Minister of Tourism, Environment, Development & Commerce Charles Clifford; Permanent Secretary Tim Hubbell, Deputy Permanent Secretary Gloria McField Nixon and Director of Tourism Pilar Bush joined a delegation of cultural ambassadors to New York for the 32nd annual Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s Caribbean Week in New York City this week.
According to a DoT press release, this year the Cayman Islands will focus on Caymanian culture, highlighting the warm hospitality of its people and a culture rich in artistic heritage and maritime tradition.
Popular artists Chris Christian from Cayman Traditional Arts, and Horacio Esteban of Esteban Gallery, will be on-hand during the day-long Caribbean street fair, displaying both fine and traditional arts, and demonstrating the art of making baskets, gigs and kites.
Celebrity Chefs Keith Griffin, Executive Chef from Bacchus Restaurant & Wine Bar, and Vidyadhara Shetty, Executive Sous Chef from the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman, will represent Cayman throughout the week, spicing up activities with a mix of culinary creativity and tropical flavours, according to the release.
Mr.Griffin and Mr. Shetty will create dishes offering a taste of their world-famous Caymanian flair during live in-store demonstrations at Williams Sonoma and Bloomingdale’s, offering clientele the opportunity to sample exotic dishes with a distinctive regional flavour.
‘The Cayman Islands will be well-represented at the annual Caribbean Week in New York that has become a showcase for the best the Caribbean has to offer in terms of food, art, music, culture and fashion,’ said Ms. Bush.
‘In addition to the tourism industry-focused events and official receptions held for government representatives, it will be exciting to see so many New Yorkers taking in Cayman culture while celebrating the spirit of the Caribbean at various events throughout the week.’
The press release says that Trina and Mr. Christian, from Cayman Traditional Arts, are taking part in both the Caribbean Fair and the Media Marketplace, displaying paintings and offering demonstrations of other arts and crafts native to the Cayman Islands. Additionally, Mr. Esteban, a specialist in Caymanite sculpture, and Marlena Rivers-Anglin, whose talent is in the traditional art of thatch work, will participate in the Caribbean Fair, an daylong event at the South Street Seaport with booths staffed by representatives of Caribbean countries and private-sector members for the display of indigenous products and art.
Heat, a favourite local musical act will represent the Cayman Islands on-stage, where musicians, dancers and models perform throughout the day.
The governments of the Caribbean State Ball, themed ‘Gems of the Caribbean’, return once again this year to the Waldorf Astoria for its annual gala to raise funds through which the CTO Foundation provides academic scholarships in tourism-related areas of study.
Party-goers can take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate the Caribbean spirit together at the end of the week-long festivities.
The Caribbean Tourism Organization is the Caribbean’s tourism-development agency and comprises membership of more than 30 governments and a myriad of private-sector companies.
The CTO’s mission is to provide services required for development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of Caribbean peoples.
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