From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Ministry of Tourism Updates
The 13th Annual Cacique Award Nominees
By Clarence Rolle, MOT
Jan 29, 2009 - 10:00:33 PM

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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.

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.   

 



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