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ORANGE-GOCHUJANG DUCK MYOGA, Roasted Red Radish, Asparagus, Gooseberry.
Scotiabank clients enjoy
Chef Choi
dining experience at Culinary Festival
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PRIVATE dining experience with international chef Esther Choi was enjoyed by Scotiabank clients on the second night of the Bahamas Culinary Festival, combining its support for the five-day celebration of food, art and music with its 70th anniversary in The Bahamas. As presenting sponsor of the festival, the bank hosted an intimate dinner featuring a specially curated four-course menu by Choi, a finalist on the international cooking competition Iron Chef. The evening gave clients a close-up look at the creativity and culinary expertise behind her international recognition. Representatives of the business community and diplomatic corps joined Scotiabank executives for the evening, which paired fine dining with personal conversation in a relaxed, welcoming setting. The gathering brought the bank’s “For you it’s personal” message to life through opportunities to connect beyond banking.
HANABI crudo – Hokkaido scallop, botan ebi, king crab meat, caviar with granita offered a delicate medley of sweet flavours, with the botan ebi fried to perfection, adding a crisp contrast to the dish.
INTERNATIONAL chef Esther Choi shares a warm and engaging moment with two guests during an intimate dining experience.
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TRUFFLE Kalbi Mandu – K-BBQ short rib, caramelized onion, truffle soy vinaigrette, fresh truffle. In-season truffle offered an earthy richness to the dish, beautifully complementing the sweet, tangy kick in every bite.
KIMCHI Duck Fried Rice – succulent duck took centre stage, complemented by a lively, spicy punch from the myoga for a bold and flavourful finish.
APPLE Ho’cake – Sesame ice-cream, gochujang caramel, candied apple crisp. Served hot and golden-brown, the fried cake offered a crisp, flavourful bite, beautifully paired with the gentle heat of the spicy caramel and the cooling contrast of sesame ice-cream.
Welcoming guests, Neil Macdonald, Regional Head of Wealth Management, linked the bank’s sponsorship to its longstanding client relationships and support for creativity. “Our support for this festival reflects Scotiabank’s connection to creativity and the people who bring it to life – you,” he said. “As Scotiabank celebrates 70 years of service in The Bahamas, we are proud of the relationships we have built that span generations and extend beyond banking. This evening, we celebrate those relationships. “Whether it’s helping businesses grow, helping our clients to build wealth or plan for the next generation, we value the opportunity to be part of your journey”. Choi, founder and chef of Mökbar, which has locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, New Jersey, and Las Vegas, also shared the personal inspiration behind her cooking, paying tribute to her grandmother. “She is my biggest inspiration not only in life but also in the kitchen,” she said. She then guided guests through the elements of her four-course menu, offering insight into each dish and its presentation. Clients ended the night with an electrifying performance by international performing artiste Common at the John Batiste’s Jazz Club at Baha Mar. The dinner is part of Scotiabank’s series of client engagements marking 70 years in The Bahamas. The anniversary celebrations will culminate in a gala in November.
17 Bogus, 20 Robe.
CRYPTOQUOTE AXYDLBAAXR is L O N G F E L L O W One letter stands for another. In this example, A is used for the three L’s, X for the 2 O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.
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 Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
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Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer
MICRO CROSSWORD
CHALLENGER
Yesterday’s Answers
L T U E T F E G A C O S T G M J B L N M E D O G N I H R E K C I T S Y M
TARGET
THE ALPHAP
AVERAGELY argyle aryl AVERAGELY eagerly early elegy every gayer gravely gravy gray grey gyre layer leery levy lyre relay rely vagary vary very year
Across: Approve, Id Tranquil, Jaunty, Di Kitsch, Exchange, D Treacle. Down: Banana, Sex Naughty, Worthy, O (clue), Keeper, Inque Motive, Crazed.
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Project seeks to reconnect Bahamians with ancestors buried in Miami “What I've started doing now is methodically going through and looking at every grave stone that is still there, photographing it and making sure that I have it in my list.” Ms Nickless hopes the archive will eventually be housed by an institution and made accessible online, allowing descendants around the world to trace their family histories. “Once Im completed the work, it's not for me, It needs to go to an institution where it will be online,” she said. “What I really want is for the whole thing to be accessible, so anyone from anywhere in the world can go on the database.” To strengthen community involvement, Ms Nickless launched the Coconut Grove Project Facebook page in January 2026, alongside an Instagram account, @belovedcoconutgrove, where she shares researched biographies and historical photographs. Although initially focused on residents of Coconut Grove, the project has attracted interest from Bahamians seeking information about relatives who migrated to Florida.
“At first I was really trying to connect with the Community of people living in Coconut Grove but I've been really kind of excited about all the people in The Bahamas who has been following me and asking me questions because they’re looking at
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PROJECT to uncover the identities of people buried in three historic Black cemeteries in Coconut Grove, Miami, hopes to reconnect Bahamian families with ancestors whose graves and stories have been lost to time. Lea Nickless, founder of The Beloved Project, is working to preserve the histories of those buried in Coconut Grove Cemetery, Charlotte Jane Memorial Park and the Charlotte Jane Annex through historical records, photographs and the recollections of surviving relatives. Coconut Grove Cemetery was established in 1906 by six Bahamian families who purchased land to provide a burial ground for their community. “The Bahamians were living in an area of Coconut Grove and six Bahamian Families in 1906 bought the land and established it as a place to bury the dead,” Ms Nickless said. Over time, many of the gravestones have become illegible, making it difficult for descendants to identify the graves of their relatives. In some cases, graves have disappeared altogether. “Sometimes Grave stones were not created if individuals could not afford a Grave Stone. A wooden marker was used, and over time that would have disappeared,” she said. “Over time some of the graves have naturally sunken down and disappeared. The only way to know who's buried there is through some documents like Death certificates, Census reports, or Obituaries that may show someone was buried there.” Ms Nickless has been using death certificates, census reports, obituaries and surviving gravestones to piece together the identities of those buried in the cemeteries. However, she said relatives often provide the most valuable information, filling gaps in official records with personal memories and stories passed down through generations. “The families are the Historians too, because it's the stories that are told that are passed down,” she said. “I love it when I can find a family member who remembers that person and can really go into that detail.” Her research has already produced an archive containing the names of approximately 1,600 people. “I have a list, like a database archive I have been building and it's up to 1600 people,” she said.
their ancestors who came over and they lost track of at some point,” she said. “Facebook is what really made these connections for me.” Ms Nickless has also participated in a panel discussion examining the role of Bahamian labour in building Miami, describing such engagements as part of her efforts to educate the wider community about its history. While no official events have been finalised for The Beloved Project, she hopes to develop exhibitions and public programmes that bring the research to a wider audience. “I’m really hoping I can have a small exhibition in some public programming,” she said. Ms Nickless said her fascination with cemeteries began in childhood and that uncovering forgotten identities appeals to her love of solving mysteries. “I love a puzzle; It's like being a detective in a way and trying to fit the pieces together,” she said. However, she said the greatest reward comes from helping families rediscover their roots. “If I can connect one person with their ancestor in a way that allows them to more fully understand their legacy; That’s what really fuels me to continue on.” Bahamians with family ties to Coconut Grove, or information about relatives buried in its historic cemeteries, are encouraged to contact The Beloved Project through its Facebook or Instagram pages to help preserve their ancestors' stories. For Ms Nickless: “Every name deservces remembrance”.
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By BRITNEY DEAN bdean@tribunemedia.net
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SCOTIABANK Team members, Rotary Club Old Fort & volunteers
Scotiabank continues 70th anniversary commemoration
RODNEY SIMPSON, Scotiabank
Coastal Cleanup with
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COTIABANK continued its 70th anniversary commemoration with a hands-on commitment to environmental stewardship, joining the Rotary Club of Old Fort Bay for a coastal cleanup in Adelaide Village on International Coastal Cleanup Day. Scotiabank team members and Rotary volunteers cleared debris from the coastline and surrounding mangroves while learning how these vital ecosystems protect Bahamian shores and support marine life. The initiative also has a special connection to Abaco, where mangroves from Adelaide have supported restoration after Hurricane Dorian.
“We selected Adelaide because of its mangroves and the vital role they play in protecting our coastlines and ecosystems,” said Nadia Stubbs, Director, Human Resources, Scotiabank. “After Hurricane Dorian, we saw firsthand the impact on Abaco, where we had a branch and team members were affected. Knowing that mangroves from Adelaide are supporting restoration there gives this initiative deeper meaning. Today was about cleaning the coastline and learning how to better protect these important natural resources.” The Perry Institute for Marine Science led an educational session on mangrove conservation and restoration efforts across The Bahamas. ANDY FERGUSON, Scotiabank
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NADIA STUBBS, Scotiabank & Danielle Cartwright, Perry Institute of Marine Science
NADIA STUBBS, Glendira McKenzie - Scotiabank
ALEXANDER FERGUSON, Scotiabank & volunteers from Phi Beta Sigma
journey. Working alongside our partners and team in Adelaide to protect this coastline is a meaningful way to give back and demonstrate what it means to be rooted in community.” The cleanup builds on the Rotary Club of Old Fort Bay’s longstanding relationship with Adelaide Village and more than four years of environmental and community initiatives in the area. “Adelaide is near and dear to our Rotary Club, and partnerships like this allow us to make an even greater impact,” said Lashanta Smith, President, Rotary Club of Old Fort Bay. “We are pleased to have Scotiabank join us as we continue protecting the environment and encouraging everyone to take responsibility for keeping our communities clean.” Stubbs said the volume of debris collected underscored the need for year-round environmental stewardship. “The garbage along the coastline shows there is still much work to be done,” she added. “This must be an ongoing effort, not something we do for one day. We all have a role in protecting our communities and environment.” The initiative is part of Scotiabank’s 70th anniversary activities under the theme 70 Years Anchored in The Bahamas, honouring the Bank’s history while reaffirming its commitment to the people and communities it serves.
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OGER Archer, Vice President and District Head, Scotiabank Bahamas, said the cleanup reflects the Bank’s commitment to the communities it has served for seven decades. “As we celebrate 70 years in The Bahamas, this milestone is about more than our history. It is about continuing to show up for the communities that have been part of our
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