ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

(St. John’s Antigua; February 11, 2016), It was a historic moment 52:9:9 (fifty two days, nine hours and nine minutes), the time when Team Wadadli crossed the finish line at Nelson’s Dockyard culminating their run in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

They came home to a hero’s welcome with the Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams, Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne, Tourism Minister the Hon. Asot A. Michael, and other members of the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda joining family, well-wishers and friends for the patriotic moment.

The four Antiguan heroes broke records in their quest to raise funds for The St. John Hospice; their charity of choice. Funds amounting to approximately 200,000 ECD with the addition of 20,000 ECD on behalf of Mrs. Maria Browne, the wife of Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda the Hon. Gaston Browne.

The feat accomplished will land the quartet of Dr. Nicholas Fuller, Peter Smith, J.D. Hall and Archie Bailey in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest team to row across the Atlantic with Peter Smith, aged 74 being the oldest man to do so.

For Tourism Minister the Hon. Asot A. Michael, the accomplishment marked another milestone in the annals of Antiguan history and an additional feature to the Antiguan Tourism Product offering. “These men put their lives at risk for others and in the process of doing so they brought pride, honor and fame to our country of Antigua and Barbuda, on behalf of Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne, the entire government and people of Antigua and Barbuda we thank them for their courage, endurance and determination,” said Minister Michael. He continued that, “They have championed a cause, they have demonstrated grit and by dint of their skills and perseverance, they’ve ably demonstrated the true spirit of competition.”

In addressing the rowers the Minister stated, “Those winds over the Atlantic brought new opportunities for us as a nation; each endeavouring, all achieving. As the Minister of Tourism, I say: Raise the standard! Raise it boldly! You are true patriots of this twin-isle paradise. Our Nation is rightly proud of you. Team Wadadli, the entire nation salutes you. What you have done is a remarkable feat for Antigua and Barbuda. It demonstrates our collective capacity for overcoming challenge to reap mutual benefits of combining our love for Sports and Tourism!”

Presentations were made to the members of Team Wadadli by the Hon. Tourism Minister and other Tourism officials, His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne as well as other senior members of government.

They were treated to the sounds of sweet steel-pan music by the Halcyon Steel Orchestra and a hearty Antiguan meal!

To read the speech from Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Asot A Michael click here.