Friday, March 4, 2022
arts entertainment interview history music animals food gardening
Weekend
Sweet like a berry Page 07
Dream state
Artist Dede Brown captures feminine emotion pages 08 + 09
02 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, March 4, 2022
HOME
Soft blues and grayswith lighter colours spell calm in a bedroom
Bringing colour
H
ere in the Bahamas, we are absolutely in love with colour. Influenced by the saturated colours of the natural environment, we paint our homes bright yellows, blues and pinks – a palette that reflects the sea and recognises the sherbet flavours and pastels popular in the past. Consider how different this is from the southern Caribbean where deeper, darker colours – purples, reds, deep greens – dominate. Our taste in colour is much softer on the eyes and gentler on the soul, yet our inner self longs for a splash of something bright and fresh. Getting the combination just right can be a challenge, especially now with minimalist neutral coastal styles becoming more popular. The question becomes how do we balance the neutrals with our love of bright and lively colour? Using and balancing colour correctly is one of the basic tenets of good Feng Shui. Colour affects our moods and energy. So we have to be careful about how we want to feel in a room before we decide what colour to paint or paper the walls, or what colour is predominant in a textured fabric wall covering. We need to understand what we want to feel before we choose our main furniture pieces. If art is being used as décor, we need to consider what the
Deeper coloured walls are offset by light window treatment and throws
INTO A SPACE
Neutrals combine with splashes of deeper colours in design by Spacejoy
is budget friendly and allows you to pull in different colours and patterns through less expensive throw pillows, blankets, vases, artwork and other décor items. This also makes playing with balance in a room easier as you can move the smaller pieces around. Imagine your room is like the composition of a painting and each part must work together to make the room come alive. Pick one or two accent colours and find items of different visual weights to place around the room until it feels cohesive. Like everything else in creating a life by design, you’ll know when it feels right.
dominant colours in that piece will do to our mood and frame of mind. Every colour creates mood and gives off a certain energy. Yellows represent sunshine, warmth, and optimism. Reds have both positive and negative connotations being the color of both love and passion as well as anger and danger. Blue is calming like the sky and the sea. Greens remind us of the natural environment and symbolise growth. It is important to choose colors that work with the activity we are going to perform in any given room of the house. This is why many people choose blues and greens for their living rooms and bedrooms as they
• Brooke Pyfrom is the proprietor of Oasis, Sandyport, and Oasis, East Shirley Street. She sources exceptional pieces from around the world to combine trendy with traditional.
are peaceful, grounding colours. They may choose to use more playful and energetic tones in the kitchens or in children’s playrooms. It is fun to play with different colours and change out décor with the seasons but it can become costly if you stop enjoying a colour if you use it on larger pieces of furniture. If you do decide to use colour on a larger piece, buy samples of the fabric or paint a small section and live with it for a while to see if you still like it and how it changes in different lighting. It is a good idea, however, to start with neutral bases on sofas, sectionals and beds as it
LIFE BY DESIGN
BROOKE PYFROM with Dyah Neilson
The Tribune | Weekend | 03
Friday, March 4, 2022
ENTERTAINMENT AGT judges Howie Mandell, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Simon Cowell, with host Terry Crews (Photo/Trae
Local singer takes shot at America’s Got Talent audition
A BAHAMIAN FANTASIA? By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
S
inger Lashanda Cleare is the second Bahamian artist who is hoping her dream of hitting the big time comes true following her audition for the massively popular America’s Got Talent showcase. Lashanda, who like her idol Fantasia Barrino has faced many challenges in life, is keeping her fingers crossed that her phone soon rings with good news, informing her that she will be part of the lineup of performers for the 17th season of the NBC show. She said this could be the opportunity to show off her musical capabilities to the world and hopefully snag the grand prize of $1 million. Lashanda has always dreamed
of performing on the big stage, but she knew she would never get the opportunity unless she had the courage to step outside of her comfort zone. America’s Got Talent features amateur performers who present their singing, dancing, comedy and novelty acts to celebrity judges and a nationwide audience in order to advance in the competition and win the grand prize. The judges for the upcoming season are expected to be Simon Cowell, who is also the show’s creator, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Modern Love star Sofia Vergara. If Lashanda lands a spot on the show she will stand before those judges who will ultimately determine her fate. “As an artist, my specialty is R&B and pop music. I have always wanted to audition for a big platform stage, ever since I watched Fantasia win her title on American Idol,” she told
Tribune Weekend. American singer Fantasia Barrino is a great source of inspiration for Lashanda. The story of Fantasia’s challenges in life, and how she ultimately conquered them, winning the third season of American Idol in 2004, resonated deeply with the emerging Bahamian singer. “I grew up in a tight-knit family; we weren’t rich, we did not live in any of the suburb areas. We grew up living though Rupert Dean Lane, just me my sisters and my father. He raised us up in the best way that he could, despite all of the challenges he faced as a single father with girl children,” she said. “I faced a lot of challenges with decisions I made that sent me down a path of abuse that only music got me through. But I gained the courage to get out and fight back for my life, and music was one of the biggest things that helped me in that time. It has always been my escape,” she said. Lashanda has been singing since she was eight years old and started pursuing her career as a professional artist at age 23. “I took my gift serious and realised that God gave me my great success, I just had to own it. But I’ve been singing since I was eight years old – in church, at school, everywhere
Singer Lashanda Cleare
that I could find,” she said. Lashanada has always been seeking to expand her reach and give herself the opportunity to go beyond Bahamian borders with her music. “I gave America’s Got Talent a shot because I believe it’s time to show the world what I’ve got, what the Bahamas has got. The virtual audition was a great first experience for me. The process took about an hour and 20 minutes. I was auditioned by the producers of America’s Got Talent, who gave me some good feedback that kept me smiling the whole day after. They said that I have a naturally good voice and that the song I chose was a great song choice. I got an e-mail that says final picks will be chosen in the Spring, sometime in March, so my fingers crossed waiting for final say,” she said.
04 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, March 4, 2022
INTERVIEW
Khing
KLOUD He’s already famous in the Bahamas for his “roasting” comedy style, but this entertainer has another big dream he wants to fulfil. He tells Cara Hunt how he’s working hard at becoming the country’s best dancehall artist.
T
errance Gilbert, better known by his stage name Khing Kloud, is on the move – making the change from comedian to multi-faceted entertainer with the release of his first single, “Whine & TikTok.” While music has always been a passion of his, Terrance’s main focus for the past few years has been building his comedic brand. “I graduated from Government High and around that time I started posting online content just for fun. It went from 10 likes from my friends to 30 likes, to me walking down the street and
being recognised with people saying, ‘Hey, are you that guy who be making those videos?’” His first big break came when he partnered with Collage Entertainment, the group of entertainers who created the extremely popular “Stop Liking Man” video series. He also was instrumental in providing entertainment for the popular Youth Alive conferences that were put on by Bahamas Faith Ministries. Wanting to branch out more and do comedy in his own style, Terrance started “roasting” people and situations. “I would crack on you and anything about
you that I thought was funny,” he said. He noted that while roasting has always been very popular comedy style in the US, it was not really being done by Bahamian comedians at the time he added it to his repertoire. While he has created a variety of different characters over the years, he said his two favourites are “Mokneec” and “Lil Roachee”. “Mokneec is just a beautiful soul. People really know and love her,” he said of the slightly “jungalist” character, “and Lil Roachee is the only full-sized roach with a comedic side in the Bahamas.”
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Friday, March 4, 2022
He explained that he draws inspiration from Bahamians from all walks of life. “Bahamians are my inspiration. I just find anything relatable in what they do and then come up with a way to spin it. You can take anything that has happened to a person or almost happened to a person, just the drama and little messes of everyday life and make that the inspiration for a new scenario,” he said. And while comedy has been his bread and butter so far, Terrance said he now wants explore his musical side. “Music is one of my biggest passions, and I actually have a very wide background. I had a recording studio and used to record my own music and help others as well. I also play a lot of instruments, even though I can’t really read music, and I played electric guitar and drums for Pastor Myles Munroe,” he said. The entertainer said that his dream has always been to record a dancehall style song. “I am a Bahamian and I love everything about being Bahamian, but I have always had a special love for dancehall. Jamaican dancehall music is just in my blood. I get that music and I can master that music,” he said. “I didn’t produce music for several years because I was focusing on my comedy, but now I realise that I want to be a comedian and a dancehall artist. I want to be the best Bahamian dancehall artist there is.” The inspiration for his debut song came from the social media platform TikTok. “I know that TikTok is very popular and everyone is into making their own videos adding music, so that is where I got the idea to make a song that would be a great accompaniment to that,” he said. It took him a few months to produce the song. “I did this project all with my own bare hands,” he said. “I wrote the lyrics, wrote the music, produced and arranged the cover art. The only thing that I outsourced was the distribution.”
This weekend in history March 4 • In 1681, English Quaker William Penn receives a charter from King Charles II, making him the sole proprietor of the colonial American territory of Pennsylvania. He was an early advocate for democracy and religious freedom. • In 1877, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake” has its world premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. It was
Khing Kloud as Lil Roachee
a failure initially, but went on to become of the most famous and successful ballets of all time. • In 1945, shortly before her 19th birthday, Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen, joins the British Auxiliary Transport Service. She takes a motor mechanics course and works as a driver as part of the World War II efforts.
March 5 • In 1770, the Boston Massacre galvanises anti-British sentiments in the colony. British soldiers kill five men in the crowd, with African American Crispus Attucks – considered an early Black martyr – being the first to die. • In 1946, shortly after World War II, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave
The song expresses his love for the dancehall genre while still acknowledging his Bahamian roots with undertones of calypso and rake n; scrape mixed in with the dancehall beats. “It has become a crowd favourite, with people posting videos dancing to it and it is on rotation on many of the local radio stations,” he said. Terrance said he is thrilled that the song has taken off and sees it as another major turning point in his career. He said chose the stage name Khing Kloud because he wanted to be the master his own performance. “I chose King because you know God put us on this earth to be kings and queens , so I chose king in that Biblical sense, and then when you add the clouds, to me that means transparency, and so that is what I want to be: a king of transparency. I want everything I do to be authentic and relatable. I want you to be able to see through me,” he said. It’s also partly the reason why he does not use profanity in his comedy. “I know that other people do, but I want my content to be family-friendly, that is just my preference and it has its pros and cons,” he said. Awareness of self is one bit of advice he would give to up-and-coming entertainers. “I am one of the youngest comedians in the country that has lasted so long, and back then many people wouldn’t take me seriously, but I stayed with it and found ways to shine. You have to step outside the box and do something different, but that also showcases who you are like how I did with the roasting. At first people didn’t get it fully, but I think now people respect comedy and the art and process involved a lot more than they did five to ten years ago,” he said. “There are a lot of songs in the world and there are a lot of comedians in the world, so try to make what you do stick out like a sore thumb, go against the grain and don’t be afraid to take that leap of faith.”
a speech condemning the policies of the Soviet Union. He declared: “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent.” Thereby popularising the term “Iron Curtain”. • In 1960, the iconic photo of revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara was taken at a funeral for workers killed in an explosion in a Cuban port, which Fidel Castro’s government blamed on the Americans. The photo, which has appeared on everything from T-shirts to mugs, is considered one of the most famous pictures in the world. March 6 • In 1475, the greatest Italian Renaissance artist, Michelangelo Buonarotti, is born in the small village of Caprese. He was the son
of a government administrator and grew up in Florence. He is best known for the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the sculpture of David, among many other works. • In 1869, Russian chemist and inventive Dmirti Mendeleev presents the periodic table of elements to the Russian Chemical Society. A tabular display of the chemical elements, it is widely used in chemistry, physics and other sciences to this day. • In 1899, the German company Bayer patents aspirin after discovering a stable form of the drug. The original drug – acetylsalicylic acid – was made from a chemical found in the bark of willow trees. In its primitive form, it has been used since Ancient Greek times.
3 Egg; 4 Evolve; 5 Produce; 8 Uncouth; 11 Verdict; 13 Execute; 15 Enable; 16 Relief; 17 Burly; 20 Shy.
holding record for source of amusement (5,4)
06 | The Tribune | Weekend
● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition)
HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? in making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. no plurals. Verb forms ending in s permitted’. TODAY’S TARGET Good 23; very good 34; excellent 45 (or more). Solution tomorrow
Yesterday’s call 0907 181 2585 Sudoku Answer for today’s target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.
BATTLESHIPS CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 The gold glow of chestnut (6) 4 Maybe one isn’t a countryman (8) 9 He insists on minutiae and bursts into a tantrum (6) 10 Lines roughly measured? (8) 12 Having less she would be unsparing (4) 13 It bubbles forth somehow (5) 14 The prosecutor has to act. See foot of the column (4) 17 Serious Australian sextons? (12) 20 Unable to say why you can’t solve a crossword? (4,3,5) 23 Conceited fellow given to publicity (4) 24 Change me inside and out (5) 25 Cliff shows where he was hurt (4) 28 He may go from one side to the other (8) 29 Nowhere near being unapproachable (6) 30 On the sly perhaps but in a sincere way (8) 31 Port is used in making a toast (6)
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Yesterday’s Easy Solution
Down 1 The strength of the Across: 1 Focus, 4 Ward off, 8 Rut, 9 In essence, 10 Uptight, current? (8) 11 Byway, 13 Animus, 15 Fellow, 2 Support for a retired 18 Scent, 19 Traipse, 21 Measure up, 23 Wit, 24 Prophet, 25 Eerie. person (8) Down: 1 Formula, 2 Cut it fine, 3 A step up the ladder (4) 3 Swing, 4 Wreath, 5 Risible, 5 Plot for play (6,6) 6 Own, 7 Fiery, 12 Willpower, 14 Untruth, 16 Wrestle, 17 Street, 6 Wild revel in indoor 18 Sum up, 20 Ample, 22 Ago. gymnastics (4) 7 Raid on raid perhaps (6) 8 Victory was doubly his (6) 11 A regular poser no doubt (7,5) Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution 15 Make progress in friendly relations (3,2) Across: 1 Serum, 4 Stories, 16 Developed in the wrong 8 Rob, 9 Testament, 10 Banshee, 11 Ibsen, 13 Shocks, 15 Static, way (5) 18 Possibly price a ring - to us 18 Sedan, 19 Portray, 21 Prospered, 23 Ida, it’s valuable (8) 24 Andante, 25 Emery. Down: 1 Scribes, 2 Robin Hood, 19 Needy and greedy take a 3 Match, 4 System, 5 On a diet, new turn I see (8) 6 Ice, 7 Satan, 12 Saturnine, 21 It makes clothes hard to 14 Kingpin, 16 Crybaby, 17 Sparse, 18 Sepia, 20 Ridge, wear (6) 22 Odd. 22 Clergyman taking a point to heart may be fired (6) 26 Food produced in layers (4) 27 He has a right to receive information (4) Down Across 1 Wide landscape 1 Chopin’s native view (8) country (6) 6 7 8 2 Freedom of 4 Meant only for action (8) the initiated (8) 3 Agreeable (4) 9 Attention (6) 5 Remind one of 10 Relocate (8) something (6,1,5) 12 To scold (4) 6 Adjust to work 13 Chancy (5) 14 smoothly (4) 14 Cancel out (4) 7 Pay back (6) 16 17 Mentally 8 Ring of guards confused (6-6) blocking 20 Be discarded passage (6) 18 19 (2,2,3,5) 11 Very nervous (6,6) 23 Spoken (4) 15 Melancholy (5) 24 Look fixedly (5) 16 Survive (3,2) 25 Disappoint trust 18 Precisely similar (8) of (4) 25 19 Great 28 Richly sweet in adulation (8) 27 taste (8) 21 Understand 29 Croquet meaning of (6) implement (6) 22 Protracted 30 Debris (8) argument (6) 31 Noticeably 26 To defeat (4) cold (6) 27 Throw violently (4)
EASY PUZZLE
FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off. Solution tomorrow 1
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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
O M H S A T J
Friday, March 4, 2022
TARGET 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.
O S H T I M S
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3 x Destroyer
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4 x submarine
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The Tribune | Weekend | 07
Friday, March 4, 2022
FOOD
A burst of
W
FLAVOUR AND SUCCESS
hat started with one batch of chocolatecovered strawberries four years ago has flourished into a successful business offering all kinds of sweet treats that not only survived the pandemic, but actually thrived in it. The woman behind this venture, Berry Sweet Treats, is Riel Major. Like so many of her peers, when she returned home in 2018 with degrees in Communications to start her career, she quickly realised that the job search wasn’t as easy as she’d imagined. “It was taking some time to start my career. I needed something to occupy my time that would also be financially beneficial. I then saw an advertisement on Instagram advertising a chocolate-covered strawberry business in the United States. I went on YouTube, watched a few tutorials and said, ‘This looks easy. I could do this myself. Soon after, I purchased a melting pot set and all the ingredients I needed to
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net
make dipped strawberries,” said Riel. And the rest, as they say, is history. Riel’s home-based business became a success. Valentine’s Day, given the nature of her business, was of course her first big test, one she passed with flying colors. “My first business rush was also a success. Four years later, all of those people who supported me during that first venture are still customers in 2022,” she said. For Berry Sweet Treats, Riel not only creates signature chocolatecovered strawberries, but also breakable chocolate hearts and cocoa bombs. Her strawberries can be covered with a wide range of toppings such as Oreos, peanuts, almonds, sprinkles, sanding sugar, shredded coconut, caramel, or a cookies and cream mix. “The breakable heart is a moulded geometric chocolate heart that comes paired with a small mallet
so you can smash it open to reveal all the goodies inside. The surprise inside can include candy, money or jewellery. Cocoa bombs are chocolate spheres filled with hot cocoa or cappuccino instant mix and marshmallows. When you put the cocoa bomb in a mug and add warm milk, the sphere explodes, releasing the instant mix. This creates a tasty cup of hot chocolate or French vanilla cappuccino,” she explained. But her favourite product will always be her very first product, the chocolate-covered strawberries. She enjoys the experience of dipping the strawberries in liquid chocolate, which she said is the perfect canvas for decorations. “I love being challenged by my clients’ design ideas. I love to strategise a plan, execute it, and watch my plan become reality. I’ll go the extra mile for my clients because it’s important to separate myself from the other entrepreneurs in this field,” said Riel. She said Berry Sweet Treats has grown so much in the last year and
she believes the pandemic has led to an increase in sales. In the early phase of the pandemic, Riel said, as the government implemented many strict protocols, there were very little celebratory options available to Bahamians for many months. She believes people needed a way to commemorate special occasions, and she offered just that with her sweet treats. “I want to host my first solo pop-up shop this summer. I prefer to stay behind the scenes because I believe my products can speak for themselves, but this year I plan to step outside of my comfort zone and highlight my business every time I get an opportunity to do so,” she added.
10 | The Tribune | Weekend
GARDENING
G
ood day, gardeners. Star fruit is a popular fruit to have in backyard gardens in our region. Star fruit is the fruit of the Averrhoa carambola tree and is sometimes referred to as carambola. It is a small to medium sized tree that is easily manageable and responds well to pruning to shape or to maintain a particular size. These trees are cultivated in tropical and warm sub-tropical climates worldwide and are often found as decoration in cuisine. I enjoy adding them to smoothies or juicing them with other fruits or vegetables for a healthy drink. I have found that growing the trees can be quite demanding when it
Friday, March 4, 2022
STAR FRUIT Pros and cons comes to nutrients, they seem to use a lot of nitrogen and iron and these two elements will have to be replaced occasionally if the leaves start to turn pale green or yellow. There are many named cultivars that have smaller or larger fruit, more tart or sweet flavor, and colors can range from pale green/yellow to deep orange. When carambola is grown by seed, the fruit can be quite inferior to some of the more popular named cultivars and to keep the tree true to type, layering or grafting are common forms of propagation for quality fruit and disease resistance. One of the most popular cultivars is named ‘Sri Kembangan’ that
was bred in Malaysia, and it has a gorgeous orange colored fruit that are high quality, large and sweet, with good amounts of fruit to boot. Beware, though, there is a hidden danger in starfruit. According to the National Library of Medicine: “New studies have shown the mechanism by which the star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) becomes toxic to individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). There are reports that neurotoxicity is due to the presence of oxalate in star fruit, but recent findings show that the neurotoxic effect of the toxin is by caramboxin, which appears to inhibit the GABAergic system which is the major inhibitory system in the central nervous system (CNS), involving changes as sobs and confusion, to more serious conditions such as seizures and death. It is important to multidisciplinary action to alert patients with CKD as the prohibition of the star fruit consumption.” The chemistry of different fruits once they are ingested is something that needs to be investigated when
one has health issues, as many would be surprised to find that consumption can be toxic to some folks even in small quantities, while in large amounts the fruit can cause issues in otherwise healthy individuals. Star fruit is one of those fruit that requires caution, especially as studies have shown its toxicity to people with chronic kidney disease. It is not a fruit that ought to be gorged on in large quantities. Each tree gives ample fruit and there will always be lots to give away or to trade with friends and neighbours. The fruit is fully edible, seeds and all, but I prefer to slice off the ribs on the outer edge of the fruit (starfruit is technically a berry). The tree is beautiful when in flower as it gets covered in pink flowers that are highly attractive to bees and pollinators. If you are considering planting a starfruit tree, they do favor a location that is protected from the wind. The carambola tree prefers sandy, well-drained soil, and enjoys being given access to constant or consistent water although they do not use huge amounts of water and seem to tolerate short periods of drought quite well. These trees do not tolerate long periods of saturated soils and may suffer if planted in an area that collects water such as a depression in the land on a low point of a property. In extended periods of drought, they tend to drop their leaves and the fruit will be smaller in size. All in all, the carambola is an easy tree to grow and once established it can basically be forgotten in maintenance routines, other than the occasional fertilizing or pruning, if it has sufficient water available. Star fruit are a lovely treat on a hot summer afternoon when picked straight from the tree. March is a lovely time of year to get into the garden, although sometimes can typically be a windy month. It is a good time of year to observe any trees nearby and consider pruning out any dead wood and thinning out the center of the crown(s) to increase light and air flow. As always, I wish you happy gardening! • Adam Boorman is the nursery manager at the Fox Hill Nursery. You can contact him with any questions you may have, or topics you would like to see discussed, at gardening242@gmail.com.
The Tribune | Weekend | 11
Friday, March 4, 2022
FOOD
Two-week food festival kicks off at
ATLANTIS
T
HIS Wednesday marked the start of Atlantis’ first two-week food and wine festival, Taste of Paradise. The event will include a series of pop-up experiences and culinary events until Sunday, March 13, in collaboration with the resort’s
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net fine dining and casual restaurants. There will also be special dinners with world-renowned chefs like Nobu Matsuhisa, Michael White,
SoundWaves makes good on promise, donates to
JENNIE STREET FIRE VICTIMS By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
O
RGANISERS of the SoundWaves Concert, which was held last year to raise funds for Jennie Street fire victims, have made good on their promise to assist the affected families after recently making a donation of $13,300 to them. Shortly after the Jennie Street fire, Tim Daniels of SoundWaves and the Rotary Club of East Nassau organised a concert and art auction to raise funds for the fire victims who lost six homes and had damage to four others. The event was held at Club Waterloo, which provided the perfect backdrop for the live band and art display. The presentation of
$13,300 was recently given to the families to help rebuild their homes. An additional $5,000 was donated by ALIV. The organisers thank the musicians and artists whose contribution made the night a success. On May 1, 2021 a massive fire broke at Jennie Street, destroying homes and displacing families. Immediately, the creative community and philanthropic spirit of SoundWaves kicked into gear. “We gave over the big cheque in front of the Daxon residence, which is under construction on Jennie Street. The funds went into various accounts. Some of the funds went into accounts at JBR to help with rebuilding homes. One of the families affected by the fire has purchased a new
Todd English and Julie Lightbourne. Audrey Oswell, president and managing director at Atlantis Paradise Island, said Taste of Paradise will present a variety of different cuisines and culinary styles, from celebrity chefcurated menus to sustainable seafood presentations. “We can’t wait to welcome our guests and community to take part in what will be a delicious and educational two -week festival,” she said. Tamir Shanel, senior vice president of Food and Beverage at Atlantis, added: “Nobu is bringing
home, so their funds were put towards their purchase with Arawak Homes Ltd Another family had funds put towards new appliances at Cost Right,” Mr Daniels told Tribune Weekend. The SoundWaves music festival was founded by Mr Daniels with the aim of connecting original Bahamian musicians, artists and poets to an audience that supports and appreciates their work. The festival also raised a total of $20,000 to aid victims of Hurricane Dorian. Seven families benefited from the recent donation. “The recipients were overjoyed with the support and financial assistance. Some had tears in their eyes as they revisited Jennie Street and gave thanks to members of SoundWaves Bahamas, Rotary Club of East Nassau and Aliv Together Bahamas for their assistance. I was impressed by the strength and positivity of the families, who are determined to find a way to grow from a challenging situation,” he said. Now that it has made good on its promise, SoundWaves will turn its attention to other projects and activities, including a musical performance tomorrow
seven of his beverage and food specialists that will work with our home team to create a very memorable experience. Chef Micheal White, who is opening an Italian restaurant here later this year, will have a dinner as well. Todd English, with a couple of his people, is flying in to host a dinner. There are a lot of events that are going to happen.” Of the Taste of Paradise festival he said: “We believe that over time this will become a major attraction to come to the Bahamas, and specifically to Atlantis, to experience it.”
Members of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, Rotary After Dark, SoundWaves and residents who lost their homes in the Jennie Street fire. at Nirvana Beach that will feature Pineapple Down, Krazy Ringo and DJ Rinsa. SoundWaves is currently holding smaller events in order to abide by COVID protocols. These events include the Acoustic Brunch, which is held every other Sunday at Studio Café and highlights three local singer songwriters each week, and the Fire and Flow event, which is held once a month at the Nirvana Beach Bar and highlights three local hip-hop and reggae artists at each event. There is also an open mic segment so that other artists can show off their original music and earn a spot in future event lineups. “We are also holding SoundWaves Presents, which features one main act each month,” said Mr Daniels.
SoundWaves also continues to support local musicians and artists in any way they can. “We have an equipment share so that performers can hold events and not spend their entire budget on sound/lights. We continue to book and highlight new Bahamian artists that are creating fantastic original music. We are hopeful that we will be able to hold the SoundWaves Original Festival in the near future and raise more funds and awareness for those in need.” SoundWaves is also working on a video series called SoundEscapes which featurs local talent against a backdrop of beautiful locations around the Bahamas. The first episode is
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LITERARY LIVES – ELIZABETH TAYLOR (1932 - 2011)
Child star to
FILM GODDESS Part I Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about the British-American actress who began her career as a child actress and became one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema. “When people say, ‘she’s got everything’. I’ve got one answer – I haven’t had tomorrow.
Hopper. With connections, Taylor got auditions with both Universal Pictures and Metro-GoldwynMeyer in 1941. Both studios offered Taylor contracts, and her mother chose Universal Pictures.
- Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born on February 27, 1932 in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London. She received dual BritishAmerican citizenship at birth as her parents were United States citizens. Her father, Francis Lenn Taylor, was an art dealer who had a gallery in Bond Street, and her mother a retired stage actress. They moved to London in 1929 and their first child, a son named Howard, was born the same year. Her father and mother were socially prominent and their circle included artists Augustus John and Laura Knight, as well as the politician Colonel Victor Cazalet who became Taylor’s unofficial godfather. In early 1939, United States ambassador Joseph P Kennedy advised Francis Lenn Taylor to return with his family to the United States, fearing an impending war in Europe. They took his advice and, in April 1939, her mother with her two children left England on the SS Manhattan and moved in with Taylor’s maternal grandfather in Pasadena, California. Her father remained behind to close the gallery and joined his family in December. He opened a new gallery in Los Angeles and settled in Beverley Hills, where the children were sent to Hawthorne School. In California, Taylor’s mother was often told that her uniquely attractive daughter should audition for films. Taylor’s eyes were blue,
In April 1941, Taylor began her contract with Universal and received a small role in There’s One Born Every Minute (1942). It was the only part she was offered and her contract was terminated at the end of the year. Universal’s casting director didn’t like Taylor. “The kid has nothing ... her eyes are too old, she doesn’t have the face of a child.” Later, Taylor’s biographer Alexander Walker agreed that she looked different from other child stars like Shirley Temple and Judy Garland.
appeared violet, and were rimmed with dark double eyelashes caused by a genetic mutation. After war broke out in Europe, she realised that a return to Europe was unlikely, and she changed her mind about the film industry and saw it as a way of assimilating into California society. Her husband had already gained Hollywood clients, helped by the gossip columnist Hedda
Late in 1942, MGM producer Samuel Marx gave Taylor another chance and gave her an audition for a small role in Lassie Come Home (1943). She was given a threemonth trial contract, and then a standard seven-year contract in January 1943. She appeared in two minor uncredited roles set in England: Jane Eyre (1943) and The White Cliffs of Dover (1944).
Taylor at age 12 in a breakout role ‘National Velvet’
When she was twelve years old, Taylor was given her first starring role to play a girl who wants to compete in the English racing classic the Grand National. Taylor later said National Velvet was the most exciting film of her career. MGM had been looking for a young actress with an English accent and an ability to ride horses.
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Clarence Brown, her director in White Cliffs, recommended Taylor because he knew she had all the skills needed. And a star was born.
filming. Just out of her teens she played her part magnificently in the old colonial drama. After The Last Time I Saw Paris, based on F Scott Fitzgerald’s short story, and acting opposite Van Johnson, Taylor became pregnant again, and MGM added another year to her contact.
However, as Taylor was so small, filming was delayed for several months to allow her to grow. She spent the time riding, while MGM groomed her for stardom – fixing her teeth with braces and changing the shape of her eyebrows. National Velvet became an instant box office success when it was released on Christmas Day 1944. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times said that Taylor’s whole manner in the picture was one of refreshing grace. James Agee of The Nation wrote: “She is rapturously beautiful ... I hardly know or care whether she can act or not.” Taylor’s childhood ended when she became a star. MGM controlled every aspect of her life. She was only twelve years old when National Velvet was released and the studio made her adhere to a strict daily schedule – attending school, filming on the studio lot, dancing and singing classes, and learning lines for the following day’s shoot. MGM revised Taylor’s contract after the success of National Velvet and gave her a weekly salary of $750. They also cast her in another minor role in the third Lassie series Courage of Lassie (1946). In 1947, Taylor was fifteen and MGM started to cultivate a more mature image for her by organising photo shoots and interviews that made her look like a normal teenager going to parties and on dates. Life magazine referred to her as “the most accomplished teen-age actress” in Cynthia (1947), and Life with Father (1947) opposite William Powell and Irene Dunne – where she played the girlfriend of a stockbroker’s son. Both films were critically panned. She got bit parts in Date with Judy (1948) as a teenaged seducer, and as a bride in Julia Misbehaves (1948), which grossed over $4 million at the box office. Her last adolescent role was as Amy March in Mervyn LeRoy’s Little Women (1949) – another box office success. Time magazine featured
At age 18, Taylor marries Nicky Hilton, the hotel chain heir Taylor on its cover and called her the leader of the next generation of stars, “a pearl of great price.” Taylor made the full transition to adult roles in 1950 when she was eighteen. She played a woman who suspected her husband was a Soviet spy in Conspirator (1949). Her second film that year The Big Hangover (1950) was released in May – the same month that she married Conrad “Nicky” Hilton Jr, the hotel-chain heir. The event was organised by MGM and used as part of a publicity campaign for Taylor’s next film, Father of the Bride (1950), directed by Vincent Minnelli, in which she starred opposite Spencer Tracy. The film was a huge box office success, released in June, and grossed $6 million ($65 million in today’s money). It was followed by Father’s Little Dividend (1951) ten months later. A Place in the Sun (1951) was an enormous departure from Taylor’s earlier films. George Stevens made her act. The film was based on Theodore Dreiser’s book An American Tragedy (1925) and it was a perfect opportunity for Taylor, who played the part of a pampered socialite who falls for a poor factory worker (Montgomery Clift), who gets his girlfriend (Shelley Winters) pregnant. There was a magical chemistry between Taylor and Clift, and the film was a critical and financial success. More than that, it rocketed Taylor into the leading romantic actress of the age. Much to the disappointment and
dismay of MGM, Taylor divorced “Nicky” Hilton in January 1951 after only nine months of marriage, causing a public scandal that the studio thought would reflect negatively on her career. They therefore cast her in the B-picture romantic comedy Love Is Better Than Ever as a reprimand. They then sent her to England to take part in the historical epic Ivanhoe (1952) opposite Robert Taylor, Joan Fontaine and George Sanders. She hated the project, thinking that the story was superficial and that her part as Rebecca too small. It was an expensive project and but studio gamble became, surprisingly, one of MGM’s biggest commercial successes, earning $11 million (nearly $128 million in 2021 dollars) in worldwide sales and rentals.
Television, a major competition to the film industry in the mid 1950s, resulted in Taylor being given more challenging roles. When George Stevens, who directed her in A Place in the Sun, was given the Edna Ferber epic story Giant to direct, she lobbied hard to get the lead part. Stevens was a difficult taskmaster, and the filming in Marfa, Texas, wasn’t easy. She was often ill, with resulting shooting delays. To add to this, her co-star James Dean was killed in a car accident shortly after filming was completed. The grieving Taylor still had to film parts of their joint scenes with Dean – a demanding task. “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.” – Elizabeth Taylor Giant was released in 1956 and, as expected, it became a box office success – praised widely by critics and garnering Academy Awards for most of the top performers – but not for Taylor.
While in England, Taylor met and married British actor Michael Wilding and was pregnant with their first child. Despite her differences with MGM, Taylor signed a new seven-year contract with the studio and MGM even gave her much older husband a three-year contract, and a loan for a house. Her third film under the old MGM contract was The Girl Who Had Everything (1953).
Taylor was reunited with Montgomery Clift in Raintree County in 1957 – a civil war drama that MGM hoped would compete with Gone with the Wind. But it didn’t happen. She found it difficult to play a mentally disturbed Southern belle and disliked the film and her part. She was nevertheless nominated for the first time for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.
MGM made four films in 1954 under Taylor’s new contract: Rhapsody, Elephant Walk, Beau Brummell and The Last Time I Saw Paris. The second was a drama of a young wife adapting to life on her husband’s tea estate in old Ceylon. She had been loaned to Paramount Pictures when its original star Vivien Leigh got sick after starting
• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; Elizabeth: The Life of Elizabeth Taylor (1990) by Alexander Walker; and Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Marriage of the Century (2010) by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger
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HISTORY
Cascadilla – the home of Edward George
‘Nassau’s oldest store’
JOHN S GEORGE & CO
F
or many years, John S George & Company was Nassau’s oldest store, but it no longer exists and its name has been forgotten. Younger generations never heard of it, but John S George & Co was a fixture of the Bay Street scene – a hardware store and ship supplier that even sold booze, bikes and Odol, a German mouthwash. It owed its name to John Saffrey George, an Englishman from the County of Wiltshire, who came to the Bahamas in 1846 at the age of 21 to work as a clerk. Before long, he became a business partner of William James Weech, a prominent merchant and Member of the House of Assembly.
In 1849, John Saffrey George married his partner’s 19-year-old daughter, Amelia Ann, and worked with his father-inlaw for 10 years until 1859, when he opened his own store on the southern side of Bay Street, between East Street and Bank Lane. As was common in those times, the family lived upstairs. John and Amelia had seven children, one daughter and six sons, most of whom did not live to reach maturity. Edward, the second son, inherited the business and moved into a house called Cascadilla, on the east side of East Street, at the corner with Miller Court, just a few hundred years from his store. Like the store, Cascadilla no
PAUL C ARANHA
FORGOTTEN FACTS longer exists and the city is the poorer for it. My father was the Crown Lands officer and his office was on the west side of East Street, almost opposite Cascadilla. At 1.35pm, on school days, I walked to the CLO and waited for my parents to finish work and take me home.
Sometimes Mamma or Daddy would send me to buy small items from John S George & Co. Maybe they just wanted to get rid of me a a few minutes, but ‘Mr George’ was always happy to see me and would charge my purchases to Daddy’s account. I’m not sure when I found out that John Saffrey George had died in 1879 and it was in fact Herbert McKinney who was being nice to me. Edward George had sold the business to him in 1924. In 2015, I was moved by what I found in the Western
Cemetery – a family plot holding all the George family children who had died young. Of all the graves, this was the most moving. It tells a sad story. • For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@gmail.com
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ANIMALS
The silent
VICTIMS OF WAR By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters
A
s we watch the devastating events unfold in the Ukraine, I cannot help but wake up during the night thinking of the families being torn apart. I feel for mothers trying to protect their children from warfare, the fathers, brothers, husbands staying back to fight for their country’s freedom. Those who are fleeing the war do so taking little with them, a backpack, a bag on wheels, a pet. What a dreadful situation for these brave, brave, people of the Ukraine. Whilst thinking of families and children, my mind naturally moves on to think of the animals: pets, animals in sanctuaries and shelters, farm animals, horses, sheep, pigs, and zoo animals; these are all victims too. There are some very touching photos of families clinging on to their beloved pets, their final link to normalcy. God bless Poland, Romania and Slovakia for allowing those animals to cross the borders with their families without demanding veterinary records. However, there are still many animals in the Ukraine who need food, medicine and attention. The pleas on Facebook and the emails being sent are on the increase. Now we hear that Russia may be planning to lay siege to some of the biggest cities, cutting off the supply of food. I find it impossible that people still behave like this in 2022. David Barritt, director of the Network for Animals, an international animal welfare organisation, said: “It is a terrible tragedy for animals, particularly cats and dogs, because the people had to flee very unexpectedly. Most weren’t allowed to take their animals with them. So they had no choice but to abandon these poor creatures on the streets. These animals, who are not used to fending for themselves, now find
A woman carries her dog across the border from Ukraine to Romania. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
themselves on the streets as victims of bombs, bullets. They are completely forlorn and helpless. They have very little chance of survival if we don’t pay attention to them.” This paints a very bleak picture, even though a few countries have relaxed the rules for the entry of pets. Imagine being forced to choose between war and your pet, but most definitely, I feel great solidarity with the families who stay behind with their fur family. Animals deserve the same consideration under these circumstances. There is a heroic Italian called Andrea Cisternino who runs a shelter in Kiev. He has over 300 rescue animals (dogs, goats, cow, horses). He says he will not leave the animals who depend on him for food and care. Two simple words like food and care pose an enormous
challenge. There are already food shortages and the fear that water supplies may falter. Mr. Cisternino has vowed that he would rather die than leave his animals…. I pray for his safety. PETA and IFAW are working hard to try and get supplies to shelters. I quote this recent report from the BBC News: “PETA Germany has been on the border trying to ‘shepherd animals out safely’, according to Jennifer White from the animal rights group. Like IFAW, she says the group is working with partner organisations in neighbouring Romania who’ve managed to get into Ukraine to rescue abandoned animals, along with offering to vaccinate dogs and cats. She says two tonnes of cat and dog food have been donated, as well as giving blankets to people who’ve been walking vast distances.”
Hopefully, this vaccination initiative will enable people to travel more freely with their pets. What a fear and worry it must be for people who are already facing some of the worst possible fears. I get it that countries need to protect their animals, as they must protect their humans, but we all need to realise what is going on in the Ukraine and must open up our hearts and show real compassion and sympathy for those incredibly brave people who are standing firm and showing such awe-inspiring resistance. They deserve to be able to keep their pets. War is terrible whenever and wherever, however, bullies shouldn’t be tolerated anywhere. Many countries would back down. This present Davis and Goliath scenario is compelling and the fact that the world watches transfixed must give hope and courage to those standing firm. The silent victims of war pull at our heartstrings. Children, the elderly, the animals, who do not understand what is going on and stand at the sidelines watching, unable to help, but victims of every action that is taken. There are various sites on the internet that are collecting donations. I cannot speak for their authenticity because I do not know them. I do know IFAW who came in and helped the Bahamas after Dorian. They are very dedicated and get the job done. If everybody sent a small donation, it would help them and not interfere with the capability of helping those in need at home.
pet of the week
A PRINCESS IN NEED OF RESCUING By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY “Look deep into my eyes and tell me you want to adopt or foster me!” Anastacia was rescued by the Bahamas Humane Society after living in a place where she was underfed and barely cared for. Now, thanks to some TLC, medical attention,and the donations of cooked food by many generous people, Anastacia is finally putting on some much-needed weight and starting to see the world in a more positive light. If you’re not able to adopt this slightly shy girl, please consider fostering.
Recovering dogs do much better in a loving home away from the noise of the shelter. Please call 323-5138 to find out more information about Anastacia or to ask how you can help. Anastacia is waiting to turn her soulful eyes onto you! • The BHS Thrift Shop is open and ready to sell you all kinds of wonderful things! Books, clothing, housewares, giftware, art, and much more. Wednedays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11am to 3pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. Bring your bag!
Photo/Linda GIll-Aranha
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