Group Photo at Exuma International Airport. Leonard Stuart, Islands of The Bahamas Aviation Dept, far left. Sharmaine Deveaux, Assistant Manager, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation’s Exuma Tourist office, far right.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – April 19, 2010 – A group of some 57 general aviators accompanied by members of the international media, swarmed the streets of George Town, as they arrived in Exuma, Bahamas this past weekend, for the first wing of the Governor General’s International Air Rally, Caribbean Air Challenge, which got underway Saturday April 17th and will continue through Tuesday, April 27th.
General aviation pilots from across the globe including , Australia, Switzerland, France, Canada and the U.S. arrived in The Bahamas to compete in the International Air rally. The award for the winner of the competition, the “Governor General’s Cup”, was established in 1953 by the Right Honorable Charles Vincent Massey, First Canadian appointed Governor. The award has been lauded by Catherine Tobenas, organizer of the event, as “one of the most prestigious aviation trophies.”
The event will challenge the pilots in the areas of general aviation knowledge, flying skills, team work and collaboration, and will, take them throughout spots in the Caribbean including the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The group of small airplanes created a welcome spectacle as they arrived throughout the day on Saturday. The members of the group were met by representatives of The Islands of The Bahamas under the leadership of Sharmaine Deveaux of the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation’s Exuma Tourist Office, and Mr. Leonard Stuart, representing the Bahamas Aviation Market team, based in Florida. The group was also warmly received and assisted by the staff of Odyssey FBO at the Exuma Airport, before being whisked off to their hotel, Peace and Plenty, centrally located in the hub of George Town.
Ms. Tobenas, in brief comments on Saturday, affirmed that one of the main functions of the event, is to expose the pilots to the culture and history of the countries they visit especially through their interactions with locals. To ensure the groups exposure to the Island, they were given a tour of the George Town area including historical churches, government buildings, the straw market, the National Family Island Regatta site, and the Elizabeth Harbor area, as friendly locals looked on, ready to provide information or assistance where necessary.
The group enjoyed a taste of the Islands – delicious conch fritters and Bahamas rum punch, during a reception hosted by Mr. Neville Lee, proprietor of the Peace and Plenty Hotel. During the reception, native Exumian, Kenneth Nixon, shared some history of Exuma with the group, featuring colorful information on the Pirate Captain William Kidd, who is reputed to have frequented The Bahamas and Elizabeth Harbor in the Exumas in particular.
On Sunday, members of the group attended worship services at a local church, before being transported to Lee Stocking Island’s “Chat n Chill ” an Island hideaway that boast miles of beautiful sand beaches for water sports and games. Highlights of Sunday afternoon included the meal of local Island pork roasted on the spot, and the entrance of two amphibian planes that landed on the water and taxied to the Island for the local pilots to join in the fun with their International guests.
Members of the group were anxious to share about the first portion of the trip, emphasizing mostly the warmth of the Bahamian people and “the unique and breathtaking color of the Bahamian waters.”
The group after travelling to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, will return to The Islands of The Bahamas with a short stop in Eleuthera and then the final reception in Abaco, Bahamas.
Life in the 700 Islands Of The Bahamas just keeps getting better. And it’s easy to see why. With world-class diving and fishing, miles of picture perfect beaches, and gorgeous turquoise water, visitors have the opportunity to do everything or nothing at all. From Exuma, Eleuthera and Abaco to exciting Nassau/Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Island, this tropical paradise is as culturally diverse as it is vibrantly beautiful.
copied from: Native Stew