Dr. Keva Bethel, Chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Panel of the Cacique Awards announces the nominees on Wednesday, November 12th at the Sir Harry Oakes Room of the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau. Photo courtesy of Ministry of Tourism.
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Each January The Bahamas celebrates "Tourism Week". The highlight of the week-long agenda of activities is the Annual Cacique Awards which honour those individuals who are
exemplary in their field of work as it relates to tourism. Those who
truly represent Hospitality & Excellence in the the fields of Handicrafts, Crafts, Transportation, Human Resources Development, Sustainable Tourism; Sports, and Leisure & Events.
On Wednesday, November 12th the Ministry of Tourism announced this year's final list of nominees and Lifetime Achievement winner. The Awards Ceremony will take place on January 30th, 2009 at the Rainforest Theatre in Nassau.
Family Islands stole the spotlight this year in Cacique Awards judging as the majority of finalists announced for tourism’s highest awards came from islands other than New Providence and Grand Bahama.
Dr. Keva Bethel, who takes over from Dr. Davidson Hepburn as chairperson of the judging Blue Ribbon Panel, announced finalists in eight public categories.
She pointed out that 12 of the finalists came from Family Islands while Grand Bahama and New Providence each had another five.
“I emphasize that excellence in performance was evident throughout the islands,” Dr. Bethel said.
“These awards make it clear that although the messages of the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation constantly remind us of the deficiencies in service and product that should be shored up, the Ministry does not forget the large number of people and organizations that consistently deliver on the promise that it is Better in
The Bahamas.”
Decisions on finalists were so competitive at times that the panel was forced to seek further information and make follow up calls, Dr Bethel said.
The Finalists in the eight public categories are:
Transportation
Reuben Rahming
-
Nassau
Capt. Lewis Key
-
Abaco
Glender Archer-Knowles
-
Abaco
Human Resources Development
Emily Rahming
-
South Andros
Donald Glass
-
Grand Bahama
Carolyn Hanna-Major
-
Nassau
Sports, Leisure & Events
Ambrose Gouthro
-
Grand Bahama
Raphael Cartwright
-
Long Island
Tommy Sewell
-
Bimini
Creative Arts
Clayton Curtis
-
Grand Bahama
Steve Dodge
-
Abaco
Sonovia Pierre
-
Nassau
Handicraft
Elsie Knowles
-
Long Island
Kim Roberts
-
Abaco
Eloise Smith
-
Nassau
Sustainable Tourism
Kingsley Holbert
-
Exuma
Eleanore Munnings
-
Grand Bahama
Bimini Sands
-
Bimini
The Minister’s Award
Quinth Saunders
-
Harbour Island
Peggy Thompson
-
Abaco
Sam Williams
-
Nassau
Lifetime Achievement Award
John “Billy Joe” Gilbert
-
Grand Bahama
Finalists in the Hotel categories are:
Supervisor of the Year
Darren
King
-
Westin Our Lucaya Resort
Kevin McKenzie
-
Atlantis
Sophie Saunders
-
Wyndham Nassau
Sales Executive
Margo Cox
-
Wyndam
Brent Ingraham
-
Old Bahama Bay
Myron Jones
-
Sheraton Nassau Beach
Manager
Raylene Gardiner
-
Old Bahama Bay
Janet Rolle Stubbs
-
Four Seasons Resort
Gina Maria Sweeting-Williams
-
Comfort Suites
Employee
Gerard Johnson
-
Sandals
Shamika Rahming
-
One and Only Ocean Club
Stanley Williams
-
Pelican Bay
Chef of the Year
Carolyn Elaine Bowe
-
Wyndham Nassau Resort
Sonate Brice
-
Sandals Resort
Alvin Humes
-
Atlantis
People’s Choice Music Awards Finalists
Secular Music
Phone Card
by KC
Best of My Love
by the Xtra Band
Boy You Don’t Know Me Eh
by KB and the Sting
Gospel Music
My Soul has Found Rest
by Bishop J Rodney Roberts
Old School Medley
by Minister Charles Drake and CMA Ensemble
Lord I’m Amazed
by Mt Tabor Praise Team
The following are remarks made by Dr. Keva Bethel, Chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Panel for the Cacique Awards.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It has been quite an experience serving for the first time as chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Panel for the prestigious Cacique Awards.
I must say before anything else that it has been entirely my pleasure.
It was truly rewarding to read the inspiring stories of service that were shared about many of the nominees.
My job was made easy by my panel colleagues, who brought so much insight and added so much to the decision-making process due to their expert knowledge and their ability to analyze information.
So I take a moment to publicly thank
Brenda
Sawyer, Antonius Roberts, Andrew Barnett, and Permanent Secretary Hyacinth Pratt for being such unselfish partners.
Of course, we all owe much gratitude to Dr. Davidson Hepburn, who stood at the helm of the Blue Ribbon Panel from 1995 until just this year.
It is due to his dedication and diligence that we have come this far, and hundreds of deserving tourism contributors have been rewarded under his tenure.
Dr. Hepburn, mere words do not seem to be enough, but we say sincerely, ‘Thank You.’
This year, as in previous years, the Blue Ribbon Panel received many nominations for consideration for eight public Cacique Awards categories.
The task of determining a winner for most of the categories proved to be challenging to say the least.
The exercise called for several hours of discussion, deliberate considerations, and then re-considerations.
In some cases, we were compelled to make follow-up telephone calls or make requests for what we considered critical information in order to break ties or very close decisions.
The level of professionalism that has been testified to in nomination forms proves that there are still many shining stars in the Bahamas’ tourism sector.
This includes our Family Islands, from where we received the majority of our nominations.
In fact, the majority of our finalists hail from the Family Islands.
The Blue Ribbon Panel has selected 12 Family Islanders as finalists this year.
Five were selected from Grand Bahama and another five from New Providence.
I emphasize that excellence in performance was evident throughout the islands.
These awards make it clear that although the messages of the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation constantly remind us of the deficiencies in service and product that should be shored up, the Ministry does not forget the large number of people and organizations that consistently deliver on the promise that it is Better in
The Bahamas.
This is what the Cacique Awards is all about – seeking out and openly applauding those who make our islands a better place to live, work, and vacation in.
Keeping this in mind, we certainly have many to thank and to give due honour on 30th January at the Cacique Awards.
