Nassau, Bahamas - A couple, who opened some of Abaco’s early hotels and worked to preserve kerosene-fueled lighthouses, has been named winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award for the 15^th Cacique Awards, the awards organizers announced.

David and Phoebe Gale beat out 16 others to win the prestigious Clement Maynard Lifetime Achievement Award. The Abaco couple moved to the Bahamas in 1954 and later became Bahamian citizens. They started out in the tourism industry as hoteliers, but Mr. and Mrs. Gale eventually opened Island Marine, renting small boats and cottages to visitors.

Making the announcement at the press conference was former Cacique winner and Blue Ribbon Panel Chairman, Antonius Roberts.

“They have always been involved in community work,” Mr. Roberts said. “One of them started the Abaco division of Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association [BASRA].”

He went on to say that the couple was also responsible for creating the Bahamas Lighthouse Preservation Society for the purpose of saving the last three hand-wound, kerosene-fueled lighthouses in the world from automation.

David Gale also had several articles published a variety of magazines including Skin Diver, Southern Boating, Sail, Sea History and Abaco Life.

Members of the judging panels are pictured. From left are Stuart Bowe, president of the Bahamas Hotel Association; Netica Symonette, Blue Ribbon Panel member; Janet Johnson, Blue Ribbon Panel member; Dr. Patricia Rodgers, permanent secretary in Ministry of Tourism; Antonius Roberts, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Panel and E. John Deleveaux, Blue Ribbon Panel member.

Cacique finalists revealed

Organizers of the Cacique Awards, the highest honor in the Bahamian tourism industry, revealed the finalists for the 15^th awards ceremony – a group that was described as one of the strongest in recent years.

“There is general agreement that this year provided one of the strongest groups of nominees that we’ve had in recent years,” said Dr. Patricia Rodgers, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism. “In fact, there were a number of nominees whose accomplishments were so varied and equally outstanding that they were considered in more than one category. We thank the general public for their efforts.”

However, Dr. Rodgers said the panel of judges was not able to determine finalists and a winner in the Handicraft category.

“This was not because of any lack of talent on the part of the nominees,” she said. “It was simply that our judges found that either insufficient information was submitted about the nominees or the samples of the specific handicraft provided were not up to par.”

Having regard for the integrity of the awards, she said, the panel deemed it advisable to forego an award in the Handicraft category. She urged those who nominate others in the category to do all they could to provide outstanding examples of the artisan’s work to enable the panel to arrive confidently at a decision.

Stuart Bowe, president of the Bahamas Hotel Association, said the association’s awards program has reached new heights since it was merged with the Ministry of Tourism’s awards in 1995 to form the Cacique Awards. Now, the awards are designed to recognize hotel-specific categories and categories that involve the general public.

“The Association is pleased to recognize individuals in the hotel industry for outstanding contributions to the development of tourism in The Bahamas through exceptional performance in the various member hotels of the association,” Mr. Stuart said.

The finalists for the 15^th Cacique Awards are:

Transportation

Paul Sydney Lavarity Bimini-Flight Service Agent

Capt. Jack Stuart Nassau-Mailboat Capt.

Capt. Eugene Munroe Nassau- Harbour Pilot

Human Resources Development

Candace Key Abaco- Reef Etiquette Brochure

Janelle Cambridge Nassau-Tourism Studies Teacher

Carolyn Major Nassau- Hotelier

Sports, Leisure & Events

Andra Charles Smith Andros-Bonefish Guide

Bonefish “Ebbie David Bimini-Bonefish Guide

Malcolm Spicer Abaco-Event Planner

Creative Arts

Jamaal Rolle Nassau-Artist

Merton Thompson Andros-Fabric Designer

Maria Govan Nassau-Filmmaker

Sustainable Tourism

UNEXSO Grand Bahama-Dive Operator

Candace Key Abaco-Reef Etiquette Brochure

Bimini Biological Field Station Bimini-Shark Lab

Minister’s Award for Hospitality

Arnold Roy Rodgers Nasssau-Hotelier

Elliott Green Andros-Hotelier

Paul Sydney Lavarity Bimini-Flight Services Agent

Employee of the Year

Donna Johnson Housekeeper – British Colonial Hilton

Charlessa Rolle Guest Services Representative –

Wyndham Nassau Resort

Alva Wilbert “Bert” Adderley Water Activities – Cape Santa Maria

Resort

Supervisor of the Year

Sharacha Frazier-McDonald Guest Services Representative Supervisor

British Colonial Hilton

Renardo Sweeting Bell, Luggage & Transportation Asst.

Manager – Grand Lucayan Resort

Tia Duncombe Revenue Manager – Comfort Suites

Manager of the Year

Ricardo Brown Housekeeping & Public Space Director

Atlantis

Lynn O. P. Johnson Catering and Convention Services

Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort

Mark Rolle Property Services Director – British

Colonial Hilton

Sales Supervisor of the Year

Shantillya C. Sands Director of Sales – Comfort Suites

Desiree Moxey Catering & Convention Services Director

Wyndham Nassau Resort

Chef of the Year

Elijah Bowe Chef - Graycliff Restaurant

Devin Johnson Executive Sous Chef – Sheraton Nassau

Resort

Cheryl McKenzie Executive Sous Chef

British Colonial Hilton

People’s Choice Music Awards

Gospel

Terrence Forbes Caribbean Medley

Adrian Edgecombe

& Harvest Generation Overcomer (Israel’s & Song)

Terez Davis Let Us Sing Hallelujah

Secular

Dillion McKenzie Da Gaulin Song

Dillon McKenzie Dog Don’t Bark at Parked Car

Puzzle Jobless