December 15, 2025

CMEx celebrates laureates in Miami

2025 CMEx Laureates in Miami (L-R): Dave Chang, Muryad de Bruin, Erica Williams-Connell (on behalf of Von Martin), Jr. Minister Luce Hodge-Smith, Sir Baltron Bethel, Carole Alexis, Janelle Hopkin, Loreto Duffy-Mayers, Shomari Scott, Monique Hamaty-Simmonds, and Marcus Simmonds

5 CMEx Leadership Awards & Fundraiser took place on Sunday, December 7, at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in Miami. The celebration spotlighted an impressive roster of honorees whose leadership transformed Caribbean tourism, business, communications and community development. The 2025 Honorees included: Carole Alexis – Choreographer and Artistic Director, Martinique Dave Chang – SVP, Consumer Sales and Contact Centers, Carnival Cruise LineMay-Ling Chun – Director of Tourism, St. Maarten Ronella Croes – CEO, Aruba Tourism Authority Laura Davidson – CEO/Founder, LDPR Muryad de Bruin – Managing Director, Curaçao Tourist Board Cathleen Decker – Co-founder, The Decker/Royal Agency Loreto Duffy-Mayers – Tourism and Sustainability Expert, Barbados Monique Hamaty-Simmonds – Executive Director, Tortuga Rum Company Ltd., Cayman Islands Clarisa Jiménez – President and CEO, Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association Luce Hodge-Smith – Junior Minister of Tourism, British Virgin Islands Janelle Hopkin – President and Managing Director, Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada Vonulrick “Von” Martin – Broadcaster, Producer & Dean, Caribbeana Communications Inc. Shomari Scott – Chief Business Officer, Health City Cayman IslandsMarcus Simmonds – CEO, Tortuga International Holdings Ltd., Cayman Islands In a historic moment, CMEx presented its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Sir Baltron B. Bethel of The Bahamas for his pioneering role in shaping modern Caribbean tourism. The luncheon brought together industry leaders, community advocates and media professionals for an afternoon of celebration, networking and inspiration, while supporting educational initiatives for Caribbean youth and tourism professionals. The CMEx Leadership Awards luncheon was powered by Platinum Sponsor Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation. Other sponsors and supporters included Anguilla Tourist Board; Barbara Pyle Foundation; Calabash Cove Resort & Spa (St. Lucia); Carnival Corporation & plc; Chukka Caribbean Adventures; Coco Palm (St. Lucia); Comfort Suites Paradise Island (Bahamas); Grenada Tourism Authority; Hyatt Regency Trinidad; Jade Mountain (St. Lucia); Ladera Resort (St. Lucia); Loews Coral Gables Hotel; Marketplace Excellence Corporation; Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort (Grenada); Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board (Bahamas); Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbour (St. Kitts); Rodman Marketing Guru; Round Hill Hotel and Villas (Jamaica); St. Maarten Tourist Board; The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission; The Decker/Royal Agency; Tortuga Rum Company; Tropical Attractions; Tropical Shipping; Unique Vacations Inc. (the worldwide representative of Sandals & Beaches Resorts); and Vanessa James Media.

CMEx in the Spotlight

During the CMEx Awards & Fundraiser, retired public relations veteran Gail Moaney was also celebrated for her outstanding contributions to the industry. Specializing in travel and economic development, Moaney made significant contributions to promoting the Caribbean — particularly The Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica — through decades of strategic communications and destination storytelling that elevated the region’s global profile. She is pictured here with CMEx President Bevan Springerin Miami this month.

Bahamian singer Simmone Bowe delivered a captivating performance at the 2025 CMEx Leadership Awards and Fundraiser in Miami. Renowned for her warm, powerful voice and dynamic stage presence, Bowe enthralled the audience with her soulful expressions, embodying the spirit of unity and celebration that defines CMEx.

A wonderful Caribbean Weekend in Miami

Kevin Lyttle at the Holiday Dinner Party in Miami

The second annual Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Caribbean Weekend in Miami set a high bar for regional collaboration and celebration. 

One of the weekend’s standout features was the Iconic Summit and Lunch aboard Icon of the Seas, hosted by Royal Caribbean, where tourism leaders explored opportunities for partnership and growth across the region. 

Other highlights included a Special Purpose Meeting of the Ministerial Council and Board of Directors, and a Caribbean Holiday Dinner Party and Fundraiser in support of Jamaica and Haiti.

Jamaican reggae singer Shuga lit up the room in Miami

Philip J. Pierre returned as Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Dr. Ernest Hilaire renamed Tourism Minister

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre’s Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) was rewarded with a renewed mandate to continue governing the Eastern Caribbean nation, winning 14 of the 17 seats contested in elections held earlier this month. The opposition United Workers Party (UWP), led by former Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, secured just one seat — Chastanet’s own in Micoud South. Two independent candidates, former UWP members Stephenson King and Richard Frederick, retained their seats.

Prime Minister Pierre announced his Cabinet last week, confirming that he will continue to serve as Minister of Finance, while Dr. Ernest Hilaireremains Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism. 

John Paul Estephan has been appointed Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage.

St. Lucian short film selected for Chandler International Film Festival

Elijah Anatole

Caribbean film production company Artlas Studios has announced that its newest short film, Omyra, has been officially selected for the Chandler International Film Festival (CIFF), marking a significant achievement for St. Lucia’s emerging film industry.

Set against the quiet pulse of a Caribbean town, Omyra follows a woman whose inner world begins to unravel as she confronts loss, guilt and the haunting silence of unanswered prayers.

“This is a huge milestone for Artlas Studios and for St. Lucian filmmaking,” said director Elijah Anatole. “Every international selection opens doors, creating opportunities for collaboration, investment and visibility. Our goal is to help establish St. Lucia as a leader in Caribbean cinema, producing stories that move audiences worldwide.”

Artlas Studios’ 2025 feature film, Heartfall, was recently screened at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. A psychological drama, Heartfall explores themes of grief, emotional isolation and redemption. Shot entirely in St. Lucia, it uses landscape, memory and music to guide viewers through a deeply personal journey of loss and healing.

Auditions have begun for the studio’s next short film, Letters From Ava, a heartfelt exploration of grief, healing and unresolved love.

Based in Arizona, CIFF is one of the fastest-growing independent film festivals in North America. Its 2026 edition — celebrating the festival’s 10th anniversary — will take place January 23–February 1, bringing together filmmakers, industry executives, distributors and cinema lovers from around the world.

Dr. Noel J. Brown: Global environmental statesman remembered

Dr. Noel J. Brown

Dr. Noel J. Brown, a visionary United Nations diplomat and international champion of the environment, whose work helped define the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) and the modern global sustainability movement, died on October 24, 2025, in Utica, NY. He was 90. 

For more than three decades, Dr. Brown, a Kingston-born son of Jamaica, stood at the forefront of international efforts to safeguard the planet. He served as director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for North America and helped shape the landmark 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which defined the world’s sustainable development agenda for decades to come.

Tink About It

“The resilience of our forebears, our communal traditions, and our creativity are assets we must harness, not discard. By blending these cultural strengths with deliberate investment in training and shepherding, we can fuel a new generation of Caribbean outliers. Small island developing states may be small in geography, but, with focus and foresight, we can be giants in contribution.” — Dr. Basil Springer, Director, Marketplace Excellence

“Monkey know what tree to climb.”

This Caribbean saying is a brilliant, quick reminder that wisdom is discernment. It’s not about being the fastest or the strongest; it’s about knowing when, where and with whom to act.

This proverb captures the essence of strategic awareness and emotional intelligence. Before you make your move in life or in business, you need to read the room (or, in this case, read the landscape). Success in leadership isn’t about brute strength or being the loudest voice — it’s about recognizing genuine opportunities and choosing the right “tree” to climb.

Medical Moment

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day was observed last week (December 12) to highlight the goal of ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access the full range of quality health services they need — when and where they need them, without financial hardship. UHC means that everyone has access to the full range of quality health services.

UHC encompasses all aspects of care, including health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.

More than 50 percent of the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services. Alarmingly, about one in four people experience financial hardship when paying for health care out of pocket — often forced to choose between medical expenses and basic needs such as food, education or housing.

This year’s global campaign theme, “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!”, sends a powerful message to governments and policymakers: unaffordable health costs are making our communities poorer and sicker.

Marketplace Excellence Corporation (MPE) is a global public relations, marketing and media company.