NASSAU, Bahamas, November 17, 2005…After weeks of intense deliberations, the Cacique Awards Blue Ribbon Panel has selected the winner of the Cacique Clement T. Maynard Lifetime Achievement Award and released the list of finalists who will vie for this year’s coveted Cacique Awards.

This year, veteran hotelier and businessman extraordinaire, George Myers, has emerged successful as the Clement T. Maynard, Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Announcing the newest recipient of this coveted and prestigious award, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Blue Ribbon panel member, Colin Higgs noted that with this year being the tenth anniversary of Cacique, winning the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award has added significance.

“Tourism industry professionals all over The Bahamas eagerly anticipate being selected for this prestigious award and perhaps this is the case because of what this award signifies,” he said. “Just as the name indicates, it represents a lifetime of achievement, a lifetime of service and lifetime of making national contributions to tourism.”

The 2005 Clement T. Maynard Lifetime Achievement Award winner, George Myers, has played an integral role in building tourism in the Bahamas for the last 40 years. Starting out in the industry at a young age, Mr. Myers began in his family’s hotel, the Miranda Lodge and since then, has gone on to manage major Bahamian resorts like the Nassau Beach Resort on Cable Beach and Resorts International on Paradise Island. Mr. Myers has also branched outside the hotel industry to restaurant ownership. His successes range from fast food establishments to fine upscale dining.

In addition to the lifetime achievement award winner, the Blue Ribbon Panel also released the names of the finalist for the seven (7) other general categories of Cacique. Three finalists were released for each of the categories for a total of twenty one (21). Of this number, 14 are from outside of New Providence.

The finalists and the categories are as follows:

Transportation

1. Alpheus Delton Miller, Nassau
2. Floyd Lowe, Abaco
3. Reggie Major, Harbour Island

Human Resources Development

1. Thomas Sutton, Exuma
2. Dr. Sophia Rolle, Nassau
3. Portia Sweeting, Nassau

Sports, Leisure & Events

1. Patrick Roberts, Abaco
2. Simon Bain, Nassau
3. Yama Bahama, Bimini

Creative Arts

1. Peter Johnston, Abaco
2. Jay Mitchel, Nassau
3. Leanne Russell, Abaco

Handicraft

1. Kim Roberts, Abaco
2. Miralee Rose, Nassau
3. Eldena Miller, Nassau

Sustainable Tourism Award

1. Star Fish, Exuma
2. Brendal Stevens, Abaco
3. Kenneth Delano Bowe (Chat N’ Chill), Exuma

The Minister’s Award

1. Henry Sands, Eleuthera
2. Israel “Bonefish Foley” Rolle, Grand Bahama
3. Lermon “Doctor of Libation” Rolle, Exuma

Also announced today were the finalists for the People’s Choice Song Competition. The selection for this award is not performed by the Blue Ribbon Panel and is totally controlled by the Bahamian public. The public, through mail and online voting, selected three finalists in both the Secular and Gospel categories of the People’s Choice Awards.

The finalists in the People’s Choice competition are:

Secular

1. Brown Girl - Visage
2. Civil Servant - The Sting and KB
3. Confidential Thing - Elon Moxey

Gospel

1. Shout - Kenyatta Taylor
2. I’m a Soldier - Spike
3. Salvation in his precious Love - Demetrius Stubbs

The winners for both the Cacique Awards and the People’s Choice Song Competition will be revealed at the 10th Annual Cacique Awards set for January 13, 2006 at the Wyndham Crystal Palace Resort and Casino.