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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Veronica Dorsett feels athlete Donald Thomas was the most inspirational person of 2013
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TheBahamasWeekly.com
has once again selected Bahamians to canvas their opinions on highlights
of The Bahamas over the year 2013, as well as ask about the direction
of the country. Their comments will be shared over the coming weeks.
Through this exchange we hope to also highlight Bahamians in our
community, and share their personal triumphs, that may or may not have
made the news.
Here is the opinion of Veronica Dorsett/ Bahamian Artist :
1. What event do you feel was the most important for The Bahamas in 2013?
No other event garnered more praise than the 40th Anniversary of Independence which took on an entire year of planned celebrations. It was most important because these events forced conversations and ideas of “Bahamianism” to be embraced head-on within our communities, allowing stagnant ideas of “Bahamian Pride” to be addressed in a much newer and modern day and age, meanwhile commemorating a milestone in our country’s history.
2. Who passed away this year that you feel will be 'most missed' and why?
Quite frankly, it may not be fair to extract any one person in the midst of the number of lives that were lost in 2013; for all the families that have suffered losses during the year, it is their family members/loved ones who will be most missed.
3. Who was the 'most inspirational / influential Bahamian' in 2013 and why?
Donald Thomas, who was recently named the Nassau Guardian’s Male Athlete of the Year, has to be one of the most inspirational/ influential Bahamian’s because he was once a World Champion in 2007 and has continued to strive to be better even through injury and disappointment. Thomas has added four gold medals to Bahamian history in men’s high jump and finished 6th in the World Championships in Moscow, Russia in 2013.
4. 2013 was the country's 40th anniversary of Independence. What stood out for you in way of commemorating this event?
The art exhibition which took place at The Rand Nature Centre, Grand Bahama stood out for me simply because as an artist it was gratifying to see the arts incorporated as a celebratory event. This too forced artists within the community to question and express their own personal views on ‘what it means to be Bahamian – forty years later’. It is my hope that these questions of identity and what true ‘Bahamian independence’ means will continue to be asked and broken down in the years to come.
5. 2013 may have been one of the worst years ever for crime in The Bahamas. What are your thoughts and suggestions?
There is more danger in the ‘acceptance’ of crime than the actual murder count that seems to “baffle” everyone at the end of each year. We find ourselves expectant of weekly murders in the capital meanwhile our Prime Minister is administering ‘suggestions’ from grade school students, almost as if this “crime problem” is some science experiment. The reality is that the population density and the yearly increase in citizens moving to and living in Nassau is the ‘perfect’ formula for higher crime rates. Bahamians tend to forget that “crime” does not ONLY include murders, but robberies and assaults as well; and thus, the more people you pack into the city, the higher the crime rates will be. Alleviating the population density in Nassau is merely one suggestion.
The answers are clear. The death of ONE citizen should be more than enough for serious action to be taken rather than wasting time and effort on gaming referendums and the implementation of VAT.
6. Is there an 'unsung hero' you feel should be recognized from 2013 or prior? If so, who and why?
One name comes to mind – Dr. Theodore Ferguson. In 2012, Dr. Ferguson had operated on my father after he took ill in Freeport. My family and I are and will be forever grateful to him for what he did because thanks to him, we were fortunate enough to leave the hospital with a success story. He gave advice and thorough instructions whenever we needed and showed a certain level of care for my father the way anyone would hope a doctor would care for their loved one. He deserves much recognition and thanks, not only for his abilities, but for his attitude and approach to his practice and patients.
7. Do you have a Personal Highlight for 2013?
I would have to say graduating from The College of The Bahamas in June 2013, as well as being given the opportunity to represent the Bahamas for two weeks as a young artist in Oranjestad, Aruba. A blog on my experience as well as photos can be viewed HERE.
Born on the island of Grand Bahama,
Veronica Dorsett is primarily an installation artist with a keen interest in sculptural and mixed media works. She recently graduated from The College of The Bahamas in Nassau, New Providence with an AA in Art and plans to pursue a BFA in sculpture in 2014. Dorsett was awarded the 2012 Popopstudios ICVA Junior Residency Prize as well as the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Grant and was a resident artists at the Atelier’s89 “Caribbean Linked II” in Oranjestad, Aruba, August 2013. Her works have been featured in numerous galleries across the Bahamas such as the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, Popopstudios and the Grand Gallery, among others. She can be reached at vodorsett@gmail.com
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