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Shakad Designs takes on a life of its own

As we continue to celebrate women this month, the National Cultural Foundation is highlighting the journey and work of artist and designer Shanika Burnett in the final of this two-part feature. We first featured her mum Ayissa Burnett who is also an artist and designer.

Young Shanika Burnett has always been interested in many areas of the cultural industries and has been active part of it for the past 23 years.

Primarily, she is best known in the fashion industry through her design label, Shakad Designs. Her creations include both formal and ready-to-wear clothing as well as accessories with a creative style which meshes both traditional and contemporary elements.

Initially, she began designing around the time of her secondary school graduation in 2004 while trying to find fabrics for her dress. She had the desire for something unique and African print was not as easily available then as it is in current times. Therefore, she came to the conclusion that she would need to create the fabrics to have the aesthetic she wanted.

The artist got more serious about designing while attending the University of the West Indies in 2008. That year, Burnett had the opportunity to create for Caribbean Fashion Week and this is when everything took off for her. Her brand officially launched just a few weeks earlier at the Barbados Manufacturers’ Exhibition (BMEX).

Her design inspirations have been heavily credited to her everyday surroundings. Typically, the colour schemes used are the direct influences of the colours, nature and vibrancy present in the Caribbean.

“My brand Shakad is mainly built on Caribbean sophistication and trying to illustrate the opulence of the Caribbean through the use of the colours and the handmade textiles which my mother creates,” she said.

Burnett explained the extent to which her environment plays a crucial part by highlighting a collection she created around the time of the ash fall incident in 2021 that would have occurred during the pandemic.

“My palette completely shifted… it was a complete divergence from what I am accustomed doing so I guess that even showed me how influenced I am by my surroundings,” she stated.

Another important source of inspiration is her upbringing. Coming from a supportive family of creatives, she is the daughter of Ayissa Burnett, the textile and fibre artist behind the creations of Ayissa Textile Designs with whom she often collaborates.

Recently, they participated in the NCF’s Wearable Art Exhibition.

“I grew up in a Rastafari family. We would have been very big on ethical practices and being ecofriendly, using natural materials, utilising the things that are around you, so that would have inspired a lot of my work as well. My father is a calabash artist…my mum is a textile artist… I try to utilise elements of their work in my accessories and some of the smaller pieces I do as well,” she explained.

Burnett has done numerous projects through the NCF. These include the Barbados Networking Consultation Conference Creative Industries Showcase, Carifesta XIII, Caribbean Style and Culture and as previously mentioned, the NCF Wearable Art Exhibition. Additionally, she has worked with the NCF during National Independence Festival of Creative Arts andthe Crop Over season.

“Throughout my career, I can say that the NCF has been very supportive,” she stated.

Additionally, the designer was a recipient of the NCF’s COVID Grant. In 2020, she won the Award of Excellence in Fashion Design from Karib Nations’ Caribbean Style and Culture Awards and Fashion Showcase.

Due to the pandemic, the event was held virtually and she was required to produce a video of her collection for the presentation. The funding allowed her to carry out the necessary production. She found it very helpful and motivating during that time as COVID had left a lot feelings of uncertainty especially for creatives.

She expressed her appreciation to the business development officers at NCF who assisted her at the time.

“I was able to put together the team in a relatively short space of time. I must say that Ramona and… Andre…everybody really came through and pushed to make it happen in the time that I needed it because it was kind of a quick turnaround.”

Furthermore, she added that the NCF has been a good place to turn to as a creative as other places had not seen creative work and businesses as viable.

“Definitely, if something is happening, there is someone in the NCF we can reach out to, to at least point us in a direction… I must commend them for the consistency over the years and I can definitely see that as an institution they keep up with the times. I can see the Instagram and the social media so I appreciate that.”

For the future, Burnett hopes that she can produce her products on a larger scale and push Shakad Designs and Ayissa Textiles to a wider platform. Also, she wants to retain the Barbadian culture and keep it alive through her works. You can find Shakad Designs on Instagram at shakadecolifestyle. (PR)

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Centenarian Celebrates Her Dominica-Barbados-UK Connection

Josephine Bailey Celebrated

One of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Josephine Bailey, celebrated her 100th birthday on September 27, 2024, at her home in Dalkeith Village, St. Michael.

In addition to family members and some close friends, one of her specially invited guests was President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.

One of Mrs. Bailey’s daughters, Judith Lockhart, shared that her mother was born in Castle Bruce, a village on the east coast of Dominica, where she also attended school. After school, the centenarian, who worked in agriculture, made an initial visit to Barbados around the age of 18 and decided to stay, working in retail stores in Bridgetown.

Ms. Lockhart also shared that her mother had a stall in town where she would take them as small children, to work with her.

“She had a market stall, fruits and vegetables, and then after that she left…. It was nursing that gave her the opportunity to go to England and train as a nurse,” she said.

When asked by Her Excellency whether the centenarian was a disciplinarian, Ms. Lockhart remarked that as teenagers they were allowed to attend social events with the understanding that they were to return “by a particular time” or face being disciplined.

She said her mother insisted that all four of them attend evening classes, even while at school, to learn additional trades and be better prepared for the future. “Mum was very passionate about us doing something with our lives. Her motto was ‘always be independent …and look out for yourself’,” Ms. Lockhart said.

Always goal oriented, Mrs. Bailey applied to be trained as a nurse in the United Kingdom (UK), and became a member of the Windrush Generation, who emigrated there at the invitation of the British Government to be trained and to help rebuild England after the Second World War.

*Barbados’ newest centenarians, Josephine Bailey poses with President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason and family during her birthday celebrations*.

After four years of training, she worked in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), in hospitals such as St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington and Royal Free Hospital in Camden. While in the UK, Mrs. Bailey (nee Lockhart) married a Barbadian and continued living there.

In the latter part of her career with the NHS, Mrs. Bailey worked at the Community Health Centre, which included family planning and home visits to patients. Earning the respect of her patients, peers, and leadership team, she was selected to meet Queen Elizabeth II, during an official visit to open a section of the Queen’s Park Heath Centre.

Mrs. Bailey retired at age 65, returned to Barbados, and settled down in Dalkeith Village, St. Michael, an area with which she was familiar.

She kept active in her kitchen garden and in church at the St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church. She also taught at the St. Patrick’s Primary School; spent time with family and friends; did some cooking and travelled.

Her Excellency presented Mrs. Bailey with a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and a personalised card, which was followed by a toast to the centenarian.

Mrs. Bailey, a widower, had four children, nine grandchildren (one deceased), and seven great-grandchildren.

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Millie Ifill Fish Market At Weston, St. James Re-Opens

The Millie Ifill Fish Market facility, at Weston, St. James, reopened on Saturday after receiving a BDS $2.7 million upgrade, thanks to the Barbados Port Inc. (BPI).

As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, the BPI began upgrading the facility designed by Architectural Designer & Project Manager, Rianne Greaves, in May 2023. Completion of the state-of-the-art vending and fish processing disabled-friendly building occurred in July 2024.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, under whose portfolio the BPI falls, noted that similar to other large-scale community developmental projects, the Millie Ifill Fish Market project is expected to demonstrate a high level of benefits, including enhanced social experiences for residents and visitors, and improved infrastructural development.

He added that the initiative is part of a wider undertaking of Government to upgrade the island’s fishing facilities.

“We hope that this building will serve as a beacon of inspiration to a new generation of workers in the fishing industry, and a testament to this Government’s commitment to upgrading fishing facilities in line with the requisite standards that support fish handling and the retail of fresh catches to the domestic, hospitality, packaging, and distributing sectors,” Mr. Gooding-Edghill stated.

He also highlighted other initiatives under the BPI’s Social Responsibility Programme, including the renovation of the Speightstown Jetty, the Pile Bay Fishing Facility, the Bridgetown Port Fire Station, and the Shallow Draught Marina.

The Minister encouraged users of the facility to be forerunners in the maintenance of the property and upkeep of equipment.

Minister of the Environment, National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy, Adrian Forde; Member of Parliament for the area, Edmund Hinkson; and Chief Fisheries Officer, Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, agreed with Minister Gooding-Edghill that it was important for those using the facility assist with its maintenance and care the equipment.

Dr. Cox said the upgraded Millie Ifill Fish Market in Weston stands out in the community “as a diamond on the West, not only aesthetically pleasing but fit for purpose”.

She added: “This world-class facility raises the profile and catalyses the sustainable development of the fisheries sector. In our thrust towards aspiring to excellence and promoting seafood quality assurance in the post-harvest sector, this building epitomises the highest standard of excellence. It is outfitted with the amenities and equipment to support the processing and sale of good quality fish and promote the improvement of sanitary measures. The facility also provides a space to encourage social interaction and a hub for fisherfolk and members of the Weston Fisherfolk and Community Organisation.”

The upgraded facility, constructed by Empire Building and Construction, boasts a main office, shutters, an ice machine, a chiller room, a walk-in freezer, a high-tech security system, fish offal storage, a public toilet with disabled provisions, a public shower, separate fish retail and processing areas, vendors bathrooms with showers, a lunchroom, and improved sidewalk with disabled access.

The facility is named after former centenarian and well-known fish vendor Millicent Ifill, who touched many lives in the Weston, St. James community. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Member of Parliament, St. James North, Edmund Hinkson and Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, unveil a plaque to commemorate the reopening of the Millie Ifill Fish market facility on Saturday, while Ministers Chad Blackman and Adrian Forde and government officials look on.

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ETA For Travel To Kenya Required

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade advises that all persons, including infants and children, must complete an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) form in order to travel to the Republic of Kenya.

This new requirement results from policy changes, which took effect this year, whereby holders of Ordinary Barbados Passports have to obtain an ETA at least 72 hours before their intended visit to Kenya. However, it is recommended that applications be submitted at least two weeks prior to travel to ensure adequate time for processing.

The cost for Kenya’s ETA is US $32.50 per traveller, plus banking and processing fees. The ETA is valid only for a single trip, and a new authorisation must be obtained for every subsequent visit to Kenya.

Holders of Diplomatic Barbados Passports must apply for an ETA at least 72 hours before their intended visit to Kenya, but they will be exempted from payment if certified by letter that they are on official duty.

For ETA applications and guidelines, persons should visit the official website https://www.etakenya.go.ke.