The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

AS part of the country’s 40th Independence celebrations, Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church will be honouring 40 outstanding fathers.

Dubbed a celebration of the “fabulous 40”, a banquet will highlight fatherhood in the Bahamas by honouring forty fathers from around the country at the Sheraton Beach Resort on June 14.

The honourees are: Cleophas Adderley, Dr Hervis Bain, Rev Godfrey Bain, Nathaniel Beneby, Stephen ‘Bishop’ Beneby, Basil Sands, Canon Basil Tynes, Dr Conville Brown, Senator Greg Burrows, Charles Carter, Gus Cooper, Hayward Cooper, Pastor Deanza Cunningham, Harry Davis, Basil Dean, Dr Judson Eneas, John Ferguson, Ellison Greenslade, The Most Reverend Drexel Gomez, Pastor Leo Jones, Wendell Jones, Billy Lowe, Steve McKinney, Father James Moultrie, Dr Al McCartney, Sean McWeeney, Valentine Grimes, John Rolle - DCP, John Rolle, Dr Robin Roberts, Anthony Robinson, Ansil Saunders, Clifford ‘Butch’ Scavella, Reverend Cedric Smith, Isaiah Taylor, Bishop Brice Thompson, Cecil Thompson, Leon Williams, Franklin WIison and Reverend Washington Williams.

Bishop Neil Ellis said: “The church has determined to make a tremendous effort to cause our country to refocus on the significance and relevance of manhood and on the positive contribution of fathers across our nation. The fathers stand out in their role as fathers who have made stellar contributions to the ongoing development of our nation.”

The Tribune will celebrate Bahamian fathers by publishing its own weekly features on the honourees in the lead-up to independence day.

Another enthusiastic group of Bahamians is holding the first annual “Inwhichin Tings Bahamian” Craft Fair to benefit the public and Bahamian artisans.

The brainchild of former insurance executive, Maude Lockhart, the fair will be held on Saturday, May 4, 10am to 6pm, at the Doongalik Studios grounds on Village Road and the public is invited to come out and “Buy Bahamian by Bahamians”.

A wide rage of artisans are selling gift items, crafts, household items, jewellery, straw work and much more in addition to food stalls (including fresh conch salad, homemade ice cream, cakes, breads, pastries, preserves), native produce and plants grown by local farmers.

Patrons of the Doongalik weekend Farmer’s Market will be in for additional treats as the variety of items for sale will be expanded for that day.

Maude Lockhart said: “This has been a dream of mine for such a long time and it is so exciting to know that it is finally happening!” Having retired from the insurance field in 2008, Ms Lockhart, well known as a singer and former fashion designer, had been developing her hobby of working with burlap to make hand bags in her spare time, was now able to devote her energies full time to her craft.

“I started out using ordinary burlap, ie crocus sack - which was considered the poor man’s fabric, but nowadays it is much more refined and comes in a wide variety of colours that make amazing gift items.

“I also designed my own line of hand stamps so I have added a variety of household items to the line such as cushions, placemats and curtains. I wanted to be able to showcase these products to the public so in September 2012 I got a group of my friends together and we started making plans for this event and decided to invite other artisans to join us.”

Manager of Doongalik Studios Pam Burnside said: “We are always pleased to encourage and promote Bahamian talent because we believe in the natural creativity of the Bahamian people.

“We are all still feeling the effects of the economic recession which is not going to abate anytime soon.

“It is crucial, therefore, that we concentrate on doing more for and by ourselves - looking inwards to our own people to make things happen.

“We can make things happen on a smaller scale right here at home by helping and supporting one another more and keeping the money circulating in the country.”