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International Women’s Day: Celebrating, Carla James

International Women’s Day is a day to reflect on progress made, call for change and celebrate acts of empowerment, courage and determination. For 2021, the theme of International Woman’s Day is #ChooseToChallenge and nowhere is this theme more prevalent than in the achievements of Carla James who in 2020 became the first indigenous women to assume the role of Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).

Ms. James, who is a proud Akawaio and native of Kamarang Village in the Upper Mazaruni Region (Region 7), was unanimously identified as the superior and most suitable candidate following a rigorous selection process. The director’s appointment marks a pivotal moment in the near 20-year history of the Guyana Tourism Authority and has been celebrated by indigenous peoples and women of all ethnicities throughout Guyana.

Speaking at her appointment, Donald Sinclair, the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Tourism Authority, stated: “Ms James is uniquely qualified to lead Destination Guyana as our new director of tourism. In her we have found a leader who is not only professionally well-versed in our destination and industry sector, but someone with tremendous national pride and heritage, both of which are essential components for strengthening our tourism strategy going forward. Her ascension to the role of director will also be a tremendous source of inspiration to many young women who now have proof that women of all ethnicities can shatter glass ceilings and go where previously they feared to tread.”

It should also be noted that Ms. James assumed leadership during what is easily the most severe and dynamic time for the global tourism industry – COVID-19 crisis. Thus far, she has led her team through the implementation of an industry recovery strategy and pivoting actions based on the constantly evolving travel climate. This has seen the implementation of the GTA’s ‘Safe for Travel’ scheme which has been designed to allow Guyana to reopen to international tourism while keeping the safety of both the traveller and indigenous communities front of mind. Earlier in the pandemic, the director spearheaded a project that supplied COVID-19 Support Packages that included Ecolab cleaning and sanitation products, infrared thermometers, PPE equipment and more, to indigenous communities.

“Our work plays a significant role in helping to protect our precious natural landscapes and wildlife and it is a responsibility I do not take lightly. During a time when community is needed most, I seek to continue to support my own by continuing to push Destination Guyana forward alongside our valued industry partners,” said James.

Turks and Caicos Islands Announces New Minister of Tourism

GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands (March 1, 2021) – Hon. Josephine Connolly was officially sworn in as Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Gaming and Disaster Management for the Turks and Caicos Islands on Wednesday February 24, 2021. Hon. Connolly’s appointment was made by the newly elected Premier Hon. Charles Washington Misick following the Turks and Caicos Islands general election held on Friday February 19, 2021.

Commenting on her appointment Hon. Connolly stated, “I am honored to serve the Turks and Caicos Islands as the Minister of Tourism at this critical point. I look forward to working with our stakeholders and partners to ensure Turks and Caicos’ success as a tourism destination and to explore all opportunities for growth and development of the tourism sector. Tourism is the main economic driver for the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am committed to working to ensure the industry not only recovers, but also surpasses its current record as one of the leading luxury destinations in the Caribbean.”

Hon. Connolly started business in Providenciales in 1991, Tropical Auto Rentals Ltd (car hire), Connolly Motors Ltd. (retail car parts), 88.1FM (radio station), Connolly Services Ltd (Western Union) and Connolly Kia Ltd (Kia distributer).

Between 2004 and 2010 Hon. Connolly attended the University of Central Lancashire, obtaining a BSc in Management and Politics and MSc in Human Resource Management.

In July 2012 she was elected as one of the five all-island members of the House of Assembly and subsequently was elected as Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. In 2016 she was again elected as an all-island member. In 2021 she was elected for a third term as an all-island member and is now serving as Minister of Tourism.

Hon. Connolly has been active in assisting her community both through her charitable activities as a volunteer with the Cancer Society, an organizer of “In The Pink”.

Hon. Connolly has been married for twenty-eight years and has two adult children. She is President of the Girl Guides Association, patron of the Soroptimists, a member of the Turks & Caicos Real Estate Association (TCREA) and a member of the Certified Institute for Personnel Development (CIPD).

For more information on the Turks and Caicos Islands please visit our official website https://turksandcaicostourism.com/.

Anguilla Tourist Board’s Jameel Rochester Appointed as Destination Experience Manager

The Valley, Anguilla, February 26, 2021:  Mr. Kenroy Herbert, Chairman of the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB), is pleased to announce the promotion of Mr. Jameel Rochester to the position of Destination Experience Manager, effective February 1^st, 2021.  In his new capacity, Mr. Rochester will be responsible for engaging with Tourism stakeholders to develop and manage the on-island visitor experience, including all elements of Anguilla’s Tourism Product – accommodations, activities, services and attractions, entertainment, arts and nature events.

Prior to assuming the Destination Experience Manager position, Mr. Rochester served as the Assistant Manager, Destination Experience for the Anguilla Tourist Board.  He first joined the Board in February 2018, acting in the capacities of Marketing Officer and Manager, Corporate Affairs and charged with the implementation of marketing programs. He assisted with the planning, organizing and execution of familiarization visits for travel writers, travel agents, visitors to the island, and conducted a series of island wide community outreach programs.

“Jameel Rochester has excelled in his previous capacity and demonstrated that he is more than ready to assume the increased responsibility that comes as the head of the division,” stated Mr. Herbert. “He has earned this promotion, and we must acknowledge talent and reward achievement within the organization,” he continued.

Mr. Rochester will be responsible for developing and implementing Anguilla’s destination development strategy, which includes both leisure and business (MICE) sectors. He is also charged with developing strategies to promote specific niche markets, such as Sports Tourism and Cruise Tourism, managing the relationship between the public and private sectors.

Demand for Saint Lucia Grows: AA and JetBlue Announce New Nonstop Flights  

CASTRIES, SAINT LUCIA (February 25, 2021) – Nearly one year after the Covid-19 pandemic began, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) celebrates the announcement of several new American Airlines and JetBlue nonstop flights to Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) from key U.S. travel hubs, starting this summer.

“The summer of 2021 will be an important moment for tourism, as consumers return to safe travel experiences and our island continues to coexist with Covid,” said Tourism Minister, Honorable Dominic Fedee. “The confidence that American Airlines and JetBlue have shown by adding new flights to Saint Lucia from Dallas, New York and New Jersey underscores that demand for travel is growing and we are eager to provide much-needed respite for families, couples and all travelers seeking a vacation break.”

“Visitors to Saint Lucia this summer will experience a warm welcome from our local Saint Lucians who are ready with a refreshed tourism product, Covid-safe stays at our hotels and villas, and the opportunity to immerse themselves in cultural activities and the exploration of our pristine natural environment,” Minister Fedee continued.

American Airlines Announces Inaugural Flight from Dallas to UVF

American Airlines has announced that it will introduce a new weekly non-stop flight from Dallas, Texas, starting June 5, 2021. The inaugural American Airlines A321 service will depart Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) at 8:40 am Central Standard Time (CST), arriving to UVF at 3:40 pm Eastern Caribbean Time (ECT). The return service will depart from UVF on Saturdays at 2:30 pm ECT and arrive at DFW at 7:22 pm CST. The flight will continue through August 14, 2021 and return for the winter 2021/2022 season.

Demand from vacationers in the Texas area has proven to be strong in the past few years, as Saint Lucia has been welcoming visitors from the Dallas market and its feeder cities via connecting flights. The investment American Airlines has made in this new nonstop DFW flight will provide a seamless travel experience for visitors from this region and beyond.

JetBlue and American Launch New Flights from New York / New Jersey Market

The New York tri-state area is a top tourism market for Saint Lucia, with visitors from the northeast ranking as number one for U.S. arrivals. Two airlines have added new flights from this important area:

• American Airlines recently announced the launch of new nonstop service from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. The AA flight will commence on June 5, 2021, departing at 8:05 am Eastern Standard Time (EST) and arriving to UVF at 12:20 pm ECT. The return flight will depart UVF at 1:20 pm ECT and arrive at JFK at 5:43 pm ECT.
• Also in the New York Tri-State area, JetBlue has announced a new flight from Newark, New Jersey (EWR) beginning July 1, 2021, making it convenient for New Jersey residents to fly direct to Saint Lucia. The flight departs three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:40 am EST and arrives to UVF at 1:27 pm ECT. The return flight will depart UVF at 2:55 pm ECT and arrive at EWR at 7:47 pm EST. Mint service offered on select Saturdays. This adds to JetBlue’s existing nonstop from New York JFK airport.

Consumers Enjoy Flights Options from Many U.S. Cities

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is committed to ongoing efforts to provide increased airlift for Americans traveling to Saint Lucia. Presently from the U.S., American Airlines provides a daily nonstop from Miami (MIA), and weekly service from Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD) and Philadelphia (PHL). Delta Airlines operates from Atlanta (ATL) with a daily direct service. JetBlue provides flights three times a week from New York (JFK) and resumes daily flights this April. JetBlue also has weekly flights from Boston (BOS).

Since the first international flights returned to Saint Lucia in July 2020, the country has implemented consistent responsible Covid-19 protocols, providing increased safety for both visitors and local citizens. Detailed information about on-island Covid-19 testing options as well as the latest protocols can be found at www.StLucia.org/covid-19. The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority and Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association, along with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Tourism, continue to work in concert to provide swift responses to global Covid-19 developments.

For more information about the island of Saint Lucia, call 1-800-456-3984, or 1-888-4STLUCIA or visit www.stlucia.org.

St. Eustatius Is The Home Of The Caribbean’s First Planetarium

St. Eustatius, February 23, 2021 – There are just a few of its kind in the world, and according to Jaap Vreling, not more than five, and now St. Eustatius (Statia) is home to the first planetarium in the Caribbean.

This is an educational project spearheaded by Jaap Vreling and Mr. Ishmael Berkel. Jaap teaches at the University of Amsterdam and was part of the Dutch Research Group of Astronomy in 2010, where a dome project was started. With a team of 14 university astronomy students, he travelled with 3 domes to schools throughout the Netherlands, exhibiting, and at times having astronomy being integrated into school programs, as the presence of the planetarium on site served as a key visual aid for the teaching of that subject.

For a number of years, Jaap dreamt of being able to bring a planetarium to Statia. The island’s own Ishmael Berkel, was also harbouring that dream, and many discussions were held between the two to determine how to make it a reality. They both appreciate its educational value, recognizing that when students visit planetariums they leave with a heightened interest in learning.  In many countries of the world, light pollution makes it impossible to enjoy the night sky. Statia suffered no such limitation but before now, there was no easily relatable explanation about what was being observed. The milky way, stars, planets, the moon, how they all relate to each other, how ancestors used it to navigate from place to place and many other practical aspects of the universe can now be taught within the captivating planetarium environment on Statia. Planetarium visits has proven to be beneficial for students of all ages, from as early as Kindergarten. Students, however, are not the only beneficiaries. It is an experience everyone can appreciate.

The planetarium is an additional tourist attraction on the island. Located at the Lynch Plantation, the dome can accommodate 25 people at one time. Equipped with the latest software in this industry, guests will be enveloped by the features of its projection theatre, resulting in realistic experiences as they journey through the universe.

The official opening will take place on February 23, 2021 with a small group of invited guests in attendance.  The public is welcome to visit on February 24, 25, and 26 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Currently, there is no cost for entry as it is still in its pilot stage, however, the developers have indicated that an entry fee may eventually be charged.

“The future is bright,” expressed Mr. Berkel, “and we are here to ensure that all Statians, big and small, have a chance to enjoy it. We also envision that tourists visiting our island will be able to have this attraction added to their vacation experience.”