Caribbean News
AMEXCID and FAO Facilitate School Feeding Training in Belize
#Belize, December 29, 2023 – In an effort to strengthen the capacity of individuals involved in school feeding programs and promote healthy eating habits among school children, the Belizean component of the Mesoamerica Hunger-Free AMEXCID-FAO program conducted a series of training sessions. These included virtual sessions held on November 21st, 28th, and December 6th, and in-person cook training sessions on December 9th and 16th. The sessions brought together a diverse group of participants, including school principals, cooks, PTA members, school
staff, and Ministry of Education personnel within the government feeding programs – National Healthy Start school feeding program (primary schools) and the Education Upliftment program (high schools).
The three virtual training sessions were specifically designed to enhance the capabilities and skills of officials responsible for the School Feeding Program. These sessions were crucial in facilitating the expansion of school feeding programs, school gardens, and nutrition education within the education curriculum.
The key objectives included providing an overview of healthy school environments, emphasizing the importance of school feeding to children’s health, reviewing food health and safety protocols in school kitchens, and introducing basic nutrition needs for students.
The inaugural session, conducted by Cathleen Juan, Mesoamerica Hunger-Free AMEXCID-FAO and School Feeding Coordinator, covered topics such as the introduction of the term “Healthy School Environment,” components of such an environment, an overview of diet-related non-communicable diseases, statistics on overweight/obesity, and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among school children in Belize. Additionally, discussions on ultra processed foods, reading food labels, and healthy alternatives for school snacks were presented.
Led by Ms. Lisa Marin Sanchez, Senior Public Health Inspector from the Ministry of Health, the second session covered topics such as food handler’s responsibilities, types of contamination and prevention measures, personal hygiene and handwashing, purchasing safe food, proper food storage, and safe food preparation and cooking practices, with a focus on time and temperature controls. One of the most insightful takeaways from Ms. Lisa’s session was her revelation about the most common food safety infraction observed in kitchens: the lack of temperature controls.
The third and final virtual session, held on December 6th, featured Doris Sutherland, nutritionist from FAO Belize, who offered a deep dive into essential topics, such as an overview of food groups and appropriate portion sizes, the nutritional significance of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and staples in a child’s diet, and an introduction to the school feeding menu. The session also provided valuable insights into menu planning, recipe formats, ingredient substitution, and methods to encourage children to embrace fruits and vegetables.
The Program’s emphasis on inclusivity, evidenced by the virtual format accommodating even those from areas with limited resources, underscores its dedication to making a meaningful impact on school feeding programs across Belize.
Following the virtual sessions, in-person training was conducted for school feeding head cooks, focusing on
nutrition, food safety, school menus, and utilizing local produce. These sessions took place at Ladyville Technical High School, Belize District with participation from 16 schools across four districts.
During these in-person sessions, cooks practiced calculating ingredients for 100 children and learned about the ice water calibration method for thermometers. They were divided into groups to prepare various dishes, highlighting the use of vegetables and the absence of added sugar in flavorful recipes. Each school represented was given two thermometers for their kitchen.
These training sessions have successfully equipped participants with a deeper understanding of the significance of healthy food choices and food safety practices in the context of school feeding, reinforcing the valuable lessons learned and ensuring a brighter, healthier future for Belizean schoolchildren.
The Mesoamerica Hunger-Free AMEXCID-FAO program remains committed to fostering a comprehensive understanding of aspects to promote healthier school environments and, consequently, the well-being of the children involved, promoting public policies in favor of food and nutritional security in the country.
Caption: The objectives of the cook training sessions were to familiarize cooks with the recipe structure used in the menus (standardized for 50 servings), teach cooks to use the menu planning tool in the school kitchen protocol book, instruct on the use of thermometers during food preparation, and introduce new ways of preparing local fruits and vegetables.
By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
September 28, 2026 – Wall Street initially flinched at the $3-billion handshake. But in a matter of days, it was smoother sailing.
Perhaps the bigger Caribbean business story is not what Sandals Resorts International is getting from the deal. It is who is writing the
cheque — and what that says about what Gordon “Butch” Stewart built.
As reports of Royal Caribbean Group’s Sandals deal circulated Tuesday, RCL shares plunged 6.14 percent from Monday’s $250.25 close to $234.89, on sharply elevated trading.
When the agreement became official Wednesday — approximately $3 billion for a 50 percent equity interest in Sandals and Beaches Resorts — shares slipped another 1.95 percent to $230.30 and touched $222.22 intraday. Investors were digesting both the size of the investment and committed debt financing secured through Morgan Stanley.
But by Thursday, RCL rebounded 3.77 percent, with shares continuing their recovery Friday to finish the week around $243. Analysts were also looking ahead: JPMorgan reportedly raised its RCL price target from $345 to $394, while Citi placed the company on a 90-day positive catalyst watch.
And just who is RCL?
Royal Caribbean Group is a global vacation giant, publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange with a market value of roughly $65 billion. Its portfolio includes Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, alongside private destinations and an
expanding vacation platform.
So when a company of that scale commits $3 billion for only half of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, the transaction puts a striking financial marker on one of the Caribbean’s greatest home-grown hospitality success stories.
The deal, expected to close in early 2027, creates a 50-50 partnership with the Stewart family and takes Royal Caribbean deeper into the all-inclusive resort business.
Butch Stewart started Sandals in Jamaica in 1981 believing a Caribbean company could compete with the world’s best.
Forty-five years later, one of the world’s biggest vacation companies is prepared to pay $3 billion just to own half of what he built.
Now that’s the handshake that does more than seal a deal — it cements a legacy.
Caribbean News
Royal Caribbean Group and Sandals Resorts Announce Landmark Partnership to Accelerate Their Leading Vacation Experiences
Royal Caribbean Group Investment to Advance Sandals and Beaches’ Growth and Broaden the Group’s Vacation Portfolio
Montego Bay, Jamaica and Miami, September 24, 2026 – Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) and Sandals Resorts today announced the signing of an agreement to form a partnership in the all-inclusive resort space with a 50% investment from Royal Caribbean Group. Building on Sandals and Beaches Resorts’ more than four decades of leadership in Caribbean hospitality, the joint venture will create new opportunities for continued resort growth while broadening the experiences across Royal Caribbean Group’s vacation platform.
The partnership brings together two of the travel industry’s most celebrated vacation companies, pairing Sandals and Beaches’ all-inclusive resort expertise with Royal Caribbean Group’s vacation platform, including industry-leading brands – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea – a portfolio of private destinations, new river cruising offering, and an industry-first loyalty program. United in a shared history in the Caribbean and connected by a love for their communities, the companies will offer travelers an unparalleled collection of cruise, private destination and resort experiences, serving guests across more vacation occasions and establishing their undisputed leadership in Caribbean vacations.
The joint venture expands Royal Caribbean Group into an adjacent vacation category, growing its participation in the approximately $2 trillion global vacation market, and meets the growing global demand for Sandals and Beaches Resorts by accelerating their expansion. The partnership will include Sandals and Beaches’ collection of premier all-inclusive properties across the Caribbean, and the companies will explore opportunities to broaden distribution, deepen guest engagement, and make it easier for travelers to discover vacation experiences offered across both portfolios.
“For nearly 60 years, we’ve reimagined what a vacation can be, constantly expanding the ways we inspire our guests to explore, connect and create lifelong memories,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “We have been building a vacation platform that brings joy to millions of people around the world and creates meaningful relationships that last with our guests. Our partnership with
Sandals and Beaches Resorts is an important next step on that journey – bringing together two iconic leading vacation companies to further strengthen and grow one of the most admired resort portfolios in the world. The Stewart family has created powerful and beloved brands, and we are honored to build on that legacy. Together, we see tremendous opportunity to expand the reach of Sandals and Beaches Resorts and continue turning the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations.”
“My father, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, founded Sandals Resorts with the belief that a company built in the Caribbean could stand on the world stage alongside the most respected names in hospitality. Today is proof of how far that vision can go,” said Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts. “This partnership is the natural next step in building on that conviction. It gives us the ability to grow faster with a partner that shares our values of exceptional hospitality, long-term investment, and the power of enduring brands. Together, we will introduce more guests to Sandals and Beaches Resorts while creating even more extraordinary experiences for those who have made our resorts part of their lives for decades.” Stewart added, “As we continue to grow, we will remain true to what has always defined us: delivering authentic vacations that exceed expectations while creating opportunities for our team members, travel advisor partners and the communities we call home. The future has never been brighter, and I know this moment would make my father incredibly proud.”
The joint venture will be governed by a board under the shared leadership of Stewart and Liberty. Stewart will maintain a leadership role in
guiding the company’s long-term strategic growth as Executive Chairman of Sandals and Beaches Resorts. Existing reservations, loyalty programs, resort operations and cruise operations will continue as usual, with the partnership bringing additional resources to support future opportunities.
Under the terms of the agreement, Royal Caribbean Group will acquire a 50% equity interest in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for approximately $3 billion, representing a forward EBITDA multiple of approximately 10x. Royal Caribbean Group has secured committed debt financing from Morgan Stanley to fund the investment. The transaction is expected to close in early 2027, subject to customary approvals and closing conditions, and is expected to be accretive to earnings next year.
BofA Securities and PJT Partners acted as financial advisors, and Latham & Watkins and Jones Day acted as legal advisors to the Sandals Group. Perella Weinberg Partners and Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisors and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal advisor to Royal Caribbean Group.
PHOTO CAPTION: Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, and Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts, mark the signing of an agreement to form a landmark partnership that expands Royal Caribbean Group into the all-inclusive resort space and supports the future growth of Sandals and Beaches Resorts. The signing took place at Royal Caribbean Group’s new headquarters in Miami, with the city’s skyline in the background.
The Caribbean tourism deal first reported as a possibility on Tuesday is now a signed agreement. Royal Caribbean Group plans to pay
approximately US$3 billion for a 50% stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts, putting the value of the business at about US$6 billion. The purchase is expected to close in early 2027, subject to approvals.
Founded in Jamaica by the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart in 1981, the resort business has a presence across nine Caribbean destinations, including Jamaica, The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. Sandals has described its workforce as nearly 20,000 people, most of them Caribbean nationals.
“My father, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, founded Sandals Resorts with the belief that a company built in the Caribbean could stand on the world stage alongside the most respected names in hospitality,” said Adam Stewart in the announcement carried by PR Newswire. He will remain executive chairman, while the Stewart family retains a stake. The companies say existing reservations and resort operations will continue as usual.
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