South Eleuthera Mission, Eleutherans, Visitors, Winter Residents and Ministry of Tourism convene at Reception in Rock Sound.

Scene at the South Eleuthera Reception - All photos by Theresa Burrows.

A couple hundred persons, consisting of South Eleuthera Residents, a South Carolina Clemson University group hosted by Island Journeys, Ministry of Tourism officials and other dignitaries, gathered for a festive Winter Residents Reception, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, at the refurbished South Eleuthera Mission house on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.

The lovely ceremony was moderated by Jacqueline Gibson, Eleuthera, Tourism Manager with the Keynote address given by Dr. Keith Tinker, Director of Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation of The Bahamas. Dr. Tinker highlighted the tremendous achievement of the South Eleuthera Mission (SEM) in their restoration of the ~140-year old Mission House, the evening event's venue, saying that he held the project as a model for others in the country. A reading room in the Mission House is dedicated to the late Mr. George Mackey – former Chairman of the Antiquities, Monuments & Museums Corporation). The just completed project, estimated to have cost $365,000, also houses a museum, adult and children's library, computer room and resource center for use by Eleutherans and visitors alike.

Chandra Sands, Chairperson of SEM spoke eloquently about the mission following an opening prayer by Pastor Leviticus Anderson of Mount Zion Native Baptist Church of Deep Creek and a Welcome message by Glenda Johnson of the Eleuthera Tourism Office.

Other remarks were presented by Mr. Sean Ingraham Founder - Island Journeys; Hon. Johnley Ferguson, Vice President of The Senate; Hon. Oswald Ingraham, Member of Parliament for South Eleuthera; Ms. Charity Armbrister, Tourism Director for the Central and Southern Bahamas and a Vote of Thanks by Mrs. Donnalee Miller, MOTA, Chaplain of SEM.  All speakers on the evening expressed their hearty welcome, thanks and appreciation to the Winter Resident guests, and encouraged them to feel fully at home in Eleuthera and to continue coming to the island.

Others present included Mrs. Ruth Forbes, Administrative Assistant AMMC, Mrs. Gina Rodgers Sealy and Mr. Kevin Taylor of the Tourism Today Programme, Mrs. Deanne Gibson of the People to People programme, other Governmental Heads of Department and Staff, Local Government Practitioners, Members of the Clergy and Pastor Lane Glaze who heads the group from Clemson University.

Musical Entertainment for the evening was provided by David and the Day Lighters out of Waterford.  In addition to door prizes which were given away to persons in attendance, a Grand Prize Continental Airlines ticket was presented to an overjoyed South Carolina Visitor, Emily Forney, the lucky holder of the drawn door ticket.

 (L-R) Visitor Emily Forney, the lucky winner approaches Ms. Charity Armbrister, Tourism Director for the Central and Southern Bahamas and  Ms. Jacqueline Gibson, Tourism Manager in Eleuthera.

The event was catered in fabulous buffet style by Four Points Restaurant, of Rock Sound. The new restaurant, which sits on a gorgeous beachfront in Rock Sound, overlooks four points from which its’ name is derived – Power Point, Poison Point, Pigeon Point and Sound Point. For more information, contact Tel: 334-2778.