Resort honoured as a top performing hotel as reviewed by travellers on the world’s largest travel site

MANGROVE CAY, Andros -- Swain’s Cay Lodge announced Tuesday that it has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 per cent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.

To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

“Swain’s Cay Lodge is pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,” said Cheryl Bastian, owner of Swain’s Cay Lodge “We strive to offer our guests a memorable Bahamian experience, outstanding service and a fabulous vacation. This accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on TripAdvisor.”

SEYMOUR’S, Long Island – The Ministry of Tourism and its partners have come together to further heighten the awareness of the invasive venomous Lionfish in Bahamian waters and steps to eliminate its impact on local species.  One such avenue is the Lionfish Hunt II, a competition and cook-off between local fishermen and chefs, held May 17 to 18, 2013 at Seymour’s Dock.

A predominately fishing economy, the island, which is 90 miles long and four miles wide, is split by the Tropic of Cancer. It is noted for the famous Dean’s Blue Hole and steep rocky headlands. A concerted effort has been launched to heightened the presence of the Lionfish which has been sighted following the passage of the devastating Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

The Department of Marine Resources has classified the Lionfish as an invasive alien species outcompeting and preying on commercially and ecologically important marine species. And, the best way to manage the species is to eat it.  Hence the two-day hunt and cook-off explored the hunting, handling, cleaning and eating of the Lionfish, which is proving to be quite the delicacy.

Approximately 270 fishes were caught, the largest up to 16 inches in size. Organiser and fisherman Charles Knowles and Frederick Arnett, Assistant Fisheries Officer at the Department of Marine Resources donned impenetrable gloves and spearheaded the handling and cleaning of the catch which was fillet and shared amongst the restaurants involved in the cook-off.

Chefs from Cape Santa Maria and Stella Maris Resort prepared the fish in a variety of dishes such as fish cakes garnished with locally gown pineapples, and stir-fried Lionfish in a tropical Thai curry sauce also with freshly grown pineapples.

Photo 9806-- Governor's Harbour Primary School student Kamesha Carey recites ‘Whistles’ during the recent E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival Eleuthera Adjudications, at the school in Eleuthera.  (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

Governor's Harbour Primary School student Antwanya Dames talks about tasty ‘Tamarind’ during the recent E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival Eleuthera Adjudications, at the school in Eleuthera.  (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)

ELEUTHERA, The Bahamas -- Attorney General, Senator Allyson Maynard Gibson, recently visited Eleuthera's nation builders while promoting the Registrar General's new E-Government JP services in Eleuthera.

On May 9, Sen. Gibson stopped in at the Tingum Village Hotel in Harbour Island and met with Ma Ruby at her restaurant, which is best known as the home of Jimmy Buffet's song, "Cheeseburger in Paradise," Ma Precentie's home-baked bread, coconut tarts, key lime pie, and pound cake.

The Attorney General also visited with former Cabinet Minister Phillip Bethel, at the People's Restoration Baptist Church, which he pastors.  Mr Bethel graciously invited the Attorney General's Office and Registrar General's representatives to return for a service at the church.

ELEUTHERA, The Bahamas -- Officer-In-Charge Eleuthera District, Superintendent Ismella Davis said Eleuthera has recorded eight fatalities since she took office on that island in August 2012.

During an Eleuthera Road Safety Campaign Stakeholders Meeting on May 10, Supt. Davis said, “These frightening statistics have raised major concerns throughout The Bahamas, resulting in the partners coming together to launch an aggressive road safety campaign under the theme “Saving Lives – If you see something, say something.”

The stakeholders include officials from the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Education, the Police Force, Rotary Club and One Eleuthera Foundation.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation the Hon. Hope Strachan travelled to the island of Eleuthera and attended the meeting, Friday, May 10, to show the Ministry’s support.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Legal Affairs and MP for Central and South Eleuthera the Hon. Damien Gomez also showed his support.

The group visited two schools on the island to spread the message of obeying traffic laws and they also went to two crash sites where traffic fatalities occurred.

ELEUTHERA, Bahamas -- Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation the Hon. Hope Strachan travelled to the island of Eleuthera, Friday, May 10, to show the Ministry’s support to stakeholders who have partnered together to promote a road safety campaign in Eleuthera.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Legal Affairs and MP for Central and South Eleuthera the Hon. Damien Gomez also showed his support, as the group tries to get citizens on the island to obey traffic laws by not drinking and driving and/or speeding.

The stakeholders include officials from the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Education, the Police Force, Rotary Club and One Eleuthera Foundation.

One Eleuthera brings together people, resources, and expertise to develop opportunities for all Eleutherans to prosper.

Minister Strachan said that up to May 10, the statistics she had available showed the number of traffic fatalities stood at 26, with nine of those on New Providence, five in Grand Bahama, one in Andros, two in Abaco, two in Exuma and seven on Eleuthera.

BERRY ISLANDS, Bahamas -- R. N. Gomez All-Age School student and preschooler Emmanuel Saunders recites a poem, during the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival 2013 adjudications, in Bullock's Harbour, The Berry Islands, on May 7, 2013. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)