 Cyndi Lewis on the runway in Sim Sui |  Tomacina Culmer on the runway |
Hundreds of people turned out to ‘Chak Deh Phuteh’ or literally translated, ‘To Raise the Floorboards’ at the Passage to India event this weekend. Many came to see the exclusive fashions and dance all night to three DJ’s in support of the Cancer Association of Grand Bahama this Saturday night at the Grand Bahama Sailing Club.
Passage to India Fashion Show and Party was organised by a group of Grand Bahama women who wanted something different to wear, to do something exotic and fun for the community and to bring a new flavour to the island.
The fashion show, created by Jennifer Wiegand and Glenn Charles of Face International Modelling School, was fast and colourful and many enjoyed the diverse range of models from teenagers, professional models and ladies who represented the Cancer Association. A special guest for the evening was Nikie Severe, Miss Grand Bahama, who showed off the collection designed by Surinder Panesar of Sim Sui. People crowded to buy the clothes later in the night.
 L-R, DJ Maceo J.J. Jones, DJ JetC and MC Rico Thompson all representing the ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ campaign as they kept the energy high and the love flowing all night long |  Music bridging all gaps in diversity as the crowd literally Chak deh phuteh or ‘raised the floorboards’ |
One of the hottest successes of the evening were the three DJs who jammed together and kept the energy high until the early hours. The crowd loved DJ JetC Patel, from the UK, who had volunteered to come to Grand Bahama to play for the event as well as DJ SayMyName and DJ Maceo J.J. Jones. The trio worked really well together along with the MC, Rico Thompson. JetC also represented the Love Music Hate Racism Campaign which he helped begin in the UK in 2002. The T-shirts became converted items as people related heavily to the concept of uniting all people together on the dance floor.
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 Miss Grand Bahama, Nikie Severe, surrounded by tourists and locals before her turn on the runway | |
 Norma Headley, president of the Cancer Association of Grand Bahama and Alison Anglade, one of the organisers of the Passage to India event | |
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The proceeds from the event will allow the organisers to buy hospital beds for the Cancer Association to help them extend the hospice which serves Grand Bahamians in need of help. Additionally, the organisers donated $10,000 worth of graphic T-shirts to the Cancer Association of Grand Bahama for them to sell at future fundraising events.
Maninder Versolatto, event director said “We are overwhelmed with how well the night turned out and amazed by how well supported it was. We have had a tremendous amount of positive comments and it is clear that people appreciated the DJs, the food, the clothes and the fun atmosphere. People were able to experience ‘New India’ and I am proud of how we bridged the gap between generations and cultural backgrounds. We want to thank everyone who attended and also thank everyone who put so much energy into making the evening a success. We are being asked by many to do other events like this and we are happy to look into the possibilities of bringing new and diverse ideas to Freeport.”
PHOTOS: Courtesy of Adrianna Joskowiak
Contacts and more information:
The Cancer Association of Grand Bahama – 352-2873 (N.B. The telephone directory has the wrong number listed)
Event Producer – Alison Anglade – 727-0085
Email: passagetoindia2009@hotmail.com
www.lovemusichateracism.com
