“When we think about Authentically Bahamian we are thinking about what belongs to us, what is our own….what we do have here today is a beginning to great things,” Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe told more than 75 artisans who showcased a broad diversity of locally made Christmas ornaments, gifts and souvenirs in the Ministry Of Tourism’s Authentically Bahamian Christmas Craft show this past weekend.
“You’ve done well and I congratulate you,” Mr. Wilchcombe said. He expressed the hope that Festival Place on the Prince George Dock will become a centre of attraction where thousands of Bahamians will come and see Authentically Bahamian wares. He also said the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Trade & Industry will be working together to strengthen linkages throughout The Bahamas and create opportunities for Bahamians to become owners in the tourism industry.
“What we’re very concerned about is the fact that if you visit some of our craft markets now you’re not always going to receive things that are Bahamian. You’re going to see the imports. You’re going to buy the imports.
Well we have to move away from that. The Bahamas and Bahamians must have more pride in what is ours. We must be challenged to produce. We must not be afraid to take the risk,” he said.
At the same event Leslie Miller, Minister of Trade & Industry, stated that last year The Bahamas imported $150 million dollars worth of souvenir and handicraft items. He also revealed that by March or April next year Bay Street will be redeveloped to provide new housing for straw vendors who were relocated as a result of the September 4, 2001 Bay Street fire. The “Bay Street Project” is spearheaded by the Bay Street Group, a collaboration between the Ministries of Tourism and Trade & Industry, whose goal is the total revitalization of Bay Street.
“Those persons who are here this morning with their beautiful exhibits will certainly be welcome to take part in those two new ventures that we are going into. We’re also going to totally redevelop the waterfront. Woodes Rogers Wharf is going to be turned into a boardwalk where from the Welcome Centre straight down to the British Colonial Hilton Hotel there is going to be a place where Bahamians and tourists alike, with no vehicular traffic, can just walk up and down and ….see the straw work and other products made in our country by Bahamians,” Mr. Miller said.
He also said the government has invited Cuban counterparts to come next year and assist Bahamians in further developing the souvenir industry. “We will be working closely with Ministry of Tourism in this venture. We look forward to a lot of great things in the coming year. The government certainly is fully behind the craft and souvenir manufacturers in this country,” he told the exhibitors.
Both Ministers, along with Barbara Hanna-Cox, outgoing President of the Bahamas Hotel Association congratulated Rowena Rolle, Senior Manager, Business Development Ministry of Tourism and her team for an excellent job in organising the 8th Authentically Bahamian Christmas Craft Show.
According to Mrs. Hanna-Cox the relationship between the Ministry of Tourism’s Christmas Craft expo and the Bahamas Hotel Association’s annual general meeting goes back many years.
“It began out of a need for ideas and examples for of how we could add a Bahamian character to the celebration of Christmas in our hotels and a need on the part of the producers of fine Bahamian craft to find a market,” Mrs. Hanna-Cox explained.
She emphasized the importance of distinguishing The Bahamas products from others that seem similar. “In that regard nothing could be more appropriate than expos like this one …… Each year the show gets better and better and sets an example that we all would do well to follow,” Mrs. Hanna-Cox said.
A major highlight of the Christmas Craft show was the judging of artisans for winner of Best Overall Product, Best Overall Christmas ornaments and Best Overall Booth. 1st prize for Best Overall Product went to Miralee Knowles of Miragee Arts for her intricate shell souvenirs. Cale Oliver’s Coco World Coconut bark souvenirs and Christina Maillis’ miniature Christmas ornaments claimed 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
Cale Oliver’s Coco World Coconut bark souvenirs were also selected as the 1st place winner in the Overall Ornament category, with Miralee Knowles placing second and Claridge Primary placing third. In the Best Overall Booth category Miralee Knowles captured 1st place; Cale Oliver took second and Patricia Pratt’s booth featuring Junkanoo baskets and souvenirs claimed 3rd place.
In the Best Overall Food Category the First Prize was awarded to Julie Hoffer’s Passion Tea Company (Teas). Second place went to Kirk Deleveaux’s GloryBee Apiaries (Honey) and third place was awarded to Greg Douglas and D’Vanya’s Spices Ltd. (Seasonings).
The 8th Annual Authentically Bahamian Christmas Craft Show was sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, the Royal Bank of Canada, Bacardi Company Ltd., Bahamas Development Bank, Purity Bakery Ltd.; Scotiabank Bahamas Ltd. and J.S. Johnson.
