In This Issue: R Oil Spill issues 2 June 11, 2021 R Deaundre Rolle 6 R My Kids Doc 10 R Pet Health Zone 14 R Securing Your Life 17 R In The Kitchen 18 R Religion 19 azine R Ask Alex 23 W Mag eekly News R Sports 26 A Division of SURGE Publications Cruising returns Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas ship was very appreciative that Royal Caribbean has chosen to greeted with a water salute earlier this week to officially partner with us, with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism welcome the vessel to Nassau Harbour. and all our industry partners to make this homeport Passengers will fly into Nassau to board the vessel on launch from Nassau possible.” Saturday where they will sail to the company’s private To ensure the passengers not only get a taste of the island Coco Cay. Freeport, Grand Bahama will be the islands but have a good time just before boarding, they next port of call to be followed by Cozumel, Mexico and will be greeted with a ‘party in da backyard’ at the port then back to Nassau. Saturday. This will include ice-cold Kaliks, a local beer All passengers aged 16 and over must be fully vac- courtesy of Commonwealth Brewery; live music, Junk- cinated, as well as the staff. Passenger age will be anoo performances, drills by the students of the LJM dropped on August 1 to 12 to be fully vaccinated. Maritime Academy and other festivities. The entire event All staff on Coco Cay will also be fully vaccinated. will be livestreamed on the Nassau Cruise Port Face- Chief Executive Officer of Nassau Cruise Port, Mike book page beginning at noon. Maura said, “We couldn’t be happier. This vessel and In addition to the economic benefits the Bahamas will all the hope that this first voyage will carry out to sea on experience as the industry rebounds, Mr. Maura noted Saturday have been a long time in the making. We are Continued on Page 2 Evidence Of Oil Spill Still Present Freeport, Grand Bahama, (June 9, 2021) – Three months shy of two years and the destructive oil spill during Hurricane Dorian has yet to be cleaned up in East Grand Bahama, the home of Equinor South Riding Point. Reports indicated over 50,000 gallons of oil spilled because of the hurricane, and while the company has stated it is doing what it can to clean up the spill, property immediately opposite still sits with evidence of oil on its foliage and on the ground. The land in question mined aggregate by a private WALKING THROUGH – Business operator An- company, A & D Gaitor’s Equipment Rock and drew Gaitor walks through the property in East Sand which employed over 25 people prior to the Grand Bahama where he operated A & D Gaitor’s hurricane. It now still sits as it did immediately fol- Equipment Rock and Sand. The product has been lowing the deadly 2019 storm, as quiet as a ghost covered with oil since Hurricane Dorian in Septem- town. ber 2019. Other photos show further evidence that the oil has not been cleaned up, as indicated by Environmentalist Joseph Darville of Save The Bays Equinor South Riding Point, located directly oppo- has made several trips to the area and notes the site the land. (SURGE Marketing Photos/Tim Aylen) area is by no means near cleaned up. While re- sponding to a release issued by Equinor in March stating the land and foliage had almost been com- Cruising returns pletely rehabilitated. From Page 1 Bahamians can also cruise from Nassau for the According to Mr. Darville, “The area in my estima- first time instead of flying abroad to embark. tion is far from being cleaned up. That is totally “I’ve heard of a few Bahamians who will be sailing incorrect. There are areas still unclean that would aboard Adventure of the Seas on this trip and I’m take them, based upon the time they have spent up until now, another year before the cleanup is sure there will be many more of us who will take complete. advantage of this incredible opportunity,” he said. “This is our time to shine and to put Nassau on “For what they have done so far, I would like to the map as a homeporting destination of choice,” commend my fellow Bahamians who have done a Maura added. ‘We will do so with immense pride, valiant and conscientious job trying to clean up the making the Bahamian people proud and making area inch by inch.” our guests and cruise line partners excited that they chose to start and end their cruise in Nassau. A Parliamentary Committee, headed by Michael This is the beginning of an incredible voyage for us Foulkes, Member of Parliament for Golden Gates, all.” visited the area (also in March) and as reported by Crystal Cruises will also homeport in Nassau this Grand Bahama Sun Bahama Grand Mr. Darville, areas still saturated with oil were still summer, with Crystal Serenity’s all-Bahamas itiner- ary starting July 3. Continued to Page 3 2 Evidence Of Oil Spill Still Present From Page 2 present. He said, “I took them into all the areas, including the wetlands. Because this is the dry season the wetland is basically kind of dried up, but if you lift up some of the pads of dried mud there is oil still saturating the area under those kind of muddy pads,” he said. Having visited the land on many occasions since August 2019, the mounds of aggregate amounting to thousands of tons, are still saturated with oil. If driving past, it would appear as if the area has been cleaned, but when going onto the property, the evidence is visible. A meeting between Equinor, A & D Gaitor’s and the product? I have set my price, which is reasonable, owner of the land had been scheduled at which a why have I not been paid and how much longer do representative of Environmental Health was report- I have to wait? Someone needs to answer these edly to be present to discuss the cleanup of the questions.” property. This meeting never occurred. Darville, who is genuinely concerned with the issue According to Mr. Gaitor, “This has been going added, “If they have to spend $400m that’s their on for too long. Equinor should have cleaned up expense, but what has happened to the compen- this oil spill a long time ago. Not only that, who is sation that has to be made to our people for the responsible for making sure that they do so in a catastrophic damage of our environment and our timely manner? Who is responsible for looking out forest? That is the thing they should have ad- for the rites of Bahamians? dressed.” “What is more important to me, when will they pay for my product that was destroyed because of their Grand Bahama Sun Bahama Grand 3 4 Grand Bahama Sun Bahama Grand Don’t waste time until there’s no time to waste. Hurricane season is steadily approaching. There’s no time like now to assess how you are protecting your home. Call us to ensure you have the right coverage at the right value. Nassau Insurance Brokers and Agents Limited Nassau | Atlantic House, 2nd Terrace & Collins Avenue, Nassau, Bahamas tel: 677-6422 Freeport | Jasmine Corporate Center, East Sunrise Highway, Freeport, Grand Bahama tel: 352-6422 Nassau Insurance Brokers and Agents Limited trading as CG Atlantic Agents cgatlanticagents.com | @cgatlanticagents Grand Bahama Sun Bahama Grand 5 From The Bahamas To One Of The Few Black Women Running A Disney World Restaurant called sesame seeds. Growing up, we would get By Parker Diakite them with the shells, and you learn to deconstruct Bahamas-native Deaundra Rolle said she never them and then turn them into street candy known thought her schooling and experience would meet as Benny Cakes. We always learned the value of the moment where she would be running the show having to break something down and then building at one of Walt Disney World’s finest restaurants. it back up again.” She’s known to everyone around her as “Chef Dee” Those lessons growing up is what drives Chef and is the executive chef at The Edison. Rolle in the kitchen because she breaks down “I’m grateful to be here, that’s for sure, but I never Bahamian food to what would be pleasing to the thought I would be here […] not in a million years,” tourists’ eyes and taste palette. she told Travel Noire during an interview. “We typically marinate our fish in citrus and hot But when you ask those who know her and her peppers. So, to make it more friendly, I’ll add black- work-ethic, they’re not surprised. ened seasoning and then turn the citrus into sauce, “We’re really lucky to have her,” said The Edison’s so people can still experience the flavor profile in General Manager. the Bahamas.” And to make sure her “remixing“ of Bahamian food is correct, Chef Rolle says she lets her biggest crit- ic, her mom who she calls “ma,” be the judge. “When my ma came to visit, she told me, ‘yes, this is it!’” Chef Rolle said as her face lights up when talking about her family. “She always reminds me to stick to what I know.” Staying true to herself is why Chef Dee says she’s one of few Black women with such an honor at Walt Disney World.