The Heart of Harbour Island

In the turquoise embrace of the Bahamas, just off the pink sand shores of Harbour Island, there’s a small hotel where legacy runs as deep as the ocean. 

Meet Juanita Percentie — though you might know her better by her affectionate nicknames “Baby Ruby” or “Flying Saucer.” She’s part of the heartbeat behind Tingum Village Hotel, a family-owned Bahamian treasure that’s been welcoming guests since 1973.

A Family Story Rooted in Resilience

In the golden era of Harbour Island tourism, many of the iconic resorts were owned by Bahamian families — the Malcolms at Pink Sands, the Kings at Coral Sands, and the Schmitz family at Romora Bay. 

But as the decades unfolded, global shifts, natural disasters, and economic pressures caused many of these properties to change hands. Hurricanes battered the coasts, COVID reshaped travel, and little by little, some family-run operations disappeared.

But not Tingum Village.

Juanita’s parents, Mar Ruby and Humphrey Percentie, and her brother, Humphrey, were all determined to stay the course. “Thank goodness we stuck it out,” she says with pride. “Our family’s still here. We own and operate it.”

As the Bahamas recently celebrated 50 years of independence, the Percentie family marked their own milestone: five decades of hospitality.

Global Traveler, Bahamian Heart

Though Juanita has traveled the world — from Sweden to Australia to Fiji — her heart always returns to the islands. 

“I was seeking for the best beach,” she recalls. “When I got to Fiji, I looked around, but I realized — they got it all wrong.”

Her love for Bahamian beaches is not just sentiment — it’s built on experience. 

“What you expect from a beach is so limitless. For me, it’s clarity of water, soft sands, coral, fish swimming between my legs. And when you have 2,000 beaches to choose from in the Bahamas, it’s hard to beat.”

Juanita explains with a smile that while God may have gifted Exuma with the clearest waters, Harbour Island was blessed with the finest beaches.

A Legacy of Music, Education, and Cheeseburgers

The Percentie family story is as rich as the island’s sands. 

Juanita’s father, Humphrey, was not only an educator — serving as principal of Harbour Island’s all-age school — but also a talented musician. 

In the 1950s, he and his brothers formed The Percentie Brothers, whose lively island rhythms still echo today on YouTube and other streaming platforms.

Her mother brought her own flavor to the family legacy — quite literally. 

In the late 1970s, a young American songwriter named Jimmy Buffett visited the island and tasted her now-famous cheeseburgers. The encounter would later inspire Buffett’s hit song “Cheeseburger in Paradise” — a nod to the culinary joy served at Tingum Village.

“My parents loved to cook,” Juanita says. “That’s something I got a little bit of, too.”

More Than a Hotel — A Home

At Tingum Village, the goal isn’t just to fill rooms — it’s to create memories. 

“We’re here to stay,” Juanita emphasizes. “We continue their values of life — not just making a profit, but making sure our guests have a positive, adventurous experience they’ll want to return to.”

With great food, great music, and the best beaches in the world, Tingum Village isn’t simply another place to stay — it’s a living chapter of Bahamian heritage.

Interested in staying at Tingum Village?

Learn more about their family-run hospitality and book your stay at tingumvillage.com.