About the co-authors

ABOUT THE

Co-Authors of Crisis in Paradise

Anya Robinson

Anya Robinson was born on the alluring Island of Grand Bahama in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the proud parents, Carolyn & Cleaver Robinson.  She is the second of three (3) children.  After graduating High School in 1999 she attended college in Cuba to major in Medicine. Her first two (2) years in Cuba was an experience of a lifetime! She was able to learn the native Spanish language which also allowed her to experience residing with the natives. As a result, she gained lifetime family and friends.

Unfortunately, due to the deaths of a few close family members she was unable to continue her education abroad and had to relocate back to Grand Bahama.  She began working in the Maritime Industry where she gained knowledge and experience for approximately ten (10) years.  On May 20th, 2011 Anya gave birth to a baby boy and named him Jaevier Sutherland.  Although she had life threatening complications during her pregnancy and delivering her baby, she never lost focus; she knew and believed that the Lord always protects her and her loved ones.

In the thirty-eight (38) years of Anya’s life, she overcame countless obstacles and bounce-back like none other.  She learned that no matter the situation or circumstance, there’s always positivity tucked away inside.

Anya aspires to be an entrepreneur.  She loves the idea of all-natural products that nourishes your skin and hair.  Currently living in Grand Bahama, Anya is focused on starting and maintaining her brand.  

Cheran Robinson

Cheran Robinson was born on a beautiful island Caribbean Island named Freeport, Grand Bahama, to Cleaver and Carolyn Robinson. She is the mother of a 13-year-old son. She received her early education at Walter Parker Primary and Pioneer’s Loop Secondary Schools (now renamed Jack Hayward High). She furthered her studies in 2002 at Success Training College (now renamed Bahamas Institute of Business Technology) in their Computer Science Degree program in Computer Information Systems earning college credits.

In 2005, she later attended the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institution where she earned a Certificate in Office Systems Administration as well as a Diploma in Office Systems Administration II in 2006 at the same institution. Cheran began her career in the Department of Education from 1996 to 2019 as a Chief Clerk.

In early 2019 she decided to step out on faith and pursue a career in the medical field. She enrolled at Central Georgia Technical College and God’s willing, she will receive her Associate Degree in Applied Health Science as a Radiologist 2021.

She has conquered every obstacle that came her way. In late 2019 her faith was tested by the passing of Hurricane Dorian in late 2019, which left her hometown devastated, and many lives lost. Still, Cheran continues to push through and persevere. Her favorite scripture from the bible, “Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) is a constant reminder that all will be well!  
 

Crystal Tinker

Crystal Tinker, a wife and a mother, was born in Nassau, Bahamas. At the age of three she was adopted and relocated to the beautiful island of Abaco, Bahamas that she still calls home.

Crystal is a Certified Life & Business Coach and a Certified Women’s Empowerment Coach who has a passion for helping women find their true worth in business and in life. She is a business extraordinaire who is constantly pursuing new adventures that add value to her resume. Her passions include traveling, reading, networking, and motivating the masses.

As a result of her experience during one of the most horrifying hurricanes ever to hit The Bahamas on her island of Abaco, she found out that with sheer will and determination, she can achieve anything she puts her mind too. This experience made her more aware of her inner strength and capabilities to survive life. Out of the ashes arose a Phoenix named Crystal Tinker!

 

d'Shan Maycock

d’Shan was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas to the late Doswell C. Coakley and Justina Winder. She and her husband moved to Abaco in 2000 — just a few months after Abaco was hit by the category four hurricane, Floyd. She and her husband Pedro, chose to settle in Abaco to raise their three sons Pedro, Jonathan, and Ethan.  They initially settled in the beautiful community of Man-O-War Cay, Abaco and moved to the mainland of Abaco in 2003 where they later built their family home.

With a Master of Arts in Communications & Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science d’Shan has held several professional roles. She first served as a Life Insurance Advisor and then transitioned into the role of Education Officer where she promoted environmental conservation and awareness through a local non-profit organization. While in this role, she worked with school-aged children and adults. In 2007, she was elected to the local government board in Dundas Town unopposed.

An avid educator, d’Shan has also had the opportunity to teach part-time as an instructor of Business and Marketing at the Bahamas Institute of Business & Technology, formerly Success Training College.
An entrepreneur by heart, she has held various independent consultancy positions as a Communication Specialist, Environmental Monitor and as a Social & Economic Impact Specialist. Her passion and skillset gave her fulfilling opportunities to work with local groups as well as served as an in-country consultant for international organizations.
d’Shan and her husband were additionally blessed with two beautiful daughters, Zaniah and Leah.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, d’Shan and her family have been residing in Florida and hope to return home someday where they plan to rebuild their home.

Jonquil St. Louis

Jonquil Smith St. Louis was born and raised in Freeport, Grand Bahama. She is the third of 5 siblings. She carries on the legacy of her deceased parents, Isabelle “Belle” Higgs Smith, and her father James “Jamesy” Smith. She has celebrated sixteen years of marriage with her wonderful husband Lionel and together they have three kids, Jervaino, Laquel and Ta-Leah.

Despite becoming a mother as a teenager, she was determined to reach for her dreams. She returned to school and continued her education in the hospitality industry where she has worked for the past twenty-four years.

Jonquil has soared in the hospitality industry while working on exclusive islands and serving guests from all over the world. She continues to blaze her own trail by using these skills to build her own successful business.

Her resilience is displayed in the way she keeps moving in spite of obstacles and her refusal to allow anyone to ‘put her in a box’. She is known as a ‘no-nonsense’, straight-talk woman, but with a heart of gold. If she believes in you, she pushes you to reach for your dreams!

Kizzie Mitchell

Kizzie Whyley-Mitchell, a certified Preschool teacher, experienced network marketer and a recently Certified Life and Business Coach, hails from the beautiful Bahamas archipelago. Born and raised in Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Kizzie relocated to Abaco eighteen years ago and started her family and pursuit of passion.

Kizzie has endured much crisis and uses her story to build and inspire teen girls and to motivate women. Her ‘soul purpose’ is to build the broken girl before she becomes a broken woman. She is a wife of seventeen years and a mother to four beautiful children. She enjoys teaching, traveling, networking and reading.

Leshan A. Ferguson

Leshan A. Ferguson, a native of the Bahamas who resides in the United States, is a dynamic educator with more than seventeen years of teaching experience. Her passion for working with the youth led her on the path to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Med Biology, a Masters in Middle Grades Education, and an Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum, Instruction, Management & Administration.  

She easily connects with young, eager learners and she  aims to grow the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and creative thinkers. Her goal is to make STEM learning and experiences accessible to all learners; especially minority and underrepresented students. Leshan is enthusiastic about mentoring young at-risk girls and encouraging all children to tap into their creativity and imagination, rise above challenges, set attainable goals, and explore all the STEM opportunities available to them.

A natural at helping others, she never shies away from sharing her own mistakes as a teaching moment if it helps someone to discover and develop their own God-given talents. She is motivated by others who may not at first instance  be as confident in their own natural abilities. As the saying goes, “She has never met a stranger” whom she cannot converse with and in turn learn something about herself; she capitalizes on every opportunity to positively impact each person she encounters.

Leshan is married to an amazing husband of twenty years. They are blessed with four wonderful and active children; so, she stays pretty busy! In her free time, she loves watching law and crime TV shows, traveling, meeting new friends, and especially enjoy time well spent with family.

Terry Jeune

Terry Jeune is an entrepreneur, a true servant of God, and the wife of Yonel and mother of two beautiful girls — Tianna and Tierra.   She is a former housekeeper born and raised in Abaco, Bahamas.

After surviving such the devastating Hurricane Dorian, she had to rethink life. God placed a yearning in her spirit for more. She felt very deeply that there had to be more to life than just cleaning rooms. She felt that instead of cleaning rooms, God wanted to use her to help clean up the lives of God's people and to help someone overcome trauma along the way. She is a very good communicator and finds it easy to relate to other women. Her goal is to empower and encourage women to press through whatever circumstances they are going through so that they may step into their divine purpose and destiny.

She enjoys learning new things and has a passion for sharing what God has taught her. Terry says, "Life may deal you many Hurricanes, but if you learn how to ride the tides, you will eventually get to your Promise Land. She also believes that no matter what you go through always remember that everything, all things, work together for good to those who love God.

Velma Robinson

Velma Robinson is an Ordained Pastor and has dedicated her second act in being parishioner. Prior to Dorian and the Pandemic, she would spend her Saturday mornings evangelizing door to door sharing the good news of Christ. After retirement Velma spends most of her leisure time helping in the church. She mentored the youth ministers, organized fundraisers and developed faith ministers geared towards believers of the gospel.
 
Prior to retirement, Velma worked at the Princess Towers Resort and Casino for thirty years. Her family often jokes that if it weren’t for damages caused by Hurricane Frances in 2004 Velma would still be strutting those high heels across the lobby floor. She had a fulfilling career at the Resort. She started as a Front Desk Clerk, and after her second child, moved on to the Reservations Department.  Before retirement, she was promoted to Duty manager.
 
Velma has four children and two grandchildren. Her favorite time of year are holidays and birthdays, mainly because that is when her family gathers at her home to laugh, dance, and enjoy each other’s company. She started this tradition with her husband who died in 2001.
 
Velma was born in Matthew Town, Inagua Bahamas; the fifth of twelve children. At the age of eleven, her family relocated from Inagua and moved to Grand Bahama. She continued her education at Mary Star of The Sea and Sylvia Gills College.

She is a mother, a grandmother, a widow, a parishioner for Christ and now an author.

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