For several weeks, hoteliers, business owners, restaurant owners and others scurried to the Ministry of Tourism’s Cacique awards website and flooded their telephone lines to submit the names of people they felt were deserving of the awards.
With three nominees in each of nine categories, the ministry’s permanent secretary Colin Higgs said the blue ribbon panel had a hard task in selecting those people who have made great contributions to the industry.
At a press briefing to announce the nominees, Mr. Higgs thanked all the people whose names were submitted for nomination, saying, “There can only be one winner in each category. We thank all those who took time to nominate such superb persons, and we congratulate all nominees on their accomplishments thus far. Your efforts are not only a credit to your own advancement, but they are strides from which all Bahamian benefit.”
The nine categories are: Transportation, human resource development, nature tourism, sports and leisure, creative arts, handi-craft, special award, hotelier and manager of the year award and the minister’s award.
Last year, entrepreneur Anthony “Zips” Hanna snatched the top award – the Minister of Tourism’s award. The blue ribbon panel and tourism officials were tight-lipped on who was up for the prestigious honour, saying only that the envelopes are sealed and what is inside will only be revealed at the gala.
The gala, which will be aired on ZNS-TV, will feature raw Bahamian humour and performances, star-studded presenters and familiar classy, jazz music.
As of now though, the results are sealed and will remain confidential until the night of the awards.
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
