Repeat visitors recognized

Seven repeat visitors to Barbados who have visited Barbados over a time span of nearly  40 years were recognized for their loyalty Friday night at the Gun Hill Signal Station.

Robert and Bonnie Fraser (43 visits), Ken and Adrienne Layton (42 visits), Shirley Eyre (42 visits) and Robert and Shelagh Ffoul-kes-Jones (35 visits), received awards of recognition from Minister of Tourism and International Transport Kerrie Symmonds.

Canadian couple Robert and Bonnie Fraser described Barbados as their “second home”. After first visiting in 1976, they were elated to have been recognized on a national level.

“I should almost be giving one of these [awards] back to Barbados for saying thank you for being such a fantastic place,” Robert Fraser said. He told the media that he was captivated by the warmth of the island and its people.

“When we got here the warmth of the people, the warmth of the security blanket that you feel around you when you come here. You don’t feel any kind of alienation

We have travelled all around the world and we call this our home away from home,” he said.

Minister Symmonds applauded the repeat visitors for embracing the island and its inhabitants. He said that the repeat visitors were Barbadians by choice who have supported and rallied for the island through its ups and downs.

“We believe that this country has benefited richly from the loyalty of all you who have been here in some instances 25, 30 and as often as 50 times and that is a phenomenal testimony about how you feel about us and we owe you an undying debt of gratitude for that commitment . . . We are building a partnership because in good times and bad you all have been here for us.” (KK)