New Category : Bahamas Local Stories

The Inspired HR is teaching Bahamians their workplace rights and much more

Thu, Aug 12th 2021, 12:00 AM

By: Jhanae Winter

With under two years in operation, Canderia Mckinney has crafted a successful business aimed at equipping Bahamians with the confidence they need to secure their next career opportunity.

Canderia developed her professional career by being a Certified Quickbooks Proadvisor with six years of experience in human resources under her belt, before branching out into her own business. 

The Inspired HR can assist entrepreneurs, new hires, and business owners with the variety of services it offers such as, QuickBooks training, bookkeeping, HR employer’s packages, interview coaching, resume reviews and offering help to individuals in the area of professional development.

Canderia’s business is designed with Bahamians in mind, to obtain what is obligated to them in the workplace. 

“One goal I have been able to achieve for my business is informing workers of The Bahamas about their rights and helping them navigate workplace woes by way of my blog, and social media posts, as well as hosting a virtual job preparedness program for graduates,” she said.

The achievements don’t stop there. One of her career highlights was hosting successful workshops for QuickBooks Training and partnering with other businesses such as Corporate Girl 242. Through this, she was able to give away a “Grand pack” which included work attire and workplace training, she told Bahamaslocal.com.

Consistent with her vision, in the future Canderia wants to host after school programs for graduates and entrepreneurs to provide them with the training they need to excel in the corporate world. She plans to do this by partnering with other trainers and corporate businesses who will help her throughout this process and lend their expertise to interested individuals. 

Granted she has been in business for a year and a half, Canderia keeps her head in the game with a “tunnel vision” focus to avoid negativity and competition.

“I don’t look to the left or right. I also believe that while there is competition none of them have your vision, talent and gifting. There will always be persons who will be less than genuine but there are those who will love you and the work that you do. That’s how you get past the negative voices by focusing on the positive ones” she said.

This positive mindset is what has kept Canderia going in the midst of the pandemic. The year 2020 did not go as planned for her, as her business was still in the infancy stages but she navigated through changes with technology.

“I would like to believe that the pandemic has had more of a positive one than negative. Having launched my first workshop in 2020, I learnt that there were so many people who needed to learn about labor laws in a simplified way and were willing to take the next step in building their value in workplaces and businesses,” the business owner said. 

While she is helping others on their journey towards professionalism and success, Canderia also embarked on a journey of her own, albeit a more personal one, all about overcoming self. 

“In this season, challenges come a dime a dozen but the biggest challenge you must overcome is self. Sometimes I can admit that I stand in my own way by not executing the idea or not believing that it’s good enough when in truth so many people need the service,” she said. 

Taking a step out of the safety net of a job and starting her own business, Canderia dealt with doubt and uncertainty. 

“I was met with fear and discouragement from making such a move at this time. Most people think that a job is the only way to make it, but I am learning that, that couldn’t be any further from the truth,” she said. 

But for this business owner, the idea of getting paid isn’t her motivation but pursuing her passion and purpose compelled her to continue through the challenges, and it proved triumph in the end.

But even when tough days come, Canderia gets through them by using her favorite motivational quote “a bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is in her own wings”. She expressed how this has carried her through rough days and it reminds her of the power that is already within her. 

The Inspired HR Ceo, admits being one’s own boss is hard work. It reveals the truth of one's nature, level of maturity and forces one to make decisions which would not be made otherwise. 

But she encourages other millennials starting out, to not “despise small beginnings”. She believes it takes less than one thinks to get started so “go for it!”

“Make the plan, put it into action, ask God to bless it and in time you’ll see how much that idea, or product line will grow. You have to get up and work each day, you need to put products out there, sell, sell, sell and you have to learn so many new things to survive,” she exclaimed.

Canderia can be found on her business Facebook page, The Inspired HR and on Instagram @theinspiredhrbahamas and website, https:theinspiredhr.com

The Inspired HR, Helping you transition to your next best!

Official Bahamas Tokyo Team Named

Mon, Jul 26th 2021, 12:00 AM

A total of 14 members will represent The Bahamas in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Team 242 consists of both track and field and swimming categories:

Track and Field Men

Samson Colebrooke – 100m; Steven Gardiner – 200m and 400m; Jamal Wilson – high jump and Donald Thomas (provisional) – high jump.

Track and Field Women 

Tynia Gaither – 100m and 200m; Shaunae Miller-Uibo – 200m and 400m; Brianne Bethel – 200m; Anthonique Strachan – 200m; Pedrya Seymour – 100m hurdles and Doneisha Anderson, Megan Moss and Lacathera Cooper joining Miller-Uibo, Strachan and Bethel for the 4 x 400m relay.

Aquatics Women

Joanna Evans – 200m and 400m freestyle and Laura Morley (provisional).

Aquatics Men

Izaak Bastian – 100m and 200m breaststroke.

Coaches

Rudolph Ferguson – Head Coach/Athletics

Ronald Cartwright

Rupert Gardiner

David Charlton

Andrew Loveitt

Management Team

Derron Donaldson – Head of Secretariat

Dorian Roach – Secretariat Assistant

Cora Hepburn – Chef de Mission

Dawn Johnson – Team Manager

Rochelle Bastian – Team Manager/Swimming

Oria Wood-Knowles – Team Attaché

Clarence Rolle – Administrator

Derron Donaldson is the head of the secretariat, assisted by vice president Dorian Roach with vice president Cora Hepburn and the first female chef de mission. The administrators are Oria Wood-Knowles and Clarence Rolle. The team manager is Dawn Johnson with Rudolph Ferguson as the head coach for athletics, assisted by Ronald Cartwright, Rupert Gardiner and Dave Charlton and Rochelle Bastian, the head coach for swimming, assisted by Andrew Loveitt.

Medical Team

Dr. Rickey Davis

Cottrice Roberts

The medical personnel are Dr Rickey Davis and Cottrice Roberts. Personal coaches travelling with the team are Lance Brauman, coach of Shaunae Miller-Uibo; Gary Evans, coach of Steven Gardiner and Kerry Peterson, coach of Joanna Evans.

 

The opening ceremony will be held on July 23.   The closing ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is scheduled for August 8.  

The opening ceremony will be held on July 23.  
The closing ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is scheduled for August 8.  

 

There is no such thing as "Proper English"

Wed, Jun 30th 2021, 12:00 AM

By: Jhanae Winter 

Many of us have been told or heard someone say “you need to speak proper english”, intending to correct the way another spoke. But what if I told you that "proper" english is all a myth. 

The radical teaching and speaking  “proper english”, or its lesser demeaning, but still equally as insulting coined term “standard english”, is something that has been forced down the throats of many in education, work and even personal life. However, the notion of english being “proper” is all a construct created and maintained by a group of people over the years. 

To whose standard is it? Who is deciding whether the way we speak is good enough to be used in official and formal settings? The bigger question is why are we following these seemingly set in stone traditions?

The Bahamas was a British colony so many will say the Queen’s english is the standard. But according to Elizabeth Peterson, author of MAKING SENSE OF “BAD ENGLISH” An Introduction to Language Attitudes and Ideologies, the “Queen does not speak a ‘standard’ variety, she speaks a distinct form of Received Pronunciation, a social variety”. 

The truth is as Peterson said in her book, some of the point of views many have of the english language, many scientists and linguists don't even have the such ideologies. For they know there is no such thing as “proper” english and don't refer to english as such.

Did you know that just one thousand years ago French was considered to be more prestigious than English and was the preferred language to be used everyday. Imagine if most of the world learned and spoke French. Likewise, during this time there were no “good” or “bad” connotations of the English language, it was simply a form of language that contained several dialects, as Peterson explains. 

In fact the “Standard” British English was established just 5 - 6 centuries ago and was “based on dialects spoken in London and the East Midlands for spelling and grammar, and the accent of the high society in London for pronunciation”, according to Eline Laperre.

As a result of this the more prestigious forms of english were chosen to be used in formal, official and educational settings, opposed to dialect. 

The problem with the standards of english, is that it sets a precedent that white/European english is superior to other forms of englishes and dialects. 

But once again these terms such as proper and standard to describe the way a group of people speak implies that an opposite exists.

Those who spoke english improperly or did not meet the standard, many of them were people that were different from colonizers or prestige whites. 

Every country that adopts English as its official or unofficial language, develops its own variation.

There's a variety to the English language and the way it is spoken. The rules, spelling, pronunciation, grammar and more, can all differ depending on which continent of the world the english speaker resides.  

Beyond the British English there also exists, American English, Australian English, South African English, Irish English, Canadian English, Scottish English, New Zealand English and the one in our region, Caribbean English.

In The Bahamas, if you don’t speak using “proper” english then you are considered illiterate, looked down on and even mocked. In accordance with Eline Laperre, the Bahamas chose the “superior” english at the time, the British English, to be used and taught, over the Bahamian Dialect. 

It is frowned upon to use Bahamian english in academics, official or government settings and so forth, it would be a great catastrophe.

If the Prime Minister in his national address spoke in Bahamian dialect to address the people, he would be scolded from the journalists to the beggar on the side of the road. Most would be in shock and disarray, even Rodney Moncur would be displeased. 

The only time dialect is preferred, it is to relate to the masses by using colloquialism.

The way Bahamians speak isn’t “broken” or “bad”, it derived from a process called creolization. 

The slaves resisted their colonizers by continuing to speak their native tongue and aspects of it transformed to create new languages. The different mixtures of languages affected grammar and structure. 

In the article, “Creole in the Caribbean: How Oral Discourse Creates Cultural Identities” the writer found 13 common characteristics among English Creoles. Some of them include “use of stabilizers, predicative adjectives and emphatic elongation of vowels”.  

The writer also addressed the lack of plurals; for example, plurals can sometimes be understood “by inserting dem or them after the noun”. This is true of Bahamians, who would say “Peter dem going to the store tomorrow,” indicating more than one person. 

The writer found that because many english caribbean speakers feel the pressure and competition to speak “proper english”, many conform to it. This act of conformity causes the dialect to be spoken less and less. 

This article isn’t written to “hate” on the British English but to spread more information about some of the things we have grown accustomed to but never question. Likewise, to stop shaming Bahamians for speaking dialect or looking down on those who don’t speak “proper” enough, because there is no such thing.

7 Tips To Celebrate Men's Health Week

Mon, Jun 14th 2021, 12:00 AM

By: Jhanae Winter

By: Jhanae Winter It's all about Men’s Health this month, but the second week in June is always allocated to celebrate and bring awareness globally to men’s physical and mental health.   This year the week starts today, June 14th - 20th. For those who don't know, Men’s Health week originated in America and became a national awareness campaign by the U.S. Congress in 1994. It was picked up globally by European nations and Australia in 2002.  The initiative then and now is to encourage men to make good health choices, take their health seriously and to be brave about conversations that include doctors and hospitals. During this week here are SEVEN easy tips to follow and guide you on your journey to bettering your health. Eat well. Men are more prone to lose weight compared to women but that doesn't mean you should pile it on. Eating a healthy and balanced diet is crucial for men’s health. Cut back on salts, sugars and processed flours and increase your fruit and vegetable as well as fiber intake. Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, pescatarian or carnivore, eat in moderation. Likewise, drink the recommended ounces of water for your lifestyle, the standard is eight, but this can differ from person to person. Men who consume less alcohol are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. So the next time you are looking for a buzz drink beetroot juice! Sleep regularly. Don’t assume this is a no brainer, because you would be surprised at the little sleep a lot of men receive because of their jobs, family, responsibilities etc. Taking care of one’s self is a hassle, therefore looking and supplying for others can take a toll on the body and mind. The recommended time is between 6-8 hours. This will help you feel more alert, refreshed and ready to take on the day. Plus you wouldn't be as cranky in the mornings. ;)   Exercise. Take the time this week to factor in some exercise. Go for a brisk walk, the gym, or even play a sport. Just move. Many work in office environments that may not call for them to move around alot, so instead take the stairs and not the elevator or park further away from your destination to walk alonger. Sounds weird right, but this is something my dad does. Keeping active decreases your chances of heart diseases, diabetes, cholesterol and so much more. Likewise, inactive men are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses such as depression.  Make that appointment. Honestly, what are you waiting for, come on you can do it. This week make a goal for yourself to get that checkup or physical you've been meaning to do, or everyone told you you need to do. No more excuses. There are many diseases wherein men are at higher risk of being effected such as heart disease, liver disease, colon cancer, spinal injuries, and the list can go on. Don’t ignore the signs. Everyone has their reasons they choose not to go to the doctors. Some do it out of fear, conspiracies, religion, pride etc. but when things affecting your health are constantly ignored it becomes a bigger problem that forces you to pay attention to it in the future. If something can be rectified in its early stages, deal with it. So, once again make that appointment! Break the stigma. This week, try to invoke change by starting conversations on men’s health, in particular mental health. Stick with the facts and encourage others to seek help if they need it. Start in your home. Talk to your sons about their health. Establish a balanced/healthy perspective of medical professionals, hear how they feel on the matter and guide them when needed. One day these boys will be men and if the stigma can end at a young age, they will grow up into health conscious individuals. But don't stop there, your nephew, cousin, dad, grandad, brother, friend or barber. Whichever male you interact with in the days to come, have a conversation with them.  Relax. But most importantly remember to take a break and breathe.When considering your health, taking time for yourself has great value. Whether this means with others or enjoying some alone time. A lot of men are under pressure or stressed for different reasons which can lead to internal issues like increased blood pressure or external problems like grumpiness, or outburst of rage. It is important to take breaks when needed to unwind and sort out your emotions, thoughts and feelings. With everything on your plate sometimes it is easy to forget to do this. However, ensure that your relaxing habits are benefiting your health and not deteriorating it.  The aim of this entire month is to bring men’s health to the forefront. Men are typically left behind in this area of life for various reasons. But your health does not only affect you but every single person connected to you. So make the right choice starting this week!

It's all about Men’s Health this month, but the second week in June is always allocated to celebrate and bring awareness globally to men’s physical and mental health.

This year the week starts today, June 14th - 20th.

For those who don't know, Men’s Health week originated in America and became a national awareness campaign by the U.S. Congress in 1994. It was picked up globally by European nations and Australia in 2002. 

The initiative then and now is to encourage men to make good health choices, take their health seriously and to be brave about conversations that include doctors and hospitals.

During this week here are SEVEN easy tips to follow and guide you on your journey to bettering your health.

Eat well. Men are more prone to lose weight compared to women but that doesn't mean you should pile it on. Eating a healthy and balanced diet is crucial for men’s health. Cut back on salts, sugars and processed flours and increase your fruit and vegetable as well as fiber intake. Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, pescatarian or carnivore, eat in moderation. Likewise, drink the recommended ounces of water for your lifestyle, the standard is eight, but this can differ from person to person. Men who consume less alcohol are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. So the next time you are looking for a buzz drink beetroot juice!

Sleep regularly. Don’t assume this is a no brainer, because you would be surprised at the little sleep a lot of men receive because of their jobs, family, responsibilities etc. Taking care of one’s self is a hassle, therefore looking and supplying for others can take a toll on the body and mind. The recommended time is between 6-8 hours. This will help you feel more alert, refreshed and ready to take on the day. Plus you wouldn't be as cranky in the mornings. ;)  

Exercise. Take the time this week to factor in some exercise. Go for a brisk walk, the gym, or even play a sport. Just move. Many work in office environments that may not call for them to move around alot, so instead take the stairs and not the elevator or park further away from your destination to walk alonger. Sounds weird right, but this is something my dad does. Keeping active decreases your chances of heart diseases, diabetes, cholesterol and so much more. Likewise, inactive men are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses such as depression. 

Make that appointment. Honestly, what are you waiting for, come on you can do it. This week make a goal for yourself to get that checkup or physical you've been meaning to do, or everyone told you you need to do. No more excuses. There are many diseases wherein men are at higher risk of being effected such as heart disease, liver disease, colon cancer, spinal injuries, and the list can go on.

Don’t ignore the signs. Everyone has their reasons they choose not to go to the doctors. Some do it out of fear, conspiracies, religion, pride etc. but when things affecting your health are constantly ignored it becomes a bigger problem that forces you to pay attention to it in the future. If something can be rectified in its early stages, deal with it. So, once again make that appointment!

Break the stigma. This week, try to invoke change by starting conversations on men’s health, in particular mental health. Stick with the facts and encourage others to seek help if they need it. Start in your home. Talk to your sons about their health. Establish a balanced/healthy perspective of medical professionals, hear how they feel on the matter and guide them when needed. One day these boys will be men and if the stigma can end at a young age, they will grow up into health conscious individuals. But don't stop there, your nephew, cousin, dad, grandad, brother, friend or barber. Whichever male you interact with in the days to come, have a conversation with them. 

Relax. But most importantly remember to take a break and breathe.When considering your health, taking time for yourself has great value. Whether this means with others or enjoying some alone time. A lot of men are under pressure or stressed for different reasons which can lead to internal issues like increased blood pressure or external problems like grumpiness, or outburst of rage. It is important to take breaks when needed to unwind and sort out your emotions, thoughts and feelings. With everything on your plate sometimes it is easy to forget to do this. However, ensure that your relaxing habits are benefiting your health and not deteriorating it. 

The aim of this entire month is to bring men’s health to the forefront. Men are typically left behind in this area of life for various reasons. But your health does not only affect you but every single person connected to you.

So make the right choice starting this week!

Your Vaccine Story PSA part 4
Your Vaccine Story PSA part 4

Thu, Jun 10th 2021, 12:00 AM

HERE'S WHY YOUR BUSINESS ISN'T GROWING

Wed, Jun 9th 2021, 12:00 AM

Your Vaccine Story Psa Part 3
Your Vaccine Story Psa Part 3

Thu, Jun 3rd 2021, 12:00 AM