Sept 15th, 2000 / press release

CACIQUE 2001 SALUTES HISTORIC NASSAU The 2001 Cacique Awards slated for Sunday, February 4, 2001 at the Rainforest Theatre, will showcase Historic Nassau capturing the splendor of the unique and preserved structures which are a major component of the Tourism product in The Bahamas.

The Honourable C. A. Smith, Minister of Tourism said that there is a national effort underway to preserve and enhance the nation’s historical architecture and it is most appropriate to use the Cacique stage to promote this cause. The creative team of music composer Denis Donaldson, director Bryan Thompson and choreographer Robert Bain are already busy constructing ways to define this theme and create excitement for the Cacique audience. The Cacique Awards, which started in 1995, is an amalgamation of the National Tourism Achievement and the Bahamas Hotel Association Awards. For the last four years Royal Bank of Canada has been the principal sponsor.

This year, Royal Bank of Canada has expanded its sponsorship of the 2001 Cacique Awards to include providing a ring for the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and making a cash donation to a charity selected by the individual. Over 126, Duhos (the trophy of the Cacique Awards) have been presented to individuals and companies for their outstanding contributions to Tourism in The Islands Of The Bahamas since the awards scheme was implemented. The Cacique Awards organizers are ensuring that the public has more opportunities to nominate persons. Adrian Archer, manager of Public Relations at the Ministry of Tourism announced that www.caciqueawards.com would enable thousands more persons to get involve with the nomination process. The Ministry of Tourism has created another first in The Bahamas by developing a website to increase the participation of the public in this awards scheme.

"From the comfort of their homes or anywhere in the world, persons can go online to nominate a deserving individual or business, look back at the previous winners or learn about the Cacique Awards, " Mr. Archer said. In addition to nominations online, the public can collect applications from any Royal Bank of Canada in Nassau and the Family Islands, all Ministry of Tourism offices and Administrators offices.

Deadline for nominations is December 22, 2000.