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