As President and Chair of the CBU Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome you to the launch of the 57th Caribbean Broadcasting Union Annual General Assembly and 37^th CBU Media Awards, set to take place in Guyana, the Land of Many Waters, from August 17 to 19, 2026.

This year, we gather under a theme that could not be more timely or more urgent: “Caribbean Media and Artificial Intelligence.”

Artificial Intelligence is no longer on the horizon; it is already reshaping how content is produced, distributed, translated, monetised, archived and consumed. It is changing how audiences receive information, how newsrooms verify facts, and how media institutions plan for the future.

For Caribbean media, the question is not whether Artificial Intelligence will affect us. Let’s be honest – it already has. The real question is this – how do we respond in a way that protects our people, strengthens our institutions, preserves our culture, and positions Caribbean media to lead with confidence, credibility and creativity?

That is why this 57th CBU Annual General Assembly is so important.

This year’s Assembly is the space for media leaders, broadcasters, journalists, technical professionals, policymakers, academics, development partners and content creators to examine the opportunities and risks of Artificial Intelligence in a Caribbean context.

We will explore innovation, while examining the ethics, authenticity, trust, safety and inclusion required of media practitioners in small developing societies, where information can quickly shape public confidence and national conversation.

So here’s what you can expect from this year’s AGA – We kick off with the Opening Ceremony featuring keynote speaker, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

We are honoured that UNESCO Caribbean Representative, Mr. Eric Falt, will participate in the Opening Ceremony and help to frame our discussions around this year’s theme – particularly in relation to UNESCO’s important work with Caribbean Member States on the ethical, safe and inclusive deployment of Artificial Intelligence.

The Conference Day will further deepen the conversation, with the Honourable Kwame McCoy, Minister with responsibility for Information and Public Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister of Guyana, delivering the keynote address.

We will also hear from a strong slate of presenters, including the Honourable E.J. Saunders, Minister of Innovation, Technology and Energy of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, and Mr. Embert Charles, President of the World Association for Christian Communication, who will speak on the important topic, “AI and Authenticity: Covering Caribbean Culture.”

In an age when images can be manufactured, voices can be cloned, and stories can be distorted at speed, Caribbean media must remain a trusted public space. We must ensure that our languages, accents, histories, communities and creative expressions are not flattened, misrepresented or erased by technologies that were not designed with us in mind.

At the same time, we must not approach AI with fear, because  used responsibly, it can help Caribbean media houses become more efficient, expand audience reach, improve accessibility, support disaster preparedness, strengthen archives, and create new possibilities for content delivery and regional collaboration.

Technology will also be a key focus of the Assembly, with Eutelsat hosting a workshop for senior broadcast engineers and technical officers on expanding reach, strengthening resilience, supporting emergency communications and creating new opportunities for connectivity.

This year, the CBU Media Hall of Fame will induct two outstanding Caribbean figures: the late journalist Mr. Rickey Singh and the late media and communications academic Professor Aggrey Brown. Their careers remind us that Caribbean media has always been shaped by courage, intellect, public service, cultural consciousness and a deep commitment to the people of this region.

Their induction will take place during the Opening Ceremony, with extended presentations on their life, work and impact during the Conference Day. Mr. Singh’s presentation will be delivered by Caribbean journalist and media trainer Mr. Wesley Gibbings, while Professor Brown’s presentation will be delivered by Dr. Patrick Prendergast, Director of the Caribbean School of Media and Communication at The University of the West Indies.

The 57th CBU Annual General Assembly will therefore be more than a meeting. It will be a regional conversation about the future of media, the future of technology, and the future of Caribbean storytelling all while grappling with the possibilities of Artificial Intelligence.

We invite our members, partners, sponsors, policymakers, media professionals and all those with an interest in communication, innovation and Caribbean development to be part of this important gathering.

Registration for the 57th CBU Annual General Assembly is now open, and delegates are encouraged to confirm their participation by visiting www.caribroadcastunion.org/aga57.

This year’s Assembly will be held from August 17 to 19, 2026, in Georgetown, Guyana, with accommodation available at Pegasus Suites, Georgetown.

As we prepare for this year’s Assembly, we look forward to robust discussion, practical collaboration, new partnerships, and a renewed commitment to ensuring that Caribbean media does not simply adapt to the age of AI, but helps shape it in the public interest.

See you in Georgetown!