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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
TAINO BEACH, Grand Bahama – Director General of Tourism Joy Jibrilu officially launched Goombay Summer Festival at Taino beach last Thursday, inviting visitors and residents alike to fully enjoy the vibrant Bahamian cultural experience.
To melodies of the Grand Bahama Youth Choir she described the series of festivals – five weeks of cultural expression featuring Bahamian foods, music, arts and crafts – that will be offered on Grand Bahama as Goombay Summer heats up, and rolls into Junkanoo Festival, showing off what makes the multifaceted island of Grand Bahama so special.
She acknowledged the Ministry of Tourism teams and applauded them for their consistent hard work that made the event possible. “They’ve been working hard for months to pull off tonight and the next series of festivals,” said Mrs. Jibrilu. She further encouraged visitors to plan future trips now, as “it gets better and better every year."
Remarks were also brought by Betty Bethel, director of Tourism GBI, as well as Benjamin Davis, vice-chairman of Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board. During the celebration, a special tribute was made to the late Johnny Kemp, Jr.: the Grand Bahama Police Pop Band performed his most popular song ‘Just Got Paid.’ On hand to join in the dedication were his family members.
Goombay Summer kicked off July 2, and will continue every Thursday for five weeks, with an exception of
Independence Day, Friday, July 10th, when special celebrations will be held that night at Taino Beach. Following Goombay Summer Festival, the Junkanoo Festival will then begin on Friday, July 31, at Sunset Village, Eight Mile Rock for four weeks. As of August 1, for four weeks, festivals will continue in West End.
Top left: BAHAMIAN DELICACY – Family members of the late Johnny Kemp, Jr., staff from the Ministry of Tourism, and visitors from the United States, enjoy Big John’s conch salad.
Top right: CULTURAL SHOW – Following the official opening ceremony of Goombay Summer Festival on Thursday at Taino Beach, The Grand Bahama Youth Choir performed several Bahamian classics.
Bottom left: KEMP FAMILY MEMBERS – The family of the late Johnny Kemp, Jr., was on hand to celebrate and take part in the dedication made to him by the Ministry of Tourism during the official launch of Goombay Summer Festival on Thursday at Taino Beach. Shown from left are: Janice Pinder, relative; Yvonne Ward, relative; Joy Jibrilu, Director General of Tourism; Betty Bethel, Director of Tourism for Grand Bahama; Minerva McIntosh and Eugenie Kemp, relatives.
Bottom right: OPENING - Director General of Tourism, Joy Jibrilu, on Thursday, July 2, officially opened the Goombay Summer Festival 2015 at Taino Beach. (BIS Photos/Andrew Miller)
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Official speakers posed for a photo. From left are: Second Vice-President of The Grand Bahama Christian Council Apostle Anthony Grant; Director of Tourism for Grand Bahama Betty Bethel; Ministry of Tourism Director General Joy Jibrilu; and Tourism Board Vice- Chairman of the Grand Bahama Tourism Board Benjamin Davis.
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