Carnival and tourism have an intrinsic bond and the common factor is people.

And there could not be any better manifestation of this than what has been done by the organisers of the opening parade for this year’s festival to a Scottish couple.

When chairperson Dulcie Looby –Greene was thinking about someone to carry the banner under the theme: ‘Carnival uniting people’, a vision struck her.

What about that duo who have been coming to the festival for the past 15 years, dancing all-night long at Lions – the Den for Carnival dances – and making themselves happy.

(St. John’s, Antigua 26th July 2010.) American Actress Vanessa A. Williams who visited Antigua & Barbuda for a one week vacation paid a visit to the sister isle Barbuda compliments The Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority. Ms. Williams took the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on the Honourable Senator McKenzie Frank at the Barbuda Council and undertook a tour of the island. The actress was hosted at the exclusive Lighthouse Bay Resort which is situated on Low Bay; the beach that was recently voted “Number 1 Beach in the Caribbean” by Caribbean World Magazine.

July 22, 2010 ....The Sustainable Island Resource Management Mechanism (sirmm) project has engaged the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, and the Environment as staff within the Environment Division and Forestry unit deliver its outcome in rehabilitating the Body Ponds Watershed.

It is through their tremendous hard work that much publicity has been generated with the assistance of the Ministry of Tourism, to gather much support in tree planting within the demo site.

In the sun-fleckered Caribbbean Sea, positioned some 30 miles north of Antigua is the Caribbean’s best kept secret- Unspoilt Barbuda. This tiny gemlike dot has remained unchanged- an old fashioned lifestyle is noticeable where people care for each other, establishing a community that lives peacefully together. This has earned Barbuda the proverbial description ‘peace and quiet’, no wonder it is the preference for many seeking solitude, peace and rest.

Rex resorts target local groups to boost business

With the economic downturn set to continue for a while longer, Antigua and Barbuda’s vital tourism industry will continue to feel the effect of reduced visitor arrival in the usual slow summer months.

However, at least one resort is seeking to keep staff employed by drumming business among the local clientele.

The Rex resorts have been promoting a Staycation programme which is targeting groups, associations and organisations as well as families.

The Barbudan populace has given the thumbs up to the Lighthouse Bay extension project, one of three discussed at a recent Town Hall meeting. While chairman of the Barbuda Council Kelvin Punter, expressed pleasure at the outcome of the gathering, the Antigua Labour Party representative on the Barbuda Council Senator Arthur Nibbs said he was disappointed that only one project got clearance from the villagers.