Philipsburg:--- The Tallahassee-St. Maarten Foundation Inc. (TLH-SXMF) Director Arthur Lugisse, which recently facilitated the introduction of Leon Stubbs to the island of St. Eustatius as guest speaker for its Tourism Development Foundation 5th Gala Award Dinner, says the event was a success.
Stubbs has a diverse background in the arts and sciences, having worked in the technology field and in the field of tourism, cultural development and cultural commerce.
Leon Stubbs made a presentation at the Wine and Cheese event at the Mike van Putten Youth Center on Saturday evening, September 24. He spoke about tourism and culture and how the two impact each other and once blended together, how they can be used to benefit each other.
According to Director of the St. Eustatius Tourism Developing Foundation Charles Lindo, the objective of the feature address was to honor persons working in the tourism/hospitality sector who have made a definite contribution in some form or the other to the aforementioned sector.
Also in attendance were the Governor, Commissioners, Island Council Members, and Presidents of different boards and members of the general public.
The presentation was part of the tourism awareness activities of the Statia tourism authorities in connection with and an emphasis on the theme for World Tourism Day (September 27), "Tourism Linking Cultures."
Lindo says that tourism authorities are looking at organizing a yearly event like many other Caribbean island nations which will showcase tourism and culture, namely 'Cul-Tu-Rism.'
"We plan on bringing Leon Stubbs to Sint Maarten to compliment country Sint Maarten's opportunities that exist in positively developing cultural tourism. These difficult economic times calls for thinking outside of the box.
"With respect to Statia's request of continued support in cultural tourism and other related areas that can make a positive difference in not only in the field of tourism, but also the socio-economic development of the island, we will be pursuing further dialogue to take it to the next level.
"Stubbs and I plan to promote the 3C's in Statia and Sint Maarten development by way of community, culture and commerce. It is our intention to bring the President of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Davidson Hepburn to Sint Maarten, so we have a lot of things in the making," Executive Director of the TLH-SXMF Arthur Lugisse said on Sunday.
Leon Stubbs works as a project developer in the field of cultural tourism. He is also president of the Parks and Recreation Commission in the City of Converse, TX.
He served as director of the African American Heritage Society in Pensacola, Florida and worked with the Riley House Museum where he was and still is active in the development of the Black Heritage Trail in the State of Florida. He has conducted socio-economic research projects for CARICOM, and spent has spent over thirty-five years studying and applying personal, organizational and community development in the US.
