Three seasoned journalists from the Bahamas,
St. Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean Diaspora in New York took the spotlight at the
finale of the 2005 CMEx Caribbean Media Awards at the 7th Caribbean Media Exchange
on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx VII), held in Nassau, Bahamas, December 8-12, 2005.
Bahamian Yolanda Deleveaux of the Nassau Tribune, Guyanese Clive Bacchus, general
manager of WINN FM in St. Kitts and Nevis and Brooklyn-based Trinidadian Glenda
Cadogan who freelances for outlets such as Caribbean Life and the New York Daily
News took top honours during the awards presentation.

“Each of these journalists has demonstrated a strong commitment to their trade, and
they understand the importance of sustainable tourism development to the Caribbean
region,” said Dr. Basil Springer, Chairman of Counterpart Caribbean, co-producers of
the CMEx series of meetings.

Dr. Springer said Counterpart International and Counterpart Caribbean, are committed
to recognising excellence in the media, who he believes are key Caribbean
development partners. “The media are internal auditors for social partnership,” said
Dr. Springer who encouraged reporters across the region to be “bold and brave” in
investigating the news, pursuing the truth, and highlighting the positive aspects of
Caribbean life.

CMEx, mounted by Counterpart International and hosted by the Bahamas Ministry of
Tourism, examined the theme “Exploring Niche Markets for Caribbean Tourism”. Dynamic
interactive exchanges were spiced by interventions on topics such as strategies for
targeting the African American and other niche markets, involvement of the Diaspora,
the role of the Black Media, institutional arrangements, communications and ethics,
preserving the environment, and focused product and cultural development.
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