Jonquel Jones, the star forward of the New York Liberty and Finals MVP, recently completed a heartfelt homecoming tour that filled the Bahamas with pride and joy. Fresh off her team’s electrifying victory over the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals—a series that went the full five games—Jones was welcomed as a hero. Her pivotal role in the championship, averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 56 percent from the field, made her return home all the more special.

The tour began on November 14th in Freeport, Grand Bahama, where Jones grew up. From the moment she arrived, the energy was palpable. A lively Junkanoo rush-out filled the streets with drumming, colorful costumes, and excitement. It was clear this wasn’t just about celebrating her basketball feats—it was a tribute to a hometown girl who dared to dream big.

One of the most touching moments came when Jones visited local schools. She shared stories of her journey from playing on Freeport courts to competing at the highest level of women’s basketball. Her words were full of encouragement, emphasizing that success is built on perseverance and self-belief. At St. George’s High School gymnasium, she led a basketball clinic, teaching young players drills and techniques while inspiring them to pursue their dreams.

Jones’s tour continued in Nassau, where she was welcomed with the same warmth. The events culminated at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Center with another joyous Junkanoo rush-out and a press conference where Jones spoke about her path and hopes for the future. Her final basketball clinic reinforced her message of resilience and hope.

Jonquel Jones’s homecoming was more than a victory lap—it was a testament to the bond between an athlete and her community, inspiring countless young Bahamians to believe that with dedication, anything is possible.

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Quote of the week

The 10th Annual Widescreen Film & Music Video Festival was a celebration of creativity with film makers from around the globe. It was a 4 day gathering of indie creatives brought together by their love of artistic impression. The man behind the fesitival, Jarrod Knowles also happens to be one of the creative minds of its main sponsor this year being the True Colors dating app. The city of Toronto in the province of Ontario in the country of Canada had many things to offer the guests.

My participation started months before as I reviewed some of the 17,000 submissions as one of the judges for the 2024 festival. As an international traveller I must remind any Bahamians visiting Canada to apply online for your eTA ( electronic Travel Authorization) as it can take anywhere from 5 mins to 2 hrs to be approved and costs $7. Travel went smoothly and I was picked up from the airport and brought to the Chelsea Hotel by Steven Wilbur who has been a long time contributor festival.

Day 1 had a fun kick off party at Lavelle with an after party at Isabelle's. It was the perfect environment to get to know the talented people you would be sharing the experience with for tge next few days.

Day 2 had a cool yacht party which allowed those new to the city to enjoy a different side of it. The meet & greet at Soluna that evening was a fantastic way to enjoy the company of like minded individuals. The after party at Future was exciting venue to learn more about the person in charge of the festival's social media, Karla Campos.

Day 3 was the screening of the many short films and music video entries at the Cineplex Scotiabank Theatre. There were Q & A's with the people behind the films shown, hosted by Mariam Campos. Some of the films screen were nominated for awards later the evening such as Tingum by Bahamian director Lavado Stubbs. The awards ceremony was memorable and as a presenter for Best Documentary I was able to present the award to Jeromy Desjarlais for Purple Crab. The networking after the awards was a good time to find out about works in development as well as the after party at Dprtmnt.

Day 4 was the Niagra Falls tour which was lead by Eloina Correa. That evening was the red carpet gala where Vivica A. Fox was awarded the Champion award and she gave words of encouragement to those who were looking to work in the film & television industry. The closing party at Mister Wolf was a fitting bombastic finale to the festival.

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Alright, wybers, let’s settle this brunch debate once and for all! A while back, I reviewed the much-hyped First Watch (if you missed it, click here to catch up). My socials were absolutely blowing up—half of y’all swearing First Watch is the GOAT, while others were ride-or-die for Another Broken Egg Café. So, I finally made it to Another Broken Egg to crown the ultimate franchise restaurant brunch champ.

First Impressions: Another Broken Egg has similar vibes to First Watch with indoor and outdoor seating, but they scored bonus points for having a massive bar area (which I definitely don’t remember seeing at the First Watch I visited). Wait time? A chill 15 minutes despite the place being packed—so, props for that quick turnover!

Their menu had way more drink options, especially if you’re looking for boozy brunch vibes. Plus, they had seasonal specials for winter. I went all-in ordering: French toast, pancakes, grits with eggs and bacon, and the classic eggs Benedict.

The Tea on the Food: Okay, here’s where it gets real. Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to the hype. The eggs Benedict? Major flop. It looked like it was just thrown together, and the hollandaise sauce was thick and gloopy by the time it hit the table. The French toast? Bland. Like, did cinnamon forget to RSVP to this brunch party?

But hold up—the pancakes were a literal saving grace. Fluffy, flavorful, and just as good without syrup as with it. Absolute chef’s kiss! The grits also came through, perfectly seasoned with no extra tinkering needed (and as a born, bred, ga dead Bahamian, trust me, that’s saying something).

The Verdict: Service? A++. The team was super efficient, and we barely waited for our food. But the actual food? A letdown. If we’re talking taste, First Watch clearly takes the W for brunch supremacy. So, if you’re in the USA and on the hunt for brunch spots, try both and let me know who your winner is.

Meme of the week

Buddy Hield Reaches 10,000 Career Points in NBA

Bahamian basketball star Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield made history on Sunday evening, becoming the third Bahamian player to score 10,000 points in the NBA, following Mychal ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson and Klay Thompson. Hield’s milestone came from a 23-foot three-pointer late in the third quarter, boosting the Golden State Warriors to a 103-75 lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Western Conference showdown at the Paycom Center. Hield’s journey from the basketball courts of The Bahamas to the international spotlight showcases his unwavering dedication and hard work. As he continues to build on this achievement, Hield’s influence extends beyond personal accolades, inspiring future generations of Bahamian players to dream big and aim high in the world of sports.

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Why Bahamian Creators Can’t Get Paid

Bahamian content creators are missing out on major revenue opportunities from platforms like YouTube and TikTok due to challenges in receiving payments from abroad. While creators in other countries are earning significant ad revenue, Bahamian creators face obstacles that keep them from tapping into this income stream.

A major issue is that The Bahamas isn’t included in YouTube’s partnership program. This exclusion is due to the country’s banking system being flagged by platforms like Google, which owns YouTube. Without the proper financial infrastructure in place, content creators in The Bahamas face significant roadblocks in monetizing their channels, even after meeting YouTube’s eligibility requirements. Accounts linked to The Bahamas often find themselves ineligible for the monetization features other countries enjoy.

Many Bahamian creators have had to use workarounds, like registering their accounts under other countries or using U.S.-based bank accounts. However, transferring payments still remains a challenge. Payments may have to go through third-party exchanges or be issued via cheques—complicated by The Bahamas’ dependence on U.S. banking systems.

For real change to happen, government intervention is necessary. Simple steps, such as collaborating with social media giants to meet their payment requirements, could allow Bahamian creators to receive their earnings smoothly. If approached seriously, this solution could be implemented in just a few weeks or months.

Until that happens, Bahamian content creators will continue to face barriers that limit their earning potential and slow the growth of the country’s digital economy.