Caribbean Week Got Started, Ended Without CTO´s Chairwoman

The Caribbean Tourism Organization´s annual Caribbean Week celebrations, meetings, and activities got underway in New York on June 10 without the presence and input of Pamela Richards, the CTO chairwoman as well as commissioner of tourism for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

According to reports published in the St. Croix Avis, the local newspaper on St. Croix, Charles Turnbull, governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, did not approve Richards´ request to travel to New York for Caribbean Week.

The move forced Richards to notify CTO secretary general Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace at the last minute that she could not attend the annual event, one of the CTO´s most important during the year.

No further clarification of the governor´s action was available, although unconfirmed reports regarding a rift between the governor and Richards have made the rounds for some time.

Issues under discussion included the impact of the January 1, 2007 deadline whereby U.S. travelers returning from the Caribbean must possess a valid passport as well the upcoming Caribbean Tourism Conference CTC-29, set for October 22 to 26 in the Bahamas.