Bahamas Out Island News, Events and Press

April 29-May 1

This inaugural event is intended to stimulate interest in the "Sister City" revitalization between New Plymouth, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco and Key West, Florida. Another objective is to renew appreciation of our Bahamian heritage and culture. A grand celebration is being planned, that will include performances by the Royal Bahamas Police Force Marching & Pop Bands, colourful Junkanoo parades, Bunce, and an evening concert featuring the Key West Chorale. In addition, there will be a festival site, which will provide food and drinks, kids' games, art & crafts & historic booths and all day fun and native entertainment. As the entire community is considered historic, a map outlining sites of interest, will be available for walking tours.

Scores of Key West natives have booked accommodations in preparation for the celebrations.

Renowned artist Alton Lowe first organized the Island Roots Festival in Green Turtle Cay in 1978. The intent of the event, which was well received, was to establish a "Sister City" concept between historic Green Turtle Cay (New Plymouth) where the Loyalist first settled in 1784 and Key West, Florida, where many Green Turtle Cay residents relocated in the ensuing 150 years. There is presently a rich Bahamian heritage celebrated in Key West, referred to commonly as the "Conch Republic" and a keen interest in forging closer ties with Green Turtle Cay, Abaco and the Bahamas.

In May last, through the efforts of the Abaco Tourist Office, Local Government and Alton Lowe, meetings began to explore the possibilities for redeveloping an annual festival. Tourism then assisted the committee in setting up a committee to plan the event and encouraged them to travel to Key West to meet with relevant interests in order to renew ties. The committee co-chaired by Alton Lowe and Karen McIntosh traveled to Key West accompanied by Administrator Knowles, Stephen Pedican, District Chief Councilor and Kendy Anderson from the Abaco Tourist Office. They were successful in bringing together six groups interested in participating in the event. As a result, their wine and cheese fundraiser on 30th January 2004, was attended by a representative group from Key West and the renowned musician Coffee Butler, a relative of well known Bahamian performer and recent Life Time winner of the Bahamas Cacique Award, Mr. Ronnie Butler.

Coffee is an octogenarian, still respected in the music world and an icon in Key West. In fact, his grandmother was born in Green Turtle Cay and the building still stands. The fundraiser served to build further resources and momentum towards the Island Roots Festival planned for May 7- 9 2004 at Green Turtle Cay.

The Festival will be a celebration of "Things Bahamian" with emphasis on food, fun and cultural activities; taking the community back two hundred years into Bahamian history. Please note that New Plymouth of Green Turtle Cay is the only historic district so designated by the Antiquities and Monuments Corporation of the Bahamas.

Various other traditional activities indigenous to the community will be revived such as: single oar sculling, Bunce, kite making and flying, marbles, top making and spinning etc. Additionally, local entertainment is being organized to compliment the participation of the world famous Royal Bahamas Police Force Band, junkanoo performances and a special visit of the Key West Chorale, 60 strong.

For further information, please contact the Abaco Tourist Office at (242) 367-3067 or Fax: (242) 367-3068 or 367-0129.