Babalu's dining

Proprietor Brian Aranha works the Bar

Monday nights- Poetic Breeze. Drummers perform

Babalu’s Weekly Lineup
Sunday Nights – Blues with Daddy Long Legs and Peter Peters
Monday Nights – Poetic Breeze with Michelle Hanna
Tuesday Nights – Brazilian Jam with Alvin and Mario
Wednesday Nights – Live Jazz Band
Thursday Nights – TBA
Friday Nights – R&B ALL Night
Saturday Nights – Salsa Saturday……Live Latin Band

For more on the Babalu, visit their Facebook page-

Lenny Kravitz at Bahamas International Film Festival's closing night.

Lenny talks about why he chose to do the film “Precious”
Lenny says that over the years he was presented with many films, but turned them all down because they did not appeal to him or his sense of creativity.
“It’s all about a name, they don’t really care if you are talented or not, unfortunately that’s the way a lot of things work in Hollywood; it’s about a name and hype and money. I was presented with many films over the past 20 years and I turned everything down because I did not feel as if it meant something to me, and creatively, if it was the right thing to do. I wasn’t going to make films just to make money, or to become a ‘movie star’. So I just said, ‘if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen’. But this happened and you know, God knows the plans, and here I am and it’s a new beginning for me. I’m still making music, but now I’m starting to do films. I’m appreciative, it’s a blessing.”

He compares an album release to the making of a feature film
When asked if there were comparisons to when an album comes out and it gets a lot of juice, if there is a different feeling when a film comes out?
“The thing about music albums and touring is that I’m so in it and there is a buzz. For an album if something is successful, I’m in the streets, I’m on tour, I’m doing a concert every night, and there are people in front of me. I can feel what’s going on. I kind of did this film and it went away. You know, I went back to Europe; I went on tour; so I’m here now in the Bahamas working on my next album, and I hear about what’s going on and I get phone calls about how well it’s doing – the Golden Globe nominations and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nominations – and it’s all amazing, but it’s something that is sort of in another world for me.”

Lenny on what he thinks people will take away from the film after seeing it:
Obviously, it’s all about hope; but the first thing that I always think about, and the thing that I mention to people, is look at how blessed your life is. You know, what do we really have to complain about? That’s how I see it.

Written by Erica Meus-Saunders
Published in Nu Woman Magazine’s Winter/Spring 2010 edition
Photo by Dwayne Delancy

Grilled Center Pork Chops w/ Caramelized Apple & Cider Sauce

 The past year seems to have been a very hard year for a lot of people with the world being in the financial state that it is.  However, we have a lot to celebrate. Firstly, as a black nation having ties to the United States, we celebrate with them in having their first black President. Secondly, giving thanks for another year of life and also another chance for us to make that renewed commitment to living healthier lives and eating good quality food on a budget. You may think this cannot be done, but I beg to differ.  I am a chef, yes, but I like to be frugal at the best times in my life.  Thriftiness allows me to be creative and not feel guilty of wasting money on something expensive that I may later regret.

Nu Woman magazine topic: Budget Recipe

Nu Woman magazine, budget recipe.

Nu Woman magazine topic: Budget Recipe

I have a very simple recipe for you in this issue that will not ‘break your wallet’, as they say.  I got inspiration for this dish shopping at Solomon’s, in which, I cooked dinner for four (4) persons for less than $20.00. At this time in the economy, this is a ‘steal’, as to eat out at any of the local fast-food restaurants would cost you more than $20.00 for four persons.  Please enjoy this recipe and I look forward to receiving your feedback.

Nu Woman magazine topic: Budget Recipe

Grilled Center Pork Chops w/ Caramelized Apple & Cider Sauce

Nu Woman magazine topic: Budget Recipe

Method

-          Season chops to taste and allow to rest on the side for at least half an hour

-          Pre-heat grill.  I used my George Foreman, as it was a small group and it takes a short time to heat and it also produce great results.

-          While the grill is heating, heat a small sauté pan with the cider, brown sugar and 1 cup of water. Allow to come to a boil and reduce by half.  Once it is reduced to half, remove from stove and set on the side.

-          Place sliced onions on the grill and allow them to brown properly before removing.

-          Place 2 oz of butter in a sauté frying pan and allow to melt completely before adding white sugar.  Once sugar is added, add the apple that has been cut into 8 quarters – 2 per person.  Cook until sugar liquid turns dark brown and apple pieces are fully cooked.

-          Place a small pot with water on the stove.  Add 1 oz of butter and bring to a boil.  Add carrots.  Halfway through cooking, add French beans that have been trimmed at both ends.  Make sure not to over -cook the beans as they are best when still green in color.

-          Remove grilled onions from grill and place pork chops on grill.  Allow to cook for 3 minutes or until liquid is running clear from chops.

Now for assembly:

-          Place plates in the center of kitchen counter to begin the presentation process.

-          Place drained carrots and French beans in the center of the plates, piled high and shared evenly.

-          Place the hot grilled pork chop on top, then the two apples wedges on the side of the vegetable and top it off with grilled onion and lastly the cider sauce.

-          Garnish as you wish and enjoy

Nu Woman magazine topic: Budget Recipe

By Erica Meus-Saunders 

On November 5th, 2008, the Islands of the World Fashion Week premiered at the historic British Colonial Hilton. The catwalks at the Hilton were buzzing with models strutting couture, ready-to-wear, resort, swimwear, accessories, and other designs from far and near: Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Fiji, Haiti, Indonesia, Jamaica, Madagascar, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, and The Bahamas.

Nu Woman magazine; Island fashion.

Nu Woman Magazine topic: Island Fashion

The first day of the fashion show had some minor setbacks with a few delays but the designers and runway models did not disappoint. Nu Woman had two photographers (Dwayne Delancy and Phillippa Michel) on the scene and they worked tirelessly to get the photos of the designers’ collections as they hit the runway.

The opening night was scheduled at Atlantis in the Imperial Ballroom, and the atmosphere tingled with excitement. Again, there were some events that were delayed; however, the designers and models were ‘at the top of their game’. There were some pre-judging and the audience was given a taste of what to expect in the coming days. Throughout the event, I met numerous designers and ‘fashionistas’ with the highlight of that night being meeting Nolé Marin from America’s Next Top Model and Claudia Pegus (a designer from Trinidad and Tobago).

After all the collections had showed one or two pieces for judging, we were treated to designs from Peter Ingwersen of NOIR Illuminati II from Denmark. It was such a ground-breaking experience with young designers such as Hupfeld, Tamiko Browne, Tesha Fritz and Apryl Weech displaying their collection for the first time, while more seasoned designers such as Claudia Pegus, Percy Wallace, Queen Ester of Kuumba Designs, and Basheva Eve held their own.

Also showcasing their designs were Nick Verreos of Nikolaki from the USA; Kevan Hall of Kevan Hall Collection from the USA; and Kenneth Cole from the USA who also received the Humanitarian Designer Award.

Islands of the World Fashion Week was conceived by Mr. Owen Bethel, President of Mode lIes, Ltd., while on his tour

Nu Woman magazine; Island fashion.

Nu Woman Magazine topic: Island Fashion

of duty as the Representative for The Bahamas on the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris.

The event was endorsed by UNESCO, and promoted cultural diversity and dialogue, focusing on such global issues as the environment and climate change, the education of youth on HIV/AIDS, and poverty alleviation. Participating designers each presented a design that embraced environmentally friendly processes or addressed global social issues, and a design that reflected cultural influences. Below are the closing night results.

 Closing night results:

Cultural Eco & Fashion Award

1. Darcel de Vlugt
2. Hupfeld Hoerder (Fiji) *
3. Tamiko Browne  “Tami B Designs” (St Vincent and the Grenadines) *
4. Lisa Cordice

Winner: Tami B Designs.

Sustainable Eco-Fashion Award

1. Queen Ester Joseph (St. Lucia)
2. Darcel de Vlugt (Trinidad)
3. Hupfeld Hoerder

Winner: Queen Ester

 Next Generation Designer Award (Less than three years experience with no showing at a major fashion house).

Winner: Tami B Designs

 Seals of Excellence

1. Claudia Pegus (Trinidad) *
2. Nadya (Bali, Indonesia)
3.  Heather Jones (Jamaica) *
4.  Harl Taylor (Bahamas)
5. House of St John, Jeff St. John (Bahamas)

 * Look for interviews with these designers plus a few more.

Nu Woman magazine; Island fashion.

Nu Woman Magazine topic: Island Fashion

Desreen Waller was one of the many talented designers who displayed their collection at Islands of the World Fashion Week. Desreen who learnt her skills at a very young age says that she has been designing for years.

“I have been designing for a very long time. I won’t say how long because I’ll give away my age (laughter). I grew up in a house where my mom sewed. She made everything: school uniform, church clothes, whatever, she made it. I come from a family where people sewed, my grand auntie, my auntie, so I developed a love for it and I pursued that. I went to the Mac School of Fashion sewing school in Kingston. We do not say ‘design school’, we say ‘sewing school’ because that is where you learn how to sew, and that was when I realized that this was something that I could actually do for a living.

Nu Woman Magazine topic: Fashion design/designer

Nu Woman magazine fashion design/designer-Desreen Waller Collection 1

After Mac School of Fashion, Desreen decided to go to London to get even more training.

“I decided I wanted to go to London and do bigger things. I spent two years at West Thames College and then went onto to spend another year at The London Centre for Fashion Studies, which is a fantastic school. So that is how I learnt to do all this stuff.”

“At this time, I was married and shortly afterwards became pregnant. So we decided that since I was pregnant, I needed to take a break. I was like ‘Oh God, first I tried to pursue my career and now I’m pregnant’. My husband had just gotten a job here that’s why he said that we should all go to the Bahamas; so we came here with our two children, a boy and a girl.”

“I took about 2-3 years off from fashion design. As a bit more time passed, I decided that I wanted to start again.”

Nu Woman: I was doing a background search on you, and saw that you participated in Caribbean Fashion Week in 2004. How was that experience?

Nu Woman magazine topic: Fashion design/designer

Desreen: That was a very good experience. I enjoyed it, but to be really honest, I did not get as much exposure there

Nu Woman magazine fashion design/designer-Desreen Waller 2

as I did here at Islands of the World Fashion Week. Next year, I think that it will be bigger and better. But Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) in 2004 was a good experience, in that, I was able to do some interviews on the television back home in Jamaica about the clothes.

Nu Woman: Any suggestions or improvements for Islands of the World Fashion Week next year?

Nu woman magazine topic: fashion design/designer

Desreen: I do not think they should have day shows. Day shows do not work. They should cut the day shows out. People do not have time to come to the shows in the daytime. Consequently, designers are going to lose because nobody sees their stuff. Also, if it’s going to be a problem during the day, then do not charge. Allow people on the street to come in during the day. Charge at night but not during the daytime. That’s just my idea.

Nu woman magazine topic: fashion design/designer

Nu Woman: Who helped you put your collection together?

Desreen

Nu Woman magazine fashion design/designer desreen waller 4

No body. Isn’t that terrible? I mean it was a lot of work. I was dying. I was stressed out and everything. I like to know that my stuff is done and done properly. I’m a perfectionist. I feel that if someone is going to come and help then I would have to show him or her everything. I think I would be wasting time showing them what to do, when I could be getting it done. I am terrible. I get that from my grandfather. He is like that. He says if you can’t look and see, he don’t have time (laughter). But I was surprised, I made twenty pieces, I had three or four pieces before this showing, so in actuality I made about 16 pieces. I went over to England for the whole summer, and I was stressed thinking how was I going to come back here and do all of this and get ready for the show. I was thinking it was going to be a big rush, but I was very surprised at myself. I came here, started in September and was finished in time for the show in November. I was working night and day all by myself. I had to do the designs, make the patterns and then put them in the fabrics. I did not think that I could multi-task, but I did. I had to pick the kids up from school and help them with their homework, but I did it. I think I looked ten years older (laughter), but I did it. I think that if I had six months or so it could have been better, but I was still pleased with the final result. I think I did a good job.

Nu Woman: So you will do it again?

Desreen: Yes, and I think I will be better prepared for it next year. I do not know where they are taking us yet, they won’t say, maybe another island here in the Bahamas or another Caribbean Island. But it sounds great; so I’m going to be prepared for that. I would just like to know where we are going.

Nu woman magazine topic: fashion design designer

Desreen: I might. But honestly, I don’t know. I have enough time to make it, and I am very quick. I make stuff very

Nu Woman magazine fashion design designer- Desreen Waller 5

quickly and my stuff is not really difficult; I like simple and elegant. For me less is more. I like clothes from the 1960’s and I find that stuff from the sixties are very simple. I grew up in the sixties, and I love the clothes from the sixties. So I kind of get my inspiration from the sixties.

Nu Woman: When I spoke with Claudia Pegus (a Trinidad & Tobago designer) she mentioned how Caribbean designers need to get more exposure in the international community. What are your views on that?

Desreen: We do need to get out there. I don’t know what the problem is. Why are we not getting the exposure? At the moment Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW) in Jamaica is a big thing. But now I’m hearing that it’s not even about the Caribbean anymore. All these opportunist from London and New York, big countries, are pushing us little people out, and it is really annoying. Now that the big designers from wherever are coming in, we are not even going to get a chance. I don’t know how the small designers like us are going to come together and say we are designers too. We are just as good as those big designers out there, and I think that our people should give us a chance for us to prove that. When they hear the Caribbean, they think well, whatever, they aren’t buying our stuff. We have to take our stuff to New York or London for them to go and buy it. If you put it in the shops here, they don’t buy it.

Nu woman magazine topic: fashion design designer

Another thing working against our designers is that I think we need to cut out the straws and all the bright colours. People are not buying straws, let tourist buy that. We come with our colours and our traditions, please. You don’t see the British and the American come with the American flag and the British flag. We do not need to do that. We could be more mainstream and people would actually get our stuff. They come and see these big old straws and these bright colours, people don’t want that stuff. I’m not being rude or disrespectful; I’m just speaking my mind. That is exactly what has been holding us back. I am serious now; we need to be more mainstream and be like the designers out there. We need to do couture, and that’s what I’m trying to bring next year. If I go out there and make a bright yellow blouse with a green string at the bottom, no one is going to buy that. But if I make a nice elegant, beautiful dress, like from the 1960’s someone will buy that. So I’m going to veer away from this ‘sun, sea and land’ type thing and be more mainstream. I stand a better chance of getting out there.

Nu Woman: Who is your favourite designer?

Desreen: My favourite designer and my mentor is John Galliano. He is so brilliant. I loved him from when I was in school, which was when he came on the scene. John Galliano is fantastic; there is no other like him. I love his stuff; he is crazy. So that is why my focus is on couture. I don’t know of any designer from the Caribbean who is a big thing out there, so maybe I’ll let myself be one of those. It is a bit hard, but it cannot be that hard if you are making your own stuff, and people see it and like it.

Nu woman magazine topic: fashion design/designer

  Nu Woman: What other plans or future goals are you working on?

: Business wise, I was thinking I would probably like to have a fashion school, and make it big. In the Caribbean, we know about fashion, and things relating to fashion, but we are not taught it; it needs to be taught. If you think about the Bahamas, and this tiny little city like Nassau, it should be a trendy little island; and it’s not very trendy. We are about 45 minutes away from Miami, are you kidding me? We need to turn this into a place for fashion. You walk past people and you wonder ‘what are you wearing’ and think that they need to get with the flow. It is so small; it should be trendy. When I put different things on, people look at me like, ‘what is she wearing’? But at the same time, they look at me like ‘Oh my God, I could wear that….you are so brave’. I think, ‘you could be like me’. That’s a trend you follow trends. People need to stop wearing all these uniforms. I want to be different and stand out, so that people notice me and not everyone else. You need to be yourself and wear your own thing. So yes, I want to start a fashion school. I just need a partner, but I think it would be fantastic to teach fashion here.

Nu Woman magazine fashion design/designer- Desreen Waller 6

Desreen

Nu Woman magazine topic: fashion design/ designer

Many years ago a friend lent me a book written by an American couple who went to live in Africa to study brown hyenas in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. I never forgot that book and twenty years later there I was flying from Maun, a small town in Botswana, to Camp Moremi in the Kalahari Desert.

Nu woman magazine topic: southern africa safari

Nu Woman magazine topic southern africa safari wild dogs

My companions were Julian Jakusz and Bonny Byfield and we were met by Mod, who was to be our guide and tracker for the next three days. Our mode of transport was a high, open-sided 4 wheel-drive vehicle that could negotiate all manner of terrain.

We immediately went on our first game drive; and although we had spent the previous week on safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, what we were about to experience in the next ten days turned out to be beyond our wildest dreams. Within minutes we ran slap-bang into a group of six lions. Animals always have the right of way, so we backed up immediately and watched them as they filed past us. What a thrill to be just a yard from lions! They took absolutely no notice of us, as Mod said; their minds were on checking out the position of a large herd of buffalo ready for a hunt later. Lions go for many days without eating and they all had that ‘lean and hungry look’ that indicated it was time for a meal.

Nu woman magazine topic: southern africa safari

After an exciting morning of animal spotting, we drove to our campsite and checked into our tents. Now when I say tents, don’t imagine something reminiscent of a Boy Scout camp. These tents were the height of luxury with dark wood furniture, designer sheets and full laundry service every day. Turn left out of the front door and there on our balcony was a bathroom bigger and better than back home.

The campsite was beautiful with huge trees frequented by troops of baboons and exotic birds. The boma, or outside

Nu Woman magazine topic; southern africa safari giraffe

dining area, was shaded by a typical African roof of undulating thatch. A delicious brunch was served with special catering for our vegetarian diets. The campsite also had beautifully manicured lawns, a swimming pool and an observation tower for game watching. Everything was in natural wood and thatch with subtle understated luxury.

Every afternoon at 3:30 p.m., tea and cakes are served – how civilized! Then we were off again on another game drive.

Deciding to try again later, the lions wandered off to where they had left the cubs; the mother calling to them to come on out. There were three of them and the late afternoon light was perfect for photography. I couldn’t stop snapping.

That night, dinner was served in a lovely dining room up in the trees. The carnivores ate local fish and warthog stew; and afterwards, everybody sat around a campfire and told tales of enormous lions and trumpeting elephants.

Nu woman magazine topic: southern africa safari

The next day we were up at 5:30 a.m., breakfasted and off at 6:00 to find our lions; and there they were – bigger and fatter than the previous day, indicating that they had killed and eaten. Several of them, including the cubs, were eating from the carcasses of a buffalo and her calf. The big male was flat out on the ground with a huge distended stomach full of meat. He did not even lift his head as we drew up alongside him.

Nu Woman magazine topic; southern africa safari lioness

Usually, fully fed lions won’t hunt again for several days; but Mod our tracker told us that if a tasty meal came their way and was easy pickings, they would not resist the temptation. As if to prove his point, two large male buffalos strayed from the herd and were heading in the direction of the lions. This news was immediately communicated from one lion to another; and from a state of inertia and being flopped-out, they were all on their feet, alert and in the slink position. They made a dash, but missed again. Never mind! There were plenty of leftovers from their existing kill.

Apart from lions and buffalo, we saw many elephants, giraffes and various types of antelope, especially impalas, which are graceful creatures with slim legs and dainty hooves.

Whenever nature called, we had to shout “bush stop” and Mod would check first for dangers lurking in the undergrowth and then we would hop out, go behind a bush and return quite often with prickles in our underwear.

The next morning, we bade farewell to Camp Moremi and boarded a small flat-bottomed boat for our journey to Camp Okavango. The trip took two and a half hours along winding channels lined with reeds and papyrus and scattered with water lilies. The game viewing at this camp was either by boat or on foot.

Nu woman magazine topic: southern africa safari

On the first afternoon, we took a lazy ride on a small canoe-like boat called a mokoro. The scenery was beautiful, but we missed the excitement of our land-based 4 wheel-drive. All was quiet except for the odd bird, frog or small crocodile. Suddenly, from out of the water rose the huge head and gaping mouth of a hippo. Hippos are one of the most dangerous of African animals. They are bad-tempered and will charge without warning. At night they come out of the water to graze, but spend most of the day in water to protect their delicate skins. We beat a hasty retreat in our little boat.

Next, we tried a walking safari. Just the thought of being in the African bush more than a hundred miles from the smallest town was exciting. Our tracker Robert instructed us on how to behave in close proximity to dangerous animals. He thrilled us as he recounted his experience of a lioness sitting on his feet, and how he had to stay very still and calm for half an hour until she deigned to move.

Nu woman magazine topic: southern africa safari

We tramped for miles and saw buffalo, antelopes and warthogs. Returning hours later to camp, soaking wet and

Nu Woman magazine topic; southern africa safari impalas

muddy, we came face to face with two buffalo wandering across the lawn. The buffalo is another extremely dangerous animal that weighs a ton and can charge without warning; although, any who stray from their herd are prime targets for lions. We kept our distance.

The next morning we tramped down to the airstrip and sat in the departure lounge (a few chairs under a sausage tree). Just before the plane arrived, one of the camp staff drove along the runway to scare off the elephants and antelopes so that the plane could land.

Our next campsite was Savute, and from the moment we arrived we knew we’d be seeing good stuff – animals that is. From our balcony overlooking a watering hole just a few yards away, there was a huge bull elephant drinking and splashing. Within minutes two more elephants joined him. We didn’t need binoculars or zoom lenses. We were right there. All afternoon we sat on our balcony watching the animals come and go. We saw kudu -antelopes with huge corkscrew-like horns, baboons and elephants coming one after another. Large as they are, the elephants were like phantoms appearing from out of the bush, plodding silently on their huge platter-size feet and just as silently they were gone, melting into the undergrowth. I never wanted to leave the balcony for fear of what I might miss.

Nu woman magazine topic: southern africa safari

Throughout our safari, we had been searching and hoping to see a leopard. They are solitary animals and tend to shun observation, so we were very excited to see, high up in a tree, a half-eaten dead antelope, which is typical behaviour of a leopard. To protect a kill from scavengers like hyenas and lions, a leopard is able to drag a carcass as heavy as itself, up a tree, where it will return often to feed. The next day the entire carcass was gone; the bones picked over by vultures and devoured by the powerful jaws of hyenas.

We are all familiar with the colours and spots of the leopard’s coat, but until you see the real thing on the back of that fabulous animal, you just cannot appreciate the vibrant colours and breath-taking beauty of the beast. I managed to get some good shots of her before the light faded and she crept back into the privacy of the undergrowth.

Every evening we stopped for a sunset cocktail out in the bush. Our tracker would check out the location to make sure all was safe, and when the “all clear” was given, he would bring out the hamper, spread a cloth and miraculously turn into a barman. The sunsets were glorious, enhanced by chilled wine and the lonesome cry of the fishing eagle.

At night before dinner, the camp staff would gather to sing and dance for us. They all spoke English well and sported Crocs and Nikes, but would instantly return to their tribal language and foot stomping roots in song and dance. What super harmony! Oh to listen to them and the night sounds of the African bush, the dong-dong of the fruit bats and the distant roar of hippos. How I loved it!

Nu woman magazine topic: southern africa safari

Probably our luckiest animal sighting was our pack of wild dogs. Anyone who goes on an African safari hopes at least to get a glimpse of these rare and highly endangered animals. They are the size of a large domestic dog, but are slim and rangy with long legs, big ears and a shaggy multi-coloured coat, similar to a calico cat. They live in groups of about six to twenty animals with a highly developed social structure. All co-operate to hunt and take care of the young and even sick and injured adults who are unable to take part in a kill are fed regurgitated meat.

One night wild dogs had killed an antelope in our campsite. The next morning not a scrap of the kill was left; but, all day at the waterhole below our balcony, the pack lazed in the sun, sometimes sleeping sometimes dipping in the water to cool off and generally behaving just like their very distant relatives the domestic dog. Often elephants arriving to drink would trumpet and chase the dogs, but they soon came back to snooze again.

That night at the watering hole a perfect scene unfolded. We had a full moon, a giant eagle owl in the tree and five elephants drinking and hosing themselves with their trunks. Then as if to bid us farewell, our pack of wild dogs galloped past howling and baying and two spotted hyenas appeared yodeling and squiggling. That is what I went to Africa for! I will never forget all I saw and that wonderful intoxicating smell of wild sage and elephant dung.

Nu woman magazine topic: southern africa safari

Dr Gregory Neil and Bahamas Plastic Surgery

By Erica Meus-Saunders

Plastic surgery is something that more Bahamian women are growing comfortable and familiar with, from Botox injections to breast lifts and augmentation to tummy tucks. Nu Woman magazine recently sat down with Dr. Gregory Neil of Bahamas Plastic Surgery to obtain in-depth information on the growing practices of plastic surgery at home. Dr. Neil was direct and discussed all parts of his practice, from cosmetics (Botox, Breast Augmentation and Reduction) to reconstructive and micro- surgery. I also received a first hand experience with Laser Hair Removal*.

Nu woman magazine topic: bahamas plastic surgery

Nu woman magazine topic: bahamas plastic surgery Dr gregory Neil

Dr. Gregory Neil came to the Bahamas in 1989, and met Carolyn, his wife of 17 years, the first week he got here. He began working as an intern at Princess Margaret Hospital and spent another 3-4 years working in almost every department (surgery, psychiatry, Intensive Care Unit, pathology) before deciding that he wanted to do general surgery. So he went to the United States to

Nu woman magazine topic: bahamas plastic surgery Dr gregory Neil

practice general surgery and somehow found that he was doing a great deal of microsurgery, mostly for Tubal Reanastomosis (for women who had gotten their tubes tied but had changed their minds and wanted to become pregnant again) he also did reproductive endocrinology and infertility surgery.

“While I was in micro-surgery, some of the guys from plastic and reconstructive surgery came over and saw some of the stuff that we were doing. From there I did some training labs for micro-surgery and they got their resident doctors involved in the training labs; I was kind of in charge of doing a lot of the micro-surgical training. I went ahead and did my general surgery/trauma surgery at St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital. When I finished that I came back to The Bahamas and worked in trauma surgery for a year in Freeport.

I had a lot of fun and did a lot of good surgery and helped a lot of sick people, but I decided that I wanted a little bit more and was very fortunate to be accepted to the plastic and reconstructive surgery specialty. (You have to be a general surgeon before you can do plastic and reconstructive surgery).”

Dr. Neil specialized in plastic and reconstructive surgery at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) in Richmond. He says that the plastic training surgery program was excellent because there were many head and neck reconstructive surgery, birth defects (cleft lip and palate) and hand trauma as well; as a result, he was able to do a great deal of “vascular” and microsurgery.

Nu woman magazine topic: bahamas plastic surgery

“It was good because in the Richmond vicinity there were twenty-six plastic surgeons and being exposed to so many different ways of doing things, you get a very rounded education.” Dr. Neil remained in Richmond for three years.

He came back to the Bahamas as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, where he met Dr. Serson, a plastic surgeon from Brazil, who had been in the Bahamas since the 1980’s. However, Dr. Serson had gotten old and had basically stopped practicing.

“Dr. Serson was a very good plastic surgeon and he had helped a lot of people. I had worked with him for just a brief period while I was an intern and when I came back I realized that there was really no resident plastic surgeon. And that was when I started my practice. Essentially, we built the practice from word of mouth and even to this day we do not find it necessary to be all over the airwaves, television, or newspapers because most of our business comes from word of mouth. And we are busy; we have quite a large clientele.”

Dr. Neil’s practice at Bahamas Plastic Surgery is about 50/50: fifty percent cosmetics and fifty percent reconstructive surgery.

Nu woman magazine topic: bahamas plastic surgery

“We still take calls to the emergency room; so we deal with all the propeller injuries, bike injuries, slips and falls, lacerations to the face, and a lot of the tendon injuries and hand surgeries along with replants and microsurgery – which involves putting amputated digits back on.

We also do a lot of birth defects like cleft lip and palate. Just the other day, we operated on a little boy who had both of his fingers stuck together at birth, and we did the surgery to separate them. It is very good surgery when you see a baby just get the use of his hands. To watch him as he has full use of his hands you think that he can be anything, even a plastic surgeon. It’s just a lot of potential that you release.

We also do a lot of the usual cosmetic surgery, like face lift, breast lift, nose job, eyelid lift, breast implant, breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast construction and re-construction (for people whose breast do not develop normally, or for people who might have lost a breast to cancer).

For example, in the last week or so, we had done the congenital surgery (the little boy’s whose fingers we separated), we did a bi-lateral breast reconstruction (for someone who had their breast removed because of cancer), we had also done a breast augmentation and breast lifts. One of the ladies also got a tummy tuck out of the deal when she got her breast re-constructed. So, we stay busy and do a great deal of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.”

Nu woman magazine topic: bahamas plastic surgery

The word plastic comes from the Greek word ‘plasticos’ which means to shape, mold or form. Dr. Neil says that whether he is taking care of a congenital birth defect such as a cleft lip or whether he is taking care of body contouring such as a liposuction or breast lift, the principles of surgery are always the same.

“For me it is not always how it looks, it also has to work well, because form follows function. If it works well and looks good then I have done a good job.”

*The Bahamas Plastic Surgery also performs Laser Hair Removal and gives free laser hair consultation. Dr. Taylor has done Laser Hair Removal at Bahamas Plastic Surgery for the past year.

Nu woman magazine topic: bahamas plastic surgery

“People call up and want to know how long it will take to get rid of hair, and it is hard to say. I can tell them that it’s going to take six months to get a great result and they say ‘I can’t bother with that’, but they do not understand why it is going to take this long or why they will need four or five treatments. Just telling a person that in a vacuum does not give them all the information, that is why, we ask them to take advantage of the free laser hair removal consultation.”

Nu woman magazine topic: bahamas plastic surgery

*Check a special edition of Laser Hair Removal in the upcoming Spring/Summer issue of Nu Woman Magazine and look for Part II of this story.

For more information on the procedures mentioned here, you can contact Dr. Neil by calling the Bahamas Plastic Surgery at: (242) 356-3189.

Nu woman magazine topic: bahamas plastic surgery

By Suzette Scott

Are you getting the promotions you think you deserve?

Being able to present yourself with confidence in business and socials situations is a necessary and valuable skill. While 15% of your financial success is dependant on your training and expertise, 85% of your success depends on your soft skills: your ability to get along with others, work in teams and present yourself to your best advantage. C.T. Seminars/Etiquette Angels programs develop those leadership skills that will improve your success, advance your career and positively affect the bottom line in any business environment.

Companies spend a lot of time and money designing attractive, eye-catching packages so that consumers buy their products on the store shelves. Likewise, men and women should view themselves as a marketing package that attracts people to them personally and professionally through their style and grace.

Nu woman magazine topic: etiquette for business

As the online encyclopedia Wikipedia notes, “Violations of etiquette, if severe, can cause public disgrace, and in private hurt individual feelings, create misunderstanding or real grief and pain, and can escalate into murderous rage.”

If you were to ask five people what etiquette means, you probably would get five different answers. Many people consider etiquette to be something you use when you are at a fancy dinner or meeting dignitaries, but etiquette is more than just knowing how to navigate a place setting or how to introduce a business partner. Etiquette has different meaning in different cultures. What may be considered acceptable in the Bahamas may be considered an insult in Asia.

Children in our society are entering adulthood without proper training in etiquette. Etiquette is all about behavior. It is about knowing the right behaviors so you are comfortable in all situations and you make other people comfortable.

If you have ever sat across the table from someone with bad table manners, overheard someone speaking loudly on their cell phone, or had your questions to a customer service representative answered with “yeah”, “Chile I ‘een no,” or “whatever,” then you understand why etiquette matters.

After conducting a number of job interviews, I have witnessed many unacceptable behaviors. Job seekers would come into the job interview smacking their chewing gum or holding hands with their lovers while dragging slippers or looking away when questions are asked, and yet they wonder why they were not hired.

If they are lucky (have connections) they get the job but then what happens? They do not know how to conduct themselves again for lack of training. People or coworkers are uncomfortable around them because they have no manners nor give any respect. Quite often these employees do not hold on to their jobs for long or are passed over for promotions but yet they are upset with everyone because they did not get the position.

Nu woman magazine topic: etiquette for business

Have you ever worked with an individual who has no etiquette? These individuals do not understand the unwritten rules of business, they are as follows:

ü The boss is the boss: right or wrong, the boss always has the last word.

ü Keep the boss informed. Good or bad, you do not want the boss to hear information mentioned from an inappropriate source.

ü Never go over your immediate boss’ head, without telling him or her first.

ü Always make the boss look good. Promotions and opportunities arise when you help the organization reach its goals.

Nu woman magazine topic: etiquette for business

ü Appearing professional and being well groomed are essential. Dress for your next promotion or job.

ü Adopt a can-do attitude. Those who accept challenges and display creativity are valuable.

ü Be flexible. By remaining flexible and implementing change you gain a reputation as a cooperative employee.

ü Give credit to everyone who made a contribution to a project or event.

ü Do not differentiate people by position or standing in a company.

Nu woman magazine topic: etiquette for business

As a business owner you have a responsibility: either you bring your company up to a level or you can let your employees without etiquette bring it down to their level. The choice is yours.

Management must consider giving etiquette training on ongoing bases. Why ongoing? It has to be instilled. Etiquette must become a habit like brushing your teeth in the morning. With the proper etiquette training in your background there is no stopping you. You can go on job interviews, dine with the CEO of the company, get along with your coworkers and be considered for promotions.

Contact: Suzette Scott

Company: C.T. Seminars Presents Etiquette Angels

Address: P.O. Box AP 59223

Nassau N.P.

Bahamas

Nu woman magazine topic: etiquette for business

Phone: (242) 225-1177

Email: info@suzette-online.com

URL: http://www.asksuzettescott.com

Nu woman magazine topic: etiquette for business