At around 1am on June 29th, a BTC substation in Lewis Yard became the target of copper thieves who severed wires resulting in widespread service outages for area residents including the communities of Pinder’s Point and Hunters, as well as portions of the Hawksbill area on Grand Bahama.

Restoration teams were immediately dispatched to the area and have been working to replace the damaged wire and restore services. However residential and commercial customers in the area can anticipate delays in the resumption of their services for land and cell.

“We want to ask the public to be alert in instances like this” noted Northern VP Eldri Ferguson Mackey.

“The impact is large and the cost is significant, but we want to work with the police department.

We are asking citizens to call in with any tips you may have to the Police, and we’re offering a reward to anyone who can give us a lead into who is doing this and disrupting everyone’s essential services.”

This incident represents the second time in four days that the company has been targeted by copper thieves and this presents significant challenges to both BTC’s commercial and residential customers, who depend on the services.

BTC apologizes for any inconvenience that this incident has caused and asks for the public’s patience as they work to address this issue.

“Our team here in GB has worked diligently to repair our services after Hurricane Mathew,” said Ferguson.

“Now that we are back to full service it’s so disappointing that our customers are forced to deal with this inconvenience because of a few dishonest persons.”

BTC Northern VP Eldri Ferguson Mackey surveys the damage along with Adrian Allen of field services following the discovery of copper cable theft in the Lewis Yard area.(Photo Courtesy of BTC for Barefoot Marketing)

Restoration teams responded quickly to reports of service outages in the Lewis Yard, Pinder's Point and Hunters Area to begin replacement of stolen copper wires from a BTC Substation.(Photo courtesy of BTC for Barefoot Marketing)

ABOUT BTC:  BTC is the first quad play provider in The Bahamas. The company offers a full suite of landline, internet, mobile and television services allowing customers to stay connected throughout The Bahamas. BTC is deeply rooted in community and supports a wide range of culture, youth, education and sporting initiatives. These include Junkanoo, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, IAAF/BTC World Relays and CARIFTA. BTC maintains a four-year scholarship program with The University of The Bahamas and provides funding for the University’s endowment fund.  Just recently, the company signed an agreement for the establishment of an Innovation Lab at the University. The company is jointly owned by Liberty Global and The Government of The Bahamas.

Barefoot Marketing

 

Legendary Bahamian musician King Errisson has recently written a book about his life from childhood in The Bahamas and his climb to fame as a world renowned percussionist. His book “My Life, My Loves” tells the story of his early years of growing up in the beautiful Bahama islands and knowing that one day he would be somebody. His grandmother knew he was special and she called him “King.” He is known worldwide as an illustrious percussionist, composer and actor. Studio musician King Errisson has led quite an interesting life since his introduction to the entertainment industry. He was born October 29, 1941 in Nassau, Bahamas. Between the ages of 13 and 18, he was a professional jockey and a session drummer for local bands in his native Bahamas. He left Nassau for drama studies in Canada, formed a jazz band in New York City, and spent a year performing in a Bermuda club where he met Redd Foxx who invited King to appear at his place in Los Angeles. Sammy Davis Jr. asked King to appear on the Hollywood Palace, and Cannonball Adderly became his mentor in the recording studio. In 1968, he moved to Los Angeles to become an actor, a career he successfully maneuvered as he appeared in a variety of films and TV shows. King received his first “big break” at the age of 23 when his talent with the congas was prominently displayed in a memorable night club scene in the James Bond thriller Thunderball. He also starred in the Abe Vigoda series Fish. While in Los Angeles, he met saxophonist Julian Adderly, and the two bonded strongly, eventually recording several albums together. As a session musician, King has worked with a very diverse group of artists representing a wide variety of musical styles. King has been praised as “the unsung hero behind Motown” by Ray Singleton in her book Berry, Me, and Motown as well as by Berry Gordy in his book To Be Loved for his work with artists such as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson, the Jackson Five, and many others. He has also worked with Herb Alpert, John Klemmer, Doc Severinsen, Ringo Starr, Blood Sweat & Tears, Jim Stafford, Swamp Dogg, Barbra Streisand, David Cassidy, Bobby Darin, Nancy Wilson, Johnny Mathis, OC Smith, Lou Rawles, Hodges James and Smith, Mickey Stevenson, Barry White and The Carpenters. Between tours, he recorded a few solo albums and managed to appear in a few more films, most notably The Jazz Singer and Tap. He started a fishing resort in The Bahamas while he continued to live outside of Las Vegas to do session work. Errisson also joined Neil Diamond’s band around this time, appearing on most of Diamond’s recordings from the 80s. He recorded one more solo album, 1993’s Man, before returning to session work and on again/off again appearances with Diamond.

Legendary Bahamian musician King Errisson has recently written a book about his life from childhood in The Bahamas and his climb to fame as a world renowned percussionist. His book “My Life, My Loves” tells the story of his early years of growing up in the beautiful Bahama islands and knowing that one day he would be somebody. His grandmother knew he was special and she called him “King.” He is known worldwide as an illustrious percussionist, composer and actor.
Studio musician King Errisson has led quite an interesting life since his introduction to the entertainment industry. He was born October 29, 1941 in Nassau, Bahamas. Between the ages of 13 and 18, he was a professional jockey and a session drummer for local bands in his native Bahamas.
He left Nassau for drama studies in Canada, formed a jazz band in New York City, and spent a year performing in a Bermuda club where he met Redd Foxx who invited King to appear at his place in Los Angeles. Sammy Davis Jr. asked King to appear on the Hollywood Palace, and Cannonball Adderly became his mentor in the recording studio.
In 1968, he moved to Los Angeles to become an actor, a career he successfully maneuvered as he appeared in a variety of films and TV shows. King received his first “big break” at the age of 23 when his talent with the congas was prominently displayed in a memorable night club scene in the James Bond thriller Thunderball. He also starred in the Abe Vigoda series Fish.
While in Los Angeles, he met saxophonist Julian Adderly, and the two bonded strongly, eventually recording several albums together.
As a session musician, King has worked with a very diverse group of artists representing a wide variety of musical styles. King has been praised as “the unsung hero behind Motown” by Ray Singleton in her book Berry, Me, and Motown as well as by Berry Gordy in his book To Be Loved for his work with artists such as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson, the Jackson Five, and many others. He has also worked with Herb Alpert, John Klemmer, Doc Severinsen, Ringo Starr, Blood Sweat & Tears, Jim Stafford, Swamp Dogg, Barbra Streisand, David Cassidy, Bobby Darin, Nancy Wilson, Johnny Mathis, OC Smith, Lou Rawles, Hodges James and Smith, Mickey Stevenson, Barry White and The Carpenters.
Between tours, he recorded a few solo albums and managed to appear in a few more films, most notably The Jazz Singer and Tap. He started a fishing resort in The Bahamas while he continued to live outside of Las Vegas to do session work. Errisson also joined Neil Diamond’s band around this time, appearing on most of Diamond’s recordings from the 80s. He recorded one more solo album, 1993’s Man, before returning to session work and on again/off again appearances with Diamond.

 

Credit: Smith & Benjamin’s ‘BAHAMIAN ART & CULTURE’ | Issue No. 299

Bahamian ballerina, Courtney Celeste Spears, was one of three top US ballerinas chosen to model accessories for Conde Nast’s Allure magazine this holiday season. Spears is in her second season dancing with the Ailey II Repertory Company, the younger version of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Our favorite holiday hair accessories, modeled by three top ballerinas by Sophia Panych

The holiday season means different things to different people. But to ballet dancers—professional, amateur, kids, young, and old—it means one thing: The Nutcracker season. Nearly every person who’s ever laced up a pair of pointe shoes has performed in the winter classic, whether it’s as a child in the party scene, a soloist in the Land of Sweets, or someone scurrying around in an unwieldy mouse head at the end of the first act.

New York City-based ballerinas Isabella Boylston, Sara Mearns, and Courtney Celeste Spears, are no exception. If I had to guess, they’ve collectively performed nearly 1,000 shows of The Nutcracker, starting off in their home towns theaters and now on some of the most prestigious stages in the world (you can catch Mearns at the David Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City and Boylston at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California this season). Year after year, I love watching these women dazzle as Dewdrop, stun as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and make us smile as Clara, decked out in their dreamy tutus and the twinkliest hair accessories you've ever seen. And thanks to social media, you can see all of the tulle and tiaras up close and person...

CLICK HERE to read full article in Allure.

Sir Orville Turnquest, former Governor General of The Bahamas, is pictured giving remarks at the launch of his book titled, “What Manner of Man Is This?” held at Government House. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

CELEBRATING an achievement 15 years in the making, loved ones and colleagues gathered at Government House for the launch of former Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest’s book on the Duke of Windsor’s reign in The Bahamas.

The highly-anticipated book “What Manner of Man is This, The Duke of Windsor’s Years in The Bahamas” takes an historical lens to the Duke’s governance and impact on the fledgling colony, a departure from tomes written about the controversial royal couple.

It has been heralded as “an unvarnished fresh look” at a crucial period in Bahamian history by Sir Sidney Poitier, who pens the foreword.

Sir Orville presented his first copy to Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling at a brief ceremony celebrating the book’s worldwide publication yesterday.

The fifth governor general of an independent Bahamas, Sir Orville served from 1995 to 2001.

At the event, he explained that he was inspired to write the book during his tenure as governor general as he sought to learn more about the early occupants of the residence. He thanked attendants for their effort and expressed hope that they will enjoy reading the historical offering.

The Duke served as royal governor of The Bahamas from 1940-1945 after he abdicated the throne as King of England in order to marry the twice-divorced Wallis Simpson.

While the world revelled in what was portrayed as both one of the greatest love stories of all time and the scandal of the century, the reality for The Bahamas was that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor viewed his assignment as royal governor as severe punishment, banishment to a far-flung island country without any of the trappings of a royal life.

Though they gave of themselves personally in times of crisis, they never truly warmed to the people of the island nation, nor did they reciprocate the warmth with which Bahamians showered them.

Turmoil surrounded his tenure in this island nation – the Burma Road Riots, the Bay Street Fire, The Project, The Contract and the still-unsolved murder of Sir Harry Oakes, the richest man in the world at the time.

The Duke’s friendship with a German industrialist who had taken refuge in The Bahamas during World War II further aroused suspicion and, moreover, he never denied his affiliation and friendship with those who British allies would have considered their most bitter enemies.

He also never entertained a black Bahamian at Mount Fitzwilliam (Government House), though black Bahamians were so excited to see the “romantic couple” that they insisted on a ceremony at Clifford Park to welcome them to The Bahamas when only a private ceremony had been planned.

At yesterday’s launch, Sir Orville’s publisher Diane Gedymin of Grant’s Town Press, spoke warmly of the elder statesman, whose tireless conviction to his family, and the Bahamian people, she had come to love and respect. In her brief heartfelt remarks, she noted that his dedication to truth seeking was the driving force behind the publication.

Accolades have also come from former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who called the work “insightful, informative”.

Mr Ingraham noted that Sir Orville “has produced an easy, readable history of the period, well-informed by his own personal experience as a young black, who overcame the absence of the opportunities gifted to the Duke of Windsor to become the Duke’s successor in the office of governor general of an independent Bahamas.”

Other praise came from Tribune Publisher Eileen Carron, two former Governors General Sir Arthur Foulkes and Dame Ivy Dumont and from Lyford Cay resident Harry Oakes.

The book will be available at all major bookstores in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Harbour Island and Abaco as well as the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas and The Linen Shop on Bay Street, Nassau. An eBook is available at international online retailers.