Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

The distinguished Professor Rex Nettleford (right) on Monday night added another award to his massive collection - that of the prestigious Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Lifetime Achievement Award. Here he poses with CTO chairman Allen Chastenet (left) and Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, during the first Annual Caribbean Tourism Summit gala and dinner at the Ronald Reagan International Centre in Washington, DC. - Photos by Janet Silvera

WESTERN BUREAU:

The people who left home hungry to receive the 'One Caribbean' promise were musically fed by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires and inspirationally energised by Caribbean Tourism Organisation's Lifetime Achievement Awardee, Professor Rex Nettleford, at the Ronald Reagan International Centre in Washington, DC, on Monday night.

The electricity from the soca giants underscored the words of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation's (CTO) secretary general, Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, who said, "The time for talk is over, it is time for action," a fitting acronym for ACTS - Annual Caribbean Tourism Summit.

ACTS had not only presented its first historic conference in style, but for years to come people would continue to salivate about its US$500 per plate gala awards dinner and ball.

Scintillating show

One Caribbean was exhibited through the soca that Byron Lee and the Dragonaires opened their scintillating show with; the contemporary reggae that it was blended with and the vintage ska that had dancers glued to the floor when they heard Sammy Dead, Sammy Dead Oh.

Providing a historical chronicle of musical heritage from the legacy that spans the region, this magnificent Jamaican band encapsulated the kind of togetherness that transcends boundaries.

The other regional giants sharing the spotlight on Monday night included the unrivalled king of calypso, the Mighty Sparrow who, in his absence, was given a special recognition. Bermuda's Barbara and Curtis Symonds were honoured with the Michael Findlay Sports Award, and Grand Cayman's Ambassador Curtis Ward received the James Manoah Bodden Service Award.

As dapper as ever, Byron Lee (centre) accept the Special Recognition Award on behalf of King of Calypso, Mighty Sparrow, from Caribbean Tourism Organisation's Allen Chastenet (left) and his secretary general, Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace.

Guyana's Ayesha London and Grenadian Ambassador Denis Antoine are the life of the party.

St Kitts' Abdulla Skerritt (left) and Stanley Jacobs sandwich Grand Cayman's Lana Smith as they test their ability to go down low. The three are obeying every command made by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.

Director general of the Caribbean Hotel Association, Alec Sanguinetti, and his wife Flavia get down to the rich and vibrant music of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.