(Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas) – Ninety (90) men and women from throughout Central and South Eleuthera were proudly gathered at the Fountain of Life Ministries church in Rock Sound, Eleuthera on Sunday, June 26th to celebrate their successful completion of the Ministry of Tourism’s signature training program, Bahama Host. Family and friends were out to support the large group, which represented three different cohorts of students who participated in the program simultaneously during the month of March.
As new “Bahama Host Certified Service Professionals”, the graduates are expected to be leaders in the hospitality industry by being good examples, to practice work habits which promote good will, courtesy and teamwork cooperation, and to provide value for money, to ensure greater customer loyalty and satisfaction. Many of the graduates who participated were part of the One Eleuthera apprenticeship program, and were joined by several of their managers, seeking to lead the way in sharpening their service skills. Managers at the Ministry of Tourism Eleuthera office also took part to refresh and hone their knowledge.
Debbie Young, Senior Executive Officer with the Eleuthera Ministry of Tourism office, responsible for training and education on the island, commented after the large graduation event, “It was quite a job coordinating the classes from Rock Sound and from Governor’s Harbour, but we got them all together for one graduation… It was difficult, but it all came together in the end, and I am so happy that they all graduated… The classes, which happened simultaneously, began in March of this year and continued during the course of several weeks, followed by a final exam. The participants here today, are those who passed the exam.” Trainers for the program in Eleuthera included, Dr. Valerie Carpenter, Ms. LeVaughn Cooper, and Mrs. Keva Adams.
CEO with the One Eleuthera Foundation, Shaun Ingraham, gave brief remarks during the ceremony, with encouraging words for the graduates as they entered their communities as new service professionals. Using his own life example of volunteerism, which allowed him to garner valuable experiences and later led to job opportunities, he illustrated the importance of working together to build Eleuthera’s communities. Ingraham also highlighted the Foundation’s work in developing the growing business model of “Social Enterprise” on the island, and spoke about the new One Eleuthera Cooperative Credit Union – describing it as a bank that would be owned by the community shareholders of the enterprise.
Other special guests included, Deputy Governor General, Honourable Oswald Ingraham; Permanent Secretary with the Ministry of Tourism and guest speaker, Harrison Thompson; Director of Industry Training with the Ministry of Tourism, Ian Ferguson; Local Government Chief Councilor, Ronald Horton; and Sandra Ingraham, CFO with the One Eleuthera Foundation. During the program, a representative of each of the three classes, gave a brief overview of their experience during the Bahama Host program, beginning with Cornell Miller of Class 011, followed by Kenwood Cartwright of Class 012, and Nickel Fernander of Class 010. Isaac Johnson of Class 010 also brought the house down with an ‘old time’ solo – “Whose going to fill those shoes.”
The graduation ceremony wrapped up with a formal presentation of certificates to all of the graduates, and a vote of thanks given by new graduate, as well as new Rotary President, Mr. Colin Moss. Proud graduates included: Class 010 – Lovina Agustin, Spence Bethel, Daphanie Cambridge, Justine Cambridge, Sherrin Cooper, Stanton Cooper, Susan Culmer, Sheryl Fax, Nickel Fernander, Jacqueline Gibson, Dornell Ingraham, Glenda Johnson, Isaac Johnson, Tamara Johnson, Todd Johnson, Carlton Moss, Rodney Pinder, Naaman Rolle, Karen Rolle, Granville Sands, and Vivian Wallace Sands; Class 011 – Christina Brown, Aldaina Brown, Geogianna Brown, Jalencia Brown, Jarad Brown, Jayneka Brown, Appleton Butler, Shenika Campbell, Darvin Carey, Amanda Delancy, Tanya Delancy, Veronica Ferguson, Ariel Forbes, Taneshia Gibson, Natasha Ingraham, Joy johnson, Tillas McArmstrong, Claniel McKenney, Lashawn Mcphee, Cornell Miller, Terika Miller, Shanton Morley, Loren Nixon, Ezra Petty, DeAngelo Pratt, Vincent Robert, Ivan Rolle, Viola Rolle, Latario Sands, Lashanta Stuart, Rudolph Sweeting, Charlisa Taylor, Cercelia Thompson, and Evelyn Thompson; Class 012 – Shannadoah Butler, Ronique Carey, Kenwood Cartwright, Shapreka Clarke, Anastacia Delancy, Clarice Delancy, Gary Delancy, Jermaine Deveaux, Nicolette Duncombe, Nickeva Griffin, Gacintha Gordon, Woodrow Hall, Shaquille Hall, Cynthia Hall, Miranda Horton, Kenneth Jones, Carl Knowles, Lynden Mackey, Jeremy Mackey, Emily Munnings, Colin Dave Moss, Jessica Meadown, Jason Newbold, Nolan Pratt, Lateria Pinder, E’verne Pyfrom, Embri Stuart, Christopher Smith, Marlon Sands, William Styles, Myeasha Pinder, Maisie Thompson, Insworth Wallace, Tisheen Whylly, and Alvin Young.
