Press Releases

A female student reads a book about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as Ambassador Rood looks on

U.S. Ambassador tours Andros to promote educational and environmental partnerships

May 9, 2006

Ambassador John D. Rood traveled to Fresh Creek and North Blanket Sound, Andros on May 4, 2006 to highlight educational and environmental partnerships as part of his continuing series of visits to the Family Islands.

The Ambassador had breakfast with U.S. college students spending a semester at the Forfar Field Station located in North Blanket Sound.  The Station, owned by International Field Studies and affiliated with Hocking College of Ohio, has been on Andros since the 1970’s.  The Ambassador toured the Maritime and Arts Inspiration Center where U.S. students have the opportunity to learn traditional Bahamian crafts from Androsian master carvers, weavers and boat builders. The U.S. students studying at the Field Station learn a diverse mixture of science, arts and culture in a field setting depending on their chosen interest. While on Andros, students become actively involved in the local community by jointly researching and conducting environmental projects with Central Andros High School students.  Often American students are motivated to add a community service component to their time in Andros, such as last month a school group from Florida repaired a basketball court, and continued a computer-networking project that had been started the previous year at the High School.

The Ambassador’s second stop was the Fresh Creek Primary School, where he read a story about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the students. Ambassador Rood presented Principal Miller and Mr. Harcourt Davis, District Education Officer with a donation of new books for the school's library.  One of the Ambassador’s main objectives in his public outreach to children is to promote a love of reading. 

Ambassador Rood also met with the Island Administrator, Mr. Cephus Cooper, and other local officials to discuss various matters concerning South and Central Andros.