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27 Graduate Harbour Island 14th Session of Bahamahost - Smiles, Laughs and Good Fun!
There was a grand celebration in Harbour Island on Sunday June 28, 2009 as 27 Eleutherans – mostly from Briland and North Eleuthera, graduated from the Bahamahost Training Course recently completed with the facilitation of the Ministry of Tourism in Eleuthera. The training course is meant to turn the typical citizen into a tourism ambassador for the country.
Ms. Vernice Walkine, Director General, Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, in her keynote address to the graduates, reminded the room of the importance of protecting the “Bahamas” brand as representing a quality product to the international tourism market. She congratulated the group on the significant achievement and highlighted the many benefits of the program for beautiful Harbour Island.
“Standards of services in the Bahamas today are not at the levels that are required for us to be competitive,” she said.
Adding, “There was a time when Harbour Island was best known for it’s beauty and quality service.
“There have been some bumps along the way and those rankings have slipped from time to time, and I will leave it to you to decide how we are going to make sure our island gets back up there and stays there,” a statement received warmly by the room.
Other officials in attendance included Ms. Leslie Norville, General Manager Training and Education Department; Mrs. Brenda Colebrooke, Island Administrator, Harbour Island; Supt. of Police on Eleuthera, T. Cunningham; Ms. Teri Sands, Training & Education Dept., Eleuthera Tourist Office & Facilitator of the Course and Ms. June Cartwright, Manager, Harbour Island Tourist Office.
Following opening formalities and speeches which culminated with the
Keynote address, the room erupted into pride filled celebration. Certificates were presented to graduates who sat with smiles on their faces in their color themed groups – The Sailors, Golden Achievers, Pink Ladies, Blue Marlins and The Lions – the loudest bunch. These graduates were working adults from various sectors directly and indirectly related to the Tourism Industry. RBC, Pink Sands, Royal Bahamas Police Force, Private Taxis, Property Managers, Caterers and others were represented in the room.
The graduates, treated those in attendance to dance, skits, poems, songs and many laughs all in a good afternoon of fun after five weeks of intensive training.
As reminded by Director General Walkine, the graduates emerge just as Harbour Island prepares to host some of the 88 contestants of the Miss Universe pageant during their visit through the Bahamas for the 2009 competition being held in Nassau in August. Harbour Island is one of four “out islands”, including Exuma, Bimini and Abaco, the contestants are expected to tour in what officials hope will be one of the premier marketing opportunities for The Bahamas “brand”. “People expect to find Paradise, in the Bahamas”, and Ms. Walkine emphasized that the Bahamas should deliver on that promise.
The 27 participants, who all graduated were:
The Sailors - Tamica Clarke (Best Overall Grade), Sheta Davis, Sidney Johnson, Minette Johnson-Kelly
Golden Achievers - Lenricka Carey, Roseann Lewis, Kava Mackey, Cardinal Marshall Jr., Thomassa Roberts
Pink Ladies - Lashay J. Bullard, Shammie Grant, Willesy Nixon, Bianca Simms,
Sheniqua Williams,
Blue Marlins - Kervin Bowleg, Lynn Cleare-Adderley, Patrice Davis, Simone Davis, Suzanne Oliver, Henry Rolle,
The Lions - Anishka Higgs, Jack Higgs, Deallo Johnson, Cristal Lewis, Brenda Mackey, Seth Mather, Matthew Pedican.
Ms. Walkine, told the successful candidates that their enrollment and completion of this course demonstrated their commitment to excellence and self improvement.
Classes for the Harbour Island 14th Session of Bahamahost were held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Parish Hall, twice a week – on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 10pm
Lecturers Included: Diana Brooks, Senior Manager Training and Education; Lesley Norville, Manager of Training and Education; Rachel Ricks, Geography Teacher, Spanish Wells; Teri Sands, Training and Education, Eleuthera Tourist Office; Mr. Mather, History Lecturer; Martin Grant, Culture Lecturer; Rosemary Bain, Lectured on HIV/AIDS.
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