Bahamian Art & Culture : No. 389 : 08.22.19

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#242NewsBahamas Newsletter Edition: August 22nd, 2019

In The True Spirit of BASRA! Dear Readers, For nearly 50 years, officials of the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association of Grand Bahama have hosted an annual beach party at the famed Coral Beach on Grand Bahama Island. What began as a fundraising event to support the organization’s rescue efforts eventually blossomed into the ultimate end of summer beach party. As the event has grown, so too has the community participation and involvement. The event now not only attracts local Grand Bahamians but also participants from Abaco, and New Providence and other family islands. For decades now, organizers of the event have taken on the increasingly complicated task of coordinating volunteers and securing the necessary donations required to make their work possible. As has been the annual tradition, BASRA’s Volunteer board secured the use of the Coral Beach area (above the high tide water mark) for BASRA’s bar, food tent (rotary) the band and more. Over the last few years the event added TENT sponsorship, as a way to pay for shade, earn corporate funds and provide drinks for the renters. This decision was also made to discourage patrons from bringing their own beverages and encourage the sale of donated products.

Goombay Summer Festival 2019 launches in Harbour Island and will climax in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera

Festival-goers entertained by Fire Dancer, Kieasha Poitier.

(Eleuthera, The Bahamas)  Residents and visitors to Harbour Island got an opportunity to celebrate all things Bahamian at the Ministry of Tourism’s annual Goombay Summer Festival on Friday, July 5th and Saturday, July 6th, 2019.

Working in collaboration with industry partners in Harbour Island to extend the itinerary of festivities beginning with the American Independence celebrations, Ministry of Tourism representatives capitalized on a major opportunity to showcase Bahamian music, food and culture all uniquely packaged to show what Harbour Island has to offer.  Read more >>

Police Summer Camps Conclude in August

By Canishka Alexander

Leading up to the close of the Abaco Police Summer Camps, the campers practiced reciting the prayer, charge and Bahamas Constitutional Preamble in time for the closing ceremony held on Aug. 2.

There were a number of daily activities enjoyed by the campers as well. On July 24, Perez Curry and Ranger Treneil Robinson introduced the senior campers to discipline camp-style.

Members from BTC also stopped by the Central Abaco camp at Patrick J. Bethel High School to address the children on telephone etiquette and the proper use of the telephone.  Read more >>

Blue Chromis: A Flash of Colour on the Reef

by Rolling Harbour

Blue chromis (Chromis cyaneus) belong to the same group of fishes as damselfishes. These unmistakeable, bright reef denizens are very visible despite their tiny size. These fish are shoalers, so out on the reef you can enjoy them flickering around you as you swim along or hang in the water to admire the corals.  Read more >>

Gangster Turned Community Activist

Valentino ‘Scrooge’ Brown

By Hadassah Deleveaux (née Hall)


I found myself sitting in an unfinished portion of a modest house through Lewis Street. My interviewee:  a former gang leader.

Just the two of us.

He was schooled by the streets and well known to police. He was once leader of the Border Boys, a gang I heard about years ago, having grown up over the hill.

From I made contact with Valentino via telephone, I could detect sincerity in whom he has become. When we finally met in person, our conversation revealed that he undoubtedly has a checkered past. Yet through those eyes, I sensed a changed man. Admittedly, that didn’t stop me from having a bit of trepidation and while sitting there, silently praying, “Lord keep me in the name of Jesus.”  Read more >>

My Experience Judging Miss Bahamas Universe

Miss Bahamas Universe, Tarea Sturrup.

By Rogan Smith

As a judge, this was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. There were 11 women in the pageant. Many were not conventional beauties by pageant standards. Some bore tattoos, many were petite, others curvy, but they showed me and the other judges just why they deserved an opportunity to represent The Bahamas on the world stage. All of the women were highly intelligent.

I was also happy to see Bahamian girls of Haitian descent try to win the crown. Many of them talked about the hurdles they had to overcome, particularly the xenophobia and cruel remarks they had to endure as a result of their ancestry. It was quite eye opening.

As this was my first time judging a beauty pageant. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I do admit I had a lot of preconceived notions about the process.  Read more >>