The GGYA special event committee (rear) recently hosted a special gala fundraising dinner with royalty. Pictured in front (l-r) are Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Edward, The Earl and Countess of Wessex and His Excellency the Governor-General Sir Arthur and Lady Foulkes.

Nassau, The Bahamas - The Governor-General’s Youth Award recently hosted a gala fundraising dinner in the presence of His Excellency the Governor-General Sir Arthur and Lady Foulkes, in celebration of the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess Edward, The Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The evening was made possible through generous sponsorship by Bahamas First Insurance Company Limited, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Oakes, and was held at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel. Also in attendance were the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Honourable Charles Maynard, MP and Mrs. Maynard.

The guests were given an evening to remember, starting with a dazzling array of hors d’oeuvres and ice carvings, the work of chef Kabuti Lockhart and his talented team at the Hilton. Background music was provided by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band, as guests mixed and mingled and met with Their Excellencies and Their Royal Highnesses before dinner.

The Bahamas National Youth Choir, under the Directorship of Cleophas Adderley, gave a lively, exciting and interactive performance to the delight of the guests. The dinner service featured four extraordinary courses, showcasing the world class skills of chef Lockhart. The evening closed with speeches by His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes and also His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex, who as an international trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme, of which the GGYA is a member of the National Award Authority, was able to give the guests insight as to the benefits of supporting this valuable youth programme here in The Bahamas.

The funds raised from the dinner will directly benefit the GGYA and will assist with the collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, known as the Gold Initiative, which aims to implement the programme in every school and youth group throughout the Bahamas, raising participation levels to over 2,500.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sir Orville Turnquest, thanked Bahamas First Insurance Company and its CEO Mr. Patrick Ward, for committing to support of the GGYA, and he expressed his hope that this collaboration would continue with other projects that involved the young and upcoming employees of Bahamas First working together with participants of the GGYA to share knowledge, skills and encouragement.