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Powering the Next Wave: Perry Institute Celebrates Conclusion of its 2024 Rising Tides Program

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Rising Tiders at Jaws Beach 2024

Kate Harrison, distinguished PADI Course Director and coral restoration specialist

NASSAU, BAHAMAS –   The Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) celebrated a milestone last week with the successful conclusion of its 2024 Rising Tides program, an initiative that has rapidly become a beacon of hope for marine conservation in The Bahamas. This summer, the program certified five students as PADI Open Water Divers and four as Reef Rescue Divers. Additionally, two returning students advanced to the prestigious rank of Advanced Open Water Divers, further solidifying their commitment to marine stewardship.

Launched in 2022, the Rising Tides Youth Program was conceived to inspire and equip young Bahamians with the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in marine science, environmental studies, conservation, and research. The program’s balanced curriculum of classroom instruction and field studies has proven to be a potent formula for success, attracting a growing number of aspiring marine biologists each year.

Transformative Experiences Underwater

The 2024 cohort, under the expert guidance of PADI Dive Instructors and coral restoration specialists from the Reef Rescue Network, achieved significant milestones. These certifications are not mere accolades but pivotal steps that pave the way for future academic and professional opportunities in various fields, from commercial diving and coral science to PhD research and rescue diving.

“I thoroughly enjoyed training the Rising Tides students in their Open Water, Reef Rescue Diver, and Advanced Open Water courses. Their enthusiasm and keen interest in marine life were truly inspiring,” said Kate Harrison, PIMS’ coral restoration specialist and PADI Course Director, a highly distinguished title held by only a few hundred professional divers worldwide. “Programs like these will undoubtedly have a lasting positive impact on The Bahamas.”

Voices of the Future

Dr. Karlisa Callwood, Director of PIMS’ Community Conservation, Education, and Action program

The program’s impact is perhaps best expressed through the voices of its participants. Mateo, a 17-year-old student, said, “This program has opened my eyes to the incredible diversity and beauty of our marine ecosystems. It’s been an unforgettable experience, and I can’t wait to continue my journey in marine science.”

Seraph Gomez, an 18-year-old with a passion for sustainable technology, reflected on his time in the program. He said: “Diving beneath the surface with Rising Tides has inspired me to use technology to preserve and protect our environment. It’s been a life-changing experience.”

Serenity Russell, a 16-year-old with dreams of working in marine conservation, said: “I love the learning aspect because I’m being educated on topics I find interesting. I love experiencing new things and venturing out with our group, then sharing our experiences and findings.”

Alicia Wilchombe, 16, who aspires to be a professional dive instructor, valued the sense of community fostered by the program. She said: “I love learning new things about people. It’s been so enriching to not only work with but also relax with the group. It feels like we’re all friends.”

A Crucial Investment

The significance of the Rising Tides program extends far beyond the individual achievements of its participants. In a world where environmental challenges are escalating, the Perry Institute’s commitment to nurturing young conservationists is a critical investment in the future of The Bahamas’ marine ecosystems.

Danielle Cartwright, Education Coordinator and head instructor. 

“Through Rising Tides, we aim to move environmental conservation from a niche interest to a national responsibility,” said Danielle Cartwright, the Education Coordinator at PIMS. “Our marine ecosystems, our ‘blue economy,’ is our lifeblood. We need the next generation to become its stewards. Seeing the ‘Tiders’ grow and develop their skills has been incredibly rewarding.”

Dr. Karlisa Callwood, the Director of PIMS’ Community Conservation, Education, and Action (CCEA) program and creator of the Rising Tides program, echoed this sentiment. She said: “We provide these students with hands-on experience necessary to deeply understand the workings of Bahamian marine ecosystems and the role they can play as conservationists personally and in their communities.” The CCEA program works towards promoting conservation through enhanced community engagement, providing tools, training, and experience to help foster a greater conservation ethic across The Bahamas, while also building the next generation of Bahamian conservation leaders.

Looking Forward

As the 2024 program draws to a close, the Perry Institute is already planning for the future. Recruitment for the next cohort of Rising Tides students will commence in January 2025, with details available on PIMS’ website and social media channels. Interested Bahamian students are encouraged to apply and join a growing community of young marine conservationists dedicated to safeguarding their natural heritage.

 

Photo Captions: Meet the leaders behind Rising Tides: Kate Harrison, distinguished PADI Course Director and coral restoration specialist; Dr. Karlisa Callwood, Director of PIMS’ Community Conservation, Education, and Action program; and Danielle Cartwright, Education Coordinator and head instructor.

 

About the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS)

For over 50 years, the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) has been at the forefront of marine research and conservation in The Bahamas and the Caribbean. Our mission is clear: leading through science, we innovate solutions, create opportunities, and inspire action to protect and restore ocean life for people and the planet. Our vision? Thriving seas and empowered communities.

From our beginnings as the most productive marine lab and field station in the world on Lee Stocking Island, we’ve evolved into a global, program-based non-profit tackling critical issues such as coral reef restoration, fisheries conservation, and the protection of mangrove and coastal ecosystems. Our holistic approach integrates cutting-edge scientific research with community education and engagement, as well as international collaboration to make lasting impacts on marine environments.

At PIMS, we’re more than just scientists—we’re educators, advocates, and partners. We empower local communities, provide pathways to conservation careers, and work tirelessly to protect and restore the ocean ecosystems that are vital to both biodiversity and human well-being.

For more information on the Rising Tides Youth Program and other initiatives, please visit the Perry Institute’s website or follow them on social media.

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Caribbean News

Haitian Pushback Halts Controversial Constitution Rewrite — What’s Next?

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

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.

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Caribbean News

Political Theatre? Caribbean Parliamentarians Walk Out on House Speaker

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By Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media

 

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.

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Caribbean News

Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts celebrate a night of wins, and take home a total of 16 titles at the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards

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~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.”

For more information about these award-winning resorts, please visit www.sandals.com and www.beaches.com. For more information on the World Travel Awards™, please visit https://www.worldtravelawards.com/.

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