Bermuda is set to welcome hundreds of athletes from 25 Caribbean countries for the Carifta Games next month.

Later in the year we will welcome hundreds more people for the Corporate Games, when companies from across the globe send a team of employees to compete against each other.

It’s a time when the Island will be under an international spotlight and a time when the Island has a chance to shine a time when the Island must shine.

Getting the chance to host both games is something of a coup and something that we must take advantage of.

With tourism in the doldrums we must use every tool and every trick to entice people here and to make them want to come back by looking after them when they are here.

Walton Brown wrote in his column yesterday of a cloud of irrational negativity surrounding the Island.

Certainly, it must be tempting given the current dire economic conditions to err on the side of negativity, to never look on the bright side of life.

That cannot happen when Bermuda plays hosts to two such international events.

Not only will there be hundreds of athletes for the Carifta Games there will be a huge press entourage and what we do and say will form their opinion of the Island and its residents.

The Corporate Games will bring staff and senior representatives of some major companies and again, what we do and say will form their opinion of the Island.

We must welcome them all with open arms, we must remember our old Bermuda manners, we must put a stop to the violence and we must all go that extra yard to ensure their stay is as Bermudaful as possible.

Let’s not make Government’s job of getting visitors here even harder. Let us all play our part.