The Bahamas Embassy in Washington, headed by His Excellency C.A. Smith, and the Bahamas Consulate in Atlanta, Ga. head by her Excellency Katherine Smith have established the First International Exchange Programme with Alabama State University. 

Fifteen students from Alabama and four chaperones arrived on Grand Bahama Island Monday, June 14 onboard the Bahamas Celebration and left on Tuesday, June 22.

The group was given a tour of Grand Bahama Island and on Friday, June 18 paid a courtesy call on the Office of the Prime Minister, where they were given a brief history of The Bahamas and the governmental system by Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and Member of Parliament for Pineridge, Mr. Kwasi Thompson; they also heard from Ambassador Smith. 

Heading the group to Freeport was Dr. Le-Quita Booth, Interim Dean, College of Business Administration, Alabama State University.  She said they currently have a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to internationalize their business curriculum and had chosen East Asia.  

She emphasised that because The Bahamas was right in their backyard, it made sense to them as well as to Ambassador Smith to start doing things that would connect them with The Bahamas.

Dr Booth added that the group was pleased with the reception and what they had seen in The Bahamas and the similarity between the two countries. 

She also informed that some 15 students from Eight Mile Rock High, Sir Jack Hayward and St. Georges will leave here and join the group on a similar student exchange program in Alabama for seven days. 

Pictured left to right seated are: Gaylene Pinder, Education Officer at the Ministry of Education; Jalysa Smith, chaperone, Alabama State University; Ambassador Smith; Deputy Speaker Mr. Quasi Thompson; Dr. Booth, and Walter Carter, chaperone