Educator, cultural icon and author Arlene Nash-Ferguson (centre) presented a copy of her book 'The Gentle Giant -- The Story of Andre Rodgers' to Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Lanisha Rolle, on September 4, 2020 during a courtesy call at the Ministry. Also pictured is Permanent Secretary Eugene Poitier. 

Minister Rolle had a brief chat with Mrs. Nash-Ferguson and her husband Silbert Ferguson. Also present for the courtesy call were Under Secretaries Montez Williams and Renee Bullard. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

In the year 2020, so much has been out of our control.

The global pandemic has influenced how we work, how we play and indeed how we live most aspects of our everyday lives.

So when Jade Shovlin, a care worker in the United Kingdom, was diagnosed with terminal cancer, it seemed like just another injustice. It was another tragedy that was out of our control.

That is, until she told a newspaper about her dream – to swim with the pigs in The Bahamas.

It caught the eye of T.R. Todd, the Canadian author of the award-winning book ‘Pigs of Paradise: The Story of the World Famous Swimming Pigs’. Finally, he thought – here is something we can control.

“When I saw Jade’s story and looked at her family photo, I found it heart-wrenching,” said Todd, who works with Peter Nicholson, a prominent owner and philanthropist at Grand Isle Resort & Spa in Exuma, Bahamas.

“Here was this beautiful 20-year-old who spent her days caring for others and now she was facing a terminal illness. It was inexplicable, why should she have to suffer like this?” asked Todd said. “Whether it is the death of George Floyd, or COVID-19, 2020 has not been the best year on record. Fortunately, in 2020, we are also more interconnected than ever before. So we wanted to reach out and help and make her dream of swimming with the pigs come true. Of course, with COVID-19, it is not business as usual. Prior to travel she will need to meet whatever testing requirements there might be, especially being an at-risk traveler. But once all the precautions are taken, we will welcome her with open arms.”

Nicholson, another Canadian who purchased 31 villas at Grand Isle Resort in 2012, immediately stepped up to offer a free stay at the luxury resort, along with a boat ride up the Exuma Cays to see the world-famous swimming pigs. In addition, an online fundraiser has been launched to help Jade and her family with other expenses. So far, it has raised more than $20,000.

“I honestly couldn’t believe it, it is such a weird situation,” Jade told a local newspaper in the UK, in response to Nicholson’s offer.

“I can’t fly until next year [due to chemotherapy] but I feel like my dream is closer, it is just a shame about having to wait.”

According to her diagnosis, cancer of the esophagus is incurable and she has less than two years to live. The news has left those close to her devastated.

“I feel more for my friends and family, especially my mam and boyfriend,” she said.

“I’ve just been keeping myself busy and trying not to focus on it too much.”

Jade’s story comes just as The Bahamas begins to re-open its borders to commercial airlines and tourists on July 1. Over the last several years, the swimming pigs have grown to become a major draw for tourists from around the world. While the original Pig Beach is located on Big Major Cay in Exuma, the attraction has expanded to include colonies in Abaco, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama and Nassau, along with at least two private islands that service cruise ship passengers.

Popular among celebrities and social media influencers, the swimming pigs are now considered a bucket-list experience for people from the farthest reaches of the globe, like Jade. In April 2017, Jillian Crockett, a 7-year-old girl from Westchester, Maryland, was given the opportunity to take any trip she wanted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

She also chose the swimming pigs.

During difficult times, the pigs continue to show us the healing power of holidays with our loved ones, says Todd.

Nicholson, who commissioned the original documentary ‘When Pigs Swim’ in 2013, concurs: “It is incredible to see what the swimming pigs have become not just for Exuma, but the entire Bahamas. We never envisioned they would reach these heights. And now, someone like Jade comes along, reminding us just how special they are, and how special The Bahamas is to so many people. What Jade is going through is a tragedy. But I’m glad we are in a position to step up and help Jade and her family have an amazing experience in the near future.”

About Grand Isle Resort & Spa
Grand Isle Resort & Spa sits on a mile-long stretch of ivory beach and sparkling clear waters of Emerald Bay on the island of Great Exuma. Recipient of the coveted AAA Four Diamond Award, this sun-kissed tropical Bahamas resort has a family friendly, low-key attitude that immediately puts guests at ease. From unrivaled sport fishing, fly fishing, diving and snorkeling from the Grand Isle Resort beach to exquisite cuisine and sublime spa services, this relaxing resort just a one-hour flight from Miami exudes authentic Bahamian style. To learn more about Grand Isle Resort & Spa, please visit www.grandisleresort.com.

Jade Shovlin: Jade Shovlin, a 20-year-old care giver from the UK, second from left, poses with her siblings at a birthday party. The 20-year-old care giver hopes to visit the swimming pigs after her first round of treatments. Credit: Other third party

Jeff 2016: The swimming pigs have become a major attraction for The Bahamas, and a bucket-list experience for tourists worldwide. Credit: T.R. Todd

Hailing a children’s book series as “culturally relevant,” the Ministry of Education lent its backing to a student author, with a significant order designed to make the new picture book available to every preschool class in The Bahamas’ public school system.

“Due to the limited age appropriate texts that are culturally available, the Ministry is suggesting that the author(s) consider producing more books for the series,” wrote Education Director Marcellus Taylor in a letter congratulating 15-year-old Sierra Blair.

The Kingsway Academy tenth grader co-authored her first book, Roman and His Mean Family in 2017, with her mom, media and public relations professional, Tosheena Robinson-Blair with illustrations provided by local graphic artist, Rashad Cash.

Encouraged by steady Amazon sales of print and digital versions of the book, the Blairs took a risk late last year, independently publishing the second instalment in the series, Roman and The Pink Flamingos, illustrated by Grand Bahama native, Lamaro Smith.

The books’ characters do not stray far from home, literally and figuratively, loosely based as they are on the family’s real-life experiences and adventures.

In fact, the series takes its name from Sierra’s little brother, Roman, now a precocious preschooler.

“It is definitely something our preschool students would be able to relate to as it integrates topics related to our curriculum, especially animals. Field experiences which the story scripts, our students are able to have similar experiences visiting our local zoo,” said senior education officer at the Early Childhood Section of the Ministry of Education, Ellen Rhodriguez in explaining why she recommended the purchase.

It was not immediately clear whether Sierra is the youngest, published author to successfully sell her book in bulk to the Ministry of Education.

“We can say, she is one of the youngest authors for picture books that we have had the opportunity to read and critique,” said Leja Burrows, a senior education officer at the Early Childhood Section.

“Authentic Bahamian storybooks is an area where we really are deficient in and so we were happy not only is it local, but the text is appropriate for young children. We recommend it up to grade two. We feel that up to age eight, children can benefit from the storyline. We were quite impressed with the bold colors and the simple, yet realistic pictures.”

For Sierra, the official hand-over brings to an end, a chapter which opened days after her birthday. At that time the family offered up the series for a review by the Ministry of Education.

“As teens we watch musicians, movie and reality TV stars become ‘instantly’ famous and it could program you to believe success comes overnight. It doesn’t. This single chapter in the development of our family business took us more than five months to write,” said the Principal Honor Roll student and co-founder of SITORO, a business Sierra and her mom established to sell the children’s books series.

“I’m finding, in real life true success takes longer, but I’m enjoying the journey.”

On Tuesday, June 5, teen author Sierra Blair delivered well-over 100 copies of her second book, Roman and The Pink Flamingos to her newest customer, the Ministry of Education. The series’ second instalment is a colorful tale of a uniquely Bahamian experience – a close encounter with pink flamingos at a bird sanctuary. From left to right, Leja Burrows, senior education officer at the Early Childhood Section of the Ministry of Education, author Sierra Blair and Ellen Rhodriguez, senior education officer. Photo by Cameron A Thompson, Precision Media

Author, Kevin Eldon Cartwright proved that ability truly can supersede disability with the launch of his debut literary offering: “Revelations of a Silent Heart” on Friday, April 26. 

The Book Release took place at the offices of the Disability Affairs Division of the Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development. Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, attended the launch.

“Revelations of a Silent Heart” is a compilation of Poems and Prose based on the life experiences of the author who lost his sight to glaucoma when he was eight years old. The Book is available in hard copy and in audio form in order for the author to fulfill his desire to “make this accessible to persons who are blind or visually impaired.”

A graduate of West Virginia State University, Mr. Cartwright teaches the Language Arts Curriculum at the Erin H. Gilmour School for the Blind. He said the launch was the culmination of a dream come true and perfectly illustrates how persons with disabilities can make “tremendous contributions to society once given fair and equal opportunities to grow, develop and thrive in a barrier-free society.”

“Undoubtedly, this noteworthy achievement is a testament to the vast reservoir of talents, skills and abilities that persons with disabilities within our communities possess. More often than not, society overlooks the innate capabilities of such persons, focusing only on their disabilities, losing sight of the tremendous contributions that these persons can make once afforded fair and equal opportunities to grow, develop and thrive in a barrier-free society.

“Revelations of a Silent Heart is the first in a series of books that I have written and plan to publish in the near future. As this is my debut release, I hope that it touches hearts and changes lives in a positive way. An accomplishment of this magnitude is no small feat. It took enormous effort, time and sacrifice to arrive at this point.”

A Commissioner with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Cartwright called the Book of Poems “a real page-turner.”

“More importantly, it is an honest, heartfelt and beautifully expressed accounting of my personal experiences derived from close interactions with lovers, family and friends. On one hand, it tells a story of love, disappointment, heartbreak, hope, redemption, healing and forgiveness, while on the other hand, it moves us to tears, joy, laughter and excitement.

“I wrote this compilation of carefully crafted poems and prose just for readers – a very special gift straight from the heart. I am sure that as you read them, you will encounter something that will, no doubt, speak to your heart. Whatever the result, you can rest assured knowing that your lives will be enriched by my writings.”

Mr. Cartwright said the publication of the Book should serve as a testimony to all Bahamians – particularly those living with disabilities.

“What I would like to say to anyone out there with a disability is that, despite your physical challenge - whether its blindness or a hearing impairment or whatever it might be, you are a somebody and you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. Don’t allow negativity to become a barrier to your success because your mind is what makes you who you are, and your ambition is the driving force behind that which you can achieve along with God’s help.

“Once you have a goal in mind, plot your course and set a timeline for yourself as to when and how you are going to achieve this goal. Find persons out there who believe in you and who are willing to support you and even if some doors are closed, understand that not all of them will not be closed, and that there will be someone, somewhere, out there to assist.

“If not for the exemplary leadership of pacesetters such as Mr. William Lightbourne, Ms. Maria Deleveaux, the late Ms. Genevieve Evans, Mr. Gus Harris and Mr. Alphonso “Blind Blake” Higgs and many others, my noteworthy achievement would have not been possible. By their exemplary leadership, these individuals have inspired me to reach greatness and to pursue my aspirations, hopes and dreams.

“I urge you to make that effort, believe in yourselves and work diligently towards achieving that goal. It may not happen within a short timeframe, but if you remain persistent and you have that courage to press on, you will eventually achieve your goal,” Mr. Cartwright added.

Author Kevin Eldon Cartwright autographs copies of his first literary offering, “Revelations of a Silent Heart,” for Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell (standing) during the Book’s Launch at the Disability Affairs Division, Department of Social Services, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development. Mr. Cartwright was assisted by Ms. Melony Munnings, a Commissioner with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities. (BIS Photo/Matt Maura) 

By Matt Maura