Same sex marriages could boost wedding tourism in VI- Bridal Association
A new executive has been elected and, according to Niche Marketing Manager Lynette L. Harrigan, she is positive that this time the association is off the ground.
Despite the state of an economy, in recession or not, it is a un-debatable fact that people fall in love and seek to get married and in most cases they chase after the wedding of their dreams. Cognizant of this and many other related factors, the BVI Tourist Board has constantly underscored the importance of having a vibrant Bridal Association.
Ms Harrigan, under whose purview this association falls, said that it is a critical group in the tourism sector and it is necessary that they do as much as possible to get the association active. “When I am in charge of wedding here on the board it is very important that we have this association so that we can be on a level playing field, not only with the other Caribbean islands, but also with the rest of the world,” noted Harrigan.
She said that with the Bridal Association and the BVI Tourist Board banding together, much can be achieved. This has resulted in an election of an executive body, one which Harrigan says she is confident will be “the” one to get things going.
Ms Lucia C. Lettsome was elected Executive Director, Ms Heather J. Roose, Secretary; the Finance/Treasurer is Astrid C. Wenzke who is the owner of Paradise Unlimited and the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany; Head of Membership is Ms Sandra I. Herbert and the Public Relations Officer is Dale A. George of Rosewood Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda.
The election was held at the second sitting of the group and, according to the newly elected Executive Director, she is ready to give it her best shot has she has the time and energy with the support of great team to make it work. The group has the full support of Wedding Guru, Jacqueline Johnson of the USA. Ms Johnson has a wealth of experience in the area and was a guest of honour at yesterday’s elections meeting via skype video.
As the group explored all possible angles of boosting the wedding industry in the Virgin Islands, they examined the benefits of having the association, developing a mission statement, domain name, formal logo, marketing and training for members, association symposiums and electronic newsletters.
Same sex marriages could boost wedding industry in VI
The meeting also saw a healthy discussion on the topic of gay marriages. While there is no such law in the Virgin Islands, members of the association shared the view that if was to be instituted it would be one area that is most likely to fuel an upward spiral in the wedding industry in the Virgin Islands. While Ms Harrigan was keen on noting that was a issue to be dealt with at a level higher than hers, it was noted that gay couples are big spenders and can auger well for the industry.
Several members said that they have had experiences of gays in their various lines of business, be it at restaurants, sailing or parties, and have found them to be among the biggest spenders, most respectable, and mannerly groupings.
Ms Wenzke indicated that she has been contacted by a number of gay couples about the possibility of gay weddings and other activities in the Territory.
Association member Winston Nibbs spoke of his rewarding experiences of dealing with gay couples, “Because at the end of the day it all boils down to business.” Mr Nibbs made it clear, however, that “personally I don’t want to be part of a group that is going to rock the moral fibre of the country I live in. I am not going to be held to that state at all.”
Asked by one of the association’s members for her personal opinion on the topic Registrar General Ms Stephanie P. Benn said, “My personal opinion has nothing to do with it. If it becomes law I have to do it.”
The other point of concern for members, which they said has been having a serious negative effect on the tourism industry, is the “weather man” in the USA. “Sometimes the weather man can really be termed terrorists because sometimes they make people frighten to come this environment because of hurricanes.”
Ms Harrigan explained that there is a mechanism in place at the level of the Tourist Board to assure visitors, tourists and locals alike that their safety is number one.
They had also discussed the topic of legal requirements as it relates to getting married in the Virgin Islands and the importance of being identified as the British Virgin Islands as opposed to Virgin Islands.
The group is set to meet again in the very near future to discuss their participation in the BVI Tourist Board’s planned BVI Market Place set for April 11, 2013 at which they also intend to launch their "stakation package".
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84 Responses to “Same sex marriages could boost wedding tourism in VI- Bridal Association”
People choose the BVI if they can afford it. A very different class of tourist (low-income) goes to Cuba for an all-inclusive in January or February just for the warm weather.
Cuba will not affect the BVI tourist base at all.
As to the effect it would have if Cuba was to fully open its doors to tourism, it will have an effect none of us know the extent but it will.
As to
Among my friends who make the pilgrimage to "the Beevs" at least once a year as a necessity, no one goes to Cuba, at least not after the first visit. Our employees, however, save for Cuba and some are able to go once a year or every few years. These are people who could never afford to go to the BVI, or would never justify the expense, since they are not looking for sailing, adventure or an exotic experience, they just want a beach and some cocktails with umbrellas in them.
Hardly the same tourist base.
So why are we, a so-called "Christian" society allowing these whore houses that disrupt our families, corrupt our youth and victimize vulnerable women? Nevermind dictating the private lives of decent, moral people, let's get rid of the pimping and whoring!
A few gay marriages never hurt anyone.
Hush your g@y r@$$ we know you are bisexul
up my true feelings on the matter and of course what God says about it (1 reference is Romans 2:18-32). I will
love the sinner, but I definitely WILL NOT love the sin. It is dead wrong. We DO NOT want this nastiness here
man, and I cannot believe that it is even being considered. God is calling for us to turn from our wicked ways and people are still doing their own thing, turning further and further away from him. The devil is on the loose; the Holy Bible is being fulfilled and all I can do is cry out and ask, "LORD, ..... have mercy on this land and your
people, for NOW more than ever, WE NEED YOU!!"
Sodom and Gomorrah had nothing on us. Today's society is becoming more nd more disgusting with every tick of the clock. I have no problem with people living their life the way they choose as every man has to answer to God for his sins. What I have a problem with is these gay people flaunting in my face who they want to have sex with. If a man like having sex with another man, do your thing. None of my duggone business, just like who I am having sex with is none of yours. Please go back to the closet. Have some pride. My brain don't need to keep being tapped because of your sexual preferences. Take off your clothes and have sex with who you want. I don't want to know about it. I don't want to judge you. So stop telling me your business. Marriage is between a man and a woman as ordained by God. Give me a duggone break. Give me a break. I am sick of this. Whether they spend big money or not is not my business.
Question...what is your mouth for? Answer.....communicating (talking) and eating. Only humans came up with kissing. So that is not natural. no other animal does that. In nature there are many "gay" animals. The bible says sex is for procreation. So why are people having sex for fun. If you are doing it for fun, you are going against the bible. Stop picking and choosing what you want other people to live by.
Jesus was crucified because they didn't like what he had to say or stand for. You are like Pontius Pilot.
Question....why is when a baby is born the first question is .....Is it a boy or girl? We are trained to ask or distinguish sexuality. You want to know? why? It is none of your business!
Go back in the Closet?? Heck no.
Well my goodness..... you need to stop telling your business. When you wuking up or kissing your spouse in public, we don't complain about you. Or maybe we should
You just got to decide whether or not the British Virgin Islands also wants to cash in on that market or, as has happened so many tines before, get left behind while somewhere else grabs all the profits.
hush your rass wid dat weka @$$ argument demand
UK Student; you mean "fa..ot" NOT "bigot"....Lord i hope you realy in the UK and not in BVI; please stay in the UK them things good for out-there not in little BVI !!!!!! you FA...GO....T ???????
However, it is sad, that for a dollar, we would allow unclean spirits to roam free in our land. Well done, Wedding Planners. Well done.
You so hung up on this and that interpretation of a book you was told was the Truth when you were children, that you don't care about real people and real love.Different people raised with different books but when you get extreme about those teachings, you all the same.
Gay marriage is not religious. It is a civil vow. It does not mean those who want to worship in a church have to watch their church do something they disagree with. It just means two people can be legally recognized as a couple by the state, which means they get the same rights as everyone else - they can pass their worldly goods on to each other when one passes away etc.
I don't see how any moral Christian can argue that people who love each other in this way should not have those rights. If you disagree, fine. But this is not a theocracy. This is not Taliban Afghanistan. This is the free West. That means Church and State stay separate.
Fact is, these people will be living together and loving each other anyway even if they can't get legal recognition. So you won't stop homosexuality by imposing your prejudice. You'll just make decent people's lives harder.
It's a civil rights thing. All black people should know about civil rights issues. Don't get your religious views mixed up with how the state should treat it's free citizens.
Your selective use of this bloodthirsty book undermines all your puffed up righteousness. Or do you think every word should taken literally? In which case you and Osama Bin Laden are on the same disgusting page.
Tell us, righteous Christians and Rastas, why are you so afraid of gay people? They have existed forever. Deal with it -using the love in your heart, not the hate.
That is your BELIEF and you are entitled to believe anything you want. I could choose to believe that some green aliens will come down and turn us all into donkeys if we don't stop doing this or that, but would like me to impose laws on YOU because that is what I happen to believe?
Sure, campaign against it, but don't expect everyone on Earth to do what you people tell us just because you happen to believe THAT book. Plenty other books and beliefs out there, you know. How do you deal with that?
Some of us use empirical evidence mixed with compassion and plenty of tolerance. You and your Bible thumpers got no time for any of them – and that's what starts wars and spreads hatred.
Our morals have gone out the window with the dishwater. We are so quick to judge others when God is busy writing up her transgressions we not seeing just how we need to get our own lives in order.
to us. As people of God, we expect opposition. If Jesus was cursed, spat on, laughed at etc. then who are we
not to receive opposition. In life we have to fight hard for what is right...no matter what!
And being attacked because you are Christian? The fact that Jesus was attacked does not mean therefore all attacks against Christians can be ignored or written off. Either you use common sense, clear ethics and have standards, or you have nothing. You can't just go around saying, "I am a Christian. I think this is right. Therefore it must be law for everyone."
For one thing, you all disagree with each other – so which denomination we supposed to listen to?
For another, what about us who are not Christian but are still guided by a desire for goodness to pervade our world? How dare you cast us as wicked people just because we wasn't raised with the same books and fairy stories you were!
i am totally against gay marriages marriage should be beteewn a man and woman not adam and steve or eve and clevita muahhhhhhhhhhhh the world really coming to and becuase all s#!t are happening i don't want to hear s#!t bout god made that way liesssssssssssssssss you all must read the bible n stop making the bible to suit your actions read the bible and stop adding and subtracting what you want to best suit you gosssssssssssssssssss
When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate.
I do need some advice, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there "degrees" of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God, if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football, if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14).