One Caribbean Nation. By William Skinner Me and V: a personal introduction to gay tolerance I must have been around nine or ten years old. V was a well-known gay citizen, who lived in my beloved hometown of Britton’s Hill, in the parish of St. Michael, Barbados. My earliest recollection of V was his apparent penchant for dressing in white. I seldom saw him in a long pants, and he walked with an amazing rhythm. Even at that early age, I realized that he was very effeminate. He always seemed busy out and about in the Brittons Hill area and it was obvious that everybody knew him, and his notoriety was island wide. I also noticed that he was always exceptionally clean. Later, I would learn that he was also known as a popular pudding and souse vendor, who carried on his trade in the vicinity of Nelson Street, in the city. He was well loved and respected in Britton’s Hill; along with that respect came good-natured heckling. One day, around midafternoon, about three of my chil...
One Caribbean Nation. Deryck Thomas By William Skinner Sweet Drinks: A High School Friendship and Memories Back in the sixties, while a student at the famous Modern High School located on Roebuck Street, Deryck Thomas and I developed a wonderful friendship that remains wonderfully intact. Deryck’s father, worked in a managerial/ supervisory capacity at what we called the Coke factory, which was situated extremely close to our school. Occasionally, the students were treated to free beverages, and we all believed, it was the magnanimity of our distinguished Headmaster and owner of the Modern, Louis Lynch, who remains a legend among educators, in our country. It is widely known that there have been calls to make him a national hero. There was also a rumor that th...
One Caribbean Nation. Original Burning Flames mark 40 years of soca excellence The legendary Original Burning Flames are marking 40 years of creating some of the Caribbean's most memorable and influential soca music. Since their formation in 1984, the band has become synonymous with high-energy performances, timeless hits, and a legacy that continues to inspire new generations of fans and artistes alike. Hailing from the village of Potters, Antigua, the original line-up featured three brothers: Toriano King Onyan Edwards (vocals, guitar), David Bubb-I Edwards (vocals, bass), and Clarence Oungku Edwards (vocals, keyboards), along with drummer Rone Foxx Watkins. The brothers initially performed as buskers before joining Arrow's backing band, with Clarence notably serving as bass player and arranger on the world-famous hit Hot, Hot, Hot. The band made an immediate impact on the carnival scene in 1985 with their song Stylie Tight, which won the Road March and was released as their ...
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