The Tribune

DURING their eight-day official tour of Abaco and the Abaco Cays, Sir Arthur and Lady Foulkes enjoyed the hospitality of Abaconians and residents, including that of local and central government officials as well as civic, religious and business leaders. The hospitality included luncheons hosted by various local councils and resorts as well as a joint-luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Abaco and the Abaco Chamber of Commerce held at the Abaco Beach Resort at Marsh Harbour. Sir Arthur noted during his visit: "Today Abaco boasts the second largest international airport in the country in terms of visitor numbers, has a thriving tourism industry and is undergoing impressive development in terms of public infrastructure and private investments." Sir Arthur and Lady Foulkes were able to tour a number of these developments including several clinics and the new Government Administrative Complex. At the BEC Wilson City Power Plant, engineer and Assistant General Manager for Generation Toni Seymour led a tour of the new facility. Ms Seymour, a native of Long Island and graduate of NGM Major High School, studied engineering at Brighton University in the UK. Sir Arthur and Lady Foulkes also toured Schooner Bay, which has been billed as a model of sustainable development, and Baker's Bay Development on Guana Cay, which has removed the invasive casuarinas population from the development replacing them with non-invasive vegetation. The visit also included a tour of a number of settlements and housing developments prior to returning to Nassau on November 15. Three days later, they left for the One Bahamas ceremony in Grand Bahama.