KENDRICK Delaney thought one of the big gest challenges on his journey to becoming an author was actually producing a book and having it pub lished. He did not anticipate having to deal with the devastating chal lenge of having 1,000 copies of his book, “Ferry’s Tale of Pig Island”, destroyed by flooding in his yard due the rising sea levels.
And what has made the ordeal even more distressing for Kendrick is that his inventory of books was purchased with funds awarded to him by an Access Accelerator Small Business Development grant.
The author was awarded $7,500 to purchase more copies of his book. Once the books arrived, he stored them in his basement, where they were ruined by flood water.
“It’s very discouraging, but it makes me even more concerned about climate change and how the very same habitat we have for our swimming pigs, and more concern ing, for all Bahamians, is at greater risk every year,” he told Tribune Weekend.
“Since I’ve been living here, I’ve never experienced any flooding, so it was a bit of a shock to deal with the high flood waters.”
The author now hopes to raise at least $20,000 to repurchase the books he lost.
“As you know, the best place to publish books is overseas. The cost of printing and shipping can add up very quickly, so you can imagine the pressure of finding funding to get it across the finish line,” he said.
Kendrick said this whole experi ence has been a major setback, however, he is doing his best to get his inventory back to where it needs to be.
“Ferry’s Tale” was published ear lier this year by Kendrick, who was inspired by his childhood summers watching Disney VHS tapes as well as true events centered around fish ing with his family.
The book tells the story of a “whiny” pre-teen boy named Ferry who is out at sea with his Uncle
Harpoon on yet another fishing trip. He stays close to the centre of the boat, the Suzzi Q, so as not to fall into the water; it’s his worst fear.
During the journey, Uncle Har poon grows more and more irritated with his fishing assistant, and know ing Ferry is not the best swimmer, he temporarily maroons him on a small cay in the Exumas.
But there, the unexpected hap pens: Ferry meets a pleasantly plump
patch pig named Sinker. The two quickly strike up a friendship as Sinker, a female pig, teaches Ferry how to swim right there, in the tur quoise waters off of Pig Island. She tells Ferry the story of how and why pigs began to swim. Most impor tantly, she helps Ferry conquer his fear of the water.
“It is his character who I once saw myself most as, and his anxiety around trying new things, which I
have learned to conquer,” he said of the book’s protagonist.
“I can admit that I was a bit of a wimp compared to my more adven turous cousins who grew up on tiny fishing boats, baiting lines and unhooking writhing grunts and red snappers with ease. Having visited the swimming pigs only as an adult, I thought it would be a fun and rewarding experience to attempt to illuminate the legend of the Baha mas’ swimming pigs, specifically how and when and how they began swim ming from my own perspective.”
It is not often you see young people showing excitement for the same music their parents love.
But reggae super star Beres Hammond transcends generations.
Each time he takes the stage, he unites young and old with his music.
He will be returning to the Bahamas, where he has performed many times, for the “Season of Love” concert on December 3 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.
Presented by YBE Promotions, Xcaliber Enter tainment and All Stars Productions, the concert will also feature fellow Jamaican reggae artists Wayne Wonder and Da’Ville.
Da’Ville, born Orville Thomas, is known for hits like “Always on My Mind”, “This Time I Promise” and “Happy”.
“Nassau, Bahamas don’t forget the National Stadium comes alive with yours truly, Da’Ville, alongside Beres Hammond and Wayne Wonder. I will be there in the building, doing it fine, don’t miss that one,” the singer said on social media.
Wayne Wonder, known for popular hits like “No Letting Go”, “I Still Believe” and “Keep Them Coming”, is asking Bahamians to “get ready, as this will be one for the books.”
“People are going to get a lot of love and great performances (from the three Jamaican artists), as well as from local talent,” Cas of All Stars Produc tions told Tribune Weekend.
“Safety is key, so we have the Royal Bahamas Police Force present, and it is going to be a great show. We are getting feedback all the way from New York City from interested persons. I am look ing forward to a timeless, lovable experience.”
Cas said when initially planning the event, their team decided they wanted to celebrate love during these trying times.
“We were looking at how the country was going and we have seen that lot of love been missing lately. Music is a universal language that a lot of people gravitate to. We put some names on the table and when ‘Season of Love’ came up, we decided to run with that; it’s all about love,” he said.
“We spoke to Mr Hammond and his team in the earlier part of the year and we then started to put it together.”
Beres Hammond, who celebrated his 67th birth day this August, last performed in the Bahamas in 2015.
Speaking to the iconic singer back then, he told Trib une Weekend what keeps him motivated are his fans. He also said he enjoys the warm and inviting attitude of the Bahamian people.
Coming from the old school, Beres said his upbring ing had a lot to do with who he became as an artist.
“When you are being brought up by a community, that says a lot to where you are going. I was brought up where everybody could scold everybody and stuff like that, and it was all about respect. So, when I entered into the music industry, I used to listen to R&B, and this was not out of choice, it was because during that time they actually refused to play the local music (in Jamaica), so I was pushed into listening to that kinda music,” he said.
“When I started making songs, I never planned on anything special. I was brought up in a very poor, but loving environment, and that came out automatically. I surround myself with people who are not negative, and if I keep doing this, I think I will have a wonderful rest of my life.”
Beres said working with different artists has been a “beautiful experience”.
For all those interested in attending the concert, contact 427-8111, 805-9671, or (407) 692-4436 for more information.
She may have unexpectedly stumbled into becoming an artist later in life, but this ophthalmic technician has developed a true passion for a unique art form: fluid art. She tells Cara Hunt about her first exhibition and how she uncovered her artistic side.
Vanessa Hudson is not like many other artists, who embraced their talent from an early age.
She didn’t come to art until later in life, and now in her 50s, she is celebrating her first art exhibi tion at the Sixty 2 Sixty Art Gallery.
An ophthalmic technician by profession, she describes it more as a “surreal shock” rather than a lifelong dream.
Vanessa is a fluid painter. Fluid art, which is also known as flow art, liquid art or acrylic paint pouring, is a popular abstract painting technique that involves the use of fluid art mediums, such as free flowing acrylic, or very runny acrylics, powdered pig ments or inks.
“No, I did not grow up wanting to be an artist,” she told Tribune Weekend.
“I stumbled into this because I was doing research for another project. I was researching different ways to add colour to epoxy (resins) and came across a lot of stuff on acrylic painting, and there was just some thing about it that I found super fascinating.”
She began binge-watching fluid art ists on YouTube.
“I became obsessed; I just couldn’t stop watching. There was this Aus tralian artist who I loved her; she had done a serving tray. And then there was another artist from the Ukraine who currently lives in Canada who actually did a fundraiser to raise awareness for the Ukraine war with another artist, Molly’s Artistry.”
Vanessa said that she just finds the process fascinating.
Two months after she started her binge-watching, she decided to take the plunge and try her hand at creat ing her own fluid art.
“It took me a while to decide to go for it. I was a bit intimidated at first,” she admitted.
“But I decided to buy all the sup plies and just go for it. What do you have to lose?”
However, she conceded her first attempts were complete failures.
“There is a lot more to the tech nique than meets the eye. and in the videos, I was watching, they made everything look so easy, but there is a great deal of technique involved in fluid art. You have to know how to mix the colours to the same consist ency and then there are some colours that won’t mix. I had to go back and do a lot more research.”
However, Vanessa said that she immediately fell in love with the pro cess and is now quite skilled at it.
“I really enjoy the process and the end result. I love how you can just combine the colours to make something so beautiful; colours that you think would not necessarily go together and yet when you put them together it makes something lovely,” she said.
“I love experimenting to see how things turn out. I really want to try out a copper yellow and blue combi nation to see what the end result will be.”
Vanessa has a lot of pieces of art on canvas, on T-shirts and other craft items such as coasters, trays and key rings, to name a few.
Her children eventually inspired her to showcase her work in public.
“They have been such a big encouragement to me. They con vinced me to do an exhibit and so I was like, ‘You know what…What have I got to lose?’ and decided to go for it.”
Vanessa reached out to the Sixty 2 Sixty Art Gallery and was given the go-ahead.
November
assassination, the 35th President of the United States, John F Kennedy, is laid to rest with full military honours at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Kennedy’s funeral service was held on at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. About 1,200 guests, including representatives from over 90 countries, attended.
“They were the first gallery I called and they asked me to send some stuff and so I did and they agreed to the show.”
Vanessa said she was both nervous and excited on opening night.
“It was a leap of faith to do this exhibit. It is called ‘Walk by Faith’, and so I realised that I had to live up to that name and not be timid. I had to do my walk of faith,” she said.
The exhibit has been a success.
“When I got there, I was able to walk around with my guests and show them my pieces and discuss them and I immediately felt relaxed and enjoyed the experience.”
“One of the attendees, a Pastor Ferguson who is also an artist, told me that he could see that I was very intuitive as an artist. He said he could see the emotion in my work, which just gave me such a great feeling. I have learned a lot from of this experi ence. I learned that I am stronger than I thought and it has given me a lot more confidence,” she said.
Vanessa is excited to continue on her fluid art journey and try her hand at other forms of art as well.
“I want to try geode art,” she declared.
Land Cam era Model 95, the first com mercially available instant camera.
Resin geode art is made by placing crushed glass and crystals alongside tinted resin to recreate the look of natural rock formations. Using pig ments and mica powder, artists can create resin geodes in any colour palette they wish, adding decorative elements like glitter and metallic paint for a luxurious finish.
Vanessa’s work will be on display at the Sixty 2 Sixty Art Gallery until December 5. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday, 11am-5pm.
with a cry of “Deus vult!” (“God wills it!”).
He calls on all Christians in Europe to wage war against Muslims in order to reclaim the Holy Land.
• In 1952, the play of Agatha Christie’s famous whodunnit “The Mousetrap” opens at the Ambassadors Theatre in London. The murder mystery is the longest-running play in the world. It ran continuously until March 16, 2020, when the stage performances had to be temporarily discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic. It then re-opened on May 17, 2021.
• In 1963, three days after his
• In 1862, Oxford mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (pen name Lewis Carroll) sends his handwritten manuscript called ‘Alice’s Adventures Under Ground’ to 10-year-old Alice Liddell. It is officially published in book form as ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ in 1865. Since then, it has never been out of print and has been translated into 174 languages.
• In 1948, the first Polaroid
camera sells for $89.75 (approximately $1,112 in today’s money) in Boston at the Jordan Marsh department store. All stock sells out in minutes. The camera, which produced only sepia-toned images, becomes prototype for all Polaroid Land cameras for next 15 years.
• In 1095, Pope Urban II orders the First Crusade
Some 60,000 and 100,000 people took up the call. The first of seven major religious campaigns, it lasts three years and ends with the fall of Jerusalem.
• In 1978, gay rights activist Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in US history, and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone are assassinated by Dan White, one of the city’s supervisors.
White was later convicted of manslaughter after successfully alleging that clinical depression had impaired his judgment. He committed suicide in 1985, two years after having served five years of his sevenyear prison sentence.
Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.
Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
country 27 Region of Far East (4) Instrument is unexceptional - no monotonous sound (4) 23 Betting on a new bridge (4)
14 Candour, 15 Mockery,
16 Slither, 19 Catch, 20 Folly, 21 Pilot.
Across 1 Named flier set the pace (6) 4 Insisted on a fresh dessert (8) 9 Are led astray by the one in charge (6) 10 Expedition to the French metropolis goes around a river (8) 12 An ill-considered breakout (4) 13 Falls short of a pound note - counterfeit perhaps (5) 14 Fuel designed to deal with the smoke problem (4) 17 Wrong impression of a key worker (7,5) 20 An air of conviviality (8,4) 23 Entry at gunpoint (4) 24 Going on twelve inches (5) 25 Still one unresolved Himalayan myth (4) 28 Ragged retinues, hungry and rapacious (8) 29 Made miserable to a certain extent by death (6) 30 Makes converse? (8) 31 Urges some simple modification (6)
Down
1 A love letter disposed to show forbearance (8)
2 A wing consisting of ten parts (8)
3 Some people believe nobody is on the level (4) 5 Describing the fish that got away? (4,8)
6 Every variety of ache (4) 7 A sweet little thing to play with (6)
8 It supports a light sleeper (3,3)
11 Merely a whim to overtake? (7,5)
15 New stars played major roles in Russia (5)
16 Make a false impression (5)
18 Sharp decline in air traffic (8)
19 A most unfair condition (8)
21 A lust that’s understood (6)
22 Supports what a peacock does (6)
26 False witness who turns up to abuse (4)
27 Notice a large number appear (4)
Across: 1 Forum, 4 Appoint, 8 Nod, 9 Green-eyed, 10 Scented, 11 Hobby, 13 Expose, 15 Trough, 18 Carol, 19 Windbag, 21 In the pink, 23 Ode, 24 Apostle, 25 Dodge.
Down: 1 Finesse, 2 Red pepper, 3 Might, 4 Agenda, 5 Panther, 6 Ivy, 7 Today, 12 Blue blood, 14 Solvent, 16 Hygiene, 17 Awhile, 18 China, 20 Naked, 22 Too.
Across: 1 Tulip, 4 Post-war, 8 Orb, 9 Easter egg, 10 On and on, 11 Onset, 13 Triads, 15 Adored, 18 Canon, 19 Ingrate, 21 Electrify, 23 Ice, 24 Kneaded, 25 Degas.
Down: 1 Took out, 2 Librarian, 3 Plead, 4 Posing, 5 Steroid, 6 Woe, 7 Right, 12 Streaming, 14 Denoted, 16 Deepens, 17 Pitied, 18 Cheek, 20 Guyed, 22 Eve.
Down 1 Boisterous merriment (8) 2 A culinary herb (8) 3 Violent public disorder (4)
Depressed (4)
Harsh in judging (12)
A white heron (5)
Place of concealment (8)
German operatic composer (6)
Witty retorts (8) 31 Relax one’s formality (6)
Query about due procedure (5,2,5) 6 To sway (4) 7 Ancient (3-3) 8 Loathing (6) 11 Reach desired standard (4,3,5) 15 Jeer at (5) 16 Religious belief (5) 18 Temporary suspension (8) 19 Deliberate (8) 21 Shrivel (6) 22 Rob at gunpoint (4,2) 26 Blond (4) 27 Profit (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 tomorrow ● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition) call 0907 181 2585 for today’s target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.
puNchliNE
chin chine ennui inch lichen lien line linen lunch lupin lupine nice niche nine pencil pinch pine pinnule punch PUNCHLINE uncle unpin
across: Herald, Atone, Evil, Glaze, Lilac, Axolotl, Secret, down: Whimper, Slack (clue), Float, Jailbreak, Organza, Baron, Carouse,
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
18 25 12 3 29 18 8 2 35 21 14 8 15
31 1 35 4 26 4 3 7 10 12 4 3 16
7 15 22 20 15 18 5 3 12 9 24 9 32
38 7 23 3 25 7 23 23 37 7 40 31 3
20 10 31 32 15 38 1 14 27 25 37 26 5
31 14 39 19 4 23 6 7 9 24 18 29 34
28 12 3 7 13 27 8 35 16 4 31 6 30
26 19 17 27 13 7 31 11 17 37 34 19 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 W 10 11 F 12 13 21 22 23 24 ■ 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
1 25 29 4 5 1 15 25 29 8 30 22 13
11 12 38 40 22 16 7 4 13 26 7 4 38
35 12 27 12 21 4 24 36 32 38 10 24 4
plus your usual operator 32 E r E D l u n n A HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? in making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. no plurals. Verb forms ending in s permitted. TODAY’S TARGET Good 25; very good 38; excellent 50 (or more). Solution tomorrow
14 15 16 H 17 34 35 36 37 ■ ■
KEIJO
1
3 TARGET BATTLESHIPS 2 2 3
3 1
1 4 4 2 2 3 1 4 4 3
Place the the grid four different numbers different appear in and column. Solution tomorrow
Extra letter 0907 181 (Deduct three minutes each extra clue full solution 0907 181 *Calls cost 80p per your telephone network access 2 1 2 3 0 2 3 1 2 4 4 1 x Battleship 4 x submarine
mobile, 3 x Destroyer 2 x cruiser
Foot-stomping and “boongie-swingin” music is what the Higher Level band does best.
And the band, along with several other local artists, will be offering their pulsating live sound at the upcoming edition of the popu lar Bush Party – an event seeking to put Bahamian music, both past and present, in the spotlight.
The Bush Party is being held to showcase rake n’ scrape and Jun kanoo in a live setting to a broad audience of Bahamians, young and old, as well as to visitors. The event will be held this Sunday at Kamalame Place off Soldier Road.
The party will showcase the work of local recording artists, past and present, performed by the Higher Level band as well as by the original artists themselves, namely Geno D, Rik Carey, Lady E, Charisa Smith, D-Mac, and others.
The Higher Level band has a wide variety of musical genres in their rep ertoire, including reggae, R&B, soca, pop, rock, jazz and golden oldies, but they do specialise in Junkanoo and rake n’ scrape.
Band members include Samuel Murphy (co-leader/drums), John Stewart (co-leader/ music director/ keyboards/vocals), Anja Bowe (lead vocals), Colyn McDonald (lead vocals/guitar) Javon Taylor (key boards), and Jamaine Johnson (bass guitar).
“In seeing the need for more Bahamian music-oriented events as well as a platform for Bahamian music recording artists to showcase their work, the Higher Level band created Bush Party, exclusive in part nership with Kamalame Place and Bahamian or Nuttin Radio,” said Mr Stewart.
Since its inception, Bush Party has been an exciting and festive gather ing for music lovers and party-goers alike, featuring top quality live musical entertainment by Higher Level, guest deejays, and other local performers.
“The mission of Bush Party has remained the same. “Get ‘em to the event. Get ‘em listening to the
good music. Get ‘em dancing to the Bahamian sound. Get ‘em to appreciate that which is our own. Get ‘em coming back for more,” said Mr Stewart
“From Nishie LS and Rik Carey to Ilsha Johnson, Lady E and Geno D, Bush Party will continue to promote live Bahamian Music and it’s performers, while the Higher Level band mixes it all together with intoxicating flow.”
The fourth installment of Bush Party, he added, will take the event to a next level, especially with the addition of Cacique Award winner D-Mac and host Da Mighty Pencil.
“Bush Party isn’t the first of its kind but it seeks to display
Bahamian music on the platforms usually reserved for foreign enter tainment here in the Bahamas,” said Mr Stewart.
“There’s a need to view our Bahamian entertainment product through the eyes of quality and pro fessionalism and not just attach the description of a ‘down home’ niche market. We seek to expand the reach of Bahamian music to a broader audience, while sensitising the audi ence to Bahamian music’s quality and appeal,” he said.
Mr Stewart believes events like this have the potential to create a significant change in the way Baha mian music is perceived by artists, musicians, promotors, radio stations,
online platforms, local businesses and consumers.
“A joint effort is necessary to make this happen, but Bush Party will not shirk its responsibility it has to the development of the industry and will do its part. The (scale) of an event like Bush Party also seeks to teach entertainers self-sufficiency, that a Bahamian show can be done and the industry does not always have to rely on the government or hotels to provide sustenance for thriving entertainers,” he said.
For more information about Sun day’s event, contact 376-9224.
After years of painstaking research encompassing drones, satellite-based survey methods and in-water surveil lance from hundreds of sites across the nation, the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) released a first-of-its-kind report today on the health of the Bahamas’ valuable but often under-appreciated mangrove ecosystems.
Dr Craig Dahlgren, PIMS’ executive director and an expert in tropical marine ecosystems, led the local and international team of scientists who undertook the massive mangrove assessment.
“Our experience tells us the public prefers a letter grade. So, generally speaking, a grade of ‘B’ would be accurate for many Family Islands. Abaco and Grand Bahama, because of Dorian, would probably be in the vicinity of a ‘C-’ or ‘D+’ but improving. Nassau would probably receive a D based on loss of coastal mangroves over the past 50+ years,” he said.
The Bahamas’ mangroves are estimated to be worth around $3.2 million per square mile per year, given their ability to protect shorelines, shelter important fishery species and sequester enormous amounts of carbon. In carbon sequestration, man groves remove carbon dioxide from the air by burying it in sediments via their roots, thereby reduc ing the impact of global warming. It’s that natural activity the Bahamas seeks to monetise in its carbon credit talks with world leaders.
Scientists utilised five key health indicators: area, damage, fragmentation, fish diversity and fish nursery.
The first three indicators were derived from satel lite imagery across the Bahamas while data for the last two categories came from in-water assessments of over 265 mangrove systems. The Bahamas is second in the region only to Cuba when it comes to vast mangrove ecosystems.
This nation boasts 612,000 acres of mangroves, most of which are on Andros. Over 57 percent, however, are dwarf mangroves that provide less value for biodiversity, fisheries, carbon sequestration and shoreline protection than taller mangroves. Their growth, less than three feet in height, is stunted due to the punishing salty environments of their home and a rocky ground with little soil for roots to penetrate.
“These mangrove forests are healthy, but they are just naturally of lower quality for biodiversity and ecosystem services than other places,” explained Dr Dahlgren.
No surprise, the report noted extensive mangrove loss due to coastal development on highly developed islands like New Providence and increasingly severe hurricanes, like Dorian, killing mangroves on Grand Bahama and Abaco.
For the most part, however, man groves have been relatively stable, and loss has been minimal over the past decade, except in areas where major hurricanes have made landfall such as Dorian’s 2019 passage across Abaco and Grand Bahama, Hurricane Irma’s 2017 trek through the southern Bahamas, particularly Acklins and Crooked Island, and Hurricane Matthew’s 2016 impact on mangroves on Andros.
Scientists observed mangrove fragmentation – split habitats where roads or other obstructions blocked natural water flow – adversely impacted biodiversity and made flooding worse in some areas, placing lives and property at greater risk during storms.
An unsung national treasure, local mangroves had a fish diversity score of ‘medium’, but indi vidual sites varied with 42 percent of sites having a score of ‘high’ or ‘very high’. Sixty-seven percent of mangrove sites within the Berry Islands received a score of ‘very high’, with an overall island score of ‘very high’. Fish communities in Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and the Exumas were also diverse and were ranked as ‘high’ overall.
Queen conch, which generates more than $7 mil lion annually for the Bahamian economy were most abundant in the Exumas, while the spiny lobster, a cornerstone of the Bahamian economy employing about 9,000 fishers, were most plentiful in the man groves of Grand Bahama.
Fish diversity was higher in mangroves that were in close proximity to coral reefs. Approximately, 42
percent of sites had a species richness score of ‘high’ or ‘very high’.
As it relates to mangroves’ function as a nursery for young fishery resources, there was more good news in that category. The overall fish nursery index rating for Bahamian mangroves was ‘high’, with 42 percent of sites rated as ‘medium’ and 46 percent as ‘high’ or ‘very high.
Although recent mangrove loss due to Hur ricane Dorian barely affected fish abundance, populations are predicted to decline within three to five years in areas where mangroves are unable to recover.
(Photos courtesy of PIMS via Precision Media)
The report explained: “This is likely due to the fact that the mangrove root systems that fish use for shelter remained intact after the storm in most places even though the mangrove trees had died. These dead roots have become brittle and are starting to break up, however.”
The report card also delivered an in-depth analysis on the impact of levelling, dredging and filling once productive mangrove creeks to create residential communities like Seabreeze, Coral Harbour and Old Fort Bay in New Providence,
In total, approximately 37 percent of New Prov idence’s coastal mangrove creek area has been lost since the 1950s, according to PIMS.
Presently, Bonefish Pond is the largest remain ing coastal creek in New Providence. While Adelaide Creek remains mostly intact its chal lenged by lack of protection and threatened by encroachment.
According to Dr Dahlgren, all restoration initia tives should be guided by “the best available science” thus improving the likelihood of success.
“For instance, where old logging roads had causeways that pre vented water from flowing into mangrove creek systems, install ing a culvert, or even better - a bridge, to allow water flow or opening up sections of the causeway could restore functions of the mangrove system.”
He added: “In places where mangroves were killed by Hur ricane Dorian, however, replanting mangroves is needed to help the recovery process take hold. In places like Bonefish Pond National Park where a dredged channel altered water flow, a combina tion of restoring hydrology and replanting was important.”
Although the marine ecologist admits it may be too late to replace the many mangrove systems that were lost, incorporating mangroves into the country’s climate change plan going forward would provide important ecosystem benefits to the Bahamas.
The Perry Institute engaged a wide variety of partners to create this landmark report card, including the Nature Conservancy, Bahamas National Trust, Waterkeepers Bahamas and Bone fish & Tarpon Trust.
PIMS said its next step is to work together with these partners and local communities to scale mangrove conservation nationwide and compile a high priority list of fragmented mangrove systems; the goal is to reconnect them.
There are no official records, but Eddie’s Edge water in Great Exuma may just be the Bahamas’ oldest continuously oper ated family-owned restaurant.
Opened in 1942 by Edward “Eddie” Minnis, today it is owned by his granddaughter Sophia BrownSmith, who is joyfully celebrating its 80th anniversary.
She is the proud third-generation proprietor of what over the last eight decades has been one of the island’s best loved authentic Bahamian res taurants and entertainment spots.
Eddie’s Edgewater, also known as “The Peoples Place”, was opened in the middle of World War II. At the time, a large navy base was being developed in Elizabeth Harbour, George Town, with boats and fast motor torpedo crafts to hunt enemy submarines in Bahamian waters.
“For the quiet, peaceful island of Exuma, the arrival of several hundred US and UK servicemen provided an opportunity for an enterprising local – my grandfather Edward ‘Eddie’ Minnis – to build a restaurant and entertainment bar. He felt this had to be in easy reach of the base, and as boats were quicker than travelling by land, the restaurant had to be next to the water,” Sophia told Tribune Weekend.
Mr Minnis opened Eddie’s Edge water right on the edge of Lake Victoria, just ten minutes by sea from the base. It’s second name became “The People’s Place”, signifying that it was for all islanders and service men to mix and mingle and enjoy themselves.
“What was offered besides regular Bahamian home cooking, was rake n’ scrape music at the weekend,” said Sophia.
This meant the restaurant quickly became a social hub for all those who loved to dance.
By the time the war ended, the venue had built up such a good reputation that although there were no longer any servicemen to be fed and entertained, Mr Minnis was able continue on with Eddie’s Edgewa ter. And then, slowly, in the 1950s,
Exuma was re-discovered by visiting yachtsmen who spread the word about Elizabeth Harbour and the restaurant.
His daughter, Andrea had by then taken over the running of the restau rant along with her husband, Victor “Rap” Brown. In the 1960s, when international tourism started taking off, the restaurant was once again known as a preferred spot for good food and entertainment.
To this day, Eddie’s Edgewater offers authentic Bahamian favour ites and celebrates rake n’ scrape on Monday nights. The restaurant has grown in popularity and also has remained under the ownership of the Minnis family, and Sophia is maintaining the traditions started by grandfather 80 years ago.
She grew up watching her mother do all the cooking at the restaurant and has naturally continued with offering their customers the beloved staples.
“I know what my customers like, and we offer cracked conch, cracked lobster and other tasty dishes such as curried, cracked or fried chicken. What our customers enjoy is the exceptional cooking with the special Eddie’s flavour,” she said.
“Besides the regulars from the island, we welcome back each year a large number of overseas visitors who arrive by yacht or plane from Thanksgiving onwards who make
Eddie’s an early stop to catch up with news, good food and the Monday night rake n’ scrape.”
Sophia said although the COVID19 pandemic hit the island hard, the restaurant managed to survive.
“I am now waiting for help by a government grant to renew and refurbish some parts, and I am also grateful for all the support by the regular customers. I feel great about being able to celebrate and mark this 80th anniversary,” she said.
Sophia said Eddie’s may rightly claim to possibly be the oldest, continuously operated family-owned restaurant not only in Exuma but also in the entire Bahamas.
Sir Christopher Ondaatje remembers the American author who wrote several crime novels about grifters, ex-cons and assassins, as well as a new story about beloved comic book characters – all having an international cast of characters.
“Intelligence is a wonderful and powerful aphrodisiac. To me it enhances beauty, makes an ordinary woman look like a movie star. I love that.”
– Jerome DickeyEric Jerome Dickey was born in Memphis, Tennessee on July 7, 1961. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Memphis State Univer sity in 1983.
Dickey moved to Los Angeles in 1983 to pursue a career in engineer ing and was initially employed in the aerospace industry at Rockwell International as a software devel oper, but then switched to become an actor and a stand-up comedian. He started out on the National Comedy Circuit.
He performed stand-up comedy almost totally in Southern California, and opened for Bobby “Blue” Bland at the Rialto in Tacoma, Washington.
Somehow, somewhere, Dickey started writing and authored 15 novels, with his work appearing in a number of publications, including Essence magazine, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times. His gift for promoting himself also promoted his books – many of which appeared on the best-seller list of the Blackboard, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. He was a regular guest on many television shows, including BET’s Our Voices and CNN’s Sunday Morning Live.
“We’re all living contradictions, trying to survive in a world filled with hypocrites.”
– Jerome DickeyDickey is the author of the graphic novel series Storm, which re-ima gines the first meeting between the popular X-Men character Ororo Munroe (Storm) and T’Challa, king of the fictional land of Wakanda and known as the Black Panther.
“When (Giant-Size X-Men #1) came out, you knew the original X-Men, and then there was the giant-sized issue introducing these new X-Men and here on the cover is this brown-skinned woman. I remember when I picked it up, each character had like a page intro, and being (like), “I want to know more about Storm. Oh my, she can fly and control the weather.”
“That just shows you the power of when people can see someone they can relate to or someone that looks like them on the pages. At the same time, it was someone who was power ful. I would definitely say [she is] a survivor and a good role model and beautiful.”
– Jerome DickeyThe 2006 Storm series, the untold love story between Storm and Black Panther is told by Dickey (writer), David Yardin (penciller), Lan Medina, (inker), Jay Leisten (inker), Matt Milla (colourist) and Randy Gentile (letterer). It gave Dickey the chance to explore new aspects of each of these POC char acters’ storylines and histories.
Dickey’s books have been published in French, Polish and Japanese, and several have had separate printings in Great Britain. He has toured in England, and France, where Milk in My Coffee was a best-seller. Two of his novels, Friends and Lovers and Cheaters were turned into touring plays.
“We shed the skins of who we used to be.”
– Jerome Dickey
Sister, Sister; Friends and Lovers; Milk in My Coffee; Cheaters; Liar’s Game; and Dying for Revenge each reached Number One on the
Blackboard Bestsellers List. Cheat ers was named “Blackboard Book of the Year” in 2000.
Milk in My Coffee recounts what happens when a black man meets a white woman and they fall in love. Sometimes there are more pressing matters that concern them than the predictable fuss over an interracial relationship.
Dying for Revenge is the third entry of Jerome Dickey’s trilogy (after Walking With Enemies and Sleeping with Strangers), and offers intrigue, deception, murder and sex in exotic locales with a noir sensibil ity and keen attention to settings. Other books that were nominated for an NAACP Image Award were: Liar’s Game; Thieves’ Paradise; The Other Woman; and Genevieve – all in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005. In 2013 he received the R.E.A.D. Award on behalf of the National Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
A 2004 review of Drive Me Crazy in The New York Times by Janet Maslin stated that:
“Mr Dickey’s characters have enough sultry self-confidence to suggest, at their best, a Prince song on paper.”
His final novel, The Son of Mr Suleman, was published in April 2021. It was Jerome Dickey’s final work and is an unflinchingly timely novel about history, hearts and family. It was named in the New York Post’s “The Best New Books to Read”.
The celebrated novelist Jerome Dickey died on January 3, 2021 after a long battle with cancer, one of his publishers – Penguin Random House, confirmed. He was 59 years old. A New York Times obituary described Dickey as being “one of the most successful Black authors of the last quarter-century”.
“Eric Jerome Dickey loved being a writer and all that it encompassed.
He loved challenging himself with each book; he adored his readers and beloved fans and was always grateful for his success.We are proud to have been his publisher over the span of his award-winning career. He will truly be missed.”
In 2006, Dickey was crowned male author of the year at the Afri can American Literary Awards, and nominated in 2008 as “Storyteller of the Year” at Essence’s inaugural Literary Awards.
He is survived by four daughters. He was never married and kept his personal life very separate from his literary career.
• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; and African-American Writers: A Dictionary by Shari Dorantes Hatch and Michael R. Strickland.
James Henry Stark (1847–1919) was a British-American printer, publisher, and nonfiction writer, known for his guidebooks to the British West Indies, Bermuda and the Baha mas. Here is some of what he wrote about the Bahamas:
“As winter approaches, tourists, invalids and pleasure seekers in the northern states begin to con sider where they will go, in order to escape a northern winter.
“The Bahama Islands are the nearest tropical country to New York. For those fleeing from the rigours of a northern winter, we can imagine no climate offering greater attractions…Nassau, the principal town…lies as far south as the south ernmost part of the Florida coast, between which and it, flows the Gulf Stream, which makes the climate so much more equable than that of Florida. It is distant from New York nine hundred and sixty miles.
“There are two ways to reach Nassau. You can go direct, from New York, by a Ward Line steamer, from the foot of Wall Street, or by the Florida and East Coast Rail way. To persons who do not like a sea voyage, the latter many prove preferable…
The Ward Line steamers sail every alternate Thursday. Saloon fare, one way $40, return $70.
“A winter voyage to the Baha mas…is, indeed, a wonderful change from the icy and snowbound North to the land of perpetual verdure and everlasting summer – the “isles of June”.
“We left New York on a cold, wintry day, in February, on a Thurs day afternoon, at three o’clock. After leaving Sandy Hook, New Jersey, the course of the steamer…gives passen gers a good look at Highlands, Long Beach and Cape May (all in NJ).
“Before dark, we passed out of sight of land and the passengers had retired to the warm and richly-fur nished saloon, where acquaintances were speedily formed and a jolly company, well disposed and con tented, sat at the tables presided over by the Captain, Purser and First Officer, enjoying a repast that would have reflected upon a first class hotel.
At, or before, 10 o’clock, every one had retired to their stateroom.
Those who preferred apartments on deck had been provided with them; others chose to be below, on the main deck. In either place, the rooms are the same.
“The night aboard was passed very comfortably and, in the morning, as soon as a passenger gave any signs of stirring, the steward was on hand with a tray loaded with coffee, chocolate and biscuits. Then, there was time for a stroll on deck, before break fast…we entered the Gulf Stream. It was so much warmer that there was no need for blankets…
dolphins were racing at the ship’s bow and flying fish were plenty…
“Ward Line Steamers are firstclass, in every respect, and can be classed as among the very finest vessels afloat. Besides the comfort now found in all the bet passen ger steamers – good food, electric lights, baths, piano and luxurious furnishings of the saloon – there is that which makes these vessels doubly comfortable – the politeness and attentiveness of the officers and men; passenger can depend on receiving the very best of attention.
“The trip from New York by way of Florida is much more expen sive, yet it gives the tourist the opportunity of seeing Washington, Richmond and Charleston. Reach ing Jacksonville, the route is over the East Coast Railway, a distance of 360 miles to Miami…via St Augus tine, the oldest city in the United States. The fare from New York is $50, round-trip $90. By steamer to Nassau $35.50, round trip $41.”
The Wright Brothers made the very first flight in 1903 and air travel was still a thing of the future at the time this was written. I do, however, like Ward’s prices.
• For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandair man@gmail.com
This generation appears to be much savvier about the importance of nature, animals, trees, vitamins, veganism, seaweed and everything in between.
A lot of lip service is paid to being green and being environmentally responsible, what we can, or can’t do and how we need to do it. I respect and endorse all the suggested measures to improve our environ ment and how to make our planet a happier and cleaner place.
However, all of these measures come with various price tags. We yell at the top of our voices about the dangers of carbon footsteps and the damage jets do our world, yet cruise ships continue to get larger and larger, displacing more and more water, damaging the fragile reefs, and pumping gallons of filth into the oceans daily.
Not to mention that nowadays cruising is not sufficient. The cruise ship companies feel compelled to take beautiful islands and tracts of pristine land and turn it into some kind of island Micky Mouseville, with slides and water theme parks. What ever happened to wanting to get to know and absorb the culture of each individual country you visit?
Nowadays I guess you differentiate the individual stops by the colour of the waterslides. It is a very sorry and sad situation. The sensory overload needed to keep people entertained has become so extreme that the Ministry of Tourism’s old advertise ment that encourages you come to the Bahamas and watch a conch walk across the sand is practically laughable.
If we are not careful there will be no more conch to eat or watch walk ing across a beach. Though many very smart and educated people have called for more care with the har vesting of conch, has that plea been taken to heart? I have not heard or seen much to denote that it is been taken seriously.
If you ask people to be more careful, to take less conch, to be
cognisant of size, they accuse you of wanting to destroy their livelihood when all you are actually trying to do is preserve their livelihood!
When we started protecting the turtles, which was an international necessity, as turtles swim form one country to another, and return to their home beaches to lay their eggs, there was an outcry and stamping of feet. People claimed that their heritage was being stolen from them… really, I didn’t notice any body complaining when they could depend on electricity to cook rather than wood fires. I guess modern con veniences all infringe on everybody’s “heritage”.
The preservation of turtles is abso lutely essential. Only recently it has been revealed that the Bahamas is home to the largest sea grass mead ows in the world. The scientists say that they are at least 25,000 square miles and could actually be as much as 35,500 square miles in size. Sea grass is essential to the well-being of our oceans, these meadows help keep the water clean and provide a safe place for juvenile fish and crus taceans to thrive and grow. Do you know who is the biggest custodian of the sea grass meadows? Our magnifi cent friend the sea turtle is nature’s underwater lawn mowers, they keep
Nine-month-old Marva spent some time in a foster home but is now back at the Bahamas Humane Society and hoping to find that perfect home. She’s smart and energetic, would prob ably love to learn agility or do obedience classes.
Marva gets along well with other dogs and with cats, too. She’s personable and loves to be the centre of attention. She also
the sea grass fields at just the right height to allow the prerequisite amount of sun to filter through to keep the grass roots and the juvenile sea life healthy. No turtles and the entire circle of nature falls apart, if that happens the sea grass meadows would not thrive and from there a terrible domino effect would take effect.
We, humans, can be alarmingly stupid about the way things work in nature. The most fragile of creature has a purpose. Sometimes, at first, we are incapable of understand ing why on earth they exist, but a few moments spent researching on Google can reveal a worth of knowledge that we are invariably spellbound by.
When I was a child many different communities though nothing of driv ing daily around the neighbourhood
spraying noxious insecticides into the atmosphere to control the mosqui toes. I still wonder what that must have done to our lungs, to the birds, bees, and even smaller insects and animals. The interesting thing is that those neighbourhoods appear to now have a large proliferation of house flies. Coincidence or direct result of human interference that upset the apple cart and ruined the balance of nature? I do not know but it is a fact that the housefly is alive and well.
I think what needs to be remem bered that whatever any of us do, as big as a cruise ship or as small as spraying noxious insecticide around the house: to every action there is a reaction. Some of those reactions can start a domino effect that become very difficult to stop and practically impossible to reverse.
It is not personal, it is global.
loves to climb, but only so she can see what’s happening, not to escape!
If you’ve a home with older kids, Marva might be just the right potcake for your family. Come in to meet her or call 325-6742 for more information. Marva looks forward to seeing you!
• Christmas has arrived at the BHS Thrift Shop! There are many Christmas items available along with all the other treasures the shop normally sells. Shop hours are Wednesday/Thursday/ Friday 11am to 3pm, and Satur day from 10am to 2pm. Please be sure to bring your bag(s)!
Kicking off the Christmas season on the Bahamian social calendar, the Bahamas National Trust’s Jol lification last weekend celebrated a successful return to in-person festivities following a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Special Projects Consultant at the BNT and event organiser Lynn Gape said they were “thrilled” by the response they received from the public.
“It’s so good to see people meet in the park and connect with people they haven’t seen in a long time. We’re glad to once again host this wonderful event that allows them to do that,” she told Tribune Weekend.
Eager festival-goers streamed into the grounds of The Retreat Garden on Village Road for a merry Jollification last Saturday and Sunday.
Many arrived early to ensure they experienced all that the popular Christmas event had to offer.
Attendees were welcomed by the usual array of arts, crafts and food vendors, as well as live music performances and other entertainment. Additionally, they were able to enjoy a few new key elements this year, including fun games, more vendors, and a Junkanoo crafts workshop for kids.
The large turnout proved the event had been dearly missed. Numerous vendors and attendees alike described the weekend as the best Jollifica tion they ever attended or participated in.
One jolly patron told Tribune Weekend: “Nothing or no one was going to stop me from attending this event.”
Attendee Christina Kemp said if there is an event she would attend each year, it would Jollification.
“This is my kind of fun,” she said.
In the Jimmy’s Wines and Spirits area, a live band rocked the crowd with entertainment throughout the evening.
Another patron, Crystal, said: “I have been anticipating the return of Jollification since 2019…When I heard the festival was back this year it was a must-attend. And like I usually do, I rounded up my troop of friends and we made our way to The Retreat for some festive fun. What I always loved about this event is that it kicks off the holiday season for me and gets me into the spirit. Jollification did just that and it did not dis appoint this year. There were so many vendors, including craft and arts. However, my favourites were certainly the ones that offer unique food usually found at fairs.”
A highlight for her was the slate of Bahamian performers that were added to the event. This was something new for Jollification this year.