The Bahamas has the potential to be the greatest country in the world, claims Obie Wilchcombe, Minister of Tourism.
The Minister gave his remarks at a graduation ceremony held for BahamaHost graduates. The ceremony, which took place at St. John’s Jubilee Cathedral, was themed “Believing in our number one industry.”
The BahamaHost program started in 1979 under the direction of the then Minister of Tourism Sir Clement Maynard with the objective to foster positive attitudes in individuals engaged in the hospitality industry.
It provides participants with accurate information and general knowledge about the country’s history, geography and culture. They are trained and educated about the tourism and service industry to further help the nation in those areas.
This year, a combination of 15 sessions, with some 350 persons, have successfully completed the BahamaHost program.
Ian Ferguson, BahamaHost consultant, says it was “another successful year in providing quality training to hundreds of Bahamians in the tourism and hospitality sectors” but he warned that complacency should be avoided.
He said: “Training of our human capital becomes paramount. We must not rest thinking that our destination is superior to others, just because. Greater emphasis must be placed on our deliberate actions as individuals as organizations, as a ministry and as a nation to improve our culture of service.”
The graduates and all in attendance were then urged on by Minister Wilchcombe: “See how the world marks the manner of our bearing it’s a clarion call to each and every one of us, to stop and consider that we should not live in isolation as a small nation, but as a big nation with big people with big dreams.”
Wilchcombe spoke about all of the problems The Bahamas faces and pointed to the main fault … the people’s lack of self-belief.
The Minister said: “If we wish to believe in tourism, we have to start believing in ourselves.
“We have to adopt what Pindling said in1967 and Barack Obama said in 2008, Yes We Can. We can be the greatest country in the world no matter the size, it depends on whether or not we want to be the best.
“Why is it that we believe that our services ought to be substandard, why do we believe that we should settle for being second as opposed to being first?
“Why should we be sitting back waiting because we are afraid?”
Wilchcombe then gave the public words of encouragement to propel the nation to new heights.
“If we are serious about our nation, we have to embrace a revolution, it begins with us believing in ourselves, it begins with Bahamians saying we are the best, we are number one, we stand out and that no other country can stand with us, it begins with attitude of superiority.
“But first we have to show a little more love and respect for each other.”
He then turned to the graduates and spoke to them in particular about what he expects from them when they are working or come in contact with tourists.
“Graduates, I am asking you to be a part of our team, not to sit back and be idle but be active participants of the team,” he said.
“When you are out there let the people hear your voice, let them hear your culture, let them feel you, let them understand that you are delivering a service for a country you are proud of.”
By Georgio Russell
Source: The Freeport News
