still recovering today.

“That was the first time that I got drunk,” Laurent told Tribune Weekend. “My older cousins – eight to 10 years my senior – gave me one of those huge plastic Wendy’s cups filled with Trivento white wine.

I drank the entire thing and blacked out. That started everything off,” he said.

“I would hang with them during weekends and they allowed me a few beers here and there when we went out.

It wasn’t so obvious to me that this was to be the start of an addiction, but I really liked drinking. It wasn’t until around 10th grade I noticed that I had a drinking problem. I couldn’t stop. That eventually led me to being kicked out of my mother’s house.”

Even though he was able to focus enough to graduate from Queen’s College in 2014 and get accepted into a college in the US, many of his troubles followed him overseas.

“I eventually went off to college and got myself wrapped up in a lot of things that

“I understand how it feels to be worthless, even to yourself. I hope that I can use my voice to speak the truth and show the youth the way...” weren’t for me. I lost a lot of good friends and relationships along the way too. And I can’t attribute those things solely to drinking. But the more alcohol became a social crutch, the less I was able to understand about myself. So I found myself constantly trying to be someone that I wasn’t, and when that went south it lead to more drinking. It became a cycle,” he said.

Fortunately, Laurent managed to stop the vicious cycle

Friday, February 2, 2018

when he realised just how detrimental his behaviour had become.

“What changed for me or made me want to change was that I became tired of dealing with myself. Have you ever been around a person that you couldn’t stand? You can’t say exactly what it is about the person, but they just bring out the worst in you? That’s how I felt about myself. I went looking for answers and found them in a three-letter word: ego.

“Once I discovered the role the ego plays on us, I was dumbfounded.

I had previously associated the word to a person that was full of themselves. But my understanding of the word was laughably shallow. The ego is a deep thing. It controls us on such a deep level that I think we should be taught about it in school,” he said.

Now that his life is back on track, Laurent said he wants to share his journey with others. The result is his new book “Hello”, written to help inspire others, most importantly his younger brother.

“He’s 10 now and I doubt he’ll go through anything that I went through, but he was a witness to a lot of my shortcomings. I wanted him to read it one day and understand that no matter where you are at any point in time, no matter how low things look in the moment, there’s always hope for change.”

Laurent said he was inspired to write a book when he realised how important the feeling of self-worth is, and how many people go through life without it.

“There was a video I watched where Oprah spoke about self-belief and it made me burst into tears. It was a combination of gratitude and empathy at the same time. I felt grateful to have been able to build myself up and overcome my personal obstacles, and have empathy for the youth of my country, some of whom will grow up without self-belief, without knowledge of self, or even understanding of self, to even want to seek a deeper understanding.

That was the moment I decided that I was going to share my story with others,” he said.

It took Laurent about eight months to write the book.

“It was an emotional journey, but it was just about keeping my balance between school and finding time every single day to write and edit, even when I didn’t particularly feel like it.

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“It wasn’t until around 10th grade I noticed that I had a drinking problem…That eventually led me to being kicked out of my mother’s house.”

Laurent Rolle’s book “Hello” will be available from February 9.

“Also, I’m usually an actively positive participant in social media, but around the last four months of writing I completely isolated myself. I didn’t go anywhere besides classes and I didn’t post anything. Just tunnel vision,” he said.

Publishing the book was another challenge. While he made contact with a local publishing house, Laurent ultimately made the decision to self-publish.

“The reason being was that I had formulated a bigger plan than just a book launch. I decided that I wanted to make a real impact on the youth, in a deeper way than just peddling a product. I know that the book would have been more widely marketed had I chosen to work with a traditional publisher, but I wanted to connect with people personally. I wanted to be real and show that

there’s a real person behind the words. A real person with flaws and character and a voice that speaks the truth. So not only am I launching this book, but this will mark the launch of my platform: ‘Love on a Journey’,” he said.

“I plan on using this platform to deliver a message that I feel would have been valuable to me at certain point in time; a message to inspire the youth to want to figure themselves out.

A message that doesn’t just push them towards materialistic goals, but real tools to cope with real life. I know that what I have to say and the way I will say it will resonate on a deeper level.”

Laurent also hopes that the book will help address what he calls the culture of normalcy surrounding drinking alcohol, often at young ages.

“When I speak about cultural normalcy, I’m referring to alcohol being both the poison and the prescription in our society. Although most children weren’t getting drunk as early as I was, most are allowed to drink here and there at an early age. I think we underestimate the impressionability of children, not only on a psychological level, but on a chemical level as well.

It doesn’t present itself as a problem until it becomes a problem. Also, I’ve observed, not only in my case, but from peers as well, how family members encourage the behaviour. But when they notice that you may have a problem they are more likely to ridicule

rather than offer genuine assistance,” he said.

Additionally, Laurent hopes to inspire young people to read.

“I want young Bahamians to read the book and realise that all books aren’t bad. In the sense that not all books weren’t meant to bore the reader to death with all the extras....or ‘fluff’. I like that word.

“Also, I want to pose a question in the reader’s mind. Multiple questions. Some personal, some on a more microcosmic scale of society. But above all, get them to look at themselves, to search for their meaning in life, to look and see the conditioning of the human ego. I think that is extremely important.”

Laurent currently attends the Savannah College of Art and Design and is looking forward to his future.

“In a little less than a year I will be graduating with a BFA degree in Sound Design. As far as plans go, I borrow a quote from Woody Allen, ‘If you want to hear God laugh, talk about your plans.’ With that being said, I do have hopes of returning home and finding a fulfilling way to utilise my degree,” he said.

“Along with that, I want to continue to inspire everyone that I can, in any way that I can. I understand how it feels to be worthless, even to yourself.

I hope that I can use my voice to speak the truth and show the youth the way, so that they may do great things.”

His book, “Hello” will be available from February 9 on his website, www.loveonajourney.com, which also launches on that date as well.

He is also working on the first draft of his second book.

“It doesn’t have a title yet, but it will be somewhere along the lines of cultivating self-love. I believe that is the seed from which unconditional love rises,” he said.

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

culture

Junkanoo Carnival 2018 to be ‘on same scale’ as past festivals

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

T

HOUGH there has been no official word as yet from the festival commission following last month’s announcement of the privatisation of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, insiders say the event is still going ahead and in a “major way”.

Dario Tirelli, president of the Bahamas Carnival Band Owners Association’s (BCBOA), said the Junkanoo Carnival community actually welcomes the festival’s privatisation, as it allows band owners to have as much control as they want over the event; something they have always desired.

“We love that Carnival has been privatised because it gives us the ability to own the event and have much more control over it. That is a big plus for us,” he told Tribune Weekend.

Several Carnival bands came together last weekend for a motorcade to kick-off the festival season and build excitement among revellers for what is in store this year.

The motorcade featured several Carnival bands who wanted to give people a taste of what they can expect when they hit ‘di road’ in May. Mr Tirelli introduced the Island Rhythm Band during the motorcade and at a special launch party last Friday.

He said this band, like others, is very enthusiastic about how this year’s Junkanoo Carnival is shaping up.

Earlier this month, Minister of Culture Michael Pintard announced that the Minnis administration wants to completely privatise Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival ahead of its 2018 festival.

He stressed that no government should be in the business of funding a foreign culture.

Mr Pintard, who has been adamant about reforming both Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival and the Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC), told The Tribune that if the private sector and entrepreneurs deemed the various components of the Carnival

Carnival insiders promise this year’s festival will be just as big and colourful as the previous instalments.

Sugar performing during the Music Masters contest.

The Baha Men performing at Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.

PHOTO: SHAWN HANNA/TRIBUNE STAFF

PHOTO: SHAWN HANNA/TRIBUNE STAFF

viable, now would be the time for them to “take the lead”.

He added while government remains opposed to providing any major funding for Junkanoo Carnival moving forward, options for subvention would be made available to any group or company that could present a quality plan to host and produce one of the events.

Although the government has yet to announce what role the festival commission will play this year, Mr Tirelli said that BCBOA is working closely

with promoters and the festival commission to ensure Junkanoo Carnival is produced on the same scale it has been over the last two years.

“We are working closely them and private promoters to ensure this event is just as great. We are already planning various entertainment acts and looking at performers in the region to invite to perform at this year’s event. People just have to stay tuned,” he said.

Mr Tirelli confirmed that the Road March and the concerts will be the

“We love that Carnival has been privatised because it gives us the ability to own the event and have much more control over it. That is a big plus for us.” central focus this time around. Whether other events like the Music Masters Competition will still be included is as yet unknown.

“The Music Masters Competition was one of the great things that came out of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival because it gave Bahamian musicians a platform, but also gave them an opportunity to share the stage with major musical acts, which is always a good thing,” said Mr Tirelli.

Friday, February 2, 2018

culture

Birds of a feather Carnival lovers support Euphoria costume launch

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

S

ome aspects of this year’s Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival may still be up in the air, but that did not stop members of the Euphoria Madness group from officially launching their 2018 costumes.

The theme for the costumes, which were introduced during a fete at Margaritaville, is “Exotic Birds of the World”.

A whirlwind of bright pinks, blues, greens and oranges took over the Paradise Island restaurant as both women and men showed off the new designs.

The Exotic Birds line features five different bird ensembles presenting five countries: Flamingo for the Bahamas, Peacock for India, Hummingbird for North America, Crown Pigeon for Samoa, and Cockatoo for Australia.

Speaking with Tribune Weekend, Euphoria Madness co-founder Roby Robinson said since last year’s festival their group has been focused on trying to increase its presence beyond the Bahamas, as it is their goal to attract as many international revellers to Junkanoo Carnival as possible.

“We feel our geographic location lends itself perfectly to those in North America to experience Carnival much closer to home. This will be Euphoria Madness’ fourth year participating in Bahamas Carnival, and while I’m one of the co-founders, my role has changed slightly this year. In recent years I’ve been primarily dealing with production.

This year I’ve designed on of our sections as well,” said Roby.

He said the recent costume launch served to whet the public’s appetite and also to allow the group to showcase the new collection to visitors and possible new members.

“Coming into our fourth year we feel that this is set up to be a turning point

not only for Euphoria Madness, but also for this tourism product, Bahamas Carnival. The past three years have certainly been filled with obstacles, but through perseverance we are now primed to jump-start our fourth year,” he said.

Roby said as a leader it is sometimes difficult to keep the group members encouraged and focused, especially given the fact that to date there has not been an official announcement endorsing the group’s efforts as band owners to move forward on to a Road Fever date in May. “In many circles this has led to skepticism, for many local members and the international members that we are working so hard to attract,” he said.

Despite this, Roby said Euphoria Madness is still going full steam ahead and has partnered with Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville to have a mini fete every other Thursday starting in February and continuing until May. “This is to get our Bahamian members excited about coming on the road with us. We also have some other events planned that will be announced shortly,” he said.

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08 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

music

Di Ruption about to hit the big time

W

ith his debut single “Trodding Alone” now released throughout the Caribbean and being played on local airwaves, Jamaican artist Di Ruption is looking forward to visiting the Bahamas.

Di Ruption, whose real name is Romario Weir, is on the verge of a big breakthrough, as he has found himself working with one the biggest producers in the music industry.

The singer and songwriter, who is getting attention for his unique musical style, has hooked up with Walshy Fire of Major Lazer, the electronic music trio behind such smash hits as “Cold Water” with Justin Bieber and “Run Up” featuring PartyNextDoor and Nicki Minaj.

Di Ruption’s track produced by Walshy Fire is called “Reggaeville” and is now available on all digital platforms.

The singer said he knew from very early on he knew that he wanted to pursue a career in music, but

he wanted his contributions to be groundbreaking and unique. So he set off on a journey to hone his musical talents.

Born in St Thomas Parish in Jamaica, he attended Morant Bay Preparatory and Paradise Preparatory. He then moved on to Seaforth

High School and later to Morant Bay High School, where he was first introduced to music and got his first taste of performing.

He started off singing in the choir at church and at school. His love for singing grew deeper and further helped to boost his confidence,

making his stage performances more professional. Continuing this practice throughout his teen years, he was able to perfect his skills and become the powerhouse that he is today.

With a production deal with Elite Generation Records and managed

by Cyndi Davila, with her public relations agent Julio Svoyce of Sagini and his team for the Caribbean and Islands of the Bahamas, Di Ruption’s music has been able to reach the listeners globally, from his hometown in Jamaica, throughout the Caribbean, in the US and even across the pond to the UK. Since Di Ruption’s introduction into the music business, he has released a number of songs. His first single, “Trodding Alone”, was released on iTunes and YouTube in early April 2017 and has been very well received internationally.

The singer is now in the process of putting the finishing touches on his EP, which is set to debut later this year.

Jay-Z explains why he once boycotted the Grammys

JAY-Z (Photo/Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)

JAY-Z said though he boycotted the Grammys almost two decades ago, he’s better served helping the Recording Academy grow instead of abandoning it.

At Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy gala on Saturday — where Jay-Z earned the Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award — he said he initially boycotted because DMX had an amazing year in music but didn’t earn any nominations at the 1999 Grammys. Jay-Z’s sophomore project, “Vol 2...

Hard Knock Life,” won best rap album that year though he didn’t attend the show, besting albums by A Tribe Called Quest, Mase, Big Punisher and Jermaine Dupri.

“I didn’t come back until...

2004 when a beautiful, young lady whom I love dearly had a solo album... the beautiful Miss Beyonce. And I realised, ‘Man, art is super subjective and everyone is doing their best, and the Academy, they’re human like we are and they’re voting on things they like and it’s subjective,’” he told the audience, which included Quincy Jones, Tina Fey, Jerry Seinfeld, Diddy and Beyonce, who Davis called “the first lady of music.”

“And if we believe in it — ‘cause we do, we can pretend that we don’t care but we really care — we care ‘cause we’ve seen the most incredible artists stand on that stage and we’re inspired to be that, so I was like,

‘I have to be here,’” he added.

“That is the idea for all of us to get involved and to push this thing further no matter what happens at the Grammys, it’s going to be what it is.

Bob Marley is going to be Bob Marley, whether he’s nominated for a Grammy or not. Tupac is going to be Tupac, Biggie is going to be Biggie.”

Rap has had a long history with the Grammys — whether its top performers like Eminem and Kanye West constantly losing in the major categories to rock, pop and country acts, or rap awards not making it on the televised show, though that’s changed in recent years.

MESFIN FEKADU AP Music Writer

Friday, February 2, 2018

The Tribune | Weekend | 09

art

A journey of light

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

M

ixed media Artist Nowe HarrisSmith became one of the first to be featured at Baha Mar’s new The Current art studio when she hosted her recent pop-up exhibition “Aperture”.

The exhibit included eight printed photographs on display and 20 on rotation as part of a slideshow.

The word “aperture” refers to the opening of a lens’s diaphragm through which light passes. In photography, aperture can add dimension and depth by blurring the background and it can alter exposure by making certain elements of the photo lighter or darker.

“It was my first ever full photography show so I chose that name. The name relates to the pieces in the show because they were all black and white photographs,” said Nowe.

The photos in her latest exhibition, said the artist, show the development of her documentary, street and portrait photography.

“The human form is dynamic and the essence of a being can be harnessed forever in one photo. These images depict my infatuation with the world and the individuals that occupy it.

Each image gives an nontraditional glance into the lives of various individuals. I chose black and white images because aesthetically I find them more appealing as a photographer,” the artist told Tribune Weekend.

Her aim was to have viewers take note and see that artists can be versatile, and also discover that photography is indeed a fine art and should be appreciated as such.

“My work was well received by guests and my peers. They were all proud of me and

looked forward to future exhibitions of my work,” said Nowe.

“In the future, I want to continue doing exhibitions, but most importantly I want to continue to thrive creatively. Maybe one day I’ll be making films; I just want to create. Eventually I’d want to become a University of the Bahamas professor.”

Nowe has been displaying her work for several years now, at various exhibitions such as “At Random” at Popop Studios in 2014, Transforming Spaces 2015, “DIRT” at the College of the Bahamas in 2016, Transforming Spaces 2016, and “In Progress” at the Island House in 2017.

She was also the recipient

of the 2016 Popop Ivca Junior Residency Programme; a Artist Nowe Harris-Smith Bahamian representative for Caribbean Linked IV 2016; a photographer for the The Bahamian Project 2017, and received a Bachelor of Education degree in Art from the University of the Bahamas. Her first solo exhibition, “A-Figuration”, was held at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas in 2016.

“My craft has grown tremendously over the years. I’ve evolved so much as an artist thanks to university and selfexploration. It was through wanting to try different mediums I found I had a knack for photography,” said Nowe.

(PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA)

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

film

‘Black Panther’ receives high praise after first screenings

“I

ncredible” and “kinetic” are just a few of the loving words that people are using to describe and praise Marvel’s “Black Panther.”

The film from director Ryan Coogler had its first screenings Monday night and a premiere in Los Angeles. Official reviews won’t go out until February 6, but audiences at the select screenings were able to share non-spoiler reactions on social media.

Los Angeles Times writer Jen Yamato wrote that it is the first Marvel movie about something real. “‘Black Panther’ is incredible, kinetic, purposeful,” Yamato wrote.

“A superhero movie about why representation & identity matters, and how tragic it is when those things are denied to people.”

The film features a largely black cast including Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o. It follows T’Challa (Boseman) after the death of his father, the king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, and his ascension to the throne.

“I never wanted this movie to end, and as soon as it did I wanted to go back,” tweeted Mashable critic Angie Han. “Solid action, smart story, tons of personality.”

Han and Vulture editor Kyle Buchanan both singled out Letitia Wright for her character Shuri, T’Challa’s inventor sister. Many spoke highly of Jordan’s Erik Killmonger, a villain, and Danai Gurira’s warrior character Okoye too.

A few called it Marvel’s most political film to date.

Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/ Black Panther

Michael B Jordan is as the villain, Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia and Letitia Erik Killmonger, and Daniel Kaluuya Wright as Shuri as W’Kabi.

(PHOTOS/MATT KENNEDY/MARVEL STUDIOS) Others were more tempered like writer Dave Schilling who says, “‘Black Panther’ is not the best Marvel movie. It’s not the worst Marvel movie. It’s an entertaining movie.” IndieWire critic David Ehrlich wrote that it’s, “Like a Marvel movie but better. The action is

predictably awful, but this is the first MCU film that has an actual sense of identity & history & musicality.”

“Black Panther” hits cinemas on February 16.

LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

Won’t you be his neighbour? Tom Hanks to play Mister Rogers IT’S a beautiful day in this neighbourhood for Tom Hanks, who’ll star as Mister Rogers in the upcoming biopic “You Are My Friend.”

TriStar Pictures announced Monday it has acquired worldwide rights to the film, to be directed by “The Diary of a Teenage Girl” filmmaker Marielle Heller.

The film will focus on the friendship between the host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood” and journalist Tom Junod. Junod reluctantly agreed to profile Fred Rogers only to find “his perspective on life transformed.”

Production will begin in September, with a 2019 release expected.

The role will surely add to the ‘America’s Dad’ image of Hanks, who gave a very Rogers-like opening monologue while hosting “Saturday Night Live” before the 2016 presidential election, swapping his jacket for a sweater and giving America a pep talk.

Rogers died in 2003 at age 74.

By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer

Tom Hanks will star as Mr Rogers in the upcoming biopic “You Are My Friend.”

Friday, February 2, 2018

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film

Bahamian movie ‘Ungrateful’ set for red carpet premiere

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

T

HE upcoming premiere of “Ungrateful” will mark the transition from playwright to movie producer for Dario Poitier, who is about to fulfil his life-long dream.

According to the burgeoning filmmaker, the movie will hold a mirror up to the many Bahamian parents who have invested their all in their children, only to receive disappointment in return.

“Ungrateful” is based on Dario’s stage play “Boy Das Ya Mar”, which premiered last Summer. He decided to rewrite it and turn it into a full-length feature.

To celebrate the completion of the film, a red carpet gala reception is in the works for its premiere, however, a date has still to be announced.

“This project is dear to me because it afforded me to transition from a stage playwright to a screen playwright. The stage has prepared me for this major move,” Dario told Tribune Weekend.

“The main difference was not having a live audience to give me immediate feedback while acting. In most instances we had to grasp the art of fine-tuning everything, and making it believable and as life-like as possible.

The camera picks up everything and I made sure my cast was beyond ready to film before the cameras started rolling.”

The film depicts the story of Miss Milly (Tamara Marie Simms), who places all her hopes and dreams on her only son, Sam (Nathan J Burrows). She sacrifices her life’s savings and even re-mortgages her home to help him, expecting Sam to return home one day and pave the way for her financial freedom and an early retirement.

Dario said this scenario is based on the experiences of many single

Scenes from “Ungrateful” Bahamian mothers who depend on their children, especially their sons, to earn a college degree abroad before returning home to work in a high-paying job and provide for their mother and siblings.

In the film, burdened by his family’s expectations, Sam decides to ignore all of his mother’s plans and expectations to follow his own dreams. While working as an intern in Miami he meets Robin (Charaé Sands), a troubled American woman, and falls deeply in love with her. Oblivious to his mother’s deep disappointment and deteriorating health, as well as the resentment of his sisters, Sam decides to travel home to introduce his fiancée to his family.

Soon, there is trouble in paradise as the newly engaged couple goes on a vacation to the Bahamas that will change their lives forever.

“The story is relatable to over 70 per cent of families around the world today who give it all up for their children to live the dream the parent never had or could not live,” said Dario.

“The dream to educate their children in ways that require families to sacrifice...and hoping reciprocity will follow.

A big myth, yet families continually go to the edge, especially those singleparent families, laying it all down just to give their children a bright future.”

Despite the serious topic, Dario said he also wanted to include some humour in the film, even if it is of the dark variety.

“This movie allows Bahamians to see they too are not exempt as it applies to all creeds and cultures. In most cases the children don’t even return home or let alone say ‘thank you’ or offer to repay some of the debt that their parents incurred,” he said.

There are many other themes and subjects, but Sam’s ungrateful behaviour is paramount in the film, the filmmaker said.

“The mother has worked hard, many hours and sometimes several jobs just to make ends meet. In this case the unsung hero is devastated, dishevelled, realising her dreams are dashed by the selfish, and cold-hearted attitude in which her son returns home and treats the entire family,” said Dario.

Dario’s transition to movie producer takes him one step closer to his lifelong dream. At the age of four, he said he developed an inexplicable interest in the stage and television. He had dreams of his name outlined on the back of the director’s chair, but at the time could not understand what that meant or how it could happen.

Today, he runs DEP Productions, a company which has brought Bahamian audiences a number of hit plays, including “Christmas at the ER”, “Flight 242 & The Ten Commandments”, and “A Wedding in Nassau”.

Dario has re-written several of his stage plays into screenplays, but has yet to produce them. He has also written multiple skits while serving at the Lord at Living Waters Kingdom Ministries.

“Once I began walking in faith and made the first move, which was to write the screenplay, everything else fell into place,” said Dario. “To everyone who has assisted me, even in the smallest way possible, words fail me. I am humbled and I thank you immensely.

I also wish to publicly thank Kareem Mortimer, writer of ‘Cargo’, who has been a go-to person for advice when I needed.”

Cast members for “Ungrateful” include Tamara Marie Simms, Nathan J Burrows, Charae’ Sands, Apostle Raymond Wells, La’Keisha Ferguson, Chaquinta Skippins, Brandee Rolle, Armand Williams, Telethia Mackey, Osbourne Lockhart, Siobhan Addison, Chigozie Ijeoma, Franz Ferguson, La’Donya, Tomeko Whylly, Targina Sands, Vijay Subramanian, and others.

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

Friday, February 2, 2018

The Tribune | Weekend | 13

celebrity The Weekend Fashion Report 60th annual Grammy Awards

SPLIT

HIT

FAIL

HIT

Cardi B

Janelle Monae

Bebe Rexha

Lady Gaga

Karin says: “Ah...the queen of the hour. This was a big Lady Gaga-esque, Rihanna type dress to pull off. But in every picture you can see she appears not quite sure herself. She doesn’t own the dress. Maybe she still needs to grow into it...her stardom and the big statement gowns.”

Cara says: “I think the problem is the dress is too big; not big in the grand sense, rather it’s too big for her. It didn’t fit her well, which resulted in the awkwardness Karin mentioned. That being said, the dress is very red carpet worthy. I liked it.”

Karin says: “Janelle once again takes to the red carpet like a boss. Switching it up a bit from her usual black and white suits, she wore a floral Dolce & Gabbana number. It’s cool, but the embroidery does seem a little alpine in its design.”

Cara says: “This was way cute and one of the best versions of the ‘girls in men’s tuxedos’ looks I have seen in a while, and plenty of women have been trying it (Remember that horrid Celine Dion backward white tuxedo a few years back?). This looks really pretty.”

Karin says: “This just looks like a Kim K reject. How did nobody tell her that those bra cups were too small? The brown ruching makes it look even worse. And of course she suffered a wardrobe malfunction because of them later one. But maybe that was her intention...getting attention.”

Cara says: “Oh dear, the boobage on this dress is just not cute. How many people saw her in this dress and let her go out looking like this. Girl, you need better friends. Real friends don’t let you show tatas like that.”

Karin says: “The mystery of the night...what happened to Gaga’s face. Something is looking very tight.

The dress, however, is very dramatic and I love it. Yes, it’s once again the sheer illusion trend, but this time it’s a jumpsuit, and the big overskirt is fantastic.”

Cara says: “I don’t care what Gaga wears, I am always here for it. I love me some Gaga and this is too dramatic and fabulous. One of the best of the night.”

PHOTOS BY EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP

With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt

• See PAGE 16 for Weekend Fashion Report Part II

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

celebrity With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt

HIT

FAIL

SPLIT

FAIL

SZA

Pink

Tina Campbell

Karin says: “This is such a dreamy gown, and together with her hair it gives her this lovely and whimsical appearance. I love it. The sheer bodice, though not all that original, is pretty, but what makes this is dress are the long dramatic sleeves and the tulle skirt with the high slits.”

Cara says: “Simply gorgeous and I love that the hair is as big as the dress.

It’s very sexy without being sleazy. I absolutely love it! One of my faves of the night.”

Karin says: “Well...’How many muppets had to die for this?’ is of course the obvious joke. Pink just has the most bizarre red carpet taste.

It’s not outrageous enough to cause conversation, so that leaves us only with an ugly feathered dress in an unappealing colour combination.”

Cara says: “Yes, it does look like she got attacked by muppets. I just want to rub her dress and make it a blankie.

It’s not so much the fabric...that gets me the most, the terrible style of the dress. I think it’s just really unflattering on Pink.”

Karin says: “It’s every elegant... perhaps too elegant for the Grammys, which I always feel deserve some edgier fashions. I know she’s a gospel singer, but this does seem like she’s going to some fancy church to-do.

Also, I’m not a fan of that much velvet.”

Cara says: “I like it, even if it is a bit matronly for her. I could see an older singer rocking it better though. Still, the colour and the structure are nice.

It’s an attractive look. And of course I love the matching shoes.”

Kimberly Schlapman, of Little Big Town Karin says: “Ah, the honky tonk aesthetic strikes! The shade of pink is actually pretty, and the skirt is not bad.

But that bodice is atrocious. You’re not supposed to be Little Bo Beep, Kim! And can I say, that hair needed to be retired in the 1980s.”

Cara says: “The hair is the worst part of this look. She looks like she got electrocuted. The top of the dress is pretty bad; a ruffled mess. If it were plain it would have maybe saved the dress.”

PHOTOS BY EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP

The Weekend Fashion Report 60th annual Grammy Awards

The Tribune | Weekend | 17

Friday, February 2, 2018

books

Hopes for ‘Black Panther’ hype to transfer to comic book

A

s people gear up for the “Black Panther” movie, Ta-Nehisi Coates wants them to check out the original source, Marvel’s Black Panther comic book, where he’s booting up a massive outer space adventure for the king of Wakanda.

The award-winning author and journalist, in an interview with The Associated Press, predicted that the “Black Panther” movie would “be the best Marvel film so far.” “(But) if people want something that they can be deeply involved in, if people want something that raises questions that extend out of the comic book and into the real world, if people want to see some amazing high-tech (stuff), this is a good jumping on point,” said Coates, now in his second year writing the adventures one of the first comic books heroes of color for Marvel.

The Black Panther is the alter-ego of T’Challa, the leader of Wakanda, a technologically-advanced (but make-believe) African country. A longtime ally and one-time member

PHOTOS/MARVEL VIA AP

of both the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, T’Challa uses his wealth, inventions, and country’s resources to battle against evil from both inside

and outside his country’s borders while serving as the head of the government.

The character got a boost as a supporting character in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War.” The much-hyped movie “Black Panther,” starring Chadwick Boseman as the eponymous superhero, opens on February 16, picking up the adventures of the African king and superhero.

Coates said he’s seen parts of next month’s movie helmed by “Fruitvale Station” and “Creed” director Ryan Coogler, and calls the director a “superior filmmaker” and a “once-ina-generation talent.”

“Black people have not really had avatars out there like that they can identify with, and Panther is the biggest one right now,” Coates said. “I think what Ryan is going to do in terms of how this is going to look is going to blow people away ... It feels like thematically a natural tie.”

Coates wrote his first Black Panther comic book in 2016 but the series is getting a new start in April with a story line called “The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda,” where T’Challa discovers

The cover of Black Panther #1 written by Ta-Nehisi Coates. some of his Wakandan subjects have colonized alien planets in his name and created a civilization where he’s almost worshipped as a god.

“This is not even just about T’Challa being in space or the idea of Wakanda in space. There have been core questions about kings, responsibly and morality that have extended throughout the book,” he said. “There have been core questions especially this year about the nature of divinity and gods and this Intergalactic Empire is an extension of that.”

JESSE J HOLLAND Associated Press

Meg Gardiner’s ‘Black Nowhere’ has strong female character

This cover image released by Dutton shows “Into the Black Nowhere,” by Meg Gardiner.

DUTTON VIA AP

MEG Gardiner’s follow-up to her best-selling “UNSUB” novel continues the riveting adventure of FBI profiler Caitlin Hendrix.

Saturday nights in southern Texas have become dangerous as a result of a killer who appears to use charisma to charm his victims into letting down their guard. Women have been abducted in plain sight, and one person was abducted from a crowded movie theater. When two of the victims are found wearing a white nightgown and surrounded by Polaroid photos, the evidence suggests there are

more victims than first thought.

Before Hendrix can truly profile the killer, a possible suspect is revealed. Now she must prove her suspicions.

What starts as a forensic gathering of evidence turns into a deadly game, and Caitlin channels the TV detective Columbo as she frequently questions the suspect while waiting for him to slip or reveal his killer instinct.

But is he really the culprit?

Novels that deal with serial killers have a tendency to dive into depravity and gruesome violence to tell the story. It becomes

about the shock rather than the law enforcement path to justice. Gardiner doesn’t fall into that trap with “Into the Black Nowhere,” and when it comes close to that line, she veers away.

This series is all about Caitlin’s character and the collection of facts and uncovering of clues to stop the madness. She is also a strong female character who is never the victim, and that is rare in this genre.

JEFF AYERS Associated Press

18 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

travel

A look at new ships and trends in cruising for 2018

W

hat’s new in cruising for 2018? As usual, there’s lots of razzledazzle — laser tag, water slides, zip lines and massive LED screens — along with a continued emphasis on healthy lifestyle options, from dining to fitness.

But there are also changes underway in ship design, itineraries and who’s cruising.

DESIGN, DEMOGRAPHICS AND DESTINATIONS New ships are offering more outdoor spaces and views of the sea, with promenades, boardwalk-style decks, glass walls, transparent walkways and see-through slides.

Small ships, river ships and expedition cruises are booming, with more itineraries in cold-water destinations like Iceland, Greenland and the polar regions. Alaska cruises are as popular as ever, for big and small vessels.

There’s a new focus on marketing to millennials, many of whom cruised as kids. Royal Caribbean says its shorter cruises — like three- and four-night Miami-Bahamas trips — are proving popular with 20-somethings who may not want to commit to a full week at sea. Uniworld is offering “U by Uniworld” river cruises for ages 21-45 only, with European itineraries that include music festivals.

The Cruise Lines International Association, which represents most of the world’s major cruise brands, noticed another new phenomenon: “skip-gen” cruising. Grandparents are cruising with grandkids, but skipping a generation by sailing without mom and dad. Most cruises provide a range of children’s programming so grandparents aren’t baby-sitting all day, while also offering activities, excursions, meals and shows that all ages can enjoy together.

NEW SHIPS Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas will be the world’s largest cruise

ship when it launches this spring. Its inaugural season will be in Europe, with sailings from Miami beginning in November. Features include a laser tag arena, Bionic Bar where robots make drinks, a 10-storey racing slide called Ultimate Abyss, rock climbing and ice skating. The ship will host a production of the Broadway hit “Hairspray” and its sports bar will feature 30 big-screen TVs. A luxury family suite for eight includes a two-storey slide, private movie theatre, Lego wall and secret crawl space. But it’s not for budget cruising: It’s priced in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss also launches this spring and heads to Alaska. It’s designed for enjoying natural scenery, with a 180-degree observation lounge for watching glaciers. Recreation includes laser tag, a race course for electric go-karts, a water slide with a transparent tube that swooshes you along the side of the ship. Other features include a Beatles club with a cover band and a spa with a snow room and a salt room. Norwegian is starting to move away from the celebrity chef craze, but dining options will include a barbecue spot called Q, Los Lobos for Mexican food and Food Republic, where dishes like ceviche or Asian noodles can be ordered from an iPad. Holland America Line launches the Nieuw Statendam in December. The ship’s features include World Stage, an

The Norwegian Bliss, a new ship launching this Spring, will held to Alaska for the season.

The ship is purpose-built for enjoying natural scenery with a 180-degree observation lounge perfect for watching glaciers. (Photo/ Norwegian Cruise Line via AP)

Carnival Cruise guests participating in a Dr Seuss-themed “Green Eggs and Ham” breakfast. (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line via AP) entertainment venue with a two-story, 270-degree wraparound LED screen; Music Walk, where three lounges offer different genres of music; and BLEND, where guests can blend their own wine. Holland America is also continuing a partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine, through 2018, on 300 cruises with programmes for meditation, health, style and even a book club that’s included onboard appearances by authors like Elizabeth Strout.

Holland America Line is also starting round-trip Boston-Cuba trips this year.

Celebrity Edge begins sailing in November. Its futuristic design concepts include the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered movable deck that will serve as a walkway, a place to enjoy ocean views and a space for live music and themed dining. The new ship also features a venue called Eden with a three-level window on the ocean, al fresco seating, walkways and an “Eve at Eden” experience that will blend performance art and unique culinary offerings.

Carnival Horizon debuts in April with a Dr Seuss-themed water park, an eatery called Smokehouse Brewhouse

featuring Guy Fieri barbecue and craft beers brewed onboard, and an LED Dreamscape atrium sculpture that will show artwork by patients of St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a Carnival charity partner. Carnival Vista already has the three deck-high Dreamscape light panels. Other fun features on Carnival ships range from “Green Eggs and Ham”-themed breakfasts for kids to Lip Sync Battles a la the popular Spike TV show to custom cocktails at the Alchemy Bar. MSC Cruises are better known in Europe than North America, but the brand is working to change that. In December, MSC Seaside launched and was named best new ship of 2017 by CruiseCritic.com. It features an interactive aqua-park, open-air promenade with glass-floor catwalks, two zip lines, a four-deck atrium, Aurea spa with a snow room and beachlike condo suites.

Seaside, with a 4,100-guest capacity, is based in Miami for Caribbean itineraries. Its sister ship, MSC Seaview, launches in June with Mediterranean cruises for its inaugural season.

BETH J HARPAZ AP Travel Editor

Friday, February 2, 2018

The Tribune | Weekend |19

gardening

Looking ahead Although it is close to the middle of winter, we should be giving some thought to future months that will be somewhat warmer, says Jack Hardy

T

he planting of 120-day crops such as tomatoes will lead to June harvests, and that is just about the end of the vegetable-growing season.

A little planning will ensure we get the best out of our gardens before the heat of summer makes regular crops impossible.

The last best tomatoes can be sown this month. Tomato flowers are reluctant to set fruit when nighttime temperatures exceed 68 F, and seeds planted in March will be in the danger zone. Cherry tomatoes are more reliable producers, so include some in your pre-Easter sowings. Large tomatoes that develop during hot weather tend to have thick skins and less flavour.

Ideal are large-fruited cherry types that can – at a pinch – be sliced for sandwiches.

Peppers are related to tomatoes but enjoy warm weather more and produce fruits during the summer months. You may consider growing peppers started in the next few months in containers

that will allow you to place the plants in an area that receives early afternoon shade. Four gallon pots are ideal.

Sweet peppers that are long such as Cubanelle and Sweet Banana are usually better producers than bell peppers when the temperature rises.

Eggplants are related to tomatoes and peppers but relish warm weather even more. Large dark purple fruits such as Black Beauty are the most rewarding but European and Asian white fruits, often with mauve markings, may be smaller but are sweeter.

The salad season is almost over and any lettuce you plant in February should be of a strain that is designed for warm weather and preferably of the loose-leaf variety. Even lettuces that are described as tropical can become too bitter when the temperature rises.

Greens such as spinach, chard and beets are good substitutes and help lengthen the salad season.

There is enough time to get in another row or block of carrots as well as beets and chard. You may consider kohlrabi as a substitute for cabbage and a source of fine slaw. Other crucifers such as cabbage, broccoli and kale should produce a viable crop if sown this month.

Corn, maize, can be grown virtually year round but crops started now are usually the finest. Set out a whole package of corn seeds in a block in a garden are the size of a large dining table. Make sure your soil is very fertile and be prepared to use some kind of pesticide such as Sevin dust once ears begin to form. Modern corn varieties are very sweet, much sweeter

than supermarket stock that has been on display for a while. If you have not grown and eaten your own corn in a couple of years you have a pleasant surprise in store.

If you have not planted onions yet you are on the verge of missing out.

Onions are five-month crops from seed so you may wish to establish your onion patch with sets, small onions that grow into large in just two to three months. At the same time keep your scallions coming as they are delightful for seasoning potato salads and many more dishes.

Now is the time to get watermelons under way. Most melons do best in heavily mulched soil, but watermelons are an exception. They originated along the banks of African rivers with rich alluvial soil. The nearest we can get to that in The Bahamas is to use sandy soil and fertilize it well with granular fertilizer. As the name suggests, watermelons love plenty of water – at least until fruits are set and near to maturity. Most watermelon vines produce two fruits and should be sown as individual plants six feet apart.

Cantaloupe and other melons relish all the compost you can give them; the best melons I have ever harvested came from volunteer vines growing out of a compost pile.

Carambola season is over and once the last fruits have been picked the trees should be sprayed with dormant oil to deal with scale insects, which are almost inevitable. We cook food in oil and if we are not careful we can cook our trees. Choose a cool and cloudy day for the exercise and

Now is the time to start planting watermelons.

prune away smaller branches that are affected. Drench the scale insects well and repeat the process in three weeks’ time.

During last Fall I lost a lovely papaya with red branch stems to snow scale. It developed on the shaded side of the tree close to the ground and by the time I noticed the infestation it was too late. Do better than me by checking papayas and other fruit producers for this disease. Many trees and shrubs can grow in a debilitated state with certain scale insects but snow scale is a sure and fast killer. It looks like a sprinkling of flour or sand at the early stages. By the time the sprinkling becomes thick it is usually too late to save the plant.

Hibiscus and other flowering shrubs also need to be inspected for scale insects, usually seen as raised bumps on the stems of branches. Although flowering shrubs can be treated with a systemic insecticide that is applied to the roots I would suggest dormant oil at this time of year and leave the systemic for any necessary summer treatments.

Commercial mango producers spray their trees with fungicides at this time of year to control anthracnose, the disease that causes black greasy blotches on ripe fruits. Mangoes grown in the back yard for our own consumption are rarely stored for any length of time so we can skip this process. Be thankful for small mercies…

• For questions and comments, e-mail gardenerjack@coralwave.com.

20 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

art

A precious passion Mother-oftwo finds success with handmade jewellery

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

O

ver the past few years, more and more women around the world have taken advantage of the DIY trend to unleash their creativity, and in many cases, earn a living in the process.

Here in the Bahamas, an increasing number of women is also following this path, fulfilling long-held dreams of establishing their own businesses.

Vardlee Cargill, a mother-of-two and a homemaker, is one of them.

Vardlee has always had a love for fashion, décor and design, but in more recent years this passion has taken on a new dimension. Today, she has developed this passion into a small business.

Her VC Precious Stones brand offers customers a collection of handcrafted, modern jewellery. Vardlee makes everything from necklaces to earrings and bracelets. Custom designs and jewellery repair services are also available.

“What I like most about the fashion field is being able to express my creativity in my own way; no rules. Most of all, it’s so rewarding to have others wear and truly appreciate my work.

My mother, Clara Walker, is definitely a huge influencer in my life. I believe my creativity and love for handcrafting came from her. My husband, Kenyon Cargill, is my biggest supporter, mentor and business consultant. I couldn’t do it without him,” she told Tribune Weekend.

Vardlee said she first became interested in making her own jewellery in 2008 when she decided she needed an outlet to express herself.

Vardlee Cargill “My friend, Tiffany, had just taken some jewellery classes and shared her experience with me. She encouraged me to try it, and that was the beginning,” she said.

Vardlee said many of her customers are amazed that her VC Precious Stone pieces are handmade. She said

they always compliment the quality of her finished products.

“My overall goal is to continue to provide modern, authentic and original jewellery designs for women to enjoy.

I definitely see growth in my small business. I believe the possibilities are endless. My plan for the remainder of the new year is to participate in more

local events. Many persons still don’t know of my work. I also plan to set up a website for ease of shopping and to expand my customer base beyond the Bahamas,” she said.

For persons interested in Vardlee’s work, visit www.facebook.com/ vcpreciousstones.

Friday, February 2, 2018

The Tribune | Weekend | 21

entertainment

Celeb line-up for ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan’ at Atlantis Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest

Baha Men perform as show’s house band

“L

ive with Kelly and Ryan” is returning to the Bahamas next week and will film four shows at Atlantis. Along with hosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, the morning talk show will bring with it “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Lisa Rinna and comedian Whitney Cummings.

Plus, the Bahamian band Baha Men, who last performed on “Live” when the show visited the Bahamas in 2002, will be back as the house band for the day, as well as performing their

Whitney Cummings

Lisa Rinna

new single “Bumpa” and their classic hit “Who Let the Dogs Out”.

Lisa Rinna, who last month in a drastic change swapped out her signature bob for longer hair, is sure to dish on some behind-the-scenes drama at “The Real Housewives”. Meanwhile, fans can look forward to Whitney Cummings, creator and star of the NBC sitcom “Whitney” as well as the co-creator of the CBS sitcom “2 Broke Girls”, to make them laugh.

Baha Men

Tapings for the shows will take place on Monday. Viewers who will already be in the Bahamas during the “Live” broadcasts can log onto the show’s website, KellyandRyan.com, to request tickets.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to bring ‘Live’ back to the Bahamas,” said Michael Gelman, the show’s executive producer. “Atlantis has proved to be an ideal setting for the show. The broadcasts are going

to look terrific, and it’ll be fun to give our viewers a taste of the tropics when it’s the dead of winter throughout most of the country.”

“This will be an exciting week for all – the turquoise waters, the Bahamian sounds and flavours, all our new experiences and the great chemistry of the hosts – it’s the ultimate warmth in the middle of winter,” said Audrey Oswell, president and managing director of Atlantis.

Niko Imbert and Ra’Quiesha were chosen to be the faces of the new “Melanin” party series.

hub for the powerful expression of iconic music,” said Mr Svoyce.

A special commercial was shot for the “Melanin” series at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, featuring two hand-selected models that Sagini says epitomise the rising talent in the Bahamas.

Ra’Quiesha, proprietor of the beauty and novelty company InkXotic, and Niko Imbert, a professional dancer and warehouse manager at Young’s Fine Wine, are the models. “ ‘Melanin’ takes into account the International Decade for People of African Descent by the United Nations, and the creators know that this is the best time for black development worldwide, not just in the US, but the proximity of the Bahamas and its 85 per cent black population doesn’t hurt,” said organisers.

Doors for tonight’s party open at 8pm. Tickets are available until 6pm at Essentially Alkaline in Palmdale.

Show your ‘Melanin’ and party KICKING off Black History in style, the event company Sagini is introducing “Melanin”, a networking party series for young people, to the Bahamas.

The series will launch tonight in Nassau at the Hard Rock Café, just weeks ahead of the premiere of Marvel’s “Black Panther”, the highly anticipated superhero movie featuring the first majority black cast in a block buster film, said organisers.

“Melanin” is the brainchild of marketing executive Jasper Wolf of Sagini.

“Since I have been involved with film in college, I have been noticing that there is a serious shortage of true experiences in the Bahamas. People in the creative and tourism industries, years later, constantly complain to me that we are lacking or falling short on our development,” said Mr Wolf.

The “Melanin” series, he said, will offer “out-of-the-box entertainment and a chill environment for people to dance, vibe and create in.”

“This is just the beginning of Bahamian success in an ideas-based economy, and it’s only trending upward from here. I suggest any investors to climb aboard and express interest now. It’s not just party time, it’s the evolution of the businessminded creative; that’s something to celebrate, I think,” he said.

Sagini’s chairman, Julio Svoyce, said they are grateful to Hard Rock for supporting them every step of the way.

“In the future, we are looking to continue having them as a space for events that highlight the creativity of our people. The Sagini Incorporated family believes that they are the perfect fit as they have been a historic

22 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

literary lives – joan crawford

From Oscar winner to “Mommie Dearest” Sir Christopher Ondaatje recounts the dramatic life of the American film actress who is still ranked as being one of the 10 greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema.

PART II ____________

I

n 1940, Joan Crawford adopted her first child, a daughter, through an agency in Las Vegas.

Initially called Joan, Crawford changed her name to Christina.

In 1942, she married actor Philip Terry and together they adopted a son who they named Christopher – but his birth mother reclaimed the child. The couple then adopted another boy who they named Philip Terry, Jr, but when the marriage ended in 1946 four years later, Crawford changed the child’s name to Christopher Crawford.

After 18 years, Crawford’s contract with MGM was terminated on June 29, 1943. MGM bought her out for $100,000. She then signed a threemovie deal with Warner Brothers for $500,000 the following month. Her first film, “Hollywood Canteen” (1944), involved several other top movie stars of the time and was a war-time morale booster. And then in 1945 she played the title role in “Mildred Pierce”, the film that was an enormous critical and commercial success. It is a role for which Crawford will always be remembered and which gave her an opportunity to show her range as an actress.

“The character I played was a composite of the characters I’d always played, and there were elements from my own personality and character too.

I think I was getting ready for Mildred Pierce when I was a kid, waiting on tables and cooking ... It rescued me from what was known at MGM as the Joan Crawford formula. I had become so hidden in clothes and sets that nobody could tell whether I had talent or not.” – Joan Crawford

Her performance as a woman driven to give her daughter everything got Crawford her first and only Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. The following year she appeared with John Garfield in the well-received “Humoresque” (1946) about a love affair between an older woman and a younger man. In 1947, she appeared as Louise Graham in “Possessed” (1947) and was again nominated for Best Actress, but lost to Loretta Young in “The Farmer’s Daughter”.

Crawford continued to choose her roles carefully: “Flamingo Road” in 1949, and in 1950 “The Damned Don’t Cry!” and “Harriet Craig”. When she had finished “This Woman is Dangerous” (1952), which Crawford claimed was her worst film, she asked to be released from her Warner Brothers contract. She made “Sudden Fear” for RKO Radio Pictures in 1952 and in 1953 she made her final film for MGM, “Torch Song”.

In 1947, Crawford adopted two more children, two girls she named Cindy and Cathy.

Crawford married her fourth and final husband Alfred Steele at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas on May 10, 1955. They had first met at a party in 1950, and by 1954 he had become president of Pepsi Cola. He would later become chairman and chief executive officer. Crawford travelled extensively for the company, but Steele died of a heart attack in April 1959. Crawford was elected to take his seat on the board. In 1973, however, she was forced to retire from the company.

Throughout the 1950s, Crawford continued to make films. In 1952, she

made “Sudden Fear”, and in 1954, “Johnny Guitar” with Sterling Hayden and Mercedes McCambridge. “Female on the Beach” and “Queen Bee” were made in 1955 with Jeff Chandler and John Ireland respectively. In 1956, she starred in “Autumn Leaves” with a young Cliff Robertson, and in 1957, “The Story of Esther Costello” costarring Rossano Brazzi. She accepted a small role in “The Best of Everything” (1959). She had to work as she had been left destitute after the death of Alfred Steele who had accumulated enormous debts against his future Pepsi Cola salary. By the early 1960s Crawford’s name and her popularity had declined significantly.

Friday, February 2, 2018

The Tribune | Weekend | 23

Legend has it, Crawford feigned illness because she thought she would lose out on the 1946 Best Actress Oscar, but after her win she reportedly applied her makeup and invited members of the press into her bedroom as she accepted the statuette in bed.

Joan Crawford and her five adopted children: Christina, Christopher, and the twins Cynthia (Cindy) and Catherine (Cathy)

Joan Crawford in her acclaimed comeback role as “Mildred Pierce” (1945)

“What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” – a successful psychological thriller – was made in 1962 with Jane Crawford’s great rival Bette Davis.

They disliked each other intensely but both realised how important the film was to their declining film careers.

“So I had no great beginnings in the theatre, but what the hell had she become if not a movie star ... with all her little gestures with the cigarette, the clipped speech, the big eyes, the deadpan?”

Bette Davis did not hesitate to respond:

“She slept with all her leading men, except Lassie.”

Despite the feuding, “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane” was a huge success, recouping its costs in 11 days.

It also temporarily revived Crawford’s career – and she needed the money.

Two years later Crawford and Davis were cast again opposite each other in “Hush ... Hush, Sweet Charlotte” (1964), but Crawford was replaced at the last minute by Olivia de Havilland.

Crawford was devastated, renewing her grudge against Bette Davis and Robert Aldrich, the producer. In 1965,

she played Amy Nelson in “I Saw What You Did” and then in the horror thriller “Berserk” (1967).

“I hate being asked to discuss those dreadful horror pictures I made the mistake of starring in. They were all so disappointing to me, I really had high expectations for some of them. I thought William Castle and I did our best on ‘Strait Jacket’ (1964) but the script was ludicrous and unbelievable and that destroyed the picture. I even thought that ‘Berserk’ (1967) would be good, but that was one of the worst of the lot. The other one William Castle and I did ‘I Saw What You Did’ (1965) was the most wretched of them all and I just wasn’t good at playing an over-thehill nymphomaniac.”

By now Crawford was drinking heavily. She guest-starred in “The Lucy Show” on February 21, 1968, and Lucille Ball suggested replacing her with Gloria Swanson. But Crawford pulled herself together and was word-perfect the day of the show. Crawford, now in her early 60s, appeared in the 1969 television film “Night Gallery”– one of Steven Spielberg’s earliest directing jobs. She then starred for the final Continued on page 24

24 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

Joan Crawford on the set of her last film, the 1970 sci-fi horror “Trog”

Joan Crawford and her real-life nemesis Bette Davis in the iconic “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962) Continued from page 23 time in the science fiction horror film “Trog” (1970), completing a career that spanned 45 years, and more than 80 movies.

“I realised one morning that ‘Trog’ was going to be my last picture. I had to be up early for the shoot and when I looked outside at the beautiful morning sky I felt that it was time to say goodbye. I think that may have been a prophetic thought because when I arrived on the set that morning the director told me that due to budget cuts we would wrap up filming that day. The last shot of that film was a one-take and it was a very emotional moment for me.

When I was walking up that hill towards the sunset, I was flooded with memories of the last 50 years, and when the director yelled ‘cut’ I just kept on walking.

That for me was the perfect way to end my film career; however the audiences who had to sit through that picture may feel differently.”

In 1970, Joan Crawford was presented with the Cecil B DeMille Award

by John Wayne at the Golden Globes – held at the Ambassador Hotel in Los

Angeles. She published her autobiography, “A Portrait of Joan” in 1962, and then another, “My Way of Life”, nine years later. These autobiographies told little about her rags to riches Hollywood years, and nothing of the filth and scandal that most people expected.

Instead, Crawford wrote about her obsession with cleanliness, grooming, wardrobe, exercise and food shortage.

“I used to wash my hands every ten minutes. I couldn’t step out of the house unless I had gloves on. I wouldn’t smoke a cigarette unless I opened the pack myself, and I would never use another cigarette out of that pack if someone else had touched it.”

Her cleanliness phobia led to her following guests around her house wiping everything they touched, especially doorknobs and pieces from her dining set. After hearing that a plumber had used a toilet after installing it in her Brentwood home, she immediately had the fixture and pipes ripped out and replaced. She preferred showers to tubs, as she abhorred sitting in her own bathwater.

In her declining years Joan Crawford lived in New York at the Imperial

House, 150 East 69th Street. In September 1973, she moved from her spacious 22-G apartment to the smaller 22-H. She made her last public appearance on September 23, 1974, at a party for her friend Rosalind Russell at New York’s Rainbow Room. When she saw the unflattering photographs in the papers the next day she said: “If that’s how I look, then they won’t see me anymore!”

She declined interviews, cancelled all public appearances, and became almost a total recluse. She wasn’t very well anyway and was still drinking heavily – sometimes as much as a quart of vodka a day. She fell constantly, passing out and damaging her face.

These incidents scared her and for a time she became a Christian Scientist and gave up drinking. Dental operations caused her much pain and she sometimes needed 24-hour attention.

A nasty book by Carl Johnes, “Joan Crawford: The Last Years” was published which gave her further concern, but in fact she had financed a programme underwriting hospital bills for destitute patients who had once worked in the film industry. These were organised by William Branch who had treated Crawford for dental and facial operations in the 1930s. Many rooms and a surgical suite at the Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital were paid for by Crawford on condition that her name and donations were kept confidential.

It is estimated that after 1937 more than 390 major surgeries were completed. Crawford paid the bills, and she never knew the people for whom she

was paying, and she never received any credit or publicity for her charitable work although her generosity was discovered much later. Crawford feigned ignorance of the whole arrangement.

Frail, and in bad health, Joan Crawford gave away her small Shih Tzu dog because she was too weak to care for her on May 8, 1977. Two days later she died in her New York apartment of a heart attack. In her will, which was signed on October 28, 1976, she left her two younger children, Cindy and Cathy, $77,500 each from her $2,000,000 estate. She explicitly disinherited her two eldest children, Christina and Christopher. She left the rest of her money to charities: the USO of New York, the Motion Picture Home, the American Cancer Society, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the American Heart Association, and the Wiltwyck School for Boys.

A memorial service was held for Crawford at All Saint’s Unitarian Church on Lexington Avenue in New York on May 16, 1977. Her body was cremated and her ashes placed in a crypt with her fourth and final husband Alfred Steele in Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York.

In November 1978, Christina Crawford, her adopted daughter, published “Mommie Dearest”, an autobiography containing allegations that Joan Crawford was physically and emotionally abusive to her and to her brother Christopher. The book caused considerable controversy and became a best-seller in the United States. In 1981, a biographical film also entitled “Mommie Dearest” was made starring Faye Dunaway playing the part of Crawford. Earlier, in the 1970s, Crawford had said of Dunaway: “Of all the actresses ... to me, Faye Dunaway had the talent and the class and the courage it takes to make a real star.”

It was to provide a prophetic epitaph for her turbulent and controversial career.

NEXT WEEK: The tragically privileged life and death of Queen Elizabeth II’s younger sister.

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of “The Last Colonial”. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from “A Portrait of Joan: The autobiography of Joan Crawford” (1962); “My Way of Life” by Joan Crawford (1971); “Joan Crawford: Hollywood Martyr” by David Bret (2008), and Wikipedia.

Friday, February 2, 2018

The Tribune | Weekend | 25

history

Britain’ first steam-powered warship runs aground Forgotten facts Paul C Aranha

T

he year 1861 was not a good one for the Royal Navy in the Bahamas.

In August, HMS Driver, a six-gun wooden sloop that was the first steamship to circumnavigate the world, was wrecked on Mayaguana and, some four months later, HMS Conqueror was lost at Rum Cay. The Conqueror, one of the Royal Navy’s two-ship-only Conqueror-class of 101-gun, screw-propelled first-rate ships-of-the-line, was Britain’s first propeller driven warship. She also had sails.

Weighing 3,224 tonnes and 420 feet in length, and built in Devon in 1855, she served in the Crimean War (18531956) but had spent only six years in service before being wrecked in the Bahamas on December 13, 1861.

What remains of this once-great ship lies on Sumner Point Reef, Rum Cay, in 30 feet of water, and is the property of the Bahamas government. Preserved as the Underwater Museum of the

“The loss of HMS Conqueror 100 guns on Rum Cay, Bahamas, West Indies” [sic], attributed to George Pechell Mends

The captain’s day cabin on the HMS Warrior

Bahamas, none of the contents of the ship may be removed.

Under the command of Edward Southwell Sotheby, the Conqueror had been despatched to carry troops to support a French intervention in Mexico, and as a result of a navigation error, while passing through the Bahamas, she rounded the southeast point of Rum Cay too closely and went hard onto the reef. Fortunately, all 1,400 aboard survived the wrecking and lived to tell the tale:

“Sotheby, fearing that his crew (most of whom could not swim) would drink themselves insensible, when it became obvious the ship was lost, ordered all ale, wine, and spirit casks to be broken and their contents ditched. He then had the crew unload everything they could salvage, and set about making a camp on the island. The captain remained on board, with one midshipman and ten seamen, until the ship broke up. Then all of them, less the boat parties, were marooned on Rum Cay. Until the news of the disaster was made known and they were rescued by the Royal Navy, in February 1862. Her sister ship, HMS Donegal, assisted the recovery of equipment and stores from the wreck.”

When I visited Portsmouth, I saw the perfectly-preserved, museum-ship HMS Warrior, a 40-gun steam-powered iron-hulled warship, weighing 9,137 tonnes and 420 feet in length, but, like the Conqueror, she also had sails.

To get some idea of what life on the Conqueror might have been like, I took a photo of the captain’s day cabin on HMS Warrior, so you can imagine what life on a large Royal Navy ship was like.

This weekend in world history February 2 The famous Emmental cheese from Switzerland

• 1709 – British sailor Alexander Selkirk is rescued after being marooned on a desert island for five years, his story inspires “Robinson Crusoe”.

• 1848 – Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican-American War: US acquires Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona for $15 million.

February 3

• 1815 – The world’s first commercial cheese factory established in Switzerland, ushering in the mass

industrialisation of one our most popular foods.

• 1959 – Rising American rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J P “The Big Bopper” Richardson are killed when their chartered Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashes in Iowa a few minutes after takeoff.

February 4

• 1789 – George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, is unanimously elected the first president of the United States.

• 1938 – Walt Disney releases “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, his first full-length feature production.

sCary (across) TriCK (down)

26 | The Tribune | Weekend

Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 Mum is one, Dad another (10) 6 Regressive stuff left over from pressed grapes (4) 10 It may be bad getting out of range (5) 11 He steps on many feet (9) 12 Stand on both sides (8) 13 Carry out a grave commitment? (5) 15 Tries again to cut down the rehearsals (7) 17 Is stout perhaps, so doesn’t dance (4,3) 19 Painstaking preparation? (7) 21 Look after, if you like (4,3) 22 Deserving of wealth? (5) 24 Always faithful? (8) 27 Watch and see how long the music takes (9) 28 Entertainment means there’s a great time after work (5) 29 Call for a band (4) 30 Changes position and rearranges one’s straps (10)

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Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Traffic, 5 Copse, 8 Physician, 9 Oaf, 10 Zeal, 12 Engineer, 14 Cuckoo, 15 Tussle, 17 Skittish, 18 Eros, 21 One, 22 Couturier, 24 Fatal, 25 Optimum.

Down: 1 Topaz, 2 Any, 3 Foil, 4 Client, 5 Continue, 6 Professor, 7 Enforce, 11 Architect, 13 Poetical, 14 Cast-off, 16 Pseudo, 19 Scrim, 20 Curt, 23 Ism.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Emigres, 5 In bed, 8 Consigned, 9 Tip, 10 Life, 12 Proceeds, 14 String, 15 Ate out, 17 Observer, 18 Afar, 21 Cog, 22 Narcotics, 24 Lithe, 25 Hotfoot.

Down: 1 Excel, 2 Ian, 3 Rail, 4 Sundry, 5 Indicate, 6 Better off, 7 Deposit, 11 Foresight, 13 Entrance, 14 Stoical, 16 Dearth, 19 Reset, 20 Bolt, 23 Ibo.

Across 1 Revelation (10) 6 Very courageous man (4) 10 Logically correct (5) 11 Evaluation (9) 12 Napoleon’s last battle (8) 13 Open to view (5) 15 Distinguished (7) 17 Renegade (7) 19 Crafty (7) 21 A vivid red (7) 22 Specialised market (5) 24 Graze on the skin (8) 27 A characteristic (9) 28 Excessive (5) 29 To merit (4) 30 Malevolent (3-7)

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Friday, February 2, 2018

The Tribune | Weekend | 27

animals

A solution to overpopulation

L

ast Monday, I was a guest on the Ed Fields Live radio show. As usual it was high-spirited and thoughtprovoking. Ed particularly wanted to address the fact that there are so many stray dogs in particular and cats. He also wanted to find a solution to this problem.

The first part of my response was that we have three categories of “roaming dogs”. The first are dogs that have owners who simply do not keep them in their yards, or inside the house. Their dogs are allowed to come and go as they please. This is not responsible ownership. The dog could get hit by a car, or hurt in a fight, and if not spayed or neutered, could be the cause of more unwanted puppies on the streets.

The second category is the “half owned” community dog. This is an animal who wanders freely between various houses and yards and gets fed leftovers and scraps from more than one family. This is the dog that everybody claims to be theirs if you want to take it to the shelter and find it a proper home, but nobody owns it when there is a medical bill to be paid.

And the third category is simply the stray dog, living on the street and using his wits to stay alive.

All three of these categories appear stray when on the road and raiding the overflowing trash cans. What to do?, Ed asked me.

Well first we need to somehow get people to understand that ownership of a dog constitutes a fenced yard or area where the animal can be contained when outside. A short chain is absolutely not adequate. In fact, we do not like chaining animals at all for any long periods. Just imagine how it must feel. If you want your dog to protect your property, your best bet is to have

PETS OF THE WEEK

Brotherly love

By The Bahamas Humane Society

T

his dynamic duo is made up of two brothers who were surrendered several months ago to the Bahamas Humane Society.

Thor is the more outgoing of the two brothers, while Jose is more reserved.

Thor and Jose are about a year old and still puppy-playful. They get along well with each other as well as with the other adoption dogs at the shelter. They would make good yard dogs as they’ll let you know when someone’s coming, but they’re accustomed to children as well as adults so would make a great addition to your family.

Do you have room for Thor and Jose? If so, come in to the BHS to meet them, or call 325-6742 for more information. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday. The brothers look forward to meeting you!

• Come and check out the Valentine’s Day jewellery sale at the BHS Thrift Shop this Saturday from 1pm to 5pm .

If you’re looking for a gift for that special someone or something for yourself, you’re sure to find it at a reasonable price. All proceeds go to the BHS. a fenced-in yard and allow the dog full access to run around the house and keep any intruders away. If your dog is down on Bay Street raiding trash cans he cannot be protecting your home. All owned dogs need to have a collar and ID tag so that they can be easily identified and the owners can get their animal back if he got out inadvertently.

The half owned community dog is a bit more of a challenge, but the essential thing is that he or she should be spayed or neutered. If the dog is happy and the community takes good care of him then, at least make sure he or she is not the reason for hundreds of other dogs that will be born homeless. Of course the stray dogs can be caught and brought to the Bahamas Humane Society where they will be spayed or neutered and a home will be found for them. There are always many street dogs in the shelter and they all adapt very well to being owned and having a home. In

PATRICIA VAZQUEZ

Animal matters Kim Aranha

Thor fact, they make splendid guard dogs and are very faithful and grateful for being rescued.

The topic of culling came up, not as a solution, but as a matter of discussion. Of course, the mere sound of that word sends chills down my spine. Under my presidency we have become a “No Kill” shelter, and I feel most strongly about this. It has been proven time and time again that culling is not an effective way to reduce the stray dog or cat population for an extended period of time. Nature is a wonderful thing and when there is a shortage of humans or animals, there is inevitably a birth explosion, with many more animals or humans being born. We notice after a distemper epidemic we will see far more puppies born. In humans it was noted that war-torn countries tend to have a birth boom.

By spaying or neutering dogs and cats you keep the “paws on the ground”, so to speak, but they cannot

Jose reproduce, as those “fixed” dogs and cats die of old age the population reduces naturally and there will not be lots of intact animals to create replacements. Over a relatively short period of time, Nassau and the Out Islands could reduce their stray population drastically, but it will require the participation and support of everybody. No more roaming owned dogs. Have the “half owned” dogs fixed. This can be done for free at a spay and neuter clinic, and at the very least, fix the strays.

Operation Potcake some years ago was a huge success. We operated five outdoor clinics in the most populated areas. Over a period of 10 days we spayed and neutered a vast amount of dogs.

Unequivocally spay and neuter is the only route to humane and effective population control and we ask that everybody play their part in preventing unnecessary breeding.

28 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 2, 2018

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