THE HON. GORDON “BUTCH” STEWART O.J. 1941-2021: LEGENDARY JAMAICAN ENTREPRENEUR REDEFINED ‘ALL-INCLUSIVE’ AND CHANGED THE WAY THE WORLD WENT ON VACATION
~Master Marketer Made Sandals a Household Name, Brought Opportunity to the Caribbean~
January 5, 2021 –
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – Legendary Jamaican entrepreneur Gordon “Butch” Stewart, one of the
hospitality industry’s most vibrant personalities and founder of Sandals
Resorts International, the world’s leading all-inclusive resort company, has
died at the age of 79. An unstoppable
force, who delighted in defying the odds by exceeding expectations, Stewart
single-handedly built the world’s most awarded vacation brand from one resort in
Jamaica to over two dozen distinct resorts and villas throughout the Caribbean.
A son of Jamaica, Butch Stewart was
born in Kingston on July 6, 1941 and grew up along the island country’s North
Coast, a tropical paradise that now boasts several of his Luxury Included®
Sandals and Beaches Resorts and where his love of the sea, dominoes and free
enterprise were sown. Certain from the
start that he wanted to run his own company, at the tender age of 12, Stewart
first stepped into the hospitality industry selling fresh-caught fish to local
hotels. His success got him ‘hooked’ and
his enthusiasm for entrepreneurship never waned.
After completing his
secondary education abroad, Stewart returned home to Jamaica where he
demonstrated his innate talent as master salesman at the renowned Dutch-owned
Curaçao Trading Company, quickly rising to the position of sales manager but
itching to start his own company. In
1968, Stewart took his chance. With no
collateral but recognizing the comfort that would make air conditioning an essential
service, Stewart convinced American manufacturer Fedders Corporation to allow
him to represent their brand in Jamaica.
With that, Stewart’s foundational business – Appliance Traders Limited
(ATL), was born and he was on his way.
At
ATL, Stewart developed a simple business philosophy he articulated many times: “Find
out what people want, give it to them and in doing so – exceed their expectations.” This
would become the standard for every Stewart enterprise and practiced by every
employee of the many companies Stewart would go on to found, including and
perhaps most importantly, Sandals Resorts International.
Stewart
Founds Sandals Resorts
In 1981,
with a gift for recognizing opportunity, Stewart found one in Bay Roc: a
rundown hotel on a magnificent beach in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Seven months and $4 million in renovations
later, Sandals Montego Bay would open as the flagship of what is today the most
popular award-winning, all-inclusiveresort chain in the world.
While
Stewart never laid claim to inventing the all-inclusive concept, he is
recognized worldwide for his tireless effort to elevate the experience,
delivering to his guests an unsurpassed level of luxury, and to share his certainty
that a Caribbean company could successfully compete with any organization in the
world. He accomplished both.
“I had heard of the concept, yet at the time, the
services and rooms were very basic. Contrary to that, I envisioned we could
bring forward a luxury resort to offer customers so much more. So, we perfected
it. Only the most comfortable king size four poster beds, fine manicured
gardens, cozy hammocks and the kind of warm, refined service the Caribbean has
become known for. Just as important was to be located on the absolute best
beach, because that’s what everyone dreams of.”
Where other
so-called “all-inclusives” offered meals and rooms at a set rate, Sandals
Resorts’ prices covered gourmet dining options, premium brand drinks,
gratuities, airport transfers, taxes and all land and watersport
activities. The competitors’ meals were
buffet-style, so Stewart created on-property specialty restaurants with high
culinary standards and white-glove service.
Sandals Resorts also was the first Caribbean hotel company to offer
whirlpools and satellite television service, the first with swim-up pool bars
and the first to guarantee that every room is fitted with a king-size bed and a
hair dryer. More recent innovations have
included a signature spa concept – Red Lane® Spa, signature luxury suites
designed for privacy and ultimate pampering, complimentary WiFi, and signature partnerships
with iconic organizations such as Microsoft Xbox® Play Lounge, Sesame Workshop,
PADI, Mondavi® Wines, Greg Norman Signature Golf courses and the London-based
Guild of Professional English Butlers. And in 2017, Stewart introduced the
Caribbean’s first over-the-water
accommodations, which were quickly expanded to include Over-the-Water
bars and Over-the-Water wedding chapels.
By steadfastly adhering to the “we can do it better”
principle of pleasing his guests, Stewart fostered a company free to imagine
and free to consistently raise the bar.
This ethos earned him the title of “King of All-Inclusives,” changing
the face of the all-inclusive format and establishing Sandals Resorts as the
most successful brand in the category – boasting year-round occupancy levels of
more than 85 percent, an unequaled returning guest factor of 40 percent and
demand that has led to unprecedented expansion including the creation of
additional concepts such as Beaches Resorts, now the industry standard for
excellence in family beach vacations.
Butch Stewart loved Sandals. At the time of his passing, he was hard at
work on plans for the recently announced expansions to the Dutch island of Curaçao
and St. Vincent.
Stewart As Statesman
Stewart’s leadership
helped resurrect Jamaica’s travel industry and earned him the respect of his
peers and the admiration of his countrymen.
He was elected President of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica
in 1989 and was inducted into its “Hall of Fame” in 1995. He served
as a Director of the Jamaica Tourist Board for a decade and as President of the
Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association in the mid-80s, ably balancing government
and private sector priorities, reconciling the concerns of large and small
Jamaican hotels, and raising public understanding of the tourism industry. In 1994, Stewart led a group of investors to take
leadership of Air Jamaica, the Caribbean’s largest regionally based
carrier. It was a daunting task – planes
were dirty, service was indifferent and on-time schedules were rarely met,
causing market share to plummet along with revenues.
When Stewart stepped in, he insisted on a passenger-friendly
approach: on-time service, reduced waiting lines, increased training for all
personnel, and signature free champagne on flights to accompany an emphasis on
better food. He also opened new routes
in the Caribbean, brought on new Airbus jets and established a Montego Bay hub
for flights coming from and returning to the United States. Just as with ATL
and Sandals Resorts, Stewart’s formula proved successful and in late 2004,
Stewart gave the airline back to the government with an increase in revenue of
over US$250 million.
It was not the first time Stewart would come to the aid of
his country. In 1992, he galvanized the
admiration of Jamaicans with the “Butch
Stewart Initiative,” pumping US$1 million a week into the official
foreign exchange market at below prevailing rates to help halt the slide of the
Jamaican dollar. Dr Henry Lowe, at the
time president and CEO of Blue Cross, wrote to Stewart saying: “I write to
offer sincere congratulations to you for the tremendous initiative which has
done so much, not only for the strengthening of our currency, but more so, for
the new feeling of hope and positive outlook which is now being experienced by
all of us as Jamaicans.”
Less well-known may be the extent of Stewart’s considerable
philanthropy, where for more than 40 years he has helped improve and shape the
lives of Caribbean people. His work,
formalized with the creation in 2009 of The Sandals Foundation, offers support
ranging from the building of schools and paying of teachers to bringing
healthcare to the doorsteps of those who cannot afford it. This in addition to
his tireless support of a wide range of environmental initiatives. Beyond the
work of the Foundation, Stewart has given millions to charitable causes such as
celebrating the bravery of veterans and first responders and helping those in
the wake of devastating hurricanes.
In
2012, Stewart founded the Sandals Corporate University, aimed at providing professional
development for employees through reputable education and training programs.
With access to more than 230 courses and external partnerships with 13
top-ranking local and international universities, every staff member can apply,
broaden their knowledge, and advance their career.
Stewart’s successes
in business and in life have earned him more than 50 well-deserved local, regional,
and international accolades and awards including Jamaica’s highest national distinctions:
The Order of Jamaica (O.J.), and Commander of the Order of Distinction (C.D.). In 2017, Stewart was honored with the
inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Caribbean Hotel & Resort
Investment Summit (CHRIS), hosted by the Burba Hotel Network, marking his
significant contribution to the hospitality industry. “The success of Sandals has helped to power
the growth of the tourism industry and economies not only in Jamaica but
throughout the Caribbean,” said BHN president Jim Burba. “The word ‘icon’ certainly applies to Butch
Stewart.”
It delighted Stewart
whenever he was dining anywhere in the world and an excited staff member would
share with him, “Thank you. I got my
start at Sandals.”
Father & Son
Butch Stewart,
The Man
With his easy pace,
infectious warmth and trademark striped shirt, Stewart exuded an
approachability that belied the complexity of his character. While he was an acute businessperson, who at
the time of his death was responsible for a Jamaican-based empire that includes
two dozen diverse companies collectively representing Jamaica’s largest private
sector group, the country’s biggest foreign exchange earner and its largest
non-government employer, he was an extremely private man whose deepest devotion
was to his family.
His greatest test
came in 1989 when his beloved 24-year-old son Jonathan was killed in a car
accident in Miami. Stewart recalled the
incident in a 2008 interview, “For two months after he died, I was absolutely
useless, and after that I was sort of running on remote control. Things were a
blur. It’s every parent’s nightmare.
After a year or so, I started to see things in vivid detail. You have to
get busy, be close with your family. It did a lot in terms of me getting
closer. There’s a lot more satisfaction.”
Early days of building business for Caribbean tourism
Stewart was able to return
to his relentless pace, and the consensus among those who knew him best is that
he did it by leading by example. “If you are going to lead, you have to
participate,” Stewart was fond of saying.
He believed that if everyone in the organization recognized that the man
in charge was working as hard as they were, they’d have an infinite amount of
respect and motivation. “It’s about instilling a spirit of teamwork, defining a
purpose and then rolling up your sleeves to get the job done better than
anybody else,” Stewart said.
The
company Butch Stewart built remains wholly owned by the Stewart family, who, in honor of Mr.
Stewart’s long-term succession plans, has named Adam Stewart Chairman of Sandals
Resorts International, extending his formidable leadership of the brands he has
shepherded since he was appointed CEO in 2007.
Butch (Hon Gordon Stewart) and Branson (Sir Richard Branson) travel titans
Speaking on behalf
of his family, Adam Stewart said, “our father was a singular
personality; an unstoppable force who delighted in defying the odds by
exceeding expectations and whose passion for his family was matched only by the
people and possibility of the Caribbean, for whom he was a fierce champion. Nothing, except maybe a great fishing day,
could come before family to my dad.
And while the world understood him to be a phenomenal businessman –
which he was, his first and most important devotion was always to us. We will miss him terribly forever.”
Adam Stewart named Chairman of Sandals Resorts International
Gordon “Butch”
Stewart is survived by his wife, Cheryl, children Brian, Bobby, Adam, Jaime,
Sabrina, Gordon, and Kelly; grandchildren Aston, Sloane, Camden, Penelope-Sky,
Isla, Finley, Max, Ben, Zak, Sophie, Annie and Emma; and great grandchildren
Jackson, Riley, Emmy and Willow.
A private funeral
service will be held. Those wishing to share memories, condolences or personal
stories may do so at AllThatsGood@sandals.com
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Haitian media, legal scholars and civic voices did what bullets and barricades couldn’t: they stopped a sweeping constitutional overhaul widely branded as anti-democratic. Editorials and analyses tore into proposals to abolish the Senate, scrap the prime minister, shift to one-round presidential elections, expand presidential power, and open high office to dual-nationals—a package critics said would hard-wire dominance into the executive at a moment of near-lawless insecurity.
The Venice Commission—Europe’s top constitutional advisory body—didn’t mince words either. In a formal opinion requested by Haiti’s provisional electoral authorities, it pressed for clear legal safeguards and credible conditions before any referendum, including measures to prevent gang interference in the electoral process—an implicit rebuke of pushing a foundational rewrite amid a security collapse.
Facing that drumbeat, Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council has now formally ended the constitutional-reform initiative. The decision, taken at a Council of Ministers meeting at the National Palace, effectively aborts the rewrite track that has haunted Haiti since the Moïse and Henry eras.
So what now? Per the Miami Herald, the pivot is back to basics: security first, elections next. That means stabilizing Port-au-Prince enough to run a vote, rebuilding the electoral timetable, and empowering the provisional electoral machinery—none of which is simple when gangs control vast chunks of the capital and state authority remains fragile. Recent headlines underline the risk: gunfire has disrupted top-level government meetings, a visceral reminder that constitutional theory means little without territorial control.
Bottom line: Haitian journalists and public intellectuals helped slam the brakes on a high-stakes centralization of power that lacked legitimacy and safe conditions. International constitutional experts added weight, and the transition authorities finally conceded reality. Now the fight shifts to making an election possible—clean rolls, secure polling, and credible oversight—under circumstances that are still hostile to democracy. If the state can’t guarantee basic safety, any ballot is theater. If it can, shelving the rewrite may prove the first real step back toward consent of the governed.
October 14, 2025 – It’s being called political theatre — but for citizens, constitutional watchdogs, and democracy advocates across the Caribbean, it feels far more serious. Within a single week, two national parliaments — in Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts and Nevis — descended into turmoil as opposition members stormed out in protest, accusing their Speakers of bias, overreach, and abuse of parliamentary procedure.
For observers, the walkouts signal a deeper problem: erosion of trust in the very institutions meant to safeguard democracy. When Speakers are viewed as political enforcers instead of neutral referees, parliaments stop functioning as chambers of debate and start performing as stages for power and spectacle — with citizens left wondering who, if anyone, is still accountable.
October 6: St. Kitts Parliament Erupts
The first walkout erupted in Basseterre on October 6, 2025, when Dr. Timothy Harris, former Prime Minister and now Opposition Leader, led his team out of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly in a protest that stunned the chamber.
The flashpoint came as the Speaker moved to approve more than three years’ worth of unratified parliamentary minutes in one sitting — covering 27 meetings and three national budgets — without individual review or debate.
Dr. Harris called the move “a flagrant breach of the Constitution and parliamentary tradition,” warning that the practice undermines transparency and accountability. “No serious parliament can go years without approving a single set of minutes,” he said after exiting the chamber.
The Speaker defended the decision as administrative housekeeping, but critics were unconvinced, branding the move a “world record disgrace.” The opposition’s walkout triggered renewed calls for the Speaker’s resignation and sparked a wider public discussion about record-keeping, accountability, and respect for parliamentary norms in St. Kitts and Nevis.
October 10: Trinidad Opposition Follows Suit
Four days later, on October 10, 2025, the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) in Trinidad and Tobago staged its own walkout from the House of Representatives in Port of Spain.
The UNC accused the Speaker of partisan bias, claiming she had repeatedly blocked urgent questions, ignored points of order, and allowed government members to breach standing orders without consequence.
“The Speaker has failed in her duty to act impartially,” the Opposition declared in a statement. “Parliament is not the property of any political party or Presiding Officer.”
The dramatic exit was seen as a culmination of months of rising tension and frustration, with opposition MPs arguing that parliamentary rules were being selectively applied to silence dissenting voices.
Political analyst Dr. Marcia Ferdinand described the twin walkouts as “a warning sign that parliamentary democracy in the Caribbean is teetering on the edge of performative politics.”
“When chairs become political shields rather than constitutional referees,” she said, “democracy becomes theatre, not governance.”
A Pattern Emerging
While St. Kitts and Trinidad are very different political environments, both incidents point to the same regional fault line: the perception that Speakers — the guardians of parliamentary order — are no longer impartial.
In Westminster-style systems like those across the Caribbean, the Speaker’s authority depends not on power but on public confidence in fairness. Once that credibility erodes, parliamentary control collapses into confrontation.
Governance experts say the implications are serious: eroded trust between government and opposition, declining public confidence in state institutions, and growing voter cynicism that “rules” are flexible tools of political advantage.
Why It Matters
Parliamentary walkouts are not new in the Caribbean, but what makes these recent events different is their frequency and intensity — and the regional echo they’ve created. Social media has amplified images of lawmakers storming out, with citizens from Barbados to Belize questioning whether the same erosion of decorum could be happening in their own legislatures.
Analysts warn that if this perception takes hold, it risks diminishing the moral authority of parliamentary democracy itself.
“Once opposition MPs believe the rules are rigged, and once citizens believe Parliament is just performance,” said one Caribbean governance researcher, “you’ve lost the most valuable currency in democracy — trust.”
Restoring Balance
Political reformers across the region are calling for tighter Standing Order enforcement, independent parliamentary service commissions, and training to strengthen Speaker neutrality. Civil society leaders say the public must also play its part by demanding transparency and refusing to normalize partisan manipulation of parliamentary procedure.
Whether these twin walkouts become catalysts for reform — or simply another episode of Caribbean political theatre — will depend on what happens next inside those chambers.
For now, democracy watchers agree on one thing: when opposition leaders feel the only way to be heard is to walk out, the entire democratic house — not just its Speaker — is in danger of collapse.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
~Sandals Resorts hosts the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards Caribbean and The Americas Gala & celebrates its 32nd consecutive win as The Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand~
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA, October 8, 2025 – Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts have been honoured with 16 awards at the 2025 World Travel Awards Caribbean and The Americas, underscoring their continued leadership across the hospitality landscape.
The Gala Ceremony held at Sandals Grande St. Lucian honoured the visionaries and trailblazers shaping the travel and tourism industry. The evening united government leaders and hospitality professionals for a night of celebration, recognition and inspiration.
Among celebratory toasts, Sandals Resorts International was named the Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand for the 32nd year in a row. Beaches Turks and Caicos also celebrated its 18th win as the Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort, a recognition that comes ahead of the debut of its Treasure Beach Village, the resort’s $150 million expansion set to open spring 2026.
Other key wins include Sandals Dunn’s River, recognized as the Caribbean’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort for the third year in a row after opening its doors in 2023 and Sandals South Coast, awarded the Caribbean’s Most Romantic Resort.
The 16 awards won under Sandals’ portfolio are:
Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Brand 2025: Sandals Resorts International
Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort 2025: Beaches Turks & Caicos
Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Montego Bay, Jamaica
Caribbean’s Leading Dive Resort 2025: Sandals Royal Curaçao
Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Resort 2025: Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Caribbean’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Dunn’s River, Jamaica
Caribbean’s Most Romantic Resort 2025: Sandals South Coast, Jamaica
Bahamas’ Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Royal Bahamian
Curaçao’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Royal Curaçao
Grenada’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Grenada
Jamaica’s Leading Adult-Only All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Negril
Jamaica’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort 2025: Beaches Negril
Jamaica’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Montego Bay
Jamaica’s Leading Resort 2025: Sandals Royal Caribbean
Saint Lucia’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Grande St. Lucian
Saint Vincent & The Grenadines’ Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025: Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Surrounded by the beauty of Gros-Islet, St. Lucia, the peninsula location of Sandals Grande St. Lucian created the perfect backdrop for World Travel Awards’™ guests to enjoy an unforgettable dining experience and breathtaking island views.
“At the heart of every Sandals and Beaches vacation is pure, inviting Caribbean soul, paired with world-class hospitality experiences for all our guests. The recognitions bestowed to our brands tonight are truly meaningful. They serve as a testament to the incredible passion and dedication of our talented team members,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts. “It is yet another reminder of why we will never stop evolving, listening to our customers and refining our experiences year after year.”