During the early evening of Saturday, January 10th, 2026, celebrated across the country as Majority Rule Day, a bevy of government officials and dignitaries, including the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, and both Members of Parliament for Eleuthera, were in Governor’s Harbour, Central Eleuthera, for the unveiling of an Eleuthera Icon monument, the 4th sign recently erected as part of a national program by the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) to establish 16 such signs across the Bahamian islands (following Exuma, Cat Island, and Grand Bahama). Each sign was uniquely designed, with Eleuthera’s featuring an iconic pineapple, symbolizing hopitality, talent and local heritage.
The Hon. Clay Sweeting, commenting on the significance of the monument, and the location chosen for it to be placed, highlighted that Cupid’s Cay in Governor’s Harbour was the site of the Bahamas’ first parliament, as well as where the first US Embassy resided. Both a Baptish church, a Methodist church, as well as an Anglican church with centuries old histories in the surrounding area, also spoke to the religious significance as well, he pointed out.
The Icon monument, added Sweeting, brought further value to the island’s orange economy through tourism, adding a site of interest that promised to become the most photographed location in Eleuthera, sought out by visitors coming to the island, and broadcast globally through sharing via social media, and other channels, as ‘the spot’ to be seen and photographed – inspiring conversation, and sparking curiosity.
As the minister responsible for having championed the formalization of sailing as the national sport, Mr. Sweeting, also highlighted the return of the Governor’s Harbour regatta, dubbed ‘Back to Da Cay’ – the first in just over ten years, also being held near the Icon site during the Majority Rule holiday weekend. “Regatta sailing is now a national sport and it ties to our cultural heritage through being boatsmen and seamen and with it being Majority Rule – of self governance and being a part of that development. Over 50 years of self governance and having this icon here on Cupid’s Cay, where our first parliament was and a lot of historical value – I think all of it comes together and really tells a story in so many different ways of who we are in the Bahamas – through sports, through culture, through camaraderie, and being a people that’s unified in many different ways.”
Sweeting congratulated the teams at the Tourism Development Corporation, and the Ministry of Tourism, along with Deputy Prime Minister Cooper, the local contractors who built the site for the Icon monument, as well as Bahamian artist Jamaal Rolle, who brought the pineapple theme to life. “This is something we can build on, you know. This is more than a sign,” said Minister Sweeting. He envisioned it as an area for tourists, food vendors, as well as live entertainment, where both community engagement and economic activity could flourish.
