Connect with us

Caribbean News

CTO Celebrates Excellence at Annual Caribbean Media Awards

Published

on

New York, NY – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) honored outstanding journalists and media professionals at its annual Caribbean Media Awards, held during Caribbean Week in New York (CWNY 2025) last week. Sponsored by the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the event recognized exceptional storytelling and coverage of Caribbean destinations from over 100 entries submitted by media professionals across the United States and the Caribbean.

“Your voices shape the way the world sees us — from ESSENCE to Irie Jam to TVJ to New York Times; from the 190-year-old Gleaner to freelance writers from AFAR, Condé Nast and National Geographic, you are all storytellers in our diaspora,” said Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism for Bermuda. “We’re proud to share our Bermudian hospitality with you, and even prouder of what your work means to all of us in this room and in the region.”

2025 Award Winners

Best Feature Article or Story

Winner: Brent Pinheiro for “This Week in Travel: A hell of a time in the Cayman Islands” (CNC3 – Trinidad & Tobago)

Best News Reporting

Winner: Brian Major for “St. Kitts and Nevis is Determined to Preserve Its Beauty and Nature – Here’s How” (AFAR)

Best Video Production

Winners: Amoy Harriott & Glenford Campbell for “Troubled Waters” (Television Jamaica)

Best Photojournalism

Winners: The New York Times – T Brand Studio and Burnt House Productions for “Bermuda is Calling”

Best Personal Immersive Story

Winner: Dionne Baptiste-Clarke for “Humble & Free Wadadli: Antigua’s Growing Rastafari Community Reclaims Former Plantation & Makes It Home” (Your Caribbean Guide)

Best Podcast/Radio

Winner: Nakinskie Robinson for “Crop Insurance; An Idea Worth Seeding” (Radio Jamaica)

Best Social Media Campaign

Winner: Bermuda Tourism Authority for “Flavours of Bermuda Video Series”

Diaspora Journalist of the Year

Winner: Melissa Noel for her outstanding body of work including “Meet The Black Women Wellness Practitioners Teaching Us To ‘Rush Slowly’”; “Bridal Bliss: Kim And Arthur Take Their Love Beneath The Waves In A Historic Underwater Wedding In Grenada”; and “Luxury Meets Local Legacy At This Caribbean Paradise” (ESSENCE)

Emerging Journalist of the Year

Winner: Romardo Lyons for “Too Hot To Handle” (Television Jamaica)

The awards ceremony highlighted the diverse range of media coverage of the Caribbean, from traditional print journalism to innovative social media campaigns and immersive storytelling. The winning entries demonstrated exceptional creativity, journalistic integrity, and the ability to showcase the Caribbean’s unique attractions and experiences to global audiences.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority’s sponsorship of the event underscores the commitment of Caribbean nations to celebrating and supporting excellence in journalism and content creation. Following the awards ceremony, attendees engaged in the Media Marketplace, advancing the CTO’s mission to connect tourism stakeholders with media professionals and foster collaborative storytelling.

CWNY 2025 was supported by the following sponsors:

  • Platinum: Dominica, U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Gold: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, Global Ports Holding, Travel & Adventure Shows
  • Silver: Sandals Resorts International, St. Kitts
  • Bronze: Adara, A RateGain Company; Anguilla; Barbados; Carnival Corporation & plc; Saint Lucia; TEMPO Networks

PHOTO CAPTION: The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and its member countries, including the Bermuda Tourism Authority, proudly celebrated the contributions of media professionals during Caribbean Week in New York last week. At left is CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper; fourth from right is Bermuda’s Minister of Tourism, Owen Darrell.

Caribbean News

Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

Published

on

Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Mottley Sworn in After Historic Clean Sweep in Barbados Election

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Liberty Caribbean Committed to ‘Elevating Region’ at CANTO  

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING