The Bahamas has been elected chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, with the election of minister of tourism Obie Wilchcombe.

Following his election Wilchcombe stated: “I intend to build upon what my predecessor Richard Sealy of Barbados began and I also intend to build on the relationship with the private sector.

“I’ve always thought that Caribbean Tourism Organisation is the body that provides equity and we can; and the way is to speak with the same voice. We also have to deal with the issue of inter-regional travel.”

Minister Wilchcombe succeeds Barbados minister of tourism and international transport Richard Sealy, and will serve a two-year term.

It is his second stint as chairman, having previously been elected to the position in 2002.

The Bahamas minister will shortly name his appointee for the post of chairman of the CTO board of directors, since, according to the CTO Constitution, the board chairman and the chairman of the Council of Ministers & Commissioners of Tourism must come from the same country.

The vote was in keeping with the CTO constitution which mandates that elections must be held every two years.