The Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) has launched its “Hospitality Professional Series,” shining a well-deserved spotlight on local artisans at Nelson’s Dockyard National Park.

The series, which celebrates the core of the country’s tourism industry, began by featuring some of the dockyard’s longstanding vendors who have played a key role in preserving Antigua and Barbuda’s cultural heritage.

One of the artisans highlighted is Esther Louise Edwards, also known as “Sexy Sue.” For over five decades, she has crafted jewelry from wild tamarind seeds, a skill that has earned her both local and international acclaim.

Her work was recently showcased in the UK, where she demonstrated her intricate designs and shared her crafting techniques.

Esther has also passed on her knowledge to other vendors, such as Nellie Howell and Angela Nikki Jackson, helping to ensure that tamarind seed crafting continues to thrive.

Like Esther, Nellie Howell, who has been a vendor for over 50 years, is passionate about teaching future generations of artisans.

The “Hospitality Professional Series” will continue for the next 11 weeks, with new episodes released every Wednesday.