The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama’s Gabriele Josephs, the new Caribbean junior minister of tourism and chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Youth Congress, was welcomed home in grand style on his arrival at the airport by tourism officials, his teaching coach, and family and friends.

Gabriele, who won the national title in April in New Providence, is the first Bahamian to go on and win the Caribbean title.

He outperformed 14 other junior ministers from various Caribbean countries at the competition held in Barbados on September 16.

His accomplishment is described as an “historic win” for The Bahamas as it is the first time that a Bahamian has ever won since the competition was first held in 2000.

Gabriele is a student of Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic School. He received a grand send-off and celebration at the school last Monday, four days before leaving to compete in the CTO Youth Congress.

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe and Joy Jibrilu, director general of tourism, and Betty Bethel, director of tourism in Freeport, were also present.

His presentation on the topic, “Flow Experiences” was well presented.

“His ability to articulate his ideas and the values of the Bahamian community could not go unnoticed during his presentation,” a local Ministry of Tourism spokesman said.

Samantha Cartwright, coordinator of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s Junior Minister Programme, Karenda Swain, assistant manager of training, Grand Bahama, assisted Gabriele, and was confident he would win.

Ms Bethel described Gabriele’s win as “great indicator of where Grand Bahama is poised to go.”

“We’re about to take off and having Gabe come back to lead the way. It’s the youth; it’s all about the youth, so it’s amazing,” she said.

Gabriele’s victory came just a day after Mr Wilchcombe was elected chairman and Ms Jibrilu was named chairman of the board of directors for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.

Ms Bethel said that the success in Barbados signified precisely how The Bahamas is still a leader in the Caribbean region in regards to tourism.

Gabriele’s accomplishment not only allows him to shadow Minister Wilchcombe, but also affords him the opportunity to tell the story of The Bahamas and what it means to be an industry leader in the Caribbean.

Mary, Star of the Sea School Principal Joye Ritchie-Greene said she is extremely excited and very proud of Gabriele.

“He has been in our school system since he was four years old, so it is a true testament of the type of students we produce. We have a great team of teachers who would have assisted him, particularly Mrs Evelyn Pinder-Dames, his coach for several speech competitions that he had participated in over the years.”

“It makes us extremely proud that he was representing The Bahamas (winning the national title), and the first male selected for Grand Bahama,” she said. “This is the third time in a row that our school has held the title of Junior Minister for Grand Bahama. We are very proud of about that; we are on a winning streak and we intend for it to continue.”

Gabriele is elated about his success. He said that tourism is the country’s number one industry and that “we need a number one mindset”.