HTML Copyright © 2001-2003, awsltd.netABACO TOURIST OFFICE UPDATE
Wynsome Ferguson
Benjamin Pratt of Industry Training, who is the coordinator of the Bonefishing Certification Programme, was on Abaco in late January to discuss the importance of becoming a certified guide. Meetings were held in Marsh Harbour and Sandy Point where a total of 20 guides signed up. The certification programme will be held July 14-18 in Marsh Harbour and July 21-25 in Sandy Point.
Regatta Time in Abaco will be held July 4-11. Ruth Saunders is the coordinator of this year’s event.
Representatives of Full Contact Fishing, a Canadian national sports celebrity show, were on Abaco January 20-23. They came to Abaco to film some episodes of their show, interview sports celebrities in a relaxed atmosphere, and at the same time produce a road trip piece promoting Treasure Cay Resort, which was their host hotel. In addition, they filmed stories on the history of Abaco. The show is slated to be aired nationally in Canada later this spring on Rogers Sportsnet. Wynsome Ferguson of the Abaco Tourist Office met and assisted this group.
A meeting was held on January 26 at the Abaco Tourist Office to discuss the future of the Great Abaco Triathlon. It was decided that this year’s event would be done on a smaller scale. Also, Super Club Breezes and the Conch Man Triathlon would be contacted to investigate the possibility of doing a Bahamas Series. The date the committee is looking at is October 10-13. The event will be called the Abaco Discovery Day Triathlon. In addition to the Triathlon it was suggested having a volleyball tournament, Beach Basket Triathlon and Kids Triathlon.
A graduation ceremony for the 17th, 18th and 19th Abaco Bahamahost sessions took place on January 26 at the Pavilion, Abaco Beach Resort. A total of 79 graduates included people from Hope Town, Central Abaco and Northern Abaco. Agatha Marcelle, parliamentary secretary, Ministry of Tourism, attended and delivered the keynote address. Also in attendance and giving brief remarks were Robert Sweeting, MP for South Abaco, and Michael Albury, president of the Chamber of Commerce. Mitchell Albury of the 17th session achieved a 100% grade, the first time for Abaco and only the second time nationally.
A series of meetings were held on Abaco January 27-31 to discuss the Parrots and People Programme sponsored by the Bahamas National Trust and the University of Florida. The meetings were held with focus groups who are stake holders in Abaco, which included business people, environmental groups, schools, hunters, tourism and the Abaco Chamber of Commerce. Susan Jacobson, professor at the University of Florida, and Lyn Gape, public relations officer of the Bahamas National Trust, coordinate the programme. An assessment of all meetings will be made with a view of compiling a report on ways in which the threat to the parrot habitat can be reduced or eliminated, and economic benefit derived.
The All Abaco Regatta Committee held an appreciation reception and presentation at Mackerel’s restaurant on January 30. This gave the new executive committee an opportunity to say thank you to outgoing chairman Everette Hart and other members such as Lee Wilson, Greta Strachan-Culmer and Hubert Smith. It also afforded the opportunity to say thank you to the many sponsors who over the years have made the All Abaco Regatta a reality. The new executive committee was also presented to the sponsors and those in attendance.
Executives of the New York based Duffy & Falon Worldwide, the new advertising agency for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, visited Abaco February 7-8 on a familiarisation trip. The group arrived at the Treasure Cay International Airport and were met by Don Cornish, Abaco Tourist Office, and Molly McIntosh, manager of Bluff House Resort, Green Turtle Cay. They were hosted to light refreshments by Treasure Cay Resort, followed by a tour of the facilities. John Neophytou, general manager of Abaco Beach Resort, hosted them to dinner that evening. The group was escorted by Barbara Koch, general manager Out Island Promotion Board and assisted by Don Cornish.
Tower productions of Chicago were here February 9-16 to produce a 30 minute documentary for The Weather Channel on the effects of Hurricane Floyd in September 1999. They will be filming interviews with local Abaconians as well as footage of scenery.