Harmony from the Heavens

If you're not ready to have all of your senses tantilised, tingled and ingnited, then Gospel Soundz is not the group for you.

Feeling a bit low on Thursday morning, my spirit immediately jumped to life, during a melodious serenade by the newest musical group in The Bahamas.

Yes, I can show off, because they did serenade me; and for their final song, I couldn't help myself. The music was so sweet, that I joined them. There wasn't a piano, guitar, synthesizer, microphone, or percussion in sight. It was just raw, unadulterated harmony seemingly from the heavens. Having interviewed Johnny Cochran, Blair Underwood and other celebrities, my time with these five young men was probably one of the best interviews I have ever done in my seven years as a journalist.

It is unbelieveable that this group was only formed in April of this year, but I guess it's their natural abilities that make them seem like seasoned professionals.

The young men stopped by The Guardian for this interview, just before going to the studio at Trinity Full Gospel, where they were scheduled to begin the ground work for their new original song: Gospel Soundz, which they all wrote. Manassaeh Simms, 20 (whom I dubbed the grand-daddy of the group), Michael Turner II, 16, Antwan Forbes, 18, Michael Johnson, 16, and Daron Rolle, 17, were a joy to be around. It was not only their charming personalities that drew me in, but the sincerity of their testimonies. As soon as people began to hear their melodious voices, the floodgates began to open in the secular world, and they were offered a plethora of opportunities to perform.

Yet, the maturity of these young men was evident in their decision to stick to their Christian roots, and use their gifts for God's glory alone. The young men's first performance was at Bahamas Academy Of Seventh Day Adventists, where they all attended school. (Antwan recently graduated and Manasseh is attending college.)

Although they are not of the same denomination, music unites them in such a beautiful way.

"Daron had prior singing experience and so did I," says Michael Turner, a baritone, who hails from a musical family.

"Most of us grew up in the church and most of us sang in the church and this is what we know best, so we are going to stick with that," said Daron Rolle, who was humbled by the support of Trinity Full Gospel, in the process of releasing their music.

"You know, we don't even go to their church and they are helping us. We just got a sponsor from Bahamas Harvest Church to help with our recording. We appreciate them so much." He said the offers from the secular world tested their faith and religion. "It was a hard decision but at the end of the day, what we do for God will last. It was a big sacrifice, because, I am telling you, it was not an open door in the secular world. It was more like an opened pearly gate with diamonds and all the trimmings, and the church opens a wooden door," he said. They all agreed that the church, in general, needs to give more support than they are doing to their musical artists.

The group is not confined to just singing accapella music, Johnson explained. " You know when we go in the studio and they drop a beat on us, we'll be ready. You know I am hoping that I can make a career out of this, but if not, I want to be a real estate agent or a graphic designer."

As for Turner, he said, "I like to see people happy and everyday I walk around I see people frowning. I want to be an orthodontist and help give them pretty smiles."

Wherever life's road carries them, it is my belief that the glorious music produced by these youngsters will always bring them back together. It is something that they cannot run or hide from if they tried. They will remember these days when they brought joy to the hearts of many because of several divinely orchestrated musical chords........coming directly from the heavens to their lips.

For other young men who are in the same age group Daron advises, " Get an education. But keep your eye on the ultimate prize, because worldly things will come to an end. Stay focused because distractions will come. Whatever

you do for God will last."

UK firm Belair logs out of Bangalore

Bangalore, July 8: UK-based telecom company Belair Communications has drawn shutters on its call centre located here, prompting the workers' union to move the Labour Commissioner.

All 93 employees of Belair Communications India Pvt ltd, a BPO provider (Captive Call Centre) and subsidiary of Belair Communications UK ltd, were told last month, without prior notice, to stop coming to office.

The company has also been accused of not paying salaries and incentives to its employees from May.

The union for ITES professionals (Unites) has lodged a complaint with the Labour Commissioner here, seeking its intervention in conducting an enquiry and initiating appropriate action against the firm under the Industrial Dispute Act 1947.

"We are waiting for the proceedings (by Labour Commissioner) to start," Unites India General Secretary R Karthik Shekhar told a news agency today.

Belair Communications India website says, "We offer offshore transaction processing and contact centre services. Our offshore business model enables us to offer clients enhanced quality and cost reduction".

It describes Belair Communications UK ltd as one of the fastest growing companies amongst UK's telecom companies.

British Call Centre exits leaves staffs in lurch