In a historic farm and cottage setting by the seaside, Royal visitors Their Royal Highnesses, The Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar, got a down home taste of The Bahamas when more than 300 young people rallied round to say thank you for coming to our country and thank you for caring about our programme, the Governor General’s Youth Award. 

The afternoon event packed with music, dance, laughter and moments of mingling with royals that GGYA members shall always remember, took place at the sprawling Maillis campground in the historic village of Adelaide, miles and seemingly worlds away from the bustling capitol of the city, Nassau. 

There, on a tree and vegetable farm with small boats bobbing at the shoreline ready to catch the bounty of the sea, the royals were treated to an afternoon far different from the pageantry that accompanied them throughout the three days of their visit to The Bahamas in late February. With Prince Edward assuming the role his father, Prince Philip, had prior to his passing as chair of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, the two-fold visit was primarily to witness the Award in action at units that catered to young people who were deemed at risk or marginalized, and present awards to participants receiving their Gold Award through GGYA, the local version of the program. 

Countess Sophie visited the Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls and got a firsthand look at what the girls were doing to complete their Award journey there.  She also presented a Bronze Award to one participant who had recently completed that level.

On another part of the island Prince Edward was able to visit the SURE Programme and, while there, met with the volunteers and participants involved in GGYA.  The Earl, as he was being briefed on the offerings for the young men at the school, was given a full tour of the facility, and was able to chat with the boys while they engaged in cooking, baking, and boat-building.

The visits to these centres were key evidence in the programme’s aim to extend the reach of the GGYA since they were recently given a grant from the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Special Projects Fund to get programmes started at five centres that catered to young people living with special needs, and those living in juvenile detention centres on New Providence and Grand Bahama.

The awards were presented on February 23 at a ceremony at Breezes where 13 young people received the highest award in the organization, the Gold Award, signifying they had completed every rung of a ladder that includes service, skills, and physical recreation. Gold participants must also undertake a residential project interacting with people away from their homes for five days and four nights, and complete a 4-day expedition or adventure – part of their path to success. 

The program is the largest non-formal education framework for young people worldwide, inspiring more than one million participants in 130 countries to become involved in their communities while finding their own purpose, passion and place in the world.

While participants at the ceremonial occasion walked away with medals recognizing the level of their achievement, they showed another side at the “Royal Rally” event, on February 24, where connecting with the royals took on a different perspective. Participating GGYA Units from schools across New Providence, were stationed at various tents displaying an array of activities that they engage in to achieve their Award.  

Prince Edward and Countess Sophie thoroughly enjoyed the Rake & Scrape sounds of the Conchy Band led by Chris Justillien with foot stopping music emanating from conch shell horns and goat skin drums.

 At the start of the afternoon event, the guests were treated to a selection of song and dance.  However, to truly kick off the celebratory event was a newly formed Conchy Band led by Mr. Christian Justillien, that certainly got the entire audience on their feet – royal party included, leaning into the music, as the band showed up drumming talents and other members playing the melodious conch horns. The Earl Prince Edward and Countess Sophie then took their time visiting, chatting with, and engaging with each activity on display. While the sounds of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band permeated the air, The Earl and Countess helped a students from the different units with shell craft, junkanoo pasting, painting, and interacted with young people who did a quick turn around on their kayaks and sail boat.  The Earl was particularly interested in the sailing, while Countess was delighted to show her braiding skills with some other participants. One former GGYA gold achiever, Edwin Johnson, returned to his alma mater, CC Sweeting High School, formed a GGYA unit that now has more than 70 participants, believed to be one of the largest group from any unit in The Bahamas.  

Students shared personal stories of their sometimes harrowing experiences in GGYA. 

Countess Sophie jumps right in to finish a hair braid with talented GGYA students from CC Sweeting Senior High School who demonstrated hair braiding and styling as their vocation at the Rally

“The first time we went to a family island, Eleuthera, it was shocking. We slept in tents on the campus of Preston Albury High School. It rained, water came into the tent and when we woke up, we were soaked. We had to cook that night by making a fire on the rocks, we made white rice and ground beef and then, on the second night, we cooked fried chicken and mashed potatoes on the rock stove by the beach,” said a student from Anatol Rodgers in Nassau, mirroring a similar experience shared by a student from The Beacon School in Freeport, Grand Bahama.

Both students agreed – the rain may have dampened their clothes, but not their spirits and both students said learning a bit about cooking made them stronger. 

Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Minister of State for Education and Technical and Vocational Training (center), Mr. Pericles Maillis, and HRH Prince Edward plant a tree to commemorate their visit

The high energy afternoon rally at the campground was capped off with a tree planting and Junkanoo rush out led by teens from Jordan Prince William High School. 

Throughout their two-day visit, the royals were accompanied by the dignified Governor General of The Bahamas, Sir Cornelius A Smith who sits as patron of the GGYA. 

The Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defense Force bands took turns showcasing their musical talents wherever they went in the land of sunshine and blue skies, and the royals were applauded for bringing their own genuine warmth. 

Countess Sophia with excited students showing off their Bahamas flag crafts at the rally

In a historic farm and cottage setting by the seaside, Royal visitors Their Royal Highnesses, The Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar, got a downhome taste of The Bahamas when more than 300 young people rallied round to say thank you for coming to our country and thank you for caring about our programme, the Governor General’s Youth Award.  The afternoon event packed with music, dance, laughter and moments of mingling with royals that GGYA members shall always remember, took place at the sprawling Maillis campground in the historic village of Adelaide, miles and seemingly worlds away from the bustling capitol of the city, Nassau.  There, on a tree and vegetable farm with small boats bobbing at the shoreline ready to catch the bounty of the sea, the royals were treated to an afternoon far different from the pageantry that accompanied them throughout the three days of their visit to The Bahamas in late February. With Prince Edward assuming the role his father, Prince Philip, had prior to his passing as chair of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, the two-fold visit was primarily to witness the Award in action at units that catered to young people who were deemed at risk or marginalized, and present awards to participants receiving their Gold Award through GGYA, the local version of the program.  Countess Sophie visited the Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls and got a firsthand look at what the girls were doing to complete their Award journey there.  She also presented a Bronze Award to one participant who had recently completed that level. On another part of the island Prince Edward was able to visit the SURE Programme and, while there, met with the volunteers and participants involved in GGYA.  The Earl, as he was being briefed on the offerings for the young men at the school, was given a full tour of the facility, and was able to chat with the boys while they engaged in cooking, baking, and boat-building. The visits to these centres were key evidence in the programme’s aim to extend the reach of the GGYA since they were recently given a grant from the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Special Projects Fund to get programmes started at five centres that catered to young people living with special needs, and those living in juvenile detention centres on New Providence and Grand Bahama. The awards were presented on February 23 at a ceremony at Breezes where 13 young people received the highest award in the organization, the Gold Award, signifying they had completed every rung of a ladder that includes service, skills, and physical recreation. Gold participants must also undertake a residential project interacting with people away from their homes for five days and four nights, and complete a 4-day expedition or adventure – part of their path to success.  The program is the largest non-formal education framework for young people worldwide, inspiring more than one million participants in 130 countries to become involved in their communities while finding their own purpose, passion and place in the world. While participants at the ceremonial occasion walked away with medals recognizing the level of their achievement, they showed another side at the “Royal Rally” event, on February 24, where connecting with the royals took on a different perspective. Participating GGYA Units from schools across New Providence, were stationed at various tents displaying an array of activities that they engage in to achieve their Award.   Prince Edward and Countess Sophie thoroughly enjoyed the Rake & Scrape sounds of the Conchy Band led by Chris Justillien with foot stopping music emanating from conch shell horns and goat skin drums   At the start of the afternoon event, the guests were treated to a selection of song and dance.  However, to truly kick off the celebratory event was a newly formed Conchy Band led by Mr. Christian Justillien, that certainly got the entire audience on their feet – royal party included, leaning into the music, as the band showed up drumming talents and other members playing the melodious conch horns. The Earl Prince Edward and Countess Sophie then took their time visiting, chatting with, and engaging with each activity on display. While the sounds of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band permeated the air, The Earl and Countess helped a students from the different units with shell craft, junkanoo pasting, painting, and interacted with young people who did a quick turn around on their kayaks and sail boat.  The Earl was particularly interested in the sailing, while Countess was delighted to show her braiding skills with some other participants. One former GGYA gold achiever, Edwin Johnson, returned to his alma mater, CC Sweeting High School, formed a GGYA unit that now has more than 70 participants, believed to be one of the largest group from any unit in The Bahamas.   Students shared personal stories of their sometimes harrowing experiences in GGYA.  Countess Sophie jumps right in to finish a hair braid with talented GGYA students from CC Sweeting Senior High School who demonstrated hair braiding and styling as their vocation at the Rally “The first time we went to a family island, Eleuthera, it was shocking. We slept in tents on the campus of Preston Albury High School. It rained, water came into the tent and when we woke up, we were soaked. We had to cook that night by making a fire on the rocks, we made white rice and ground beef and then, on the second night, we cooked fried chicken and mashed potatoes on the rock stove by the beach,” said a student from Anatol Rodgers in Nassau, mirroring a similar experience shared by a student from The Beacon School in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Both students agreed – the rain may have dampened their clothes, but not their spirits and both students said learning a bit about cooking made them stronger.  Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Minister of State for Education and Technical and Vocational Training (center), Mr. Pericles Maillis, and HRH Prince Edward plant a tree to commemorate their visit The high energy afternoon rally at the campground was capped off with a tree planting and Junkanoo rush out led by teens from Jordan Prince William High School.  Throughout their two-day visit, the royals were accompanied by the dignified Governor General of The Bahamas, Sir Cornelius A Smith who sits as patron of the GGYA.  The Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defense Force bands took turns showcasing their musical talents wherever they went in the land of sunshine and blue skies, and the royals were applauded for bringing their own genuine warmth.  Countess Sophia with excited students showing off their Bahamas flag crafts at the rally

 

The E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival has officially opened. Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg, made the announcement during a soft opening and awards ceremony held on February 20, 2023 at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas on West Hill Street. 

Minister Bowleg congratulated the recipients of the 2022 awards, who included BIS photojournalist, Eric Rose and his son, Antonio, for their efforts. The awardees were recognized for their skills and talents including a cross-section of genres including: musical instruments, voice, visual arts, dance and poetry among others.  

"At the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, we are proud to display our culture," he said. "The pandemic taught us the importance of preserving our culture, therefore, as we celebrate our country's 50th anniversary of Independence, this event continues to display our culture and remind us of what makes us truly Bahamian."

He ended by inviting all Bahamians to participate in this year's festival. 

The E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival has officially opened. Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg, made the announcement during a soft opening and awards ceremony held on February 20, 2023 at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas on West Hill Street.  Minister Bowleg congratulated the recipients of the 2022 awards, who included BIS photojournalist, Eric Rose and his son, Antonio, for their efforts. The awardees were recognized for their skills and talents including a cross-section of genres including: musical instruments, voice, visual arts, dance and poetry among others.   "At the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, we are proud to display our culture," he said. "The pandemic taught us the importance of preserving our culture, therefore, as we celebrate our country's 50th anniversary of Independence, this event continues to display our culture and remind us of what makes us truly Bahamian." He ended by inviting all Bahamians to participate in this year's festival. 

 

For the first time, Grand Bahamian artists, as a group, will showcase their work on Grand Bahama over the weekend of March 23-26.

The inaugural Art Lucaya festival, announced last week by Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) Acting Chair Sarah St. George, is a collaboration between the GPBA and the Grand Bahama Artists Association (GBAA) with the goal of providing a platform for local artists to exhibit their work.

St. George said local artists have had to travel to New Providence for too long to show their work, and should have a platform at home to display their talent.

"Our vibrant community of artists needs a proper platform," she said.

"We need Grand Bahamian artists to exhibit here and everywhere, which they can only do if we keep bringing their names and paintings into the spotlight."

Referring to the popular Art Basel fair in Miami, which was started in 2002, St. George said that show lasts only a couple of days but brings an estimated $400 million to $500 million into the Miami economy.

"So, just imagine a fraction of that here. Tourists, visiting the island, shouldn't have to go very far to see the art of Grand Bahama," she said.

"The Grand Bahama art community is alive and strong with well-known artists like Ben Ferguson, president of the GB Artists Association; Sheldon Saint, Chantal Bethel, Leo Brown, Matthew Wildgoose, Denzel Lightbourne, Laurie Tuchell, Alisa Streather, Lisa Cordella, Del Foxton, Marina Gottlieb, Paula Farrington, McKell Munroe, Claudette Dean and many others."

Artist Chantal Bethel is excited to show her work locally.

"For the past 30 years, I've been traveling back and forth to Nassau to exhibit my work because the venues here have not always been the best," said Bethel. "And so, I am happy that we can do this on the island with so many artists."

"Being a part of something like this is what many artists have spoken about, saying that art can bring Grand Bahama back to life. So, I hope that many would come to see the exhibit."

The festival's theme is "Emergence" and Art Lucaya Chairman Fatima Zahra Kaboub explained that the artists have been asked to each present three new pieces on the effects of Hurricane Dorian and the COVID pandemic.

The festival will open with a showcase of Grand Bahama's established artists on March 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rand Nature Center's Gloria E. Banks Gallery.

The next evening, the Port Lucaya Marketplace will feature the works of emerging, established and mid-career artists.

On Saturday, the Rand Nature Centre will host an "artist conversation" from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the festival will end with a Sunday afternoon show by art students at the Garden of the Groves.

"Art Lucaya's opening show will be a ticketed event," said Kaboub. "All the others will be free. Proceeds from the festival are earmarked for purchasing art supplies for schools throughout the island."

Ferguson, GBAA president, who is an art teacher at Jack Hayward Senior High, said he is delighted.

"This art festival is going to be a great addition to the community of Grand Bahama," he said.

While not all of the island's artists are members of the association, Ferguson noted that they all share a common passion.

"We all share the same devotion towards art and toward Grand Bahama," he said.

"The GBAA has been in existence since 1996 with the goal of supporting artists in a haven of creativity through workshops, job opportunities, lectures, exhibitions and the like."

Ferguson noted that he was particularly pleased as an art teacher to see that students are included in the inaugural event.

"Children need to know that they are appreciated, supported, loved and given an opportunity to display their talents," he said.

"So, I am just waiting to see everything come to fruition, to see the budding artists, the seasoned and in-between, all celebrating and all exhibiting their work."

Hoping that the festival becomes an annual event, St. George said, "If this project can progress, I think all of us will be stunned by the beauty, craftsmanship and originality of the work created, and the pieces that will be showcased.

"This is a small beginning, but Art Lucaya can grow into an annual festival attracting the attention of collectors and curators everywhere."

Last week, HG Christie Grand Bahama donated $1,500 to The Beacon School on Grand Bahama to help complete its Junior Junkanoo costumes and float.

"This is a wonderful way for HG Christie to assist, to be able to help a small school like this show their spirit and that they are part of the community - it's just terrific," said Catherine MacLeay, HG Christie real estate agent.

Junior Junkanoo, which is a traditionally well-attended event on the island, will take place on Saturday on Pioneers Way, downtown, Freeport, and over 20 schools are set to participate.

"Our kids are so excited. The Beacon School always comes out to Junior Junkanoo and puts on a grand performance," said Titi McKenzie-Moss, The Beacon School principal.

"We are so grateful to HG Christie for supporting us. It's very important for companies to come in and support the local schools. Junior Junkanoo is an expensive venture. With corporate citizens coming in, it makes it easier for us."

The Beacon School, which is the island's only special needs school, will be highlighting its silver jubilee at the event.

"Our children, a lot of them are not academically inclined, but they are very talented," McKenzie-Moss said.

"Taking part in Junkanoo helps them realize they can play the cowbells, beat the drums, and dance like everyone else, and it showcases and brings awareness to special education in Grand Bahama."