Government is continuing efforts to make sure this country is a congenial and safe place for all.

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart underscored this point last evening, while delivering remarks at a dinner for Sandals??? Reunion Week 2016 at its Dover, Christ Church location.

Those in attendance included Chairman of Sandals, Gordon ???Butch??? Stewart, and Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy.

Mr. Stuart pointed out that tourism was the lead sector in the Barbados economy and it paid the bills, therefore it was necessary to make sure that the country was as congenial and comfortable as possible.

???We do not start by trying to make it congenial for the people who visit us. We start by making it congenial for our own people here in Barbados because we are aware that if the people ??? are not happy, if they don???t feel comfortable here, if they are not proud of the country in which they live, they will be hard put to smile when they see you coming and they would find it that more difficult to be warm in their exchanges with you???. So unless you make them comfortable, they might not feel any impulse to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible when you come here,??? he stated.

The Prime Minister said no tourist destination could hope to succeed if visitors did not feel safe. ???Therefore, we make every effort here in Barbados to make sure that in your moving around and in your savouring all of the cultural and other delights we have here in Barbados, that you feel as safe as possible.

That is a continuing commitment of successive Governments of Barbados and certainly a commitment of the present Government of Barbados, over which I have the honour to preside,??? he stressed.

Mr. Stuart told the large gathering that Barbados would celebrate 50 years of Independence later in the year and encouraged them to participate in the activities. In thanking them for their loyalty to Sandals and Barbados, he urged them to spread the word about this ???precious slice of paradise??? when they returned home.

During the night, Sandals officials presented several of the returning guests with gifts to say ???thank you??? for vacationing with that hotel brand, which has several locations across the Caribbean.

This is the second time Sandals Barbados has joined its sister hotels to host Reunion Week, which started on Sunday. The local guests will engage in a number of activities, including beach volleyball, a catamaran cruise and a bus tour.

sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb

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