Friday, October 1, 2021
pageants interview leisure gardening history food puzzles animals
Weekend
Savoury duffs Page 07
Adventures under the sun New camping experience lets guests reconnect with nature
pgs 08 +09
02 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 1, 2021
pageants
Meet the 2021 Miss Bahamas Universe finalists
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n Sunday, a new Miss Bahamas Universe will be crowned during the pageant’s grand finale 2021 at The Rosewood, Baha Mar, starting at 6pm in the Grand Salon. It’s been a two-month journey for contestants to get to this point. This year’s process started off with 16 applicants who sought to compete for the title. The finale will see the last remaining four contestants battle it out in front of a panel of five judges. Last year was an unprecedented one for those in pageantry, as many national directors under the Miss Universe brand opted either to select an ambassador or organised a screening as another option. Miss Bahamas Universe Organisation did the latter and through that screening Shauntae Miller became the new ambassador who went off to compete at the Miss Universe Competition in Hollywood, Florida, this Summer. Shauntae garnered an incredible response from supporters for her bold approach to the competition and was responsible for most social media buzz the Bahamas has ever received in the competition. This year, the organisation is also seeking to select a queen who will a “game-changer” who can help increase the Bahamas’ “sash power”, fan base and destination appeal. National Director Anthony Smith said the point is to find and present a young woman who is not going to be “cookie cutter.” The new Miss Bahamas Universe will represent the Bahamas in Eilat, Israel, this December. Tickets for the event are available at Signature Styles Marathon Road or by reaching out to any of this year’s contestants.
The 2021 finalists Alea Sweeting, LAC, MS, EdS is a clinical psychotherapist based in New Providence. She studied and received her education for her Bachelor degree and Masters in Searcy,
Arkansas. She has a passion for and experience in youth counselling and early childhood development. She has worked in several outpatient facilities and educational institutions for students, families and couples. She has used her knowledge and skills to assist in developing the Journal of Graduate Educational Research as editor-in-chief for the first volume. Alea has developed her own private practice to help those in need and educate individuals on the importance of mental health.
Danielle Deliyah Adrianne Dean is a
third-year media journalism student at the University of the Bahamas. Through her non-profit organisation, Fight Against Depression & Low Self-esteem, she aims to uplift and motivate those struggling to improve their mental health. She is a former track athlete and has been coached by “Golden Girl” Pauline Davis-Thompson and has held the title of BAISS and National Champion in the 400m and 800m. Having sung for most of her life, she has had the opportunity to share her musical gift on a myriad of platforms, both nationally and internationally. Danielle is also the owner of Wraps by Adrianne, a small business specialising in custom-made head wraps and scarves.
Peteché Bethell is the
third woman in her family to be follow the career path to becoming a counsel and attorneyat-law, and now practices at a top Bahamian law
firm. She holds a Masters of Law and Psychology and Law Joint Honours BSc, all obtained with distinction and completed with full academic scholarships. Advocating for education as a means for gaining opportunities and connections, she hopes to expand her impact through diplomacy and public policy. Peteché is also the founder of the Power Passion Purpose Project (“P3”), a nonprofit organisation which provides mentorship and networking opportunities to girls in senior high school. She also serves as a mental health ambassador for the Bahamas Red Cross.
Chantel O’Brian is a
first-generation college graduate, motivational speaker, marketer, model, entrepreneur, and a Christian. The former Miss World Bahamas 2015 obtained a Bachelor of Administration degree in Business Enterprise from the Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland. While obtaining her degree, Chantel founded PS O’Brian Consulting, a pageant, etiquette, runway coaching and consultation agency. She also offers services in marketing and branding. Chantel is the co-founder of The Leading Ladies Project and the creator of “The Final Crown”, a faith-based and pageantry vlog based on her mantra ‘Perfection is a Myth’. Through her initiatives, Chantel advocates for underprivileged youth by fostering self-confidence and the selfworth in young Bahamians. In 2016, Chantel was nominated for a Bahamian Icon Award. Her work also resulted in her being recognised by the Royal Commonwealth Society as a Fellow Associate. As a member of the Majority Minority Development Association and a certified youth leader with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Bahamas, Chantel seeks to help minorities with their educational pursuits.
The Tribune | Weekend | 03
Friday, October 1, 2021
Weekend Inside
My Perfect Bahamian Weekend Leslie “Lezz Boogie” Ellis Tynes Actress, producer and director
Interview 4 – 5
London-based Bahamian artist celebrates the spirit of Junkanoo with a painting that has been selected for the prestigious Royal Academy of London’s Summer Exhibition 2021.
Puzzles 6 Food 7
Local cook puts Ragged Island on the culinary map with her savoury duffs and more
Leisure 8 – 9
A new adventure experience lets Bahamians and visitors alike reconnect with nature during a unique camping excursion Q: What are you binge-watching? “I’m almost ashamed to admit this because it’s so barbaric, but also because I’d recently been a part of a parody for it: ‘Squid Game’.”
Gardening 10
Pine bark-based mixes for potting
Books 11
Oprah’s new book club pick and latest page-turners this week
Literary Lives 12 – 13
A pioneering actress and singer who broke colour barriers on 1960s’ TV
07
Forgotten Facts 14
The economics of the Bahamas
Animals 15
Senior pets, plus Pet of the Week
JOHN LEGEND TO HEADLINE CULINARY CELEBRATION AT BAHA MAR Grammy Award-winning singer John Legend will be helping to celebrate an evening featuring celebrity chefs, culinary tastings, masterful mixology, as well as a toast of Legends Vineyard Exclusive French Rosé at SLS Baha Mar on November 5. ‘Taste of SLS’ promises to be a star-studded culinary celebration, bringing together award-winning chefs from around the world and affording guests a taste of the very best of SLS properties in one location. Michele Caniato, chief brand officer of the hotel management company sbe said:
“We are delighted to bring back ‘Taste of SLS’ to this very special property in the heart of the Bahamas, SLS Baha Mar and the entire resort of Baha Mar. We are thrilled that John Legend is headlining our event and bringing his signature LVE French Rosé to Baha Mar. I want to thank President Graeme Davis, and the Baha Mar team, for supporting us in this incredible event. Our event will be sure to wow foodies with over seven of our chefs in one incredible location.”
Q: Beach or sofa? “Both. Beach for hot days. Sofa for rainy days.” Q: Rum, wine, cocktail or a Kalik?
Graeme Davis, president of Baha Mar, added: “As Baha Mar has been widely recognised for its elevated gourmet scene, ‘Taste of SLS’ provides the resort with another opportunity to showcase the best of its impressive culinary portfolio and talent to our guests from across the world.” John Legend, who is also a Golden Globe and Oscar-winning singer and philanthropist, tops the bill along with culinary collaborators: Dario Cecchini
“Cocktail... something sweet.” Q: If you could be quarantined with a celebrity, who would it be and why? “Cardi B... I think it’d be interesting getting into shenanigans with her.” Q: If you could take a COVID-free trip, where would you go? “New Zealand.”
(Carna), Sara Aqel (Fi’lia) and Katsuya Uechi (Katsuya). There will also be several other concepts under the direction of Culinary Director Wayne Brown. The event will pair unlimited gourmet food and beverage offerings with exciting entertainment, along with access to Baha Mar’s LVE Lounge, and for those with gold tickets and above, access to the after party on the rooftop of SLS Baha Mar at Skybar. Guests will enjoy hand-crafted cocktails and LVE French Rosé from the Legend Vineyard Exclusive collection by John Legend as they enjoy never-ending culinary creations by SLS’s participating restaurants and mixology concepts. Tickets for the event are now on sale at sbe.com/tasteofsls-slsbahamar and are priced on experience, ranging from entry level silver tickets at $399 per person, to corporate cabanas for up to 10 guests at $10,000. Event access can be combined with special rate VIP weekend getaway packages at SLS Baha Mar.
04 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 1, 2021
interview
Julie Westmore Although she is thousands of miles away from home, this artist has found a way to feel connected to the Bahamas. She tells Jeffarah Gibson how one of her paintings, which celebrates the hard work and passion that goes Junkanoo, has been selected for a prestigious exhibit in London which will be seen by people from around the world.
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ahamian artist Julie Westmore is still in awe that one of her paintings was chosen over thousands of others to be featured in the Royal Academy of London’s Summer Exhibition 2021. Held every year without fail, the Summer Exhibition is a celebration of contemporary art and architecture. Anyone can enter their work – leading artists, household names, new and emerging talent. The exhibition provides a platform for the artistic community to showcase what they’re doing. The exhibition runs from September 22 until January 2, 2022, at the Royal Academy in London. Julie’s painting is one of 1,300 paintings chosen out of 20,000 entries submitted. Her painting, called ‘Junkanoo Rushing’, is 40 x 40cm in size and is painted in acrylics on a canvas box frame. The painting was part of a series of artwork she created while being lockdown in her London home during May of last year. “When I saw the theme to this year’s exhibition was ‘Reclaiming Magic’, I knew immediately that I had to enter the Junkanoo-inspired piece called ‘Junkanoo Rushing’,” she told Tribune Weekend. Julie is a self-taught artist who is inspired by everyday life. While she resides in London, her roots are firmly planted in the Bahamas, the place she was born and raised. Those roots make her reminisce on times spent back home, the culture she has been missing out on, that has now organically come to life in her painting. “Growing up in the Bahamas, two of the best events for me was going to watch Junkanoo on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day each year. I can remember waking
up really early to watch the event on TV until I was old enough to go with my mum and later with friends to watch live,” she said. “The participants work hard all year round preparing for this oneday event and it’s so exciting to stand there watching the different groups go by. It was always such a magical and exciting experience for me listening to the music and seeing the beautiful costumes with such intricate details made from crepe paper, jewels, feathers, cardboard and the participants spend the whole year creating.” Julie said she was filled with pride while painting “Junkanoo Rushing”. Throughout the process of creation, she embodied the effort and hard work Junkanoeers put into the parades. “Looking at the painting, I can hear the sound of the cowbells going ‘click, click, click and click’ with the oil drums and trumpets playing. The music and dancers just pull you in and your body starts to move to the beat by itself,” she said. Julie believes her submission adequately represented the magic of Junkanoo. “Sometimes when I paint, I get lost in the painting so much so that I can remember the feeling of pride, passion and dedication of every rusher as I was painting this piece. I even had Junkanoo music playing in the background to take me there. I was very emotional as I painted and was thinking constantly of all of the work that goes into making the costumes each year and the pride of the men, women and children continuing this tradition year after year’,” she said. Thousands travel around this time of year to London to view the famous exhibition. Julie said she
Friday, October 1, 2021
feels honoured that so many people will have a chance to experience Junkanoo through her painting. “It’s incredible. Thousands of people travel great distances each year to see the paintings that have been selected, and this year is the 250th-year celebration,” she said. “On the day that all the chosen artists were there to see the paintings in the gallery for the first time, they had a steel band playing songs like ‘Brown Girl in the Ring’, which made it feel even more special, as if I was representing the Bahamas and its traditions,” she told Tribune Weekend. While Julie has now established herself as a successful artist, it took time for her talent to develop. “I was terrible at art in school. It wasn’t until years later when I was living in Spain that I started trying my hand at art. I then took more of an interest whilst living in Miami and started selling a few paintings to family and friends. When I moved to London, in 2002, seascapes and tropical flowers were a constant in my paintings, as if they were a way for my soul to bridge the gap between my past, my roots and living abroad. I was certainly missing
The Tribune | Weekend | 05
the warm tropical weather during the cold English winters,” she said. “I stopped painting for a few years to have a family, but once my children started school, I took it up again. At that point in my life painting became an important release for me, somewhere I could lose myself for a few hours doing something that I loved. I started exhibiting my paintings in different exhibitions around London. I love to inspire creativity in others and have held art classes for children and adults.” In 2019, Julie started her own business, Jwesty Design, where she sells her paintings along with a wide range of products, such as stationery, textile and homeware products that are designed by the artist and made in the UK. “I try to divide my time equally between my art, my business and my family. It would be a dream to have my paintings and products available to buy in the Bahamas,” she said. Due to the pandemic, Julie has not been home since 2019, however, she is looking forward to coming back as soon as possible.
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(8) 29 Bad luck for those classed as sound performers (6) 30 Hard form of conundrum that loses its point (8) 31 Alliance has a complaint against the French (6)
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EASY PUZZLE
Across 1 Confused mass (6) 4 Well-to-do (8) 9 Flemish painter 1577-1640 (6) 10 Jack-of-all-trades (8) 12 Having sufficient skill (4) 13 Bowlegged (5) 14 Strong desire (4) 17 Following closely after (2,3,5,2) 20 Be wasted (2,3,7) 23 An attempt (4) 24 Small mound (5) 25 Refuse to obey (4) 28 Sailor’s dance (8) 29 Completely (2,4) 30 Almost (4-4) 31 Affix (6)
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today’s Target solution
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The Tribune | Weekend | 07
Friday, October 1, 2021
food
Local cook puts Ragged Island on the map with savoury duffs By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net
T
he last of eleven children born to an educator and a seaman from the island of Ragged Island, Joan LockhartCulmer said while her home is known for its salt trade and seamanship, the culinary gifts of the women of the small southern island are legendary. And the success of her colourful mobile food truck called Sea Duffs and Ocean Foamis testament to this fact. “My mother, Naomi Lockhart, was no exception. Though my father Kenneth was also a great cook, he was better known for his skill on the seas. Either way, it made a great combination for the baby in the family to have great culinary tutoring not just from my parents but from older siblings as well,” she told Tribune Weekend. “I started catering functions because of the encouragement of my mother and a very good friend, Chef Michael Taylor, 38 years ago. The catering to this day still brings much joy to me and clients alike,” said Joan. With her food truck, which is currently stationed in Nassau, Joan is always looking for new ways to expand on her family’s recipes which have been passed down to her. When she invited to participate in the Junkanoo Cultural Festival put on by the Ministry of Tourism a few years back, she got the chance to do just that. At the festival, she came up with the idea to celebrate Ragged Island and its food. Out of this experience came her savoury muffins and duffs. “Instead of sweet-based filings for these two items, I focused on infusing these items with products from the waters in and around our islands, to which end I produced the ‘Sea Duff’, which is steamed, savoury bread complemented by sauces (‘Ocean Foam’), and flavoured by crab, lobster, conch and fish. Much to my surprise, my booth, one of the smallest that year, actually won the pennant for the most original Bahamian booth,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to own a restaurant that would showcase original Bahamian foods at its best, and because I did not have the financially backing to do so, I saw the food truck as a smaller step to introduce foods and flavours I enjoyed as a child to the country at large.” Joan said she is proud of the fact that Sea Duffs and Ocean Foam offers fresh, never frozen, items from the beautiful Bahamian waters, caught every week and made into delectable appetisers, entrées, desserts and drinks. These include local conch and grouper empanadas, conch cakes, crab n’ dough duff, seafood duff, pan-fried grouper and snapper, her famous coconut red beans and rice, guava duff, coconut trifle loaf, seagrape and passionfruit
lemonade, tamarind brandy ice-tea, and soursop and ginger lemonade. “The way that the ingredients are infused into regular Bahamian style recipes makes the dishes unique. If I had to choose a favourite, I would choose the crab n’ dough duff which JOAN Lockhart-Culmer brings the flavour of crab n’ dough, baked crab, and crab soup flavour, neatly all in one package. It’s definitely a conversation-starter. Bahamians are curious and once they have tasted one of my dishes they are absolutely thrilled,” she said. Joan added: “I believe that a person’s gift will make room and open doors for them. And I hope that one day, because of my first step, every Bahamian will know my little island and be able to experience the sweet fellowship these recipes create when families get together. You see, family
dinners with great food, storytelling and rake n’ scrape music was the glue my mother Naomi, my brothers and my sister, Kayla Lockhart Edwards, used to keep the family together and ensure the traditions were learned by the younger ones coming up. It was an event every time.” Like most businesses, Joan said COVID -19 has affected her both positively and negatively. She is maintaining all the COVID protocols with drive-up service only, practicing social distancing and hand-sanitising. And while she has always maintained a high level of hygiene on the truck, COVID-19 has sent her into overdrive. “Business over the last year and a half has fallen off, but thankfully we have a great product that continues to keep the interest of the Bahamian public. Going forward, my plan is to do all that I can by keeping the truck and its items in the forefront of the food market here in the Bahamas. I will do this by introducing Sea Duffs and Ocean Foam one eventful plate at a time to one Bahamian at a time,” said Joan.
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Friday, October 1, 2021
gardening
Primary ingredients to successful potting: pine barkbased mixes
G
ood day gardeners! Staying on the subject of potting media ingredients, after sphagnum peat moss, the next most common ingredient is often pine bark. Different sizes are used depending upon the purpose of the mix with pine bark “fines” being used for mixes that are meant for smaller pots, as it is a smaller size, and larger bits used for mixes that are designed for larger pots. All pine bark that is used in potting mixes is aged to balance the pH.
When ingredients are not aged, they consume nitrogen in the break down process, which detracts from the amount of nitrogen available to the growing plant, for the same reason composts must be aged before use and the same applies to yard debris and seaweed. In our region, the pine bark is sourced from the southern states of the US, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, etcetera. There are many laws and regulations to sourcing this product and it is only available to be sourced and sold in the same
PINE bark region. It is not possible to import pine bark products for use in the south from Canada, or vice versa. Most of the regulations are in place to prevent the movement of pine bark beetles and similar pests that can ravage the entire industry, if it were to spread by unintentional transport from one region to another. A quick mention on the transport of pests and diseases, there are a handful of unscrupulous nurseries and plant purveyors around in the Bahamas who import citrus illegally from Florida (fact). If there is a citrus plant with beautiful tags on the trunk or on the plant, or if someone is selling a “new stock” finished product, I guarantee that it is illegally imported. Usually, the price will tell you if it was imported as a finished product as it’ll be $20 more than a locally grown product. Shop around! No citrus plant is legally imported to the Bahamas from Florida. The costs of importing a finished product from California are prohibitive, and I highly recommend being very cautious as to where one buys citrus plants. Once again, caveat emptor. This is a problem for anyone who has a citrus tree in their yard as people are intentionally risking introducing destructive and deadly pests and diseases all in the name of sales for profit, and it affects all of us negatively. Back to the primary topic, pine bark. Pine bark allows for faster drainage and drying of the media. Many plants do not like “wet feet” or over saturated potting media, and root rot can set in quickly. Citrus is one example of this, as are mango trees and many fruit trees, as well as many common landscape plants. Peat moss, composts and coconut coir hold moisture in the pot, and
pine bark makes larger airspace in the pot which allows not only faster drainage but also, you guessed it, more airspace. Pine bark breaks down over time though, and that’s where ingredients such as perlite come into play, to allow for sustained airspace and drainage to help the plant create a healthy root system and to prevent root rot. Pine bark by nature is slightly acidic, and this is another benefit of the peat/pine combination used in many mixes as many plants prefer a more acidic base than our native soils can provide due to their alkaline properties. On alkalinity… our native soils are calcium based, so when a tomato plant gets blossom end rot (black rot on the bottom of the tomato fruit), it is pointless to add Epsom salts with the thought that it “cures” blossom end rot. I’ll go into this in full in the next few weeks, but it is a futile and pointless exercise. If the tomato is in a potting mix made up of peat and pine bark etcetera, it is possible that the plant lacks calcium, but if you’re using a high-quality fertilizer, then it also becomes a moot point as any fertilizer worth its salt (see what I did there) contains adequate amounts of calcium and magnesium, and the addition of Epsom salts is once again moot and futile. It is not worth the time or money to try to save a dollar on a potting mix or fertilizer. For best results, use the best ingredients, it is that simple. Potting mixes vary greatly, and each is designed with a particular crop, pot size, or crop cycle in mind. The potting soil used will be a primary factor in the success or the failure of a particular plant or crop. If you don’t believe me, invest in the best and a budget brand, and compare the results for yourself. Experimentation is part of the joy and the challenge of successful gardening. 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.
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Friday, October 1, 2021
books
This week’s new page-turners • Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth: A Novel By Wole Soyinka The first Black winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature gives us a tour de force, his first novel in nearly half a century: a savagely satiric, gleefully irreverent, rollicking fictional meditation on how power and greed can corrupt the soul of a nation. In an imaginary Nigeria, a cunning entrepreneur is selling body parts stolen from Dr Menka’s hospital for use in ritualistic practices. Dr. Menka shares the grisly news with his oldest college friend, bon viveur, star engineer, and Yoruba royal, Duyole Pitan-Payne. The life of every party, Duyole is about to assume a prestigious post at the United Nations in New York, but it now seems that someone is determined that he not make it there. And neither Dr Menka nor Duyole knows why, or how close the enemy is, or how powerful. • Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters By Steven Pinker Today humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding--and also appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that developed vaccines for COVID-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, medical quackery, and
conspiracy theorising? Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply irrational - cavemen out of time saddled with biases, fallacies, and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives, and set out the benchmarks for rationality itself. We actually think in ways that are sensible in the lowtech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we’ve discovered over the millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, correlation and causation, and optimal ways to update beliefs and commit to choices individually and with others. These tools are not a standard part of our education, and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book - until now. • The Ex Hex By Erin Sterling Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths… and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two. That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realises her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all. Suddenly, Graves Glen is under attack from murderous wind-up toys, a pissed off ghost, and a talking cat with some interesting things to say. Vivi and Rhys have to ignore their off the charts chemistry to work together to save the town and find a way to break the break-up curse before it’s too late.
Oprah Winfrey chooses Richard Powers’ ‘Bewilderment’ for book club’ NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey’s new book club pick is Richard Powers’ “Bewilderment,” his first novel since the Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Overstory” and already on the fiction longlist for the National Book Awards. “My next selection is from one of our country’s greatest living writers, Richard Powers, who writes some of the most beautiful sentences I’ve ever read,” Winfrey said in a statement Tuesday. The 64-year-old Powers, whose other books include “Orfeo” and “The Echo Maker,” winner of the National Book Award in 2006, said in a statement that he was “honoured and moved to be named an ‘Oprah Book Club’ selection.” ”‘Bewildered’ doesn’t begin to describe it,” he added. “This is among the most rewarding recognitions I’ve received over my 40-year career.” Winfrey’s interview with Powers will air October 22 on Apple TV Plus. Powers is known for complex narratives that often center on science, technology and the environment. “Bewilderment,” published last week, tells of a widowed astrobiologist Theo Byrne searches who for life throughout the cosmos while singlehandedly raising his unusual nine-year-old, Robin. Robin is a warm, kind boy who spends hours painting elaborate pictures of endangered animals. He’s also about to be expelled from third grade for smashing his friend in the face. As his son grows more troubled, Theo hopes to keep him off psychoactive drugs. He learns of an experimental neurofeedback treatment to bolster Robin’s emotional control, one that involves training the boy on the recorded patterns of his mother’s brain The announcement on Tuesday comes just over a month since Winfrey’s previous book club choice: Honorée Fanonne Jeffers’ debut novel “The Love Songs of WEB Du Bois.”
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Friday, October 1, 2021
literary lives - Diahann Carroll (1935 - 2019)
A pioneering actress who broke colour barriers
Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about the American singer, model and activist who rose to prominence in some of the earliest studio films to feature black casts. She was the first African-American woman to receive a Tony Award for a performance on Broadway. “In the beginning, I found myself dealing with a show business dictated by male white supremacists and chauvinists. As a Black female, I had to learn how to tap dance around the situation. I had to ... find a way to present my point of view without being pushy or aggressive.” - Diahann Carroll Carol Diahann Johnson was born in the Bronx, New York City, on July 17, 1935, to John Johnson, a subway conductor, and Mabel (Faulk), a nurse. The family moved to Harlem while Carroll was still an infant. She was a classmate of young Billy Dee Williams, who went on to become famous in the role of Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars franchise, at Music and Art High School in Harlem. Her parents were very supportive, enrolling her in modelling, singing and dancing classes. By the time she was fifteen, she was modelling for Ebony magazine. She also entered
Diahann Carroll broke colour barriers with the TV sitcom ‘Julia’ in 1968
Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts on television using the name Diahann Carroll. She continued to study and, after graduating, went to New York University where she majored in sociology. She dropped out before graduating to pursue a career in show business, but promised her family that she would return to her studies if things did not work out in the entertainment industry. In 1953, when she was eighteen, she appeared on TV contesting in the Dumont Television Network programme Chance of a Lifetime hosted by Dennis James. Singing “Why Was I Born?” – the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein song – she won the $1,000 top prize and continued winning for the next four weekly programmes. Singing was her speciality and she went on to engagements in Manhattan’s Café Society and the Latin Quarter nightclubs. “I had a mom and pop who kept telling me that I was wonderful at a very early age. So when someone said to me, ‘Oh, you’re stuck up. Who do you think you are?’ I’d say, ‘I know who I am, and I don’t mind being stuck up.’” - Diahann Carroll Carroll made her film debut when she was nineteen in a supporting role in Carmen Jones (1954), which starred Dorothy Dandridge. That same year she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in the Broadway musical House of Flowers. Her voice seemed to be her strongest talent and won her early fame, but when cast as Clara in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess in 1959, her voice was dubbed by opera singer Loulie Jean Norman. Diahann Carroll married record producer Monte Kay in 1956 – a marriage conducted by
Adam Clayton Powell Jr at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem – and boycotted by her father. The marriage didn’t last. Her daughter Suzanne Kay Bamford was born on September 9, 1960. The marriage ended in 1962. In 1959, Carroll began a nine-year affair with the Bahamian actor Sidney Poitier, who was to star with her in her next film. Poitier, too, was married. He convinced Carroll to divorce her husband – which she did – and agreed to do the same. However, Poitier did not keep his side of the bargain. She made a guest appearance in the TV series Peter Gunn, in the episode “Sing a Song of Murder”. In Paris Blues (1961) she starred with Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, and then in 1962 became the first Black woman to win a Tony Award for Best Actress for portraying Barbara Woodruff in the Samuel Taylor/Richard Rodgers musical No Strings. Carroll’s relationship with Sidney Poitier ended in 1968, the year she played the title role in the television series Julia – for which she was best known and in which she became the first African-American actress to star in her own television series. She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television series, and a nomination for an Emmy Award in 1969. She was busy, in demand, and appeared as a guest on shows hosted by Johnny Carson, Judy Garland, Merv Griffin, Jack Paar, Ed Sullivan, and on Hollywood Palace. She also met and was engaged to British television host David Frost from 1970 until 1973, when she surprisingly married Las Vegas boutique owner Fred Glusman. Glusman filed for divorce four months later. Glusman was reportedly physically abusive and Carroll did not contest the divorce. “As soon as my mother saw my father, she said, ‘Oh! I think I’m gonna marry that man.’ That’s the reason I’ve been married four times, because I think it’s that easy ... it really is not.” - Diahann Carroll On May 25, 1975 Carroll, then aged thirty-nine, married Robert DeLeon, the twenty-four year old managing editor of Jet magazine. DeLeon had assigned himself to a cover story on Carroll about her Oscar nomination for the film Claudine. Carroll moved to Chicago where Jet was headquartered, but the couple soon relocated
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Friday, October 1, 2021
CARROLL started modelling at the age of 15 to Oakland in California. Carroll was widowed two years later when DeLeon was killed in a car accident. Carroll joined the nightime soap opera Dynasty in 1984 as the mixed-race jet set diva Dominique Deveraux, Blake Carrington’s half-sister. She remained on the show until 1987 and made several appearances on the show’s short-lived spin-off The Colbys. She received her third Emmy nomination in the role of Marion Gilbert in A Different World (1980). Carroll’s fourth and final marriage was to singer Vic Damone in 1987. They made several television appearances together and were constantly on the road. Carroll admitted that it was an unsteady and turbulent marriage that led to a legal separation in 1991, a reconciliation, and a final divorce in 1996. “You have to keep your sanity as well as know how to distance yourself from situations while still holding onto the reins tightly. That is a very difficult thing to do, but I’m learning.” - Diahann Carroll In 1991, an ageing Carroll played Eleanor Potter in The Five Heartbeats – the musical drama film. Some years later she reunited with her childhood friend Billy Dee Williams in Lonesome Dove: The Series as Mrs Greyson, and in 1996 she starred as the deluded silent movie star Norma Desmond in the Canadian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical version of Sunset Boulevard. Carroll’s final TV performances were in Grey’s Anatomy (2006), White Collar (2010), and as Nana in two lifetime movie adaptations of Patricia Cornwell novels At Risk and The Front in 2010.
CARROLL and Sir Sidney Poitier had a years-long affair
CARROLL and her former classmate Billy Dee Williams in Ebony magazine in 1984
“I like to think I opened doors for other women, although that wasn’t my original intention.” - Diahann Carroll Diahann Carroll was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 – a diagnosis which “stunned” her because there had been no family history of breast cancer and she had always led a healthy lifestyle. After nine weeks of radiation therapy she was clear of the disease for several years and spoke often of the need for early detection. She died on October 4, 2019 at her home in Los Angeles. She was eight-four years old. The following month, on November 24, 2019, Carroll was saluted in a star-studded Memorial at the Helen Hayes Theatre in New York City for her pioneering work in entertainment, particularly for AfricanAmerican artists. • Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television (2009) by Bob McCann; and The Legs Are the Last to Go: Aging, Acting, Marrying, Mothering, and Other Things I Learned Along the Way (2009) by Diahann Carroll.
Carroll in 2017
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Friday, October 1, 2021
history
The economics of the Bahamas
V
irgil Henry Storr, PhD, is a Bahamian member of the faculty of the George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia and the author of “Enterprising Slaves and Master Pirates”, a book about the economic life of the Bahamas. Published in 2004, to offer “an interdisciplinary account of life in the Bahamas”, Storr tells us that the economic culture of the Bahamas is dominated by two types of entrepreneurs, hence the title of his book. The enterprising slave is a product of the Loyalist period of Bahamian history, when it was not uncommon for slaves to be allowed the weekend off to operate their own small businesses. For the slaveowners, this offered some relief from the constant problem of how to feed their slaves. The owners assigned plots of land (usually, less arable plots) for slaves to grow their own food and free time to work these plots and sell some of the crops, thus allowing slaves to produce much of what they ate – including bananas, coconuts, plantains, yams and other vegetables – and improved the quality of their lives. Their gardens became a fundamental part of slave life and created thriving markets for their produce. In my childhood, long after slavery had been abolished, Nassau residents bought from enterprising descendants of slaves, who balanced their wares on their heads and walked the streets peddling their wares. A few of them called at our home every morning on their way to the Public Market. Some walked from Adelaide (and back) to sell bletia orchids (Bahamian bletias were the first orchids in Kew Gardens in England). Each of them was perfectly capable to price things correctly in pounds, shillings and pence (without iPhones and computers) and these entrepreneurs knew how much to collect and exactly how much change had to be given. Storr makes us understand that slaves (and exslaves) “view the higgler traditions as more than a means of subsistence, but as an opportunity to attain real economic success.” Piracy goes further back in Bahamian history and flourished until 1718, when Woodes Rogers sailed into the harbour. As the islands’ new governor, he came with sufficient military power to put down the long-established ‘pirate republic’, offer amnesty to repentant pirates (of which there were many) and hang the few that would not co-operate. Once the pirates had been expelled and commerce restored, the Colony eventually chose the new motto ‘Expulsis piratis restituta commercia’ (pirates expelled, commerce restored). Its new emblem showed a British man-o-war chasing two pirate ships away from the waters of the colony. It is not difficult to imagine Woodes Rogers at the tiller of that man-o-war. Piracy, as such, may have been expelled, but when doing business in the Bahamas, one might
be excused for thinking that piracy – albeit under a variety of respectablesounding names – is still alive and flourishing today. “Extra-legal matters are not simply accepted in the Bahamas, they are encouraged by, and celebrated in Bahamian culture and, at various times, have sustained FORGOTTEN FACTS the economy,” Storr writes. Comparing differences in culture, Storr describes an American woman who walks to work, wearing gym shoes, and changing into business shoes once she reaches the office. This message sent is: “I am here now, and I have come to give a full day’s work, for a full day’s pay.” On our side of the Gulf Stream, the Bahamian counterpart drives to work “fully-adorned in business attire” - her shoes, her briefcase and her
PAUL C ARANHA
business suit suggest that she is a serious worker - but once she gets to work, she undergoes a metamorphosis, removing her expensive business shoes and putting on a pair of bedroom slippers that she bought for wearing around the office. “I am here to get a full day’s pay, for doing as little work as possible.” Of customer service, Storr states bluntly: “Customer service in the Bahamas is indeed poor.” I wish I could argue with this, but I have been waiting for over a month for my BTC landline phone to be ported over to a competitor. Most frustrating is the fact that it is virtually impossible to phone that competitor and actually talk with a human being. Even if I know my party’s extension number, it seems impossible to connect with a human. Through perseverance (and a lot of good luck), my wife and I have managed to talk with a few living voices, each of whom has promised that our landline will be connected to our newly rentedhouse, each of whom has let us down. On page 122, Storr writes (and quotes Patricia Glinton-Meicholas) that the truth of success depends on ‘who you know’ – if you ever voice a difficulty that you seem unable to solve, the average Bahamian will ask, “Don’t you know somebody?” • For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@gmail.com
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Friday, October 1, 2021
animals
Senior
pets
A
Animal matters | KIM ARANHA
hhhhh, old age! When I was young, I was told that old age was not for “sissies”- not using the negative spin on that word, using the definition that was intended at first: meaning feeble and cowardly. Alas, it is true, aging has so many pitfalls and negative moments that come as an ugly surprise because we were never going to grow older, just those around us. I know I still think as I did 40 ears ago, and when I see old photos of myself, I wonder where “she” has gone. But those of us who are lucky to live long enough to age, have to look the years straight in the face, thank God we are still here, and avail ourselves of the different tools and aids to make growing older easier. Now, that is humans. It is not nearly as easy for animals, because without the help of humans they have no idea how to avail themselves of the miracles of modern medicine and science. If you happen to be a beloved pet, then your family will be right there to do everything on earth to make your aging easier and comfortable, like our beloved Buddy. Buddy is now 14 and a half years old. He has a wobbly gait and sometimes getting up on the tiles can be difficult, but almost always there is somebody to give him a helping hand.
This is done by reaching around his “waist” and gently helping him stand and remaining there until he gets his balance. Buddy finds getting up out of his bed easiest, and we have beds everywhere. There are also grip socks for dogs that help give them traction. The drawback with them is that they work themselves off every five minutes, and Buddy is not really a fan. A friend of mine told me that her dog, Gabby, a beautiful senior lady, actually calls them to put on her socks, but then that’s girls for you! In the event of total loss of the use of back or front legs, there is a vast variety of “wheelchairs” to help handicapped dogs get around. With a senior dog, the discussion needs to be had with your vet if he is well enough on all other counts to handle the wheelchair route. I have a sling to help Buddy walk, but I have not had to use it because though he looks a little tipsy, he is totally capable of doing more than one inspection tour of both the front and back gardens, something, incidentally, that gives him great pleasure. Old age and the mental side are also challenge. Anybody else lose their keys, glasses and phone multiple times a day? Guilty as charged; so frequently that it is a family joke. My Buddy gets a bit confused and suddenly issues a single woof. I think he is looking for one of us or reassurance, because
SENIOR citizen Buddy
when we go to him, and he sees us he inevitably gets up and joins us where we are and is content. This woof is totally different from the one to let him out or the one that signals he has heard something outside. Sometimes he gets into bed at night and woofs. If I go and stroke him for a couple of minutes he stretches out and falls asleep.. Bottom line is that you have to be patient and understanding. Old age hits us all, our pets too. Dementia and Alzheimer’s as well; treat them as you would like to be treated. Hearing and eyesight can falter too in animals. We humans wear glasses, hearing aids, have cataracts, well, so do animals. Buddy is a bit hard of hearing, so we have devised some sign language. Fortunately, his eyesight is still pretty good. Interesting though, if “his” boy, our son Scott, drives up, Buddy recognises the sound of his
PET OF THE WEEK
Seeking Suzy By The Bahamas Humane Society
“W
hat? There’s a cat behind me? That’s OK. It’s me you want to get to know. My name’s Suzy and I’m one of many cats available for adoption at the Bahamas Humane Society. Why pick me? Because I’m older (out of my kitten days but by no means old), I’ll be calmer than your average kitten. I’m
already spayed, so no babies to worry about. I’m curious and like to see what’s going on around me. And I like to be around humans, and that’s you! Please call 323-5138 for more information or come into the BHS to meet me. I look forward to seeing you!” •Need a cat or dog spayed or neutered? The BAARK/BHS Sunday Spay Days will be happening every other Sunday September to November, with the next date being October 3. For more information, and an appointment date, please call 427-7729.
Photo by Linda Gill-Aranha
truck immediately, and is right there at the door. As long as your senior has quality of life, is not in pain, enjoys his food and other aspects of his life, he deserves, as does a human, to enjoy his old age peacefully, and with loving care and understanding. Euthanasia is not an option if they are still enjoying their lives. Euthanasia is not a way to do away with the inconvenience of caring for a senior, or to make room for a puppy or kitten or younger horse, bunny rabbit, bird etcetera. Senior pets have given us their unconditional love, and when they get old, we need to recognise this love and devotion by being there for them Remember, when you point a finger at something there are two pointing back at you. One day you will need love, care and understanding from oth-
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