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Bermudian Duane Jones is a lot of things – entrepreneur, information manager, father, philanthropist. But at his core exists a depth of creativity waiting to be explored, and he’s just starting to scratch the surface. 

“I grew up doing art, but it wasn’t my first career choice. Basically, I said, ‘Yeah, you’re failing out of everything else, so what are you good at?” he explained. 

Mr Jones moved to Halifax from Bermuda in 2000 to attend the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and today runs the lifestyle brand and podcast Art Pays Me. The project began with a simple t-shirt label that married his love of design with streetwear in a self-professed attempt to reinvent himself. 

Art Pays Me has now significantly outgrown its original parameters, likely due to what seems an inherent ability to connect the right dots. And good thing, too, because, “Now, I’m 40 years old. If people don’t like me, I don’t care at this point, I’m over it,” he laughed. 

In that respect, Mr Jones has nothing to worry about. Art Pays Me has provided him a platform to amplify his message, that creativity and success are not mutually exclusive. 

His work has been recognized by both Bermudian and Canadian media outlets. His podcast, of the same name, has developed a dedicated following. He’s regularly invited to speak at community and corporate events, and in 2021, was named one of the most inspiring immigrants in the Maritime provinces by the Halifax publication My East Coast Experience. 

“I want to lean a lot further into being a fine artist and expressing ideas that aren’t necessarily commercial or acceptable without having to worry about, ‘Will people buy this? Will it sell? I just want to be able to say, something told me to make this thing and I made it.” 

In his own words, Mr Jones has “stopped running away from the scary stuff ”, and has pivoted his pet project into a vehicle to share his sometimes controversial works to a broader audience, while still enjoying financial success. 

There’s no five-year plan for Art Pays Me, but the trajectory seeks to continue expanding on the idea that this is more than a clothing label. 

“Having multiple ways to monetize my creativity seems like a smarter way, so now I just have to figure out how to do that without burning myself out.” 

In addition to his day job, he dedicates much of his time to supporting the community he lives in, particularly in sports. Not to mention keeping up with his own children, both of whom have shown a tendency towards creativity (following closely in the footsteps of her father, his oldest daughter has a website showcasing her artwork). 

Mr Jones has walked a circuitous path, facing insecurities and doubt, but in characteristic style, he never gave up. 

“I think that’s my real brand,” he mused. “I’ve outlasted a lot of other people who started clothing brands at the same time as I did. It’s not easy, it’s not fun. It’s not as cool as you think it’s going to be, and it’s expensive. But I just keep pushing. 

“If I hadn’t taken that path, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. I don’t regret any of it.” 

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Chef Michiko Campbell of Chiko’s Smokey Rub fame shares advice for preparing the perfect Holiday meal for your family and friends.

Easily the star of the show is the turkey. It doesn’t just need to taste good. It needs to smell and look impressive too. 

Preparation

Chef Chiko starts by making a paste. His favourite paste ingredients are fresh sage mixed with either corn oil, olive oil or bacon fat, and some original ‘Chiko’s Smokey Rub’. 

“Put all that together in a blender or food processor until it gets into a paste”, he said. 

Then he rubs the paste onto as much of the bird as he can get to. Underneath the skin, through the legs, up to the head and in the cavity. Then he stuffs the cavity with three celery sticks. 

He covers the turkey with foil before putting it in the oven to keep “the moisture and juices in.” 

Cooking Time

Cooking times will vary depending on your oven and the size of the turkey. For a 10lb bird, Chef Chiko recommended and hour and a half to two hours at 375F, covered. Then turn the oven up to 450F, take off the foil and cook for a further 15 minutes until it is just brown, or longer if you want it crispy. 

Basting

Baste the turkey once with all the juices when you remove the foil. 

Gravy

He keeps the juices to make the gravy, straining them off, making sure he gets a clear consistency. He then blends corn starch with stock or the natural juices. 

Stuffing

Chef Chiko prepares this separately using caramalised onions and shallots, herbs and chicken or turkey stock to which he adds diced cornbread and freshly baked bread, finished off with dry cranberries or diced up green parsley for an “earthy, vibrant colour”. 

VIBRANT Veggies 

This is the time of year when many of us put the most effort into the vegetable portion of our Holiday meal. Chef Chiko’s favourite vegetable combination is glazed carrots, brussels sprouts with bacon and “Christmas Yams”. 

glazed carrots 

Par boil the carrots until al dente, then sauté them in a pan, add a little honey to create a glaze on top of the carrots, add salt and pepper and then they’re good to go. 

brussel sprouts 

Cut them in half and clean them before giving them a quick blanche to “get the green colour”. Half way cook the bacon, then drop the Brussels sprouts into a hot pan and sauté them with the partially cooked bacon. Add some fresh thyme, maybe a few other herbs to taste, and, of course, salt and pepper. 

christmas yams 

Honey and marshmallows is what turns these otherwise bland sweet potatoes into something deliciously worthy of such a special occasion. 

Once the yams are peeled, cleaned and diced, boil them until they are just under cooked. Put them in a pan with salt, pepper, cinnamon, a tiny bit of nutmeg, then add honey and a layer of mini marshmallows across the top. 

Bake them at 400F for around 10 – 15 minutes to brown the marshmallows slightly. He warns that you must watch the marshmallows to make sure they don’t burn, as they can brown quickly. 

Simpler, lighter vegetable combination: Chef Chiko said broccoli, cauliflower and asparagus make a very good vegetable medley, perhaps with just some butter and salt depending on preference. 

Preparing the main meal for Thanksgiving or Christmas is the widest variety of food you are likely to prepare for a single meal all year. We asked Chef Chiko his advice on getting everything hot and ready so you aren’t eating your turkey cold and dry while the carrots are tepid and the Brussels sprouts piping hot. 

“You need to have all your elements for that meal in a sequence,” he said. “You balance your time frame out. Work out how long everything will take and then plan it out. 

“The turkey and ham take the longest, so put them in the oven first, then the yams, rice or mac n cheese, then the simpler things.” 

He said you need to know how long each dish takes to cook so you can lay it out efficiently, making sure everything is cooked and ready at the same time. 

Remember Holiday meals are about family and friends coming together. Say ‘yes’ to offers of help and pick out a dish that can be kept warm easily, without spoiling. 

Chef Chiko has always had a passion for food and loves cooking for family and friends. He trained at the Bermuda College, trained and worked at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson & Wales University in Miami. When he isn’t in the kitchen, he’s building. Find out more at chikosmokeyrub.com. 

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Robyn BARDGETT 

A group of talented local sportsmen, coaches and educators have banded together to create Life Through Sport – a programme to help young athletes focus their talents but also make sure they are successful in all aspects of their lives, no matter their circumstances. 

“Sports provide an avenue and an opportunity to help prepare our young people for life,” said Ralph Bean, Life Through Sport chairman and a founding member. “Our specific focus is to help the young men struggling in today’s workforce and economy by providing guidance in the areas of education, career readiness and personal finance.” 

So while football brings the players to the charity, the lessons through sports – hard work, determination, practice, discipline and team work – all help prepare them for the “necessary skills to navigate life.” 

“Our belief is that the path that makes the most sense for many of our young athletes is to use their sporting and athletic talents to provide opportunities for tertiary education and even job and career opportunities through networking,” said Mr Bean. 

Through participating in sports, athletes learn about healthy competition, how to react to adversity, how to handle losses, problem solving abilities and leadership – all incredibly important skills to have to ensure success, whether in a career or their personal relationships. 

The group, which comprises some of Bermuda’s top football players, educators and charity workers, came together in 2016 after discussions about some of the issues they were seeing within sports on the Island and interactions they had with players. 

Along with small group training sessions, Life Through Sport also run a successful summer programme, which is geared towards developing young student athletes. 

But the programme also recognizes that not every player intends to go “the academic route and therefore we have initiatives that focus on preparing for the workforce and developing soft skills such as interviewing, seeking training and apprenticeship opportunities and resume building,” explained Mr Bean. 

The past year has created some challenges for the group’s programmes, including the postponement of a six-week financial literacy seminar that was set to start in September. But the group sees these as “minor setbacks” to the larger work of the charity’s mission. 

While there have been incredible opportunities for many of Bermuda’s athletes, the reality is that it will only be a very small percentage that ever go off to become a professional athlete, and Mr Bean noted that even then an athletic career doesn’t last long. 

“So it’s important for young athletes to develop themselves off the pitch as well, so that they can function and navigate in the real world. 

“We see sports as the proverbial carrot to get the attention of individuals,” he said. “Our target is young men in general, but most young Bermudians participate in sports, football in particular, at some point in their lives, and so that is the most likely place that we will reach and connect with them.” 

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With the dust settled from her historic achievement, Olympic Champion Flora Duffy reflects on her new status as a local and global icon 

After a five-year campaign to prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (that took place in 2021) and a lifetime of believing, Flora Duffy’s childhood dream came true. Photos from school sports days show the intense concentration and focus the 7-year-old had when racing. You could see it in her eyes, Flora was determined to win. 

Ironically, she made the biggest race of her life look so easy. In the most important race of her career, her fourth Olympics, her more than two decades of work paid off. 

It would be natural to think, after all the years of relentless dedication to training, mental conditioning and nutrition, that achieving the holy grail of an Olympic gold and being named the world’s best female triathlete would be the ultimate prize. 

And it is, yet it’s also the beginning of a new chapter for hometown hero Flora Duffy. 

She is now embarking on a life as an Olympic champion and preparing for what that new chapter will bring. She said, “It was a defining point in my career, something I was building up towards. To have achieved it now, to move to the other side, it’s a big goal ticked off.” 

It has been non-stop for Flora these last few months with “cool media obligations and some exciting opportunities.” Attending the US Open and being interviewed alongside tennis great Andy Roddick was memorable. She said, “Hanging out in that space definitely wasn’t happening to me before. Then there was Michael Douglas’ congratulations video on Instagram, that was a moment when I thought, oh my gosh, this is really big. I just wanted to go there and win the race; I didn’t expect it to be such an absolutely massive thing. That was crazy!”

The world’s biggest sporting brands are wooing her with custom kit, gold running shoes from ASICS, a custom bike from Specialized, a gold case for her bike computer and more.

The call she received from Bermuda to tell her about the celebrations, the public holiday, a motorcade, and the renaming of Corkscrew Hill and the National Stadium was unexpected, “I’m definitely blown away by how much has been done, it’s a bit overwhelming.”

Getting through airport security is a new challenge too. Whenever Flora carries her gold medal in her backpack, airport customs and security investigate what’s inside. She tells the fun story, “I guess because it’s a big chunk of metal, they pull it aside and ask, ‘What’s this?’ And then they see it and are taken aback, it’s so unexpected; they quickly pop it back in the box and say, ‘OK, you can go’!”

Life as Olympic Champion

“No one really prepares you for after the race, what it will be like if you actually win. I suppose everyone goes through a different array of emotions and reactions, for me it was exhaustion. I realised how much emotion, stress, and pressure I was carrying, a lot more than I was allowing myself to feel, because going in as the favourite there were a lot of expectations, and I had to block that out. I have a great team of people around me to help me block out or deflect a lot, so going into the race I just focused on performing.”

What winning Bermuda’s first gold really means and how it will impact her life is something Flora is still working through. “I haven’t really had a chance for it to all sink in, I’m still realising that I am actually the Olympic champion. It’s so new and it has been a whirlwind ever since I crossed the finish line.”

Celebrity Status

One thing is very clear to Flora; this was not a normal race; her social media profile and celebrity status has blown up with increased exposure. She says it’s “a totally different space to get comfortable with.” 

Trending on Twitter and hitting the top Google searches globally after her race was just the beginning. “It has been totally game changing, people recognise me, and it’s a title that will always be with me. It’s every four years and there’s very few women in the world who are Olympic triathlon gold medallists, and it being Bermuda’s first, in that regard I have a new level of platform that will always be there.”

Flora’s modesty dominates the interview. “I’m still training and it’s not like I’m crushing every session. Yes, I’m the Olympic gold medallist but today in the pool with my training group I was getting hammered, so yeah, it’s hard to fully take in and appreciate it.”

Paying it forward

A champion on and off the course, Flora Duffy is dedicated to giving back to young Bermudians through her philanthropic entity, the Flora Duffy Fund. She intends to leverage her newfound celebrity status to help grow the fund, established in 2018, as a platform for good, giving back to the community.

An emotional win

Tears were flowing in pubs and homes here and abroad as Bermudians were glued to TVs and phones when Flora crossed the finish line; the emotion was real. It was also in Flora’s smile as she held the tape proudly above her head, her dream had actually come true. She fell to the ground in a haze of feelings, yet she held her composure. 

She recalls, “It’s a bit strange because you finish this big event with so many emotions but there are all these people around just trying to take your picture.” She’s waiting for it to all catch up with her!

What’s next? Vacation!

There is no hesitation about what’s next. “I’m looking forward to taking a long break, it’ll be my first holiday in 10 years. I don’t know where we’ll go, maybe somewhere like Hawaii. The bikes are not coming with me and there’ll be no media obligations, it’ll be an actual holiday.”

“My life has been very regimented for so long, there’s not much downtime. It’s important to block out chunks of time where I’m not thinking about triathlon or training, to just chill, but when preparing for something like the Olympics it’s always there, no matter what I do to relax. It’s time to decompress. I’ve achieved everything I wanted, there’s no Olympics looming next season, so I can really take a break.” Flora says her plans for 2022 and beyond will come together after her vacation, although she has already expressed an interest in defending her Olympic title in Paris, 2024.

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Joy Barnum 

Joy’s truly effervescent spirit is reflected in her music and performances. She is a dearly loved local celebrity and a dynamic performer with a well-earned phalanx of committed fans. 

Joy can be found on stages far and wide: “I’m generally found singing along with any band who’s got me on their roster.” But just not on New Year’s Eve. “I decided long ago to set that time aside for my family.” 

Live Wires 

Mitchell “Live Wires” Trott is an exuberant performer, merging energy, power, and panache. A veteran of the stage, having first performed at age four (over 40 years ago!), Bermuda’s ‘Gombey Warrior’ says: “I’m versatile, my voice and style make me instantly recognizable.” 

Crowned Bermuda’s Best Live Performer (2019) and Best Musical Group (2020) with his band, the King’s Band, Wires tells fans to, “stay tuned for our next free show or public event.” 

Working Title Band 

The Working Title Band has carved a niche in the local live entertainment scene as the very best cover band in Bermuda. They’ve created that space by committing themselves to excellence, as front man Lamont Robinson confesses, “I am a stickler for when we play covers, the songs are recognized immediately and sound good enough to turn heads.” 

Jesse Seymour 

Known as ‘Swaggy P’, Jesse Seymour is a man with style to burn. He asserts, “I believe I have a unique sound, especially being able to cross genres like R‘n’B and Reggae.” 

Fresh off a regular Friday night gig at Café Lido, Jesse is raring to go for the Holiday Season; “I’ll be floating round at Christmas parties if this Covid dresses back.” 

Aalai Wolffe 

Aalai Wolffe attributes her distinct sound to the use of guitars. “I can’t play them but that’s the first instrument I listen for when selecting a beat to create to. I enjoy sounds that embody sweet, sultry, and heartfelt melodies – a perfect example would be my first single titled Letter.” 

“This Holiday Season you can find me on several streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, as well as YouTube serenading you with my rendition of my Christmas favourite, Santa Baby.” 

Leroy Francis 

Leroy Francis is a proper musician. A creator who describes his style as, “combining unique melodies, rhythms, and soulful chords… with no limitation on genre.” 

When he’s not performing live as the keyboardist for the DIA Band, he’s in the studio producing music for L Francis Productions. “I am privileged to work with, and produce for many talented local artists, such as Live Wires, Jesse Seymour, Troy Anthony, and Aalai Wolffe.” 

Rusty G (RtwoG2) 

Do yourself a favour, go on to Spotify and do a search for RtwoG2. Russell Griffith, aka DJ Rusty G, aka RtwoG2 has a head for hot music. He plays it, promotes it, and now, he’s moving into producing it. His track Full Stop blew up this summer, and that is very much just the beginning. 

Currently lighting up Friday nights at the Pickled Onion from 9.00pm until curfew, DJ Rusty G routinely leaves them wanting more. 

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Known for its tight-knit staff and strong team, the company went through a challenging period following the tragic loss of former operations manager Walter Saul, who passed away in August 2017. “Mr Saul was a fantastic manager and mentor, and neither myself nor the Bermuda Pest Control team would be where we are without him,” said Justin Tavares, the new operations manager.

Mr Tavares is no rookie when it comes to his knowledge of the company or the industry. A family business, Bermuda Pest Control, was initially acquired by his grandfather, Denis DeSousa, in 1975. “My grandfather took over the business before I was born,” he said. “I remember when I was around four-years-old saying that one day I’d like to manage the company, so it feels surreal to be here now and get to lead our team of hardworking, dedicated staff. Although I’m young, I’ve been around this industry for many years and am extremely passionate about entrepreneurship.”

I remember when I was around
four-years-old saying that
one day I’d like to manage the
company, so it feels surreal to
be here now.

A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Mr Tavares obtained a Bachelor of Science degree, with a focus in Business Administration, Finance and Management. “Since joining Bermuda Pest Control I’ve received certifications from Purdue University in Urban and Industrial Integrated Pest Management and from the University of Florida in Pest Control Technology, as well as multiple other minor certifications,” the 26-year-old said. “I’ve been committed to learning as much as I can, so I can continue to shape our company and ensure it has everything it needs to be successful in the future.”

One of the keys to the business’ success over the years has been its low staff turnover. Nearly half of its employees have worked at the firm for more than 20 years, Mr Tavares said. “Their dedication and support over the years has been crucial. In addition, we are investing in new technologies, including a new client portal, and expanding our range of services to include lawn treatments. We’re also making our business greener as we go paperless when it comes to a lot of our administrative tasks.”

When asked about what’s ahead in the future, Mr Tavares said “change was inevitable, but how you react to the changes is what makes the difference”. “Embracing changes in not only our business, but in our industry and Bermuda as a whole, is what will make our company stand out from our competitors.”

Located at 15 Ten Pin Crescent in Warwick, Bermuda Pest Control can be reached at 232-7378 or email [email protected].

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That combination proved successful for Joshua Bate Trading Bermuda Ltd, which has grown significantly over the past two decades. Now with around 20 employees based between Bermuda and the United States, the award-winning company specialises in selling building materials, mattresses and high-end appliances from renowned brands like GE, Sub Zero and Wolf. It also aims to offer customers a great quality product they can rely on. “Probably the best thing I did to grow and improve the running of the business was to hire two key persons – Jill Hanson, our Operations Manager in the US in 2003 and Meagan McPeek, our General Manager in Bermuda in 2013,” Mr Bate explained. “They are both extremely talented and strong managers who have been critical to our efforts to expand on the Island.” “Sometimes you can hire people who can do something even better than you can do it yourself. If you can find those people and keep them happy, it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

Relationship building happens to be one of Mr Bate’s greatest skills. He’s created strong bonds with everyone – from the people he buys from, right through to the end customer and the technicians who help with appliance repair. “I believe that the sun has to shine on everyone,” he said. “I’ve also learnt you have to follow your gut in business because when you don’t listen to your instincts, you almost always get burned. If you think something appears incorrect or someone seems dishonest, you have to take a step away from the situation, so your emotions don’t ruin your judgement, then you can quickly and effectively deal with whatever is happening.”

While having a larger workforce comes with a great deal of responsibility, Mr Bate admits it is also his biggest reward – knowing that he’s able to help people provide for and support their own families. “It feels good to give people a job where they feel valued and are treated well,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about the people who work for you. They have to feel respected, and their skillset has to be used to its greatest potential.”

We are a company that does whatever we can to give back. It’s why we’ve lasted all these years and why customers are happy to still be doing business with us.

One of the biggest challenges that has hit Mr Bate’s industry in recent years is the notable decline in the number of qualified technicians and tradespeople who can competently work with their hands. “This will become even more of a problem in the future for a lot of industries in Bermuda,” he said. “Young people aren’t learning about the trades, and it isn’t being encouraged for them to train in these areas, but appliance technician work can pay a great wage and is very technically challenging with all the advanced features appliances have today.” He’s hoping young people will continue to see the value in technical work, which is why he launched Bate’s Quality Service (BQS) in 2014. With the help of the Bermuda Government, Mr Bate was able to send two Bermudians to technical school in the US, and he also arranged for on-the-job internship training for the young men.

Determined to give back in any way he can, Mr Bate is getting ready to launch a new charity campaign with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a US-based not-for-profit, which provides beds for children in need. “As mattresses are still a big part of our business sales, we have decided to team up with other Bermuda-based companies and advocacy groups to identify the need on the Island and to do our part in building bunk beds so that no child has to sleep on the floor,” he said. “We are a company that does whatever we can to give back. It’s why we’ve lasted all these years and why customers are happy to still be doing business with us.”

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Cindy Laws, Managing Director and Interior Decorating Specialist, WFCP, has run the business for two of the last three decades. She took over the management side of the firm, while her mother and founder of the company, Mrs Anslie Laws, continued to run the drapery department up until her retirement six years ago. “There wasn’t a design my mom couldn’t create on her sewing machine,” Ms Laws said proudly. “She welcomed challenges and would tackle every job head-on with great skill and confidence.”

The mother-daughter duo has managed to keep the business not only open, but thriving – through recessions, a shaky economy and the constant rise of operating costs in Bermuda, which is no small achievement. The secret behind their success? Non-compromising quality, attention to detail and outstanding customer service. This resulted in a growing and loyal clientele throughout the years. “If I could go back I wouldn’t do anything differently, not even the way I learned the trade,” Ms Laws said. “It came so natural to me, and I’ve learned so much while growing the company. I’ll carry those skills with me forever.”

If I could go back I wouldn’t
do anything differently, not
even the way I learned the trade

The market has changed drastically over the years – from colours to styles and textures. The way the business is run and managed has also evolved through the digital and social media age. Despite it all, Anslie’s has garnered rave reviews and multiple awards to its name. More recently, they’ve seen a notable decline in retail sales – this may be caused by the rise in popularity of online shopping and increased costs of importing goods to Bermuda. It has slowed the industry’s growth and forced Anslie’s to scale back their operations – going from a team of thirteen employees at one point to only a handful of key workers now. “I think due to a lack of funds, the recession and banks not lending, people aren’t able to invest in a polished finished product in their homes like they used to,” said Ms Laws. “The hotel industry and expat populations had budgets for decorating and used to work with local businesses a lot more back in the day.”

Regardless of the bumps along the road, Ms Laws’ passion and love for decorating and design still remain. “I think no matter what I will always be decorating and designing for clients,” she said. “To me, the most rewarding part of my job is seeing my clients’ joyful reaction once the job is completed. Learning about the client, their taste and colour preferences are key to designing an appealing look that fits the individual and their lifestyle.”

Anslie’s is located at 1 Tee Street, Devonshire. Clients can book a consultation at ansliesdecorbermuda.com, by emailing [email protected] or calling 236-9993.

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