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The Stewart Family Honored With Outstanding Leadership In Social Responsibility Award At 2019 World Travel Awards

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#Montego Bay, January 31, 2019 – Jamaica – This year, the World Travel Awards bestowed a very special accolade as part of the 26th Annual World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony, which took place at Sandals Montego Bay on January 28th, 2019.  The Stewart family on behalf of the Sandals Foundation was presented with the Outstanding Leadership in Social Responsibility award – a prestigious honor presented to an organization which has not only made a positive contribution to the travel and tourism industry, but to the very people and land who provide their businesses to flourish.

While millions have called the Caribbean their vacation destination, beach paradise or tranquil escape, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Founder and Chairman of Sandals® Resorts, refers to it as something much more personal: home.  His passion for the Caribbean region translated into the philanthropic values that have been at the forefront of the resort company’s values since its inception 37 years ago.

Many may believe Gordon “Butch” Stewart’s love affair with the Caribbean started with a reinvention of the hospitality industry, but there was already plenty of philanthropic activity stirring up in this salesman-turned-entrepreneur.  At Appliance Traders Ltd, he brought the innovation of air conditioning to Jamaican consumers while sharing the same luxury for free at the then newly built Cornwall Regional Hospital.

In 1981, after opening the first Sandals Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Stewart immediately began offering his assistance to anyone and everyone that needed it – all while navigating the uncertainty of a new company.  Local communities like Whitehouse and Flanker experienced unprecedented transformation through donated supplies, free repairs and meaningful sponsorships.

2009 saw a new milestone for the brand as son Adam Stewart, now Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts, decided to further organize these efforts by launching the Sandals Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Extending a reach far beyond Jamaica into Antigua, Saint Lucia, Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados and Turks & Caicos, the Sandals Foundation is committed to fulfilling the promise of the Caribbean community through investment in sustainable projects in Education, Environment and Community, directly improving lives and preserving surroundings, with a Corporate Social Responsibility Award presented in 2016 by World Travel Awards and new campaigns launching to eliminate single-use plastic and Styrofoam across all resorts.

Fast forwarding to the Sandals Foundation’s 10-year anniversary this March, the impact has been truly remarkable with the overall dollar amount of projects and programs implemented valued at over 58 million dollars and the total number of persons positively affected across the region is well over 850,000.

The organization’s impact touches more lives than just countries the brand has resorts in – during times of crisis, the Sandals Foundation has been on the ground following natural disasters in neighboring islands, including Haiti and Dominica and the Out Islands of the Bahamas.  When guests visit Sandals and Beaches Resorts, they are directly supporting countless projects taking place all over the region, restoring hope and changing the face of the Caribbean for generations to come.

The Sandals Foundation and Stewart family are proud to have been recognized with this highly coveted award, and look forward to continuing the Foundation’s efforts to make a longstanding positive social impact.

To learn more about the Sandals Foundation and the positive impact it’s made throughout the Caribbean, please visitsandalsfoundation.org/about/our-mission

 

Release: Sandals Resorts

 

 

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Mottley Sworn in After Historic Clean Sweep in Barbados Election

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Barbados, February 12, 2026 – Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley was this afternoon officially sworn in for a third consecutive term, hours after delivering one of the most emphatic election victories in Caribbean political history — another complete capture of all 30 seats in Barbados’ House of Assembly.

The ceremony, conducted by President His Excellency Lt. Col. The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, marked the formal start of a new administration following the February 11, 2026 general election, which returned the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to power with a renewed and overwhelming mandate.

In a statement after taking the oath, Mottley said she accepted the responsibility “with humility and resolve,” thanking the people of Barbados for placing their trust in her leadership once again and urging national unity as her government begins its new term. Attorney Wilfred Abrahams was also sworn in as Attorney General.

The result is historic not only for its scale but for its consistency. This is the third straight general election in which the BLP has won every constituency, reinforcing Mottley’s dominance in national politics and extending an unmatched era of one-party control in the modern democratic period.

Voting day unfolded under the watch of a CARICOM Election Observation Mission, led by Antigua and Barbuda’s Supervisor of Elections Ian Hughes and supported by senior electoral officials from Belize and Jamaica. The team engaged key institutions ahead of the poll and monitored the process across the island.

Regional leaders were swift in their congratulations.

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali described the outcome as “emphatic and historic,” saying the clean sweep reflected how deeply Mottley’s leadership has connected with Barbadians and expressing optimism about strengthening ties between the two countries.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness also hailed the victory, noting that her re-election provides an opportunity to deepen cooperation within CARICOM and advance shared regional priorities.

The scale of the win again leaves Barbados without a parliamentary opposition, a reality that has become a defining feature of the political landscape since 2018. Supporters argue the repeated mandate reflects public confidence in Mottley’s stewardship of economic reform, climate diplomacy, the transition to a republic, and Barbados’ expanding global influence.

Now, newly sworn in and backed by another unanimous parliamentary majority, Mottley begins a third term with both extraordinary political capital and equally high expectations at home and across the region.

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Liberty Caribbean Committed to ‘Elevating Region’ at CANTO  

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Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago

Liberty Caribbean is Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and 42nd AGM

 

Port of Spain, TRININDAD & TOBAGO (February 1, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow. Liberty Business and BTC, has reaffirmed its commitment to turning regional connectivity into measurable economic and social outcomes as Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and its 42nd Annual General Meeting.

CANTO is the leading regional body that brings together telecommunications operators, ICT providers, regulators, governments, and industry partners to support the development of the Caribbean’s digital and communications landscape.

Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago delivered the sponsor’s address on behalf of Liberty Caribbean.

“The work of laying fibre and lighting towers is done; connectivity is now our foundation,” she said.

“The real task before us is to translate that foundation into innovation, productivity and prosperity for our people. Intelligent connectivity, such as networks designed for 5G, AI and IoT, will be the platform for smarter public services, more resilient systems and scaled opportunities for Caribbean entrepreneurs.”

Martin-Sulgan emphasised that infrastructure alone will not deliver sustainable progress.

“Digital progress must become digital prosperity. That means creating career pathways for young people, helping local businesses scale and ensuring citizens across our communities can fully participate in the digital economy. A connected Caribbean should also be a confident, creative and globally competitive Caribbean,” she said.

Liberty Caribbean is represented by a senior delegation at CANTO Connect to support the conference objectives of aligning policy, investment and execution across the region under this year’s theme ‘Elevate the Caribbean – From Connectivity to Global Competitiveness’.

Liberty Caribbean’s delegation includes Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer; Desron Bynoe, VP and General Manager, Flow Barbados; Susanna O’Sullivan, VP and General Manager, North Caribbean; Marilyn Sealy, Senior Director, Head of Communications; Dominic Boon, VP, People; Daniel Neiva, Chief Commercial Officer, B2B; Bradley Ramcharan, Director, B2B, Trinidad & Tobago; Yolande Headley, Country Manager, Dutch East Caribbean; and Jade Reymond, Country Manager, Flow Anguilla.

Martin-Sulgan thanked CANTO’s local secretariat for convening the forum and urged delegates to convert conversation into action.

“If we align policy, capital and capability, the Caribbean can move from connectivity to competitiveness. Liberty Caribbean will continue to invest in resilient networks, nurture homegrown talent and partner to deliver measurable social and economic value across our markets,” she said.

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Adam Stewart named CNW’s Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year for 2025

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Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts, Adam Stewart, has been named Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year for 2025 by the regional news publication, Caribbean National Weekly (CNW).

The publication recognised Stewart for his leadership in hospitality, his ongoing investments in regional tourism, his steady crisis response and his philanthropic work throughout what it described as a year filled with both remarkable achievements and significant challenges.

CNW highlighted how 2025 saw industry recognition for Stewart, major announcements of multimillion‑dollar developments across his all‑inclusive luxury resort brands and an invitation to join the prestigious Wall Street Journal CEO Council.

But the publication said his impact extended well beyond business milestones.

“In 2025, the Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts didn’t just guide his iconic hospitality empire through crisis – he used its scale and influence to help shape Jamaica’s rebound and lay groundwork for future regional growth,” CNW wrote.

The defining moment, it said, came in late October when Hurricane Melissa caused severe damage to parts of Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure. Stewart responded by leading transparent communication with global travel advisors, partners and team members, and made a landmark pledge, that 100 per cent of Sandals and Beaches employees would remain on payroll and receive Christmas bonuses, even at resorts temporarily closed for extensive restoration and upgrades. The company also committed more than US$3 million in staff recovery aid, providing direct support to families affected by the storm.

CNW further highlighted the work of the Sandals Foundation under Stewart’s guidance, noting record levels of community engagement and targeted disaster‑recovery support in healthcare, livelihoods and the environment.

In response to the honour, Stewart said he was “deeply humbled” to receive the Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year recognition and expressed his gratitude to his teams and partners for their dedication during an extraordinary year.

“This award reflects far more than any one individual. It is a direct result of people showing up every day for their communities and believing business is a force for good. It belongs to the extraordinary teams who carry our shared vision forward – especially the Sandals Foundation, whose work continues to create lasting change across education, health care, disaster relief and environmental stewardship,” Stewart stated.

“To every colleague and partner who helps bring this mission to life – thank you for your commitment, heart and belief.”

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