The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

CAT Island is one step closer to a “mutually beneficial” Sister Cities relationship with Richton Park, Illinois, after a recent four-day visit to the United States.

Ginger Moxey, President and CEO of Immerse Bahamas who led the delegation, said that the trip developed a “synergistic relationship”.

“The move was also to discover mutually beneficial opportunities between the two countries, meet potential investors, promote Cat Island and The Bahamas as a vacation destination and develop educational exchange programmes.”

Mayor of Richton Park, Rick Reinbold, led the Bahamian delegation on a tour that included the public library, Southland College Prep Charter High School, the Governors’ State University and the St James Hospital. “This is really an opportunity for collaborative efforts between both communities,” he said. “We all get along very well and I think there is a lot of common ground in the interest of education and also in tourism. We’re very fortunate. What I think we can help bring to the table is a regional approach.”

The Village of Richton Park hosted a welcome reception at the Community Centre, where they learned more of The Bahamas’ culture and history, which included the promotion of next year’s inaugural Junkanoo Carnival.

The Cat Island group also became the first visitors to the office of recently-appointed Bahamas Consul for Mid-Western United States to Chicago, Michael Fountain. “You are very precious to me. Your being here is very important,” he said. “Obviously, I don’t have to tell you that. I’m honoured that you guys get to step foot in the Consulate; the first Bahamians to do that, that’s a very important thing.”

Cat Island Administrator Jackson McIntosh called the trip intriguing and promising. “It offered a real glimpse into the future of what could be a very fruitful opportunity for the people of Cat Island, especially in the field of education and the advancement of more domestic ownership in the Bahamian economy,” he said. Mr McIntosh added that he hopes Cat Island embraces “this game-changing initiative”.

Immerse Bahamas, a destination and project management company that aims to promote culturally-immersive programmes, partnered with Sister Cities International to develop sister city relationships intended to build cultural, educational, tourism and business exchanges for the islands of The Bahamas.