The first graduates of the new USVI Taxi and Tour Guide certification program participate in a ceremony held on St Thomas

To date, the accuracy of the answers and the information provided to the public may vary significantly. A new educational programme has just been launched to change that.

The University of the Virgin Islands, under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and the USVI Hotel and Tourism Association, and the Caribbean Hotel Association is making available a new training and certification programme for qualified taxi and tour guide employees.

On Sunday, seventeen graduates were the first successfully to complete the new certification programme designed specifically for the taxi and tour industry.

"It was an excellent and informative programme,"said graduate Bruce Flamon. "Coming from Chicago I learned a lot of history and was able to get the facts first hand. We're already putting the information we learned in class to work."

Members of the class worked hard to ensure they received certification, and those who saw a need for more uniformity in addressing the needs of tourists were also instrumental in its development. The aim of the programme is to enhance visitors' experiences and to ensure that accurate information about the history and culture of the islands is imparted to visitors.

Graduates attended nightly classes, which instructed them on Customer Service, Virgin Islands History and Culture, Points of Interest, and Presentation Skills. In addition, they were required to pass a 100 question exam and and deliver an in-class oral presentation.

"If you are going to do tours and serve as ambassadors to the Virgin Islands, then this course is a must," said graduate Orlando Donadelle. "Other islands are getting in gear with their plans for tourism. We have to make a conscious effort to improve the taxi and tour industry."

The graduates have already come together to form a Certified Tour Guide Association.