The Tribune

The Ministry of Tourism has honoured 17 of its "timeless treasures" with numerous accolades for longevity and serving the country's major industry with distinction.

"Over the years you've put your shoulder to the collective wheel and, with excellence, you have assisted our team to grow our nation's number one business," Dionisio D'Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, told the long-standing employees.

"Team tourism has become stronger and more effective because of the individual and collective contribution of each of you. Your priceless contribution to this ongoing success story represents a hallmark of best practices in the tourism and hospitality industry."

Other senior Ministry of Tourism executives, including Charles Albury, the permanent secretary; Joy Jibrilu, its director-general; and Ellison 'Tommy' Thompson, deputy director-general, also thanked the 17 for their service during a ceremony held on Friday, February 7, at the British Colonial Hilton.

Those honoured have worked in areas ranging from expanding sports tourism; driving sales, marketing and promotions in source markets through the Bahamas Tourism offices overseas; and elevating the tourism product in Nassau, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.

Ending their Ministry of Tourism careers were Edward Archer (42 years of service); Geneva Cooper (41 years of service); Antoinette Davis (40 years of service); Virginia Kelly (40 years of service); Angela Archer (39 years of service); Earl Miller (33 years of service); Cecile Torrence (29 years of service); Jean Simmons-Cleare (28 years of service); Rosemary Coakley (23 years of service); Leonard Stuart (17 years of service); Valerie Carpenter (43 years of service); Roslyn Pinder (42 years of service); Donna Mackey (42 years of service); Earlston McPhee (34 years of service); Cynthia Colebrooke (39 years of service); Jacqueline Ramsey (36 years of service); and Nalini Bethel (25 years of service).

A tribute was also given in honour of Ministry of Tourism staff who passed away in recent years. They, too, were recognised for their service and dedication.