Ministry of Tourism Updates
Bahamas provides backdrop for Perry film premiere
By Clarence Rolle. MOT
Mar 9, 2010 - 12:00:08 PM

Minister of Tourism and Aviation Vincent Vanderpool Wallace and Bahamas Chief Communications Officer Basil Smith greet Tyler Perry on a recent visit to Nassau, Bahamas.

Nassau, Bahamas - Film sensation Tyler Perry will offer a special premiere of his latest movie in The Islands Of The Bahamas, days before the US release on April 2.

Why Did I Get Married Too, which was filmed in part on Eleuthera, will be screened at the Atlantis Theatre on March 29, following a first-class reception that Mr. Perry will attend.  He will be accompanied by three cast members, who will be identified later.

Minister of Tourism & Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace and Mt. Tabor Full Gospel Bishop Neil Ellis jointly made the announcement at a press conference on Sunday.

In the past, advertisers could practically cover the world by placing commercials on network television. Today, however, that method is much less effective, especially since commercials can be edited out with technologies like TIVO, Minister Vanderpool-Wallace said.

“The one thing they can never take out is product placement within the middle of something they want to watch, and there is no better product placement than to show the waters and the beauty of the Commonwealth and the Islands Of The Bahamas,” he said. “Any time that we can show that, we find ourselves in a wonderful position.”

Minister Vanderpool-Walalce said The Bahamas dominates the world perception of beautiful beaches.

“When Mr. Perry was interested in filming the beach and water scene, as far as we were concerned, he had few choices,” he said.

Actor, Tyler Perry

Minister Vanderpool-Wallace pointed out that many movies have chosen the Bahamas as their scenic backdrop due to its unmatched beauty.  The Indian-made movie, Blue, was shot in the Bahamas and released just last year.

“When people from India travel halfway around the world to come and use the waters and beaches of the Bahamas, we think there is no better statement about what God has given us and what we have been blessed with,” he said.

Bishop Neil Ellis described Mr. Perry as a friend of The Bahamas.  He pointed out that Mr. Perry recently purchased property in the country, and the Bahamas has benefited from his devout Christian life and his well-developed social conscience.

“When I approached the Ministry of Tourism early last year and requested the Ministry and other government officials to arrange to have an audience with Tyler Perry because of the work he was already doing in the Bahamas, it was already evident to me that Tyler was already enthralled with the beauty and the people of our country,” said Bishop Ellis, an influential member of the Full Gospel Fellowship.

Mr. Perry’s philanthropy now extends to the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group. Part of the proceeds from the Bahamas premiere will go to the organization, which offers financial and emotional assistance to women with and recovering from breast cancer.

Andrea Sweeting, president of Sister Sister, said the group focuses on helping women start cancer treatment early.  They are especially helpful to women who do not have medical insurance.