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Friday, October 22, 2021

celebrity interview gardening history community puzzles animals

Weekend

Columbus’ statue Page 11

Going the distance Family of fitness fans completes Boston Marathon

pgs 04 +05

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, October 22, 2021

The Weekend Fashion Report

MCU’s ‘Eternals’ premiere

With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt

FAIL

SPLIT

FAIL

SPLIT

HIT

Jennifer Lopez Angelina Jolie (“Thena”)

Gemma Chan (“Sersi”)

Lauren Ridloff (“Makkari”)

Lia McHugh (“Sprite”)

Salma Hayek (“Ajak”)

Karin says: “I love this dress, and while it’s very playful, I feel it’s slightly too too grown up for a 14-year-old, but maybe that’s just me. That said, I love the bright colour and the 3D accordion ruffles.”

Karin says: “It’s basically just a nice black dress by Gucci, albeit with some discreet peplum and a neckline that show’s off Salma’s...err…. ample attributes. I do love the gold lining we see through the slit though.”

Karin says: “Is this the new Marvel queen? Well, she certainly got all the fashion blogs talking about her unusual gold chin cuff. It looks interesting, but I don’t know if I love it. I definitely don’t love the mud-coloured Balmain dress. The draped structure is fine, but the colour is not doing her any favours.” Cara says: “The colour and the fit of the dress make it a no for me. It’s really quite shapeless and sack-like for me. She did try to up the drama with her accessories, but this is a fail for me.”

Karin says: “This definitely looks like something an offworld superhero would wear if they wanted to be fancy. I absolutely adore the ostrich feather cape, and the top of this very bridal Louis Vuitton dress is fine, but the bottom half is just way too much.” Cara says:“I like it. It’s a bit over the top, but I think she pulls it off. It’s dramatic for sure, but it doesn’t overpower her. The detailsareabsolutely stunning.”

Karin says: “Just no. This is like a cross between a cocktail waitress and a Playboy bunny outfit. I love the idea of a short romper on the red carpet, but this Saint Laurent design is not it. It just looks so awkward to me.” Cara says:“This is the outfit that wants to be cute, but just looks a bit off. Normally, I like black and white and an oversized bow, but this just doesn’t work for me. It almost tries a bit too hard. And the necklace is the final nail in the fashion coffin.”

Cara says: “I actually think this is adorable. It’s like real life dress-up. Maybe the skirt could have been a half inch longer, but I think she has everything covered. Love her shoes and also think her hairstyle is age-appropriate as well.”

Cara says:“Well, the girls are certainly making an appearance. The ‘little black dress’ just takes on a new meaning when Salma Hayek wears it. She could make a garbage bag look glamorous.”

Photos/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

celebrity

The Tribune | Weekend |03

Friday, October 22, 2021

Weekend Inside

My Perfect Bahamian Weekend Troy Fisher

Member of the Bahamas Alliance for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Interview 4 – 5

Fitness enthusiast Jason “Jay” Donovan Rolle and his family have ticked off one more item from their bucket list: the Boston Marathon

Puzzles 6 Community 7

‘Hidden Heroes’ embrace humanity, courage and justice Q: What will you be binge-watching? “I will be binge watching ‘Another Life’, a sci-fi series.”

Entertainment 8 – 9

Bahamian women can learn to strut their stuff during a special ‘sexy heels dance’ event at Nassau’s Girl on Pole studio

Gardening 10

Q: Beach or sofa? “I would prefer to be on a sofa than a beach, because I don’t like the beach too much anymore.”

Endless possibilities await in Bahamian soil

Forgotten Facts 11

The statue of Christopher Columbus

Literary Lives 12 – 13

A satirical novelist who wrote about both the obscene and the holy

Animals 14 - 15

It’s raffle time at the BHS, plus Pet of the Week

QUEEN’S COLLEGE LAUNCHES ITS ‘I DID IT’ VACCINE CAMPAIGN Queen’s College this week announced the launch of its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, “I Did It”. As the premier Lighthouse School in the Englishspeaking Caribbean, Queen’s College is utilising its platform to emphasise vaccination education for the health of its faculty and students as well as the nation. The “I Did It” campaign seeks to promote vaccinations as a means of returning to full campus life in the shortest time possible. The school has benefitted from the medical guidance and support provided by Doctors Hospital and Dr Robin Roberts. This support has

08+09

Q: Rum, wine, cocktail or a Kalik? “I don’t drink, but I’d have a big pitcher of lemonade.”

QUEEN’s College Vice Principal Shawn Turnquest, who is also the Head of High School, receives her COVID-19 vaccine shot.

enabled Queen’s College to prepare a series of activities fostering student and parent vaccination education, and also that of the wider community. The campaign will roll-out with announcements on local television, radio talk shows and across social media platforms. The spokespersons for the campaign are the school’s principal, Rev Henry A Knowles;

campus nurse, Tatum Munroe, and its head girl, Devin Cuffy-Bethel. A virtual ‘Town Hall Q and A’ took place on Tuesday, October 19 Medical expertise from guest panellists included Dr Nikkiah Forbes, infectious disease specialist; Dr Jerome Lightourne, president of Bahamas Paediatric Association; Dr Wilnaye Bain, Family Medicine resident; Dr Williamson

Q: If you had to be quarantined with a celebrity, who would it be and why? “I would love to hang out with that old school beauty Vanessa Williams.” Q: If you could take a COVID-free trip, where would you go? “A COVID-free weekend would be spent somewhere in the United States in a wonderful hotel, getting a spa treatment or just enjoying life.”

Gustave, assistant professor of biology at the University of the Bahamas, and Nurse Munroe. They provided the public with answers to their questions regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. Lindsey Cancino, of the Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas, provided information on the process of receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. This event was moderated by Shawn Turnquest, vice principal of Queen’s College. Anti-vax and pro-vax positions will be debated on today in an oncampus student debate event. There will also be promotional videos featuring staff, students and parents which feature their ‘I Did It’ stories. The school said it has joined forces with “Bahamas Native Show” to highlight the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 to return to local festivals and school life. Queen’s College students are featured in an advertisement on “Bahamas Native Show”, promoting vaccination education. The show will be aired on ZNS on Thursday, October 28.

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, October 22, 2021

interview

A family of daredevils By CARA HUNT | Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

JASON ‘Jay’ Donovan Rolle

ason “Jay” Donovan Rolle and his family are definitely into adventure, whether it be skydiving, participating in Ironman Triathlons, or their most recent achievement, running virtually in the famous Boston Marathon. “I come from a family of very adventurous people, even a bit fearless and maybe crazy,” he told Tribune Weekend. “We have like a bucket list of things that we want to do and we have just been working through the list. “For example, for my 40th birthday and my aunt’s 50th birthday, we decided to go skydiving, because we just enjoy adventure and everything that related to physical fitness.” Jay is equally involved in his fitness group, Jay Fitness. Being fit has led him to participate in several Ironman Triathlons. The Ironman Triathlon is a gruelling race requiring participants to complete a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon. It is considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world. This year, Jay and several of his fitness partners decided to tick another item off their bucket list when they competed in a prestigious international marathon, the Boston Marathon. Registered participants were allowed to run their 26.2 miles anytime and anywhere during the October 8-10, 2021 race window to earn their finisher medals. The team included Chanel Minnis, Kareem Williams, DeMario Minus, Tamika Roberts, his mother Sharon Kelly and his aunt Tina Kelly. The team completed the virtual edition of the Boston Marathon in the wee hours of a Sunday morning. “We got special permission to start running at 1am on Sunday morning since we are under curfew, because we knew that it would take several hours and we didn’t want to run in the heat,” he said. Six members ran, including his mom and aunt, while a seventh member of the team provided support with water stops, massages and helping log times. They chose a western route, running from the Cable Beach police station making their way west and then back again. “This was just a great way to participate in a very popular marathon,” Jay said. “Usually, the Boston Marathon is a qualifying time race and there are limited spaces, and there is also the expense of travelling to it. But this way we were able to be included and our times are officially on record and we will get a nice medal in the mail, which will be nice to have.” All six team members completed the race. “Marathons are really hard to run and there is a point in every marathon that you run where you say, ‘This just don’t make no sense’. Statistically, they say most people feel that way around the 17-mile mark. By that time, you are tired, in pain, you want to go to the bathroom and you want to stop, but you have completed most of the race by then and so it don’t make sense to stop. We were

The Tribune | Weekend | 05

Friday, October 22, 2021

THE SIX-member team that ran the virtual Boston Marathon

JAY’S mother, Sharon Kelly

determined that we would die before stopping. Giving up was never really an option,” he said. Indeed, Jay’s determination was so strong that he even finished the race despite twisting his ankle in the days prior to the race. “My mother had the opportunity to go to Jerusalem and when she was there,she did an event where you could retrace the step in Jesus’ Crucifixion and carry a cross, and she had twisted her ankle, but she did it anyway, so I figured if she could do it, so could I,” he said. The past year has proven challenging for many fitness buffs, particularly given the closing of gyms during lockdowns and curfews.

“My mother had the opportunity to go to Jerusalem and when she was there,she did an event where you could retrace the step in Jesus’ Crucifixion and carry a cross, and she had twisted her ankle, but she did it anyway, so I figured if she could do it, so could I.”

But Jay said that he made things work by working out at home and running around his immediate neighbourhood. “I think that the pandemic really showed is that we have to make things happen, When you ask people why they don’t work out, often they will say they don’t have the money and they don’t have the time, but in this pandemic, we had the time. They just really need the motivation,” he said. “So my advice to people is to just get started. I have always been the type person to just jump first and then consider the result after.”

JAY’S aunt, Tina Kelly

Jay said he lives by a quote from actor Will Smith, who once said, “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” And because he lives his life according to this motto, he said preparing for the marathon was not as difficult as it could have been. “I did have to focus on tweaking one or two things, but mentally I was strong and ready and that is a big part of training. I think we were all prepared for about three months, working our way up to the mileage.” This year marked the 125th running of the Boston Marathon. About 70,000 participants worldwide took part in the virtual version of the race.

food (7) 27 Internet featured a bird (4) 28 Scolded actors and get aid delivered (10)

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition)

TODAY’S TARGET Good 19; very good 28; excellent 37 (or more). Solution on Monday

Yesterday’s call 0907 181 2585 Sudoku for Answer today’s target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

BATTLESHIPS Across 1 It’s hard to get as low as this (4,6) 6 A mother and father to all (4) 10 Lyric is rewritten by him (5) 11 Dawn of Japanese standardisation (6,3) 12 Collectively how a sale may be arranged (2,1,5) 13 French and German articles appear below (5) 15 Tops two thousand in legal actions (7) 17 Retire from the contest not up to it? (7) 19 Method of arranging all the parts (7) 21 Lettuce goes down for pets (7) 22 Musical work taking a long time to produce (5) 24 The virtue of having spoken it in my presence (8) 27 Strange man in society (9) 28 Donne has been translated quite a lot (2,3) 29 Times in distant past or in the old style (4) 30 It’s rather a colourless affair, mind (4,6)

Down 1 People in the running (4) 2 The festive season displays its charms randomly (9) 3 Feel depressed and inferior? (5) 4 Fears mischievous children? (7) 5 Found in bed they’re eaten alive (7) 7 Treated ill (5) 8 Charm is not radiated by a king’s man (10) 9 Asks how paper may be sold (8) 14 Subject for those who have the mind to study (10) 16 Took off (8) 18 One way of handling therapy (9) 20 One better (7) 21 Spice for which transport is not readily available (7) 23 Its downfall may help those in retirement (5) 25 Girl gets lad in trouble (5) 26 Outright order for a European banker (4)

9 10

14 15

25 26

Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Crowded, 5 Wares, 8 Make known, 9 Nag, 10 Lurk, 12 Badinage, 14 Sedate, 15 Repent, 17 Riff-raff, 18 Glum, 21 War, 22 In a big way, 24 Pansy, 25 Refugee. Down: 1 Camel, 2 Oak, 3 Duke, 4 Dvorak, 5 Winnipeg, 6 Ring a bell, 7 Suggest, 11 Rod of iron, 13 Eternity, 14 Screw up, 16 Affair, 19 Maybe, 20 Tiff, 23 Wig.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Terrace, 5 Fable, 8 Donatello, 9 Nil, 10 Last, 12 Egotists, 14 Rather, 15 Sewers, 17 Virginia, 18 Tsar, 21 Obi, 22 Institute, 24 Irene, 25 Lullaby. Down: 1 Tidal, 2 Run, 3 Alto, 4 Eulogy, 5 Frontier, 6 Banisters, 7 Enlists, 11 Saturnine, 13 Definite, 14 Ravioli, 16 Tinsel, 19 Reedy, 20 Bill, 23 Una.

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 Happen (4,2,4) 6 A failure (4) 10 Tiny fly (5) 11 Highly developed skill (9) 12 Armaments (8) 13 To debate (5) 15 Result (7) 17 Difficult to catch (7) 19 Impassioned (7) 21 Obscure in meaning (7) 22 In the lead (5) 24 Woodwind instrument (8) 27 About to happen (9) 28 Promote the interests of (5) 29 Au (4) 30 Extravagantly sentimental film (4-6)

Down 1 Search thoroughly (4) 2 Lewis Carroll character (3,6) 3 To walk on (5) 4 Get ready (7) 5 Highest in rank (7) 7 Untruthfulness (5) 8 Priority (10) 9 Government finance department (8) 14 Earnestly religious (3-7) 16 Cooked too much (8) 18 On trial (2,3,4) 20 Perceived by touch (7) 21 Warhorse (7) 23 Drive out (5) 25 Inspire (5) 26 Play leading role (4)

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 on Monday 1

9 10

3 2

L K B T

N E K C

W O D A

Friday, October 22, 2021

Across: 1 Retaliate, 7 Red-hot, 9 Ceramic, 10 Hewn, 12 Den, 13 Painter, 14 Ear, 15 Suds, 17 Croquet, 19 Simile, 20 Porcelain. Down: 1 Richness, 2 Épée, 3 Tar, 4 Lemon sole, 5 Idiots, 6 Tower, 8 Tungsten, 11 Nitric, 13 Patio, 16 Deli, 18 Uma.

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.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

E P O B

E O L D

D S T A

28 E G Y T U Y E H

B N U N

THe ALPHAbeA

THE ALPHABEATE

l i A Hrc GAP

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

R B B C

1 5 6 9 2 8 3 7 4 4 3 9 5 7 6 8 1 2 8 7 2 1 3 4 5 9 6

SMALL CroSSWorD

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.

4 2 6 7 9 3 8 1 5 3 9 1 2 8 5 4 7 6 7 5 8 1 6 4 3 9 2

1 x Battleship

3 x Destroyer

2 x cruiser

4 x submarine

black squares: 1, 5, 8, 11, 12 26, 27, 34, 36, 37. Across: Small, Fortune, Byla Redo, Hive, Timpani, Pigs, G Ovens, Farther, Stalk. TArgeT Down: Ripple, cAn you crack the Alphabeater? each gridMaybe, Quay, HiberNATe Lewd, Exam, Money, Bowed,e aether anther bath bathe bather number represents a letter – orStitching, black square. Undo, Zonal, Need

beneath berth birth breath breathe As inearthen Alphapuzzle, letterCroSS of the alphabet earth either ethaneevery ether habit DoubT (D hair hairnet But hare you hart hate hear ea is used. havehater to complete theSHREW grid too! Across: heart hearten heat heater heir herb SHEEP useherein the given letters and squares below here hernia HIBERNATE hint blackDown: hire inhere neath neither nether rehab the grid the thee gridtheir is ‘rotationally SuMMiT uP reheat rhea to tanhstart. than thane then there therein – thin three symmetrical’ in thine other words, it the *Ca 93looks and 76

same if you turn the page upside down. Solution on Monday

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

32 39 6 31 Yesterday’s

8 Kakuro 25 5 Answer 4 33

■

■ W

● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to y text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus your u

KEIJO 2 1

The Tribune | Weekend |07

Friday, October 22, 2021

community

‘Hidden Heroes’ embrace humanity, courage and justice

t started as a global conversation in 2014 with Character Day me expanding to 125 countries and 50 States. Character Day Bahamas continues its work through the PACE Foundation with the support of the Templeton World Charity Foundation. With Hurricane Dorian recovery efforts and COVID-19 still under way, humanity and character are being continuously tested. This year’s nominations focused on saluting hidden heroes like essential workers and volunteers. Programme organiser Charlene Carey explained: “Last year was a challenging one for us all and our character was truly tested daily. Schools were virtual, people lost their jobs and others realized just how essential their jobs were. The hidden heroes in our country allowed us to get to where we are now.” The 2021 theme, ‘Be the reason that somebody feels welcomed, seen, heard, valued, loved and supported,’ was highlighted by a T-shirt design competition, followed by two workshops in August for educators, youth and guidance counsellors, and a Hidden Hero campaign. October 20 has been earmarked for Character Day Bahamas. Now in its 50th year, the PACE Foundation has a mission to empower teenagers to make good decisions. Sonia Brown, president of this non-profit, likes the Character Day Bahamas programme because it represents their work with teen mothers at the PACE School. “Character strengths are the positive pieces of an individual’s personality that helps make them who they are. Our program, as well as scientific research reveals that understanding, developing, and applying one’s strengths can help boost confidence, manage problems, strengthen relationships, reduce stress and accomplish goals,” she said.

The 2021 Hidden Hero Champions

Youth Tracey Johnson, age nine, is from New Providence and a student at Kingsway Academy. Character

virtues and strength. “I am motivated to be who I am in my community because I see community service as the greatest quality ABBY Smith of a human being. Good character is having integrity, being honest, courageous, loyal, and having all the other important virtues that promote good behaviour.” Shiaion Thompson, Jr, age 11, is from New Providence, and he is a part of the Stephen Dillet Kids programme. “Honesty means DARRANIQUE never telling a Stuart lie. Having good character means helping people. When we help people – nobody suffers.” Darranique Stuart, age 17, is from Moore’s Island, Abaco. She is a Student, YEP Leader and a 2020 Youth Parliamentarian. “One thing that IDENA Flowers really inspires me in life is my Moore’s Island community. Without them, my activism would not have been possible.” Educators Abby Smith is an art teacher and artist from New Providence. “My motivation is being who I needed when I was younger and applying that in my everyday life... Good character means always being the person you are regardless of who is around you and always maintaining integrity at all times.” Dezree Taylor is a teacher from New Providence.

“I believe that if we invest in our children, if we secure them, if we educate them, if we give them experience and exposure, I SHIAION believe we can Thompson Jr save our country and indeed our world.” Healthcare Ruth Bastian is a nurse from New Providence. “One of my goals is to mentor my younger colleagues. After working 40 years in nursing, I really TRACY Johnson do try to ensure that they maintain a high standard… I encourage them to continue, and especially during this time when we are challenged by the COVID pandemic…” Gandhi Frazier is nurse technician and patient care assistant from New Providence who is motivated to make a differ- RENALDO Brown ence in people’s lives and being an inspiration to his community. “Good character is someone you can trust and is respected… a leader…is brave enough to take charge and stand up (for) justice; someone who is willing to listen to other’s concerns and lead them in the right direction.” Idena Flowers is a nurse at the Princess Margaret Hospital. “When I think of good character, the word ‘consistent’ immediately comes to mind. To me, good character is being committed to a set of standards. And being true in your

words, thoughts, deeds and actions consistently.” Arreneth Bain is a laundry superintendent from New Providence. DEZREE Taylor “My motivation comes from having a will and tenacity to persevere despite challenges and setbacks that I have encountered and endured in my lifetime.” Patty Fawkes is a senior nursing officer from Inagua. “There are a number of things that motivate me. One of them is just seeing someone in need or having to help them. If it’s in my power, I help them.” Law enforcement Constable Renaldo Brown is a police officer from Eleuthera. “I have devoted my life to the service of my fellow men. I believe that character comes from within. It is striving daily to be the best you can be by respecting all persons.”

Hidden Hero finalists

New Providence • Education: Gayle Barrow-Farrington; Tremeco O Higgs. • Healthcare: Cynette Newbold; Bahamas Emergency Medical Services; Pemesia Rolle, and Philip Duncombe • Service/Volunteer: Christine King-Wallen Grand Bahama • Healthcare: Melleah Petty • Service/Volunteer: Darren Cooper Exuma • Service/Volunteer: Mary Sweetnam Eleuthera • Education: Savannah Cambridge More detailed information on the Hidden Hero champions, finalists and nominees of Character Day Bahamas is available at www.characterdaybahamas.org.

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, October 22, 2021

gardening

You can do it!

have been lucky to be islandhopping the last few weeks and I have been reminded about the amount of growing talent that we have locally and how lucky we are to be in a location where we can grow year-round. I was reminded while in Spanish Wells, Russell Island and North Eleuthera, which are all loaded with fruit trees and can boast of successful gardening against the odds of poor soil and little rain, that we can grow what we need, and more. Great Exuma, where again, there is little rain and difficult soil conditions, there are melons growing in rocky, sandy soil with very little water. I’ve seen a male papaya tree that turned to a hermaphrodite and has borne fruit on what would typically be a non-bearing male flower. Do not let them say that we cannot. We can do it; you can do it! The resilience of fruit trees to

grow in salty, rocky, sandy conditions continues to amaze me. I have been being amazed at nature since I can remember. Wherever the avocado, mango, soursop or coconut tree originally came from does not matter, but that we have so many and yet we continue to underuse them, to me, does matter. Coconut coir is one of the most popular growing mediums in use in many parts of the agricultural and horticultural industries worldwide. Everything from hemp (why is it still illegal to grow?) to orchids are grown in coconut coir. We have lots of land that is unused, and coconuts grow with little to no attention. The processing of them is a different story, as coconuts are very hard on traditional equipment such as mulchers. It will take a decent investment into the correct equipment before a serious effort can be made to utilize

methods, plant culture and source. Guarantees are there to be had, and they are spectacular when they come to fruition, but it doesn’t mean that it’s the only way to do it. Just don’t be disappointed when the fruit from a seed grown tree is not very good or not as good as expected. WITH some investment and the right equipment, Bahamians can The vegetable produce an extremely sought-after material: Coconut coir growing season is in full swing. the very same cocoWhatever it is that nuts that go unused all you wish to grow, get around us. seeding or get growing. Tomatoes growing Every day and week through the summer that it is delayed now is season? Yes, it is possia missed day or week of ble. Grafted plants last harvesting. I am still harthrough the summer vesting beets that were heat when tended corgrown last season, they rectly. As with anything too made it through the that we try to grow here summer. Don’t let online in the summer, shade is blogs dictate your grownecessary to help keep ing style or patterns. temperatures down Most of them are written slightly. Strawberry is by folks that are not in another fruit crop that our region, and they are we can grow successalso often trying to sell fully. A cool growing something. environment with a bit of misting Underwatering is most often safer helps with success rates, and it will than overwatering, but be careful soon be time to plant strawberry, with tomato plants, for example. more towards the middle of NovemThey require a certain amount of ber when it will be a bit cooler, when they will be able to move into the full water to be successful, while too much water can create fungus issues sun for the winter. and rot. Remember, blossom end Back to avocado and mango, I rot will not be cured by Epsom salts. have mentioned many times that the Use a complete fertilizer (containing best fruit comes from grafted trees, macro and minor nutrients) when and this remains mostly true, but with one side note that all trees origi- planting and reap the rewards. As I sit indoors here in Exuma, nally came from seed at some point. the rain is coming down and the dust The chances of getting an amazing fruit from a seed grown tree are slim, is being washed off the leaves, and but it is possible. If you want guaran- those folks that have their veggie gardens planted already are grinning. teed results, buy a grafted tree, but Are you composting yet? As always, if you are willing to take a gamble I wish you happy gardening! and you have lots of time, space, and patience, then by all means, grow from seed. If one does grow from • Adam Boorman is the nursery seed, it is most likely and statistically manager at the Fox Hill Nursery. true that the fruit will be inferior to You can contact him with any the mother tree, but maybe you will questions you may have, or topics be one of the lucky ones! Maybe. you would like to see discussed, at There are no gardening rules that gardening242@gmail.com. at garare set in stone. Microclimates play dening242@gmail.com. a large factor in success, as well as

The Tribune | Weekend | 11

Friday, October 22, 2021

history

COLUMBUS

The statue of Columbus

write this on October 12, 2021. Exactly 529 years ago today, the Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Nina dropped anchor at San Salvador and, as they say, the rest is history. Whatever your reaction to the use of the word ‘discovered’, no one disputes the achievement of the captains and crews in opening ‘the New World’ to European awareness. In 1492, that world was totally different to what we have today, but to blame Columbus for all the sins that followed defies logic. Is he, for instance, responsible for all that took place in what is now Haiti? As a French colony, Haiti was the envy of the world. Does one blame Columbus for what Haiti has become? My father was considered an authority on Bahamian geography and history, and I heard him say over and over again that Governor James CarmichaelSmyth bought the statue (with

his own money) and placed it where it has stood for almost 200 years. He also explained that once finished, the person(s) who commissioned the statue could not afford to pay for it, so Carmichael-Smyth picked it up at a good price and called it Columbus. In the early 16th century, men did not dress the way the statue is dressed. It reminds me of one of the Three Musketeers. See the photo accompanying this article to see how Columbus would have been dressed. Columbus and ‘his’ statue are priceless tourist attractions and we Bahamians are missing out on a lot of prosperity by not capitalising on it. It is generally accepted that San Salvador is an island in the Bahamas. Columbus Day is celebrated far and wide, and were we a part of the United States, every true-blooded American would want to see where ‘the Admiral of the Ocean Sea’ came ashore. San Salvador

PAUL C ARANHA

FORGOTTEN FACTS needs more infrastructure and deserves daily flights from Nassau so visitors can get to and from the island. If it were decided that the statue is no longer needed in front of Government House, it should not be vandalised or destroyed. It could become the ‘meeter and greeter’ about 200 miles from Government House - a short hop for the man who criss-crossed the Atlantic Ocean. • For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@gmail.com

THE DAMAGED statue at Government House

The Tribune | Weekend | 13

Friday, October 22, 2021

fell in love with Evelyn Gardner – the daughter of Lord and Lady Burghclere.

Another journey through British East Africa and the Belgian Congo resulted in the travelogue Remote People (1931) and the comic novel Black Mischief (1932). His next extended journeys into British Guiana and Brazil led to two further books, Ninety-two Days and A Handful of Dust – both published in 1934.

In December 1927, Waugh and Evelyn Gardner became engaged and were soon known as “HeEvelyn” and “She-Evelyn”. Lady Burghclere was decidedly opposed to the marriage, stating that Waugh lacked moral fibre and kept unsuitable company. He was at the time dependent on a £4-a-week allowance from his father and tiny sums he earned from book reviews. Nevertheless, his Rossetti biography was published in April 1928 to a favourable reception. Rebecca West wrote about how much she had enjoyed the book. Less favourable, however, was the Times Literary Supplement’s references to him as “Miss Waugh”.

Despite accusations of obscenity and blasphemy from the Catholic Church in The Tablet, Waugh was determined to write a major Catholic biography. He chose the Jesuit martyr Edmund Campion as his subject and the book (published in 1935) caused more controversy because of its pro-Catholic and anti-Protestant stance. It won the Hawthornden Prize.

Duckworths refused to publish Decline and Fall, stating that the book was “obscene”. However, Chapman and Hill agreed to publish the work, giving enough encouragement for Waugh and Gardner to get married on June 27, 1928, in St Paul’s Church, Portman Square.

Waugh continued his travels and, following an unsuccessful trip to the Arctic in 1934, he returned to Abyssinia in August 1935 for the Daily Mail to report on the Italian-Abyssinian war, stating that Abyssinia “was a savage place which Mussolini was doing well to tame”. William Deedes, who was the eventual subject of his novel Scoop (1938), was openly critical of Waugh’s snobbery and felt that none of the other reporters felt they could keep up with “the kind of company Waugh liked to keep back home”. But Deedes admitted that Waugh’s courage was “deeply reassuring”. Waugh in Abyssinia (1936), covering his experiences, was dismissed as a “fascist tract” by the novelist Rose Macauley.

In September 1928, Decline and Fall was published to unanimous praise. The book was in its third printing by December and the American publishing rights were sold. Waugh received a commission to write travel articles in return for a free Mediterranean cruise which they embarked on in February 1929. The honeymoon trip was abandoned when Gardner contracted pneumonia in Port Said and was carried to the British Hospital there. The couple returned home in June, but a month later Gardner confessed that their mutual friend John Heygate had become her lover. A dismayed Waugh filed for divorce on September 3, 1929, and the marriage was annulled a few years later.

Back in England, Waugh’s circle of friends grew to include Diana Guinness, Lady Diana Cooper and her husband Duff Cooper, Nancy Mitford, the Lygon sisters, and Gabriel Herbert – the eldest daughter of the explorer Aubrey Herbert. Invited to the Herbert villa in Portofino in 1933, Waugh met the seventeen-year-old younger sister Laura. He was immediately attracted to her but realised he could not marry her because, as a Catholic, he could not re-marry while his first wife Evelyn Gardner was still alive. Desperate, he began proceedings for the annulment of his marriage on the grounds of “lack of real consent”. The case was heard by the ecclesiastical tribunal in London which had to wait while official papers were submitted to Rome. The annulment was not granted until July 4, 1936.

After Waugh’s divorce, friends noticed a new hardness and bitterness in Waugh’s outlook. Nevertheless, he soon resumed his professional and social life. He completed his second novel, Vile Bodies, and wrote a cynical article for the Daily Mail on the meaning of marriage. He resumed an itinerant practice of staying at the houses of various friends. He did not have a settled home for the next eight years. He was always welcome but developed a reputation as something of a sponge. Vile Bodies, published on January 19, 1930, was Waugh’s first major commercial success. He was now able to ask for much larger fees for his journalism. He wrote regularly for Town and Country and Harper’s Bazaar, and turned out a hasty book Labels – a poisonous detached account of his honeymoon cruise with his wife, She-Evelyn. In September 1930, much to the surprise and shock of his family, he was received into the Catholic Church. Waugh was influenced by his friend Olivia Plunket-Greene who had switched from the Church of England in 1925. Waugh later wrote: “She bullied me into the Church.” Much later Waugh admitted that life was “unintelligible and unendurable without God.”

WAUGH and his second wife Laura Herbert on their wedding day in 1937 In 1930, Waugh represented several newspapers covering the coronation of Haile Selassie (as Emperor of Ethiopia) in Abyssinia, much of which he wrote in his books Waugh in Abyssinia (1936) and later When The Going Was Good (1946).

Waugh’s marriage proposal by letter to Laura Herbert in the Spring of 1936 was met with serious misgivings by the Herberts – an aristocratic Catholic family. But despite family hostility, the marriage took place on April 17, 1937, at the Church of the Assumption in Warwick Street, London. The bride’s grandmother bought Piers Court - a country house near Stinchcombe in Gloucestershire - as a wedding present. The couple had seven children, one of whom died in infancy. •Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that h e has quoted liberally from Wikipedia and Evelyn Waugh: A Literary Life by David Wykes (Palgrave Macmillan 1984).

14 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, October 22, 2021

animals

A message from the bridge By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters

ello everybody, it’s me, Chiefie, from Rainbow Bridge. Sorry, I have been “off radar” (in more ways than one), but things can get pretty hectic even in doggy heaven. Some new arrivals were on the younger side and didn’t realize that there was no need to carry on with naughty puppy antics up here. No need to chew Francis’s sandals. Oh, Nimba was not pleased with their behaviour and we had to hold a few puppy behaviour seminars. Her English is really good now and this unruly bunch came from an Englishspeaking place…. football types. Anyway, that problem has been resolved with love and understanding. They have taken quite a shining to me and follow me around. It is really rather sweet because they are all my kind of colour, sort of minimes! I make a good role model for them; wish you could see them. Actually, the reason I am taking time out of my very busy schedule to write this is yesterday when I was checking in on Mum I saw she was at her desk filling out raffle tickets for nice people who had bought entire books of 21 tickets for $100. Yes, it’s raffle time again and the prizes are really good. Perfect for a homeowner and especially for somebody with furry friends. The first price is $10,000 worth of groceries at Super Value (those folks at Super Value sure do love animals, I know, I have heard Mum talking about how kind they are). It’s a great prize; just imagine how much pet food that can buy. There are a bunch of other very useful gift certificates too - BPL and BTC. Both of those certificates were donated “in memory” of VIPs (very important potcakes). The BPL certificate is in memory of me, because I “lit up her life”! And the BTC one

IT’s raffle time at the BHS was donated in memory of dear Bob, a super star who did tons of photos for the Bahamas Humane Society. There are also certificates from Kelly’s, Keshon’s Fashions, Aquapure, d’Albenas, and one for car gas. Geoffrey Jones has donated a deep freeze and there is a tank of cooking gas; something for everyone. When I was looking over Mum’s shoulder, very carefully so that she couldn’t see me, I thought that this is a pretty wonderful raffle. Ten prizes, a real “homeowners delight”. The wonderful thing about this raffle is that it serves two purposes: the first and obvious is that by buying raffle tickets you are supporting the

Bahamas Humane Society and the work they do, plus you could win a really amazing prize. The BHS is struggling lately because so many poor puppies and dogs, kittens and cats are being brought in and surrendered. I know what is like to be a stray, because I, Chiefie, was a rescue. I was lucky to be picked up off the road when I was still a little boy, but I remember those days in the bush, when it rained, we got wet. I hate the wet and rain because of that. I would see my birth mother trying to keep us dry, and safe and feed us. I was sad when I got caught and brought to my dear Rosie’s house, I missed

pet of the week

A potcake puppy bonanza

spayed (or neutered) so they won’t be adding to the potcake population. We potcakes are extremely loyal, usually very smart dogs, and there are many seeking homes. Would you like to adopt one? If so, please give the BHS a call at 323-5138 or come in for more information. I’m sure they’ll find just the right match for you!”

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY “Hi, there! I’m your cuteness overload for today. My name’s Wilma, and yes, I was actually adopted from the Bahamas Humane Society. But I’m here today to tell you that there are so many other puppies at the shelter waiting to be adopted. They’ve all had at least their first vaccines and will be

my mother, but she was so kind to us, and then this family adopted me, and I had the best 15 years with them. I didn’t want to leave them, but we dogs have a limited time on earth before we get called back. You know we are really angels, but we are sent down without the wings, they would get in the way, and humans simply would not understand, that’s why the transition is so easy for us on rainbow bridge. There some other pretty amazing things going on down on Earth: There are the Sunday spay clinics at the shelter held every second Sunday, lots of dogs and getting spayed and neutered and then over in Eleuthera there is a big BAARK spay and neuter at the end of this month. Hopefully people will take advantage of these clinics. We have too many dogs and cats needing homes, we need to slow down the birth rate. Please buy sone tickets! Being a fur angel is quite a lot of work. Archie and I work together frequently, we have a squad, watching over our homes and the people we love, comforting new arrivals, helping transitions, having mud baths, it’s all in our paws. Don’t get me wrong, I do miss snuggling on the bed with Mum and running up and down along the wall barking at passersby…but I had a great life and I have been up here for close to five months. My biggest problem is trying to get Mum to stop tearing up when she thinks about me, she is still missing me so much.

PHOTO/Linda Gill-Aranha

• The Jewellery Sale at the BHS Thrift Shop was so successful that it’s been extended two more days. Stop in today (11am - 3pm) or on Saturday (10am - 2pm) and check out the extensive selection. You might find something amazing for yourself or a loved one. All proceeds go to the BHS.

The Tribune | Weekend | 15

Friday, October 22, 2021

animals

Freckles – A survivor’s story By Natalie Winters and Martina McSweeny “Animals have no voice. They can’t ask for help. They can’t ask for freedom. They can’t ask for protection. Humanity must be their voice.” - AD Williams Freckles was a tiny kitten under two pounds when she was found curled up on the side of the road barely moving. When she first arrived at the Bahamas Humane Society she was in critical condition. She had matted and crusty fur, patches of hair missing, skin looking red and raw, her eyes were almost completely closed, and she was sneezing. She was severely dehydrated, full of worms and barely eating. EmoFRECKLES before and after tionally she had given up, shut down completely from the world. Freckles spent the first 48 hours curled up in a ball in her crate, she couldn’t ask for help or tell anyone what she was feeling, but the BHS was there to help her in her darkest moment, providing medical care when she needed it the most. Freckles was in such a bad condition with multiple issues going on that she was placed in foster care to gain the individual attention she desperately t takes a small but mighty needed and deserved. After a full spa village to care for over 200 session and lots of one-on-one attencreatures representing 50 tion along with the right medications species of mammals, birds to help her get better, she began to and reptiles at one of the show us her real personality. She was Bahamas’ most famous attractions, so happy to be safe, loved and cared Ardastra Gardens and Wildlife for that she showered her foster in Conservation Centre. attention, showing everyone the beau“Our animal keepers play a vital tiful cat she really is. role in wildlife conservation. Their CHRISTINA Smith with Salvador Freckles spent more than six love for our furry, feathered and the macaw (Photo courtesy of months in foster care, with months of scaled friends keep them dedicated Ardastra via Precision Media) hard work and determination to get to their jobs through rain, shine and her healthy again. It was not easy, and hurricane season,” said Katherine With so many mouths to feed, Freckles gave her all to fight and get Solomon, Ardastra’s director. food preparation and delivery is an better. She was in loving hands that As the world observed Internaimportant task. Animals require she knew would help her. tional Zookeeper Day on October nourishment anywhere from three Freckles was promised by all those 4, Ardastra wanted to recognise to five times a day. Some might eat who cared for her that if she kept its loyal staff working behind the just once a week. With each animal fighting, she would be on a very spescenes to enrich the lives of animals possessing different nutritional cial airlift to Canada and have a loving in their care. needs, it’s no surprise their diets family to call her own. She missed the Six full-time zookeepers and two change daily. first Nova Scotia airlift as she was still others assist with animal care at Food preparation aside, animal not quite well enough but finally made Ardastra. keepers at Ardastra spend countit to Nova Scotia on June 26 and got “Even with the bugs, the bites, less hours executing various tasks the happy ending she truly deserved. the mosquitos, the heat, the rain, I’d including cleaning habitats, animal South Paws Conservation knew prefer to be outside working with interaction and training, animal this was one special lady and found the animals than inside at a desk enrichment and engaging with the the very best home for her. She is in an office,” said Christina Smith, public. To keep so many species now loved, cared for and showered who has been with the conservation safe, healthy and content, zookeepin affection. Her story is one that ers must be well educated about touches your heart and truly embraces centre since 2013.

Ardastra’s staff in the spotlight

the hard work and dedication it takes to help save even the ones that have lost hope and so desperately need us to give a helping hand, love, care and attention. It can change so much for these small innocent animals. Freckles will now have an amazing life that she fought for with the help from BHS, her fosters and South Paw Conservation. We have more to learn from animals than they do from us. We have much to learn from Freckles about determination, her will to love no matter what she had been through and to never give up. This is a lesson we can all learn. Our hearts are full.

all animals in their care. To the untrained eye, animals of the same species might look the same, but to these pros each are as different as people. “I find animals’ body language and facial expressions interesting. People look at most animals and think they’re unable to express emotions like humans, but they do actually. I love to see the different ways they communicate with their bodies and their vocalisation,” said zookeeper Kandice Hanna. Shortly after joining the team in 2019, Kandice, a sketch artist, began photographing the residents of Ardastra. The undertaking took on a life of its own. It focused her artwork and sparked her development as a wildlife artist. “It became about wanting to capture their personalities and trying to capture their inner spirit through my art.” To successfully work with animals, one must be tough, said Ryn Sawyer, who began volunteering with Ardastra in 2019 in order to obtain the volunteer hours she needed to graduate high school. Two years later and she’s contemplating a career as a zoologist. “Animals get upset. They might have an off day. They are individuals. If one nips you, you have to be ready for that and be okay with it. That’s part of the job. It’s to be expected. You can’t be upset about it,” she said.

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, October 22, 2021