News & Events – Page 3 – Rosemary C. Hanna

Cleophas R.E. Adderley, OBE – Attorney at Law, Musician Extraordinaire, Cultural Ambassador and Bahamian National Treasure

Cleophas R.E. Adderley was born into a musical family in 1955. He is the son of the late Cleophas E. Adderley (former Member of Parliament for the City of Nassau) and the late Helen L. Adderley, formerly Bailey, (daughter of the late R.M. Bailey after whom a public school is named). Cleophas is an Attorney-at-Law and recently celebrated his 25th anniversary as Director of The Bahamas National Youth Choir (BNYC) and 27th year as Director of the Senior Choir at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity (where he formerly served as a member of the Vestry), former Director of Culture for The Bahamas Government, and currently the Executive Director of National Music Heritage and Research. He is also a board member of The Harry C. Moore Memorial Scholarships in the Arts, a trustee of the Cultural Arts Foundation, founding board member of The Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Commission, and founding board member of The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas.

Cleophas’ mother noticed that he was talented at the age of three years, when he was able to sing from memory, and in tune, songs he had heard only once. At seven he started piano lessons with his aunt the late Rosalie Bailey. At age eleven he studied tailoring with his uncle the late Nathaniel Bailey working in his shop for many summers and, until age nineteen, sewing Police uniforms for the Government. At age twelve he started organ lessons with his aunt the late Gladys Bailey. He also studied the organ with Douglas Potts and the late John Gittens.

He studied piano, theory and composition with the late Marion St. George at the Government High School (GHS). He also studied piano with Godfrey Davis and the late E. Clement Bethel. Sylvester George, a former Director of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band, recalls that when Cleophas was a student at GHS Mrs. St. George brought him and other students to the band practice sessions, where he always took a keen interest in what was going on. Cleophas studied voice with Dawn-Marie Nash and Pauline Glasby and participated in a master class with internationally acclaimed Opera Diva the late Gloria Davey at the University of Indiana at Bloomington. He studied orchestration as a private student of Nancy Petterson-Strelau, then at the University of Miami.

Cleophas is a former President of the Bahamian Students Association of the Mona Campus, University of the West Indies. He is also a former President of the Nassau Music Society.

He received a Bachelor of Laws Degree with Honours from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, and a Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School, Mona, Jamaica.

He is the composer of a number of works including, the first Bahamian concert mass Misssa Caribe, The Cari-Classics (a group of Choral Compositions based on Bahamian ring plays); music and rhythms for Winston Saunders’ You Can Lead a Horse to Water, which played to rave critical acclaim in San Francisco and Our Boys, the first Bahamian Opera (and perhaps the first grand opera to have been written and performed in the English Speaking Caribbean) which made its world premiere in 1987 with musicians from the Juilliard School of Music Orchestra, conducted by Nancy Petterson-Strelau, and with leading roles played by local and guest soloists from Opera Ebony, New York. In July 1998 the Opera was presented as an official part of the Bahamian Silver Jubilee Celebrations. Cleophas’ music has been performed at Caribbean Festivals of Arts (CARIFESTA) in Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad and Barbados and throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Russia. He has released numerous recordings of his works and arrangements with The Bahamas National Youth Choir and other artists. Some of his choral arrangements are published by Hal Leonard Corporation, Wisconsin.

Cleophas was recognized by the University of the West Indies for his contribution to Caribbean Music, and received The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Citizen Award for his contribution to the arts. He toured the United States under the auspices of he United States Information Services and met with numerous internationally acclaimed composers, singers and conductors. In November 1992, he was the recipient of the Charles H. Fisher Award from The Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union, which is the highest award offered by the Union. He is also the recipient of the Seal of the City of Newark from Sharpe James, former Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. In addition, he is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Bahamas Association of Artistic Performers, which was subsequently renamed the Cleophas R.E. Adderley Award in his honour.

He also contributed an Aria (inter alia) to The legend of Sammie Swain, a folk opera by the late E.Clement Bethel, and thus was presented to Queen Elizabeth II when she attended a performance of this work in 1985. He also met and made a presentation to Dr. Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa.

Cleophas has conducted the University of Miami Symphony Orchestra and The Bahamas National Youth Choir in a performance of Haydn’s ‘Lord Nelson’ Mass which was later released on compact disc and cassette tape format. In 1995 he received a Certificate of Recognition for outstanding work from the Gabriel Mistral International Awards of the Organization of American States and later the Meta AWard (which is the highest honorary award offered by the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts) for his exemplary contribution to the local arts scene.

Cleophas was the tenor soloist at the State Funerals of former Governors General Sir Henry Taylor and Sir Gerald Cash and one of the organists and Choir Director at the State Funeral of former Prime Minister the late Right Honourable Sir Lynden O. Pindling.

In 1998 he received a Silver Medal from The Bahamas Government on the occasion of the country’s Silver Jubilee of Independence in recognition of his outstanding musical accomplishments. He has received many accolades, among them:

The Swedish Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency, Harken Berggren stated that Mr. Adderley’ is “headed for a future of great recognition!” June 1992.

Gloria Anderson, Director of Research and Reference at the Canada Labour Relations Board was compelled to write that she was “overwhelmed by the degree of professionalism” of the Choir (BNYC), and that “the Choir and Mr. Adderley, are indeed national treasures worth preserving.” June 1992.

The late Dr. Keva Bethel, President of The College of The Bahamas commented: “Cleophas himself is such a wonderful musician and instrumentalist.” April 1995.

While the late Kayla Edwards, former Director of Culture explained: “Cleophas is a person who demands high standards. he doesn’t settle for anything less than the best.” April 1995.

Cleophas has travelled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Mexico Venezuela, Russia Hong Kong, mainland China and the Caribbean. He is married to Francoise Brooks-Adderley and is the loving father of a son and a daughter.

CELEBRATE!!

Update: Cleophas Adderley was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of The British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in January 2016, for contributions to music.

BNYC photographs by Donald Knowles
Other photographs courtesy of Cleophas R.E.Adderley

Link to BNYC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheBNYC?fref=ts

Thanks to Virginia Ballance for link to interview with The International Journal of Bahamian Studies

Andret John – Master Artist

By Rosemary C. Hanna

Andret John always knew that he wanted to be an artist. He was born in New Providence and went to Eleuthera at three months old. His parents are Gardina Cooper Hepburn and Roland John, both from Eleuthera. He has one brother.

Andret always knew how to draw and he describes how, as a child, he would become very excited when given a clean sheet of white paper and had thoughts racing through his head about what he would draw on the paper. And he still feels that same excitement today. He came to New Providence at age eleven to attend Queen’s College (QC) and lived with his mother’s sister who was a police officer. At QC he had two great art teachers in the persons of Ms. Fest who was from Hungary. and Mr. Pickersgill from the United Kingdom. Andret’s love of art and determination to become a professional artist was cemented when Mr. Pickersgill invited Brent Malone to speak to his class. Andret was particularly enthralled by Malone’s Junkanoo paintings and that sealed the deal for him.

When he graduated from QC and announced his plan to become an artist Andret says that a “family conference” was called to inform him that there would be no art and becoming an artist was out of the question, as he needed to find a real job. His aunt wanted him to join the Police Cadet Corps. This was most disheartening to Andret. So he spent a few semesters at The College of The Bahamas. An art programme had just started at COB, but he was studying criminology with a view to becoming a police officer.

He eventually went into the technical field and endured eight years of frustration working at Bahamas Telecommunications. He was very unsatisfied because he was not doing what he wanted to do. At that time he was involved in a tumultuous relationship and one day, when he was feeling down, he saw a photograph of a little girl and went out to his balcony and drew a black and white picture of the girl. He took it to be framed and on the day that he was collecting the picture Cheryl Grant-Bethel and Cathy Lieberman (whose husband was an executive at Atlantis) were in the store. They were impressed with the drawing and asked him how much it was worth. He said maybe $100. So they asked if he would be willing to donate the picture as a prize to be auctioned at an upcoming Zonta Club ball and he agreed. He got his complimentary tickets for the event, bought his tuxedo and says that when he entered the crowded ballroom and saw his work prominently displayed on an easel, up to that point, that event was the most glorious in his life! At auction time the bidding began at $100…silence… at which point Andret said that he became very nervous, but bidding resumed: $200, $300, $400 all the way up to $1,500!! Then he said to himself “You mean I’m giving away all of that money?” However, immediately following the event Mrs. Lieberman came over and asked him if he had anymore work for sale. He did not, but within a week’s time he produced there pieces which he sold to her for $1,000 each. Wow! $3,000 in less than a week! And, as the saying goes, “the rest was history”.

After this, Andret wanted to learn more about art. He attended exhibitions, read books and educated himself. He was also influenced by Antonius Roberts and then transitioned from two dimensional to three dimensional works. His first sculpture “Auset” was a feminine bust and head of a woman. Andret worked from his home for a long time and also with the Korean artist, Kye Shon, who worked in the window on Frederick Street (opposite Trinity Methodist Church). Most of his sculptures have been done in the yard at his home and now at Little Orchard – he never really left the yard and loves working under the trees and around nature. However, he is now looking for a larger space. Andret is mostly self-taught and he says that he is still learning. He has worked in wood for a long time and is now working with clay. His works are in many private collections in The Bahamas and all over the world including: New York and other cities in the United States, Dubai and Italy.

Andret and his former wife, architect Vanessa Clarke John, have five children – four girls and one boy ranging in ages form 15 to 7 years old and, for the past two years, they have been home schooled.

The artist creates lead head carvings for all of the major Junkanoo groups in New Providence. He initially started out doing work for the Fancy Dancers in Kemp Road. Before the introduction of the light weight aluminum rods, 2 x 4 wood was used in the construction of these pieces and they were very heavy. Andret recalls that when his uncle was in charge of a Junkanoo parade in Eleuthera he (Andret) was carrying one of these very heavy pieces and one of his knees gave way, but after a few seconds he recovered and then same thing happened with the other leg; but he was convinced that that the only thing that kept him going was the rhythm of the drums and, anyone who know about Junkanoo understands that it’s hypnotic. However, he agrees with my assertion that the true essence of Junkanoo was lost with introduction of brass instruments and I was a bit surprised to hear that some of the groups hire brass players. Andret recounted an occasion when the brass players who were hired by a group of which he was a member, came to the parade without properly fringed costumes (some in shorts and T shirts) and wanted to march ahead of the members of the group who had spent months preparing their costumes. Andret put his foot down and said there would be no brass and the group paraded without them. Furthermore, it is an unfortunate fact that many of the brass instruments are usually out of tune, which is not a pleasing sound to the ear. Andret has been involved in Junkanoo all of his life and he says there is nothing in this world like it!

The pieces that he’s working on now at The Orchard Hotel came about when Andret was invited by Dr. John Knowles, one of the co-owners of the property, to do something with a massive woman’s tongue tree trunk on the property; and the pieces shown here in various states stages of development have come from that trunk, a part of which is still in the ground. As the work progressed Little Orchard became Andret’s temporary home.

He created two Lucuyan head under water sculptures each approximately eight by six feet and weighing about one a ton. The pieces were created at the Airport Industrial Park and took about a month to complete. They are made of marine grade concrete and were deployed into the water at Clifton Cay in October 2014. Regrettably, the sculptures have been contaminated by the oil spill in the area.

Andret has had many solo exhibitions, the last one being at The Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Gallery in 2006; and also group exhibitions at The Bahamas National Trust, Government House and Albany. He plans to exhibit a new line of work by the year end or early next year.

Creative Nassau Market @ Pompey Square – The Place to Buy Authentically Bahamian Arts and Craft

The Creative Nassau market at Pompey Square, down town Nassau, Bay Street (adjacent to the Pompey Slave Museum), and less than a five minute walk from the cruise ships in Nassau Harbour, is the place for residents and visitors to The Bahamas to buy beautiful authentically Bahamian art and craft items made here in The Bahamas. Shoppers can enjoy harassment-free shopping as they browse through the market and view the many and varied items for sale. They can also enjoy entertainment provided by local musicians.

Presently the market is held every Wednesday and Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Vendors and artisans include: Craft Cottage, Third Eye Artworks, Everything Comes up Art, Naturally Bahamian, Lignum Vitae Centre, Outten Designs, Culture in Action, Shells ‘n Things, Isle of Design, Creations by Redalyak, My Bahama Sponge, Junkanoo Souvenirs, Bows and Bands, Val’s Handicrafts, Island Creations, Judy’s Creations, High Tide, Puzzles Bahamas, Nancy’s Fancies, Ejay Jewellery, Sasha’s Foxy Paws, Island Vibrations, Fine Ocean Jewellery, Sterlin Ann Creations, Trevor Tucker Artworks, Blissful Creations, Fabric, Islandz, Coco Reef, Shellcraft, Love Yourself, Craft Items, Hands Up, Ridge Farms and Down Too Earth Adventure Farm.

Link to Creative Nassau on Facebook.

Tribute to Cleophas R.E. Adderley

Sunday, 27th September 2015 at Church of The Most Holy Trinity, Trinity Way, New Providence, The Bahamas

Congratulations to Leona Hepburn, Eugenie P. KNowles (Peggy) and the Senior Choir of the Parish Church of the Most Holy Trinity for the glorious tribute and outpouring of love showered upon their Director of 27 years Cleophas R.E. Adderley.

Evensong at the church included renditions by: Angelic Voices of Praise, Echoes of Dawn, Voices of Trinity Choir, The Senior Choir and The Choraliers (all Holy Trinity Church Choirs); Festival of Choirs included: St. Ambrose Choir, St. Agnes Senior Choir, The National Youth Choir, The Highgrove Singers, The Bel-Canto Singers, and the Holy Trinity Senior Choir..so many different genres of music and all beautifully done!

This was followed by a reception in the beautifully decorated Activities Centre where we were further entertained by church musicians, Candace Bostwick, Joann Callender, Nikita Thompson and Antoine Wallace, and a beautifully produced video presentation created by Utah Taylor, which chronicled Cleophas’ 27 years as the Director of the Senior Choir, given through interviews with former and present parish priests, members of the choir and church, and other friends.

To view more pictures go to Facebook link: Tribute to Cleophas Adderley

Andrew Knowles – Artist

The story of Andrew Knowles, a 12^th grade student at St. Anne’s School, is a fascinating one about overcoming tremendous odds in life and being well on the road to a successful future. With the help of friends and mentors Andrew has survived the most difficult of circumstances. He and his mother and six siblings lived with their grandmother and when she became ill and was hospitalized they were left with their mother who he says “went from pillar to post” and abandoned then 7-year old Andrew and his siblings. The neighbours called Social Services and the seven children were placed in the Nazareth Centre for Children operated by the Roman Catholic Church. Andrew remained at that home from age 7-13 and then he was at the Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home from age 13-16, followed by a short stay at Coleby House, which could not accommodate his desire to paint as they required their residents to work. So he had to leave the home and was homeless for a week or two, until he and his brother, Livingstone, were taken in by friends with whom they are living temporarily. Andrew is most grateful for this support. This is such a beautiful example of what it means to be our brothers’ keepers and how people with challenges can make it in life if they are given a hand up. Regrettably, one of Andrew’s brothers died and another is in prison. His two sisters live with their respective paternal grandmothers.

Andrew is also grateful to the sisters at the Benedictine Convent on Nassau Street where, as a small boy, he used to go to get something to eat, and was encouraged by the sisters to draw. About three or four years ago when he was living at the Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home, the wife of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Bernadette Christie, visited the home and as she walked about and talked with the children Andrew told her of his desire to be an artist. Shortly thereafter she bought art supplies for Andrew and they have had a very close relationship since that time, with her referring to him as her son. Andrew painted a portrait of Mrs. Christie which hangs in her home.

I first encountered Andrew Knowles in 2014 when he was one of a number of young artists chosen by Penelope Nottage to exhibit their work at Doongalik Art Gallery for her birthday charity event. She contacted Andrew online to extend the invitation. I again ran into him earlier this year at Peter Bowe’s 85^th birthday celebration, during which Andrew painted a portrait of Peter that he presented to him following the birthday cake cutting and other tributes to Peter.

Andrew was mentored in drawing by Canadian resident Kim Smith, a former teacher at St. Anne’s School and the proprietor of The Place For Art now located in the Doongalik Art Gallery property, as well as by Patricia Sharp, another former art teacher at St. Anne’s. In addition to Kim Smith, it was also most encouraging to see the number of well established artists who were present in support of Andrew’s exhibition, namely: Kishan Munroe, Andret John, Jamaal Rolle, Jerome Miller, Allan Pachino Wallace, Cindy Mullings, Jodi Minnis and Chris Symonette.

Andrew’s first solo exhibition held at Doongalik Art Gallery on Village Road on Thursday, 22^nd September 2015 was a smashing success! There was a large crowd on hand to view his bigger than life and boldly colourful pieces. Andrew explains that his use of the vibrant colours help to take away some of the pain he feels inside. He also writes poetry to express himself.

The exhibition will be up until 14th October 2015. You are encouraged to view the show and, most importantly, to support this wonderful young artist by purchasing his work.

Email address: andrewknowlespaintings@gmail.com

Coming Soon – Ivan James’s book on the History and Demise of Hobby Horse Hall

On thursday, 24th September Ivan James gave a fascinating talk at The Bahamas Historical Society on the history and demise of Hobby Horse Hall and his soon to be published book on this topic.

More to come…

New Yorkers who came to buy the Book

Recently I received a telephone call from Marva Moxey, daughter of the late former Parliamentarian, musician and Bahamian cultural icon, Edmund Moxey, who was searching for my book “Pictorial “History and Memories of Nassau’s Over-The-Hill” for her uncle, Dr.Emil Moxey and his friends (Messrs. Hugh Knight and Andre Springer) who were visiting from New York and were returning the following morning.

I was happy to accommodate them at home which turned out to be a memorable occasion, not only because they bought several copies of the book, but because I learnt that Dr. Moxey had been a close friend of my deceased brother Perce. Furthermore, because of our meeting I was able to put Dr. Moxey in touch with his and Perce’ s mutual friend, Christopher Francis. Pictured l-r in the bottom photo are: Andre Springer, Hugh Knight, Emil Moxey and Marva Moxey.

Tribute to Edmund Moxey by Anthony A. Newbold

Dr. Andree G. Hanna, MB BS, FRCP(C) – A Trailblazer in Her Field

Dr.Andree G. Hanna is the first Bahamian Pathologist and the first female Head of Department of the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).

Like most Bahamian children of her era, she was born “Over-The-Hill” in Nassau. The last of seven children, she was blessed with supportive siblings, a mother who taught her to strive for excellence in all that she did, and a father who taught her that there was no limit to what she could achieve.

Andree attended public schools in Nassau, completing her secondary education at the Government High School (GHS), before entering the University of the West Indies (UWI) where she studied Medicine. She graduated from Medical School with the MB BS degree, two months before her twenty-fourth birthday. Upon graduation, Dr. Hanna did her Internship at PMH and then worked at the Public Health Department before going off to specialize in Pathology on an In-Service award. After Pathology residency training at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, she returned to The Bahamas with Specialist Certification in Pathology from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and admission as a Fellow of the Royal College. While serving as consultant and later Consultant head of the Pathology and laboratory Department of PMH, she enrolled in the University of Miami’s Nassau programme and graduated “Magna cum Laude” with a Masters of Business Administration degree.

Andree’s professional affiliations include: Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, member of the Canadian Association of Pathologists, Member of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, member of the Clinical Laboratory management Association, and Member of the International Association of Cytology.

She served initially and for many years as Pathologist in charge of Hematopathology and performed all of the bone marrow aspirates in the hospital. Additionally, staffing constraints soon made it necessary for her to also serve in Surgical Pathology, Cytopathology, Autopsy Services and, at various times, all areas of Clinical pathology.

During her tenure at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dr. Hanna is credited with modernizing and reorganizing the Department. She spearheaded the continuous provision of state-of-the-art equipment, a Satellite laboratory in the Out-Patients Department, implementation of a modern Stat Laboratory in the Accident and Emergency area, a shift system in the Blood Bank, renovation and modernization of the Rand Laboratory autopsy suite, the Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Sections, the temporary relocation of several Sections of the Department to Collins Avenue when the existing infrastructure could not accommodate the required new equipment, and an automated laboratory Information System.

An important facet of her contribution was staff development. Continuing education programmes and staff rotations were implemented. Many staff members were given In-Service awards and returned with degrees and certification in Medical Technology. Two other Pathologists were trained through In-Service awards.

Andree’s contributions also included service to much hospital, Ministry of Health, national and regional committees. She was the first Chairperson of the hospital’s Environmental Safety Committee which focused on safety monitoring, safety protocols and procedures, and safety training for all levels of staff. She was an active member of the hospital’s Medical management committee, committees devising protocols for the establishment of the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), and the Terms and conditions of Service for Physicians at the PHA.

She has been honoured for professional achievements by Academy of Medical Sciences and by women in Sciences and Technology.

A long term objective of Dr. Hanna’s was certification of the laboratory to international standards, so she was delighted to be seconded in April 2004, to the Ministry of Health, to head the National medical laboratory Strengthening Project, with ultimate goal of attaining certification for public and private laboratories in The Bahamas.

Andree balances her professional life with church, family, friends and hobbies. She is a member of St. Agnes Anglican Church where she sings in the choir. She was a charter member of the Zonta club of Nassau; she is a member and past president of the Carver Garden Club and is a member of the Horticultural Society of The Bahamas. Her hobbies include floral design, gardening, traveling, swimming, racquet games and reading. She also enjoys regular gatherings of her extended family with the group of known as “The Lime”. She is now happily retired.

Andree is divorced and has two daughters, Tracy and Gina Stubbs and a granddaughter, Grace Eneas.

Wake Up Bahamas!

This letter was published in the press 29th October 2013

The Editor

Dear Sir:

Wake Up Bahamas!

Recently, I was appalled to hear that a young person claimed that in the 60s all Bahamians lived in the “ghetto”! What absolute nonsense! That ignorant young lady and whoever fed her that nonsense need to be enlightened. This is the sad legacy of not making Bahamian history mandatory in all schools, both public and private. Wherever you go in other parts of the world, that country’s history is taught in its schools. When I was growing up I was taught all about the Boer War, India and other places that meant absolutely nothing to me. In many ways we are still working in that same antiquated mode and the school curriculum needs to be revised. I spoke to a COB history class recently and when asked if they had been were taught Bahamian history in high school those who had said that it was not in depth. We also need to stop trying to plug square pegs into round holes by forcing children who are not academically inclined to take BGCSE examinations, which is yet another big disaster that ought to be done away with. Those students who are not academically gifted must be taught other subjects that will help them to earn a living and function in the real world when they leave school. We are backward in so many ways. I often shudder when driving around after school hours to see and hear the manner in which so many of our children conduct themselves, including foul language from both boys and girls.

While on this topic I extend congratulations to Mr. T. Edward Clarke for what he is doing to rescue some of our at risk boys through his L.E.A.D. Institute and also to Mr. Ricardo Deveaux for the tremendous work he is doing through The Bahamas Primary School organization which recognizes excellence in primary school students. This is the level at which our children need to be taught about the rich historical heritage of The Bahamas.

Around the time that The Hon. Paul Adderley died, ZNS TV played a number of his speeches and I was particularly struck by one in which Mr. Adderley stated that when he was in charge of The Ministry of Education and tried to introduce certain aspects of Bahamian culture into the curriculum he encountered obstructionist senior civil servants within the Ministry and among some school Principals. Fr. James Moultrie, who served as Junior Minister under Mr. Adderley at the time, confirms that there were many who resisted the teaching of authentic Bahamian history and that he shared Mr. Adderley’s frustration and disappointment. While there were a few cosmetic changes, a comprehensive curriculum on Bahamian history and culture never materialized. I also recall attending Marion Bethel’s showing of her documentary Womanish Ways and the following panel discussion. Among the panelists were the direct descendents of the women who were at the vanguard of the women’s suffrage movement in The Bahamas namely, Alice Ingraham Rolle (daughter of Mary Ingraham who was the founder of the movement in The Bahamas), Wallis Lockhart Carey (daughter of Eugenie Lockhart), Andrew “Dud” Maynard (son of Georgina Symonette) and Shirley Sands Johnson (sister of Dame Dr. Doris Johnson). During that discussion Mr. Maynard cried when he related how when they tried to get the information concerning the movement introduced into the school curriculum, they were told by a senior Ministry of Education official, although not called by name (a Reverend Gentleman who is still alive today) that they were trying to indoctrinate the children. What a shame!

My book Pictorial history and Memories of Nassau’s Over-The Hill came about precisely because of my disgust at the rot and decay in that and many other areas all over the Island of New Providence. It’s important for the uninformed to know that many of the nation builders and others upon whose shoulders we all stand came from Over-The-Hill. Grant’s Town, Bain Town, Mason’s Addition, Anderson Street, Lewis Street, McCullough Corner, Market Street, Vesey Street, Hay Street, McPherson Street, East Street, Fort Fincastle, Nassau Street, Chippingham Meadow Street, King Street, Ross Corner and other areas and that they were not the “ghetto”. These were the areas where our nation builders were born and lived. We never knew the word “ghetto”, which has been imported from elsewhere in more recent times, and everyone took pride and kept their surroundings clean.

Sir Lynden Pindling (pictured left) was born in Mason’s Addition and grew up on East Street;

Civil Servants such as Marina Greaves, Ivor Donald Archer, former Financial Secretary Ruth Millar and her brother the Hon. Alfred Maycock came from Mason’s Addition. So did Rose Hall-King and her son, former Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall, outstanding educators Dame Dr. Doris Johnson, Rev’d Carlton Francis, Donald W. Davis (pictured at right) and a number of Poitiers, as well as the current Director of Archives Elaine Toote and her siblings Dr. Vanria Rolle and Lewis Colebrooke. Mason’s Addition also produced Rev’d Earle Francis and medical and academic doctors Baldwin Carey, Eugene Newry, Manny Francis, Pandora Johnson, Junkanoo leader Percy “Vola” Francis, international movie star Calvin Lockhart and Ambassador Basil O’Brien, as well as successful business persons like the Wallaces, Thompsons and others.

Ross corner produced Franklyn Wilson and his siblings, Dr. Kenneth Alleyne, Kayla Alleyne Burrows and Kalfani (Lisle Alleyne, Jr.). I’m happy to see that Dr. Alleyne is now refurbishing the family homestead. Hopefully others will follow his example and that of Dr. Roger Weir who has done a beautiful job with the Weir homestead on West Street. The Coakley house on Lewis Street has also been beautifully restored by its new owner Mr. Gibson (formerly of Vesey and Market Streets).

Gaol Alley and Anderson Street produced Monsignor Preston Moss, Mildred Johnson Bowe, Verna Elcock, Leslie Johnson, educators Luther and Margaret McDonald (later Ambassador) and their children Donna smith and Luther, Jr. the Sweetings, Gibsons, Bostwicks, Bowes, Adderleys, Allan, Ivan, Perce, Paul and Dr. Andree G. Hanna, Velma Archer Allen, Annette Knowles, Durward Archer, the Pinders, Seymours, Mitchells, Beryl Barnett, renowned artist Kendal Hanna and his brother Leslie and siblings, and Michael “Sarge” Hanna. On Lewis Street there were the McCartneys, Coakleys including Sylvia Matthew Hyacinth Saunders, Alma Cartwright, Marina Thompson Sands, John, Wyatt Johnson, Stephen and Ellen Serville, the Tinkers, Johnsons, Darvilles, C.A.P. Smith and William Cartwright.

Sir Randol Fawkes was born at Fort Fincastle and later lived on McPherson Street, Justice Jeanne Thompson’s family and the family of Timothy Gibson, the McCartneys and Coopers also lived there. Archdeacon William Thompson and his brothers Bishop Gilbert Thompson and Dr. Philip Thompson lived at the corner of Hay and Market Streets. Sir Orville Turnquest’s family lived on Hay Street, Dr. & Mrs. Jackson Burnside’s family lived at Fort Fincastle where Mrs. Burnside still resides, The Coakleys, Smiths, Johnsons and McCartneys lived on Lewis Street; Dr. & Mrs. C.R. Walker lived and worked in Bain Town and their daughter Juliette Barnwell still lives there. Many of our schools are named after outstanding persons who came from Over-The-Hill: Cleveland W. Eneas, C. R. Walker Mabel Walker, S.C. McPherson, Carlton Francis. Doris Johnson, Donald Davis, Sadie Curtis, Thelma Gibson and the list goes on.

I get annoyed every time I hear Craig Flowers on TV talking about being born in the “ghetto” and he should know better because when he lived there Quakoo Street was clean and he and his brothers, like everyone in the area, were always well groomed and were taught manners. Over-the-Hill and other areas of this Island did not look the way it does now with all of the filth. Mr. Flowers is seen on TV picking up a piece of paper from the immaculate lawn on his property on West Bay Street. I would urge him to use his influence to encourage some of the Quakoo Street residents with whom he is seen shaking hands and patting on the shoulders to clean up the nasty environment that they have created instead of sitting around under the trees in the midst of the filth. This is to the detriment of other people like the Storrs and a few others who keep their properties in clean and pristine condition, as was the case when Mr. Flowers grew up there. Everyone in the neighbourhood from the humblest to the more successful, like Mr. Flowers’ father, kept their surroundings clean, and it was definitely not a “ghetto”. We all lived by the adage that “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”. Perhaps a part of the reason for the current state of affairs is that so many of our people are Godless while others just pretend to be Godly and are more concerned with all of the material trappings of being self appointed Pastors, Apostles, Reverend Doctors and Bishops.

Self-pride is sadly lacking in so many of us. On the one hand we complain about the foreigners and want to blame them for everything that is wrong in the country while on the other we are quick to copy the most negative aspects of some of those other cultures. I don’t want to see your dirty underwear! At the same time some of our so-called “entertainers” pick up a fake Jamaican accent as soon as they put a mic to their mouths. Wherever they go in the world Jamaicans, Americans, British and other nationalities never lose their identity or accent, but we Bahamians, the ultimate copy cats, pick up accents after only being away from The Bahamas for brief periods. We are such “pretenders”! We also need to get away from the notion that Junkanoo is the only thing that defines our culture. We are much more than that.

I think that one of the worst things to happen in this country was the deliberate dismantling of Jumbey Village which was the brainchild of Mr. Edmund Moxey. The Village was located at the site where the National Insurance building now stands, and featured every aspect of our culture including Junkanoo, art, straw work, music, live entertainment. When Mr. Moxey fell out of grace he was ridiculed and Jumbey Village was dismantled. James Rolle can attest to the fact that he was sent abroad to train as a curator for the art gallery and that when he returned home the Village was no more. I also highly recommend Mr. Moxey’s documentary: “The Price of Being a Man” which documents the history of Jumbey Village.

Every Bahamian should be required to read Sir Randol Fawkes’s book The Faith that Moved the Mountain and learn factual historical information about The Bahamas.

Wake up Bahamas! We need to educate and enlighten the uniformed and yes “indoctrinate” them with what is Bahamian. I make no apologies for that.

Yours sincerely,

Rosemary C. Hanna

Adopted and Blessed by Liam Edwards

Twelve year old Liam Edwards is the author of the wonderful book “Adopted and Blessed”. He wrote an essay for school and was encouraged by his sixth grade teacher Mrs. Colajean Butler of the Colajean Institute to turn it into a book. Liam is now a 7th grade student at St. Augustine’s College (SAC). On 25th April 2015 he had a book signing at Chapter One Bookstore at The College of The Bahamas and the book is available at Amazon.com.

Liam and his family worship regularly at St. Agnes Anglican Church in Grant’s Town, New Providence, The Bahamas.

Quotes from the book:

A family does not have to be biologically connected. A family is made up of persons who choose to love and care for one another. My mother and I are an adoptive family. An adoptive family is any family that has an adopted child or children. My parent is my mother, but my aunts help her to take care of me.

When I was six years old, my mother took me to the beach and told me that I was adopted. She thought it was important for me to know that even though she did not give birth to me, I was her child. Finding out that I was adopted was a big surprise. But I felt safe because I knew that my mother loved me and she was the only mother that I needed.”

I had some questions about my biological parents and my mother answered them. She also told me that whenever I wanted to talk about it we could do so. She told me that I could talk to her about any feelings that I may have.

She told me that I could also write about my feelings. Even though I don’t know where my biological parents are, I have written letters to ehem. I keep these letters in a box. If I ever meet my biological parents I can give them the letters.

I have a baby brother. His name is Layth. He is my mother’s biological son. He grew in her body. My mother says if anyone says that he is her natural son, that makes me ‘supernatural’! He is her second son! She loves us both. She has been blessed twice. I love my baby brother. I can’t wait to teach him about life. I can’t wait to show him the good things in the world. My name means protector and guardian of God’s people. I am my brother’ Layth’s protector and guardian.