Tourism Minister Sees Turn-Around for Grand Bahama

via The Bahamas Weekly

Freeport, Bahamas -- Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe marked a new tourism agreement that will result in the reopening of the Reef Village at Lucaya as a “new day” for Grand Bahama, and revealed that visitor arrivals for the island are already significantly improved – up 8 percent this year.

 

Prime Minister Perry Christie on Wednesday revealed that the Bahamas government, Hutchison Port Holdings, the largest resort owner in Grand Bahama, and Sunwing Travel Group, one of Canada’s largest tour operators, have signed letters of intent and memoranda of understanding forging a historic tourism partnership on Grand Bahama. Among other things, the agreements will bring 1,000 permanent jobs and hundreds of construction jobs through the re-opening of the 500-room Reef Village.

Hutchison will renovate and reopen the Reef Village, which will be leased and operated as a five-star, all-inclusive resort by Blue Diamond Hotels and Resorts, an affiliate of Sunwing Travel Group. 

For full story, click here. 

Locally shot film, Beneath the Blue has its Bahamas premiere

 Special guests of the Bahamas premiere of Beneath the Blue, left to right: Betty Bethel, Grand Bahama Ministry of Tourism; Mr and Mrs. Gregory von Hausch of FLIFF (along with their daughter); Leah Eneas, actor and her mother; and Donna Mackey of the Bahamas Film Commission for Grand Bahama Photo: The Bahamas Weekly

TheBahamasWeekly.com
Freeport, Bahamas - Thanks to a collaboration between the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) and the Grand Bahama Ministry of Tourism a Bahamas premiere screening of Beneath the Blue, a family film shot in Grand Bahama Island was held on November 8th at the Regency Theatre.

Beneath the Blue is the sequel to Eye of the Dolphin, and Bahamian Leah Eneas, one of the actors attended the screening, along with one of the film's producer's, Paul Mockler. Mockler is a resident of Grand Bahama and world renown for his underwater camera work. The film is visually stunning with most of the scenes taking place in or off the Smith's Point area, as well as at the UNEXSO dolphin sanctuary.

Bonnie Adams, Senior Program Director,FLIFF and Gregory von Hausch of FLIFF and their daughter arrive at the Regency Theatre on November 8th, 2010 Photo: The Bahamas Weekly 

 A third sequel is expected in the future and there is also talk of a TV series.

President and CEO of FLIFF was also present along with his wife and daughter. Future collaborations between FLIFF and the Film Commission of The Bahamas are expected. ABOUT THE FILM
Alyssa Harker, an 18-year-old dolphin researcher works with her famous scientist father Hawk on Grand Bahama developing a dolphin language. Beneath the Blue picks up where Eye of the Dolphin left off, showing Alyssa's powerful bond with the wild dolphin Rasca. Having assimilated to the island, the research center and the dad she never knew, Alyssa is now tested when she meets a somewhat mysterious tourist named Craig.

Paul Mockler, producer; and Leah Eneas, actor. Photo: The Bahamas Weekly

 BENEATH THE BLUE features Paul Wesley, who stars in the smash CW hit television series “Vampire Diaries." He was recently named one of Cosmopolitan’s “Fun Fearless Males of 2010". Caitlin Wachs (Alysssa) was named one of People Magazine’s “20 Teenagers Who Will Change The World” and received the Young Star Award from The Hollywood Reporter. David Keith (Hawk) is currently starring in the new hit Fox TV Series “Lonestar”, and is best known for his work in “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “Behind Enemy Lines”. The majority of the shoot took place in the quaint, friendly town of Smith’s Point, Grand Bahama, where Director Michael D Sellers worked creatively intertwining the actors and story with the Bahamian community both on land as well as beneath the ocean. Sellers captured researched developments of human-dolphin interaction while bridging fictional elements with actual ongoing supreme court rulings.

Roxy Perry Delivers the Blues to Grand Bahama

 Roxy Perry belts out her own brand of Blues at the Joker's Wild in Grand Bahama on May 29th. Left to right: Bob Fusco, Joe Fox, Roxy Perry and Jim Moran. Photo: Eddy Raphael

By Robbin Whachell, The Bahamas Weekly News Team

Freeport, Bahamas - New York's Queen of Blues, Roxy Perry belted our her own brand of the Blues at the Joker's Wild to an appreciative audience and sold out event on May 29th in Grand Bahama.

Promising to create a party atmosphere, the Blues Hall of Fame inductee did just that, as the audience danced during most of her songs. Her powerful voice and mesmerizing harmonica accompanied classics or originals of her own. There was Blues, R & B, Rock, Swing, and Jazz.

As Roxy Perry plays her harmonica, the dance floor is packed during the sold out event on May 29th at Joker's Wild. Band members left to right are Kevin Fox, Bob Fusco, Kevin Fox, Roxy Perry and Jim Moran Photo: Eddy Raphael

Perry and her band members Bob Fusco (bass guitar) and Jim Moran (lead guitar) were accompanied by local musicians Kevin Fox (keyboards) and his uncle Joe Fox (drums) and together they sounded like they'd played for years.

The audience enjoyed two long sets, and during the lengthy intermission, not even one person left. At the end of the show Perry met and talked with many of the audience on their way out.
Accolades came pouring in after the show, and those that missed it, wished they hadn't. Due to the overwhelming response of the event, a jam session was held at Tony Macaroni's at Taino Beach where local musicians were invited to come and jam with Perry and her band. Larry Lewis, Ralph Munnings, Tyrone Ferguson and others joined Perry and tourists were treated to a culturally diverse musical collaboration.

 Musicians Jam held at Tony Macaroni's on Taino Beach. Left to right: Bob Fusco, Roxy Perry and Ralph Munnings Photo: Robbin Whachell

"We had such a great time and made many new friends. We love The Bahamas and hope we can come back again soon," said Perry on Sunday.

The Bahamas Weekly and Thayers Natural Remedies wish to thank everyone who supported the event in particular their major sponsor Pelican Bay Hotel. They also want to give special mention and thanks to Desi Wallace, Paula Boyd-Farrington, Brice Limousine Service, Shelly Carey, Paul Frances, Antoni's Pizzeria, Island Java, and Seventeen Shop.

Roxy Perry and her band members at the Grand Bahama International Airport on May 25th. Left to right: Robbin Whachell of The Bahamas Weekly, Bobby Fusco, Roxy Perry, Jim Moran, and Karen Clarke of Thayers Natural Remedies. Photo: Marcus Bethel

 Part proceeds of the event will go to the Grand Bahama Home for the Aged, and the Columbus House Big Brother Program.

Roxy hosts a weekly internet radio show 6 times per week on KCOR www.kconlineradio.com

www.RoxyPerry.com

Visiting Freeport, Grand Bahama?? Here's a great video on What To Do

Video- Pelican Bay's New Rebranding Logo & Construction of new building

Remember we blogged about One of our fave hotels on Grand Bahama last week?
Well thanks to The Bahamas Weekly Team, We have excellent footage of the Press day.

Click To Play

Video of Author Marina Gottlieb Sarles

Marina Gottlieb Sarles is a storyteller who grew up in The Bahamas. Her stories draw inspiration from her childhood in the islands, where her immigrant parents were the village doctor and nurse.

Video by The Bahamas Weekly

ESPN produced a special feature segment for their True Outdoor Adventures series based on her short story Peter and The Shark. Her short story, The Circumstantial Dentist, was published by Macmillan Caribbean in the collection, Under the Perfume Tree.

She is a regular contributing writer of feature stories for Grand Bahama ISLAND Magazine, and a regular contributor to the online magazine, Wild River Review, www.wildriverreview.com.

Formally trained in Europe and the United States, Marina studied physical therapy and energy healing. She has conducted personal enrichment seminars in Japan, America and The Bahamas.
Watch an exclusive interview of Marina by The Bahamas Weekly

New GB cruise port may soon become a reality

The Freeport News - ‎Jul 1, 2009‎
By K. NANCOO-RUSSELL

Though talks of a new cruise port for Grand Bahama has been in the works for some time, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced this week that it may become a reality sooner than most thought.

During his address in the House of Assembly on Monday, Ingraham named Williams Town as the designated site for the proposed $100 million port and said the government is looking for a strategic partner to build it.

"My government is also pursuing the strategy of engaging a major strategic cruise line partner, with respect to the development of a new cruise port on Grand Bahama," he said.

Word of the new cruise port was introduced back in February during the Grand Bahama Business Outlook event at the Our Lucaya Resort, when Carnival Cruiseline executive Giora Israel revealed that the government was seeking a possible location.

At that time, Israel said Carnival Cruiseline would be happy to make whatever investment is needed to get the cruise port off the ground.

Israel said he has been in talks with the government since 1997, when he first shared his vision of the development of a new cruise port which would have the potential of establishing the island as a major new cruise destination.

He added that the passing of the late Edward St. George did slow down the progress of that development.


Watch the interview here.

Click to play

Read the rest of the article by clicking this link