Caribbean News
CHTA congratulates Bahamian on Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge Victory
#PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (February 26, 2020) – The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) congratulated Bahamian Marv Cunnigham for winning last weekend’s 10th ANGOSTURA Global Cocktail Challenge (AGCC) in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The event, which was held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad on Saturday, saw the Taste of the Caribbean Hall of Fame Inductee eclipse eight competitors for the global title and a cash prize of US$10,000. Cunningham also earned a two-year contract to serve as the ANGOSTURA Global Brand Ambassador, showcasing ANGOSTURA bitters and rum products to international audiences.
Vanessa Ledesma, CHTA’s Chief Operations Officer, said the victory helps to propel the Caribbean food and beverage industry. “Marv is the epitome of Caribbean passion and excellence, and we are thrilled that the region emerged victorious in this global competition,” she said.
The Bahamian mixologist wowed the judges with a ‘Mas-Curried’ rum cocktail and an Amaro cocktail entitled ‘Amaro Bank Burst’. In addition to winning the overall title, Cunningham also won the award for Best Rum Cocktail.
Cunningham, who has been bartending for more than 20 years, is a two-time winner of CHTA’s Taste of the Caribbean Best Caribbean Bartender award as a member of the team from The Bahamas, winning in 2015 and 2016 before returning to judge the competition in 2017.
He said winning the challenge meant a lot for the Caribbean. “It goes to show that we have the talent here, we have gifted bartenders here, not just bartenders but a gifted people in general and we belong,” he said.
He credited the Taste of the Caribbean regional competition and educational experience and the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s national competition for helping him reach this pinnacle in his career. “Being able to provide a platform for bartenders in the region to compete against each other to help develop themselves, to help further (develop) their skills. It is a great feeling and I’m very (grateful) to CHTA and Taste of the Caribbean for what they have done because they are more about teaching. Getting a medal is okay, but at the end of the day this is what counts – that development aids in things like this.”
Also competing in the challenge was 2018 Caribbean Bartender of the Year, Shana Rajahram of Trinidad and Tobago, who said it was an honor to represent female bartenders around the world and to reach such a high level of competition and excellence.
This year’s Taste of the Caribbean will be held from June 26-30, 2020, at Hyatt Regency Miami. The event features top culinary teams from Caribbean nations and territories competing for recognition and awards.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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