The Caribbean Broadcasting Union is pleased to announce the winners of the 37^th CBU Media Awards.

On Wednesday, August 19, ninety-two (92) Award and Special Mention winners were revealed live in an event telecast and streamed to audiences across the region from the Atlantic Suites at the Hyatt in Georgetown, Guyana.

Winners from print, digital, and broadcast media in thirteen countries and territories of the English, French and Spanish Caribbean saw their names on screen during the ceremony.

Presentations of trophies and certificates were made in fifty-six (56) categories.  Of these twenty-two (22) – were themed categories supported by:

• Massy Group
• The Caribbean Culture Fund
• UN Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
• UNICEF Belize
• UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office
• The Nature Conservancy Caribbean Division,
• Sagicor and
• The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management

TOP PERFORMERS FROM BARBADOS AND JAMAICA

For the first time in the modern era of the CBU Media Awards, Barbados came out on top with a total of fifteen (15) Award wins and nine (9) Special Mention wins.  Barbados’ winning delegation comprised the Barbados Government Information Service with seven (7) Awards and one (1) Special Mention; The Nation Publishing Company with three (3) Awards and four (4) Special Mentions; Capital Media HD 99.3 on its first ever outing in the storied CBU competition taking three (3) Awards; Starcom Network two (2) Awards and one (1) Special Mention.  And three Barbadian entrants each earned a Special Mention on their first outing in the CMAs: Plan A Productions, the Barbados Community College and National Transformation Initiative (NTI).

Next in line was Jamaica with a total of fourteen (14) Awards and four (4) Special Mentions.  Traditional powerhouse the RJRGLEANER Communications Group was the top media house over all this year with thirteen (13) Awards and two (2) Special Mentions.  It was supported by the University of the West Indies Mona taking its first ever award in the brand-new student categories while the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica took home one (1) Special Mention.

Trinidad and Tobago demonstrated consistent quality with a total of six (6) Awards and nine (9) Special Mentions.  The main contributors were OCM stablemates the Express Newspaper and CCN TV6 with two (2) Awards and three (3) Special Mentions;  TTT Ltd with two (2) Awards as well as two (2) Special Mentions; Guardian Media with one (1) award and two (2) Special Mentions; Carnival Catwalk winning one (1) award on its premiere appearance in the competition; Parliament Channel with one (1) Special Mention on its return to the competition after some years away, and a swan song performance of one (1) Special Mention by Trinidad Newsday, which closed operations at the beginning of 2026.

As always Belize was among the standouts with five (5) Awards and four (4) Special Mentions. All but one of the wins was by traditional top achiever Greater Belize Media, while The National Channel (TNC) supported with one (1) Special Mention win.

This year’s host country Guyana was well represented with a total of four (4) Awards and three (3) Special Mentions.  Leading the Guyanese charge was News Room Inc which accounted for all four (4) of the Awards to the host country and two (2) Special Mentions.  Guyana Chronicle supported the side with one (1) Special Mention.

 

FIRST TIME ENTRANTS MAKE A STRONG IMPRESSION

A slew of first timers made excellent impressions on the judges this year. 

They included:

• Riches Karayib of Martinique with two (2) Awards and two (2) Special Mentions
• Lucia Times with two (2) Awards and one (1) Special Mention
• API of Vincent and the Grenadines with one (1) Award and one (1) Special Mention, and
• Compass TV of the Cayman Islands with three (3) Special Mentions
• The British Virgin Islands Beacon copping one (1) Special Mention

 

 

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

A.  PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS

1. Best News & Current Affairs Reel – Sponsored by Massy
   AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
   A Home Taken By The Sea
   Romardo Lyons
2. Best Music Reel
   AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
   Accompong Laid Bare
   Romardo Lyons
3. Best Comedy Reel
   AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
   Comic Relief in Black River
   Romardo Lyons
4. Best Educational Reel – Sponsored by Massy
   AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
   Youth Urged To Vote
   Romardo Lyons

 

B. PRODUCTION AWARDS (RADIO)

5. Best Documentary Programme
   SPECIAL MENTION – Institute of Information and Social Communication (Cuba)
   En El Dificil Camino
   Elizabeth Alvarez HernandezAWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group (Jamaica)
   Unsung Heroes – Who Cares for the Caregiver
   Dadrian Gordon
6. Best Magazine Programme
   AWARD – Institute of Information and Social Communication (Cuba)
   Desde La Musica
   Elizabeth Alvarez Hernandez
7. Best Drama Programme
   AWARD – Capital Media HD 99.3 (Barbados)
   Santa’s Sleigh Ride – Cuba
   Capital Media HD 99.3, Wayne Le Blanc, Rebecca Fernandes
8. Best News Story
   AWARD – Capital Media 99.3 (Barbados)
   Did You Know – Ep Heritage Economy
   Sir Henry Fraser, Donovan Clarke
9. Best Sports Story
   SPECIAL MENTION – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
   Sprinting Prowess
   Denise Walters
10. Best Investigative Report
    AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
    Housing Crisis
    Giovanni Dennis

 

C. PRODUCTION AWARDS (TELEVISION)

11. Best Documentary Programme
    SPECIAL MENTION – Plan A Productions (Barbados)
    A Rock And A Hard Place
    Chantelle S. Evelyn, Plan A Productions

    SPECIAL MENTION – Teleislas (San Andres Island, Colombia)
    Flora Y Fauna Marina
    Sociedad de Television de las Islas, TELEISLAS

    SPECIAL MENTION – Parliament Channel (Trinidad & Tobago)
    Evidence And Action: Climate Change and the Law
    Parliament Channel, Ayanna Holder, Candice Dubarry, Colleen Holder, Christian Wright, Reshaud Alexander, Wayne Frederick, Atiba Wiltshire

    AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group (Jamaica)
    Glamour Or Gamble: Unregulated Dentistry
    Romardo Lyons – Reporter/ Producer; Ivan Shaw – Videographer; Uton West – Editor

 

12. Best Magazine Programme
    SPECIAL MENTION – Guardian Media (Trinidad & Tobago)
    Agenda 41
    Bavita Gopaulchan, Kejan Haynes, Ryan Bachoo

    SPECIAL MENTION – Compass TV (Cayman Islands)
    Compass Christmas Eve Special
    Mona Lisa Meade, Lesli Tathum, Tattiana Tibbetts, Reshma Ragoonath, Kayla Karim, Vanessa Hansen Allott, Tammi Sulliman, Richard O’Carroll, Tripp Donelly

    SPECIAL MENTION – API (St. Vincent & the Grenadines)
    Inside Story
    API St. Vincent and the Grenadines

    AWARD – TTT Ltd (Trinidad & Tobago)
    Penny on Point (POP) Christmas Special
    Producer Penny Gomez & Colin Greaves; Presenter Penny Gomez; Editor NH Productions TT; Distributor TTT Ltd

 

13. Best News Story
    SPECIAL MENTION – Compass Media (Cayman Islands)
    Energy Efficient Homes
    Philipp Richter, Lesli Tathum, Kayla Karim, Reshma Ragoonath, Stephon Johnson, Vanessa Hansen Allott, Tammi Sulliman, Richard O’Carroll, Tripp Donelly

    SPECIAL MENTION – Greater Belize Media
    Captain and Passenger Save Flight From Hijacker
    Reporter – Marion Ali, Videographer – Darrel Moguel, Graphics – Sheena Smith

    AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
    The Tough Journey To Irwin
    Andrea Chisholm, Dean Sutherland, Hugh Clarke, Uton West

14. Best Sports Story
    SPECIAL MENTION – Compass Media (Cayman Islands)
    Boys to Men
    Seaford Russell Jr., Kayla Karim, Reshma Ragoonath, Stephon Johnson, Vanessa Hansen Allott, Tammi Sulliman, Richard O’Carroll, Tripp Donnelly

    SPECIAL MENTION – TTT Ltd (Trinidad & Tobago)
    Woman Power Wednesday: Teniel Campbell Ep 19
    Executive Producer TTT Ltd; Producer Nicole Greene; Junior Producer Mikhail Cooper; Editor Celeste Clarke

    AWARD – News Room Inc (Guyana)
    Between Scorecards and Stethoscopes
    Vishani Ragobeer, Davin Ramnarine

15. Best Investigative Report
    SPECIAL MENTION – CCN TV6 (Trinidad & Tobago)
    Lifesports Secrets Revealed: Part 2
    Mark Bassant

    AWARD – News Room Inc (Guyana)
    Back to the Beginning: Could a Muddy Coast Be Guyana’s Saviour?
    Vishani Ragobeer, Shaconeil Burnette

 

16. Best Comedy Item
    AWARD – Greater Belize Media
    Grinch Steals Christmas at GBM
    Rick Romero, Sheena Smith, Nisa Sanchez

 

17. Best Entertainment Programme
    SPECIAL MENTION – The National Channel (Belize)
    Glazed Out Season 4
    The National Channel

    AWARD – Carnival Catwalk Ltd (Trinidad & Tobago)
    Carnival Catwalk Season 1
    Jerome Precilla, Rodney Seemungal & Gian Franco

 

D.  PRODUCTIONS AWARDS (PRINT)

18. Best News Story
    SPECIAL MENTION – Barbados Government Information Service
    Tourism, Airlift, Accolades and Arrivals
    Sheena Forde-Craigg and Tyson Henry

    SPECIAL MENTION – Trinidad & Tobago Newsday
    Ganja Prices Climb Higher As US Blows Up “Drug Boats”
    Stephon Nicholas

    AWARD – The Nation Publishing Co (Barbados)
    Three Days of Melissa’s Misery
    Natanga Smith

 

19. Best Sports Story
    SPECIAL MENTION – Guardian Media (Trinidad & Tobago)
    20 Years On: Remembering When T&T Qualified
    Ryan Bachoo

    AWARD – Richès Karayib (Martinique)
    La Transat Cafe L’or
    Richès Karayib

 

20. Best Investigative Item – Sponsored by Massy
    AWARD – Trinidad Express
    Secrets of LifeSport Revealed Pt 1: The $440M LifeSport Rip-Off
    Mark Bassant

 

21. Best Entertainment Item
    SPECIAL MENTION – The Nation Publishing Co (Barbados)
    Noel Shapes the Soul of Pan
    Natanga Smith

    AWARD – Richès Karayib
    Cecile Vernant: Une artiste multi médium qui sculpte la mémoire de l’ile
    Richès Karayib

 

22. Best News Photograph
    SPECIAL MENTION – News Room Inc (Guyana)
    Mash in Guyana
    Shaconeil Burnette

    AWARD – St. Lucia Times
    Beausejour Burning
    McAllister Hunt

 

23. Best Sports Photograph
    AWARD – St. Lucia Times
    Man of the Match
    McAllister Hunt

 

E.  PRODUCTION AWARDS (DIGITAL)

24. Best News Story – Sponsored by Massy
    AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group (Jamaica)
    Siblings in Distress: Hurricane Melissa Victims
    Romardo Lyons – Reporter & Videographer, Uton West – Editor

 

25. Best Sports Story
    SPECIAL MENTION – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
    Dream Deferred, Not Denied
    Denise Walters

    AWARD – The Nation Publishing Co (Barbados)
    Your Guide To The 2025 NBA Finals
    Daniel Collymore

 

26. Best Investigative Item
    SPECIAL MENTION – Trinidad Express
    The AI Revolution and Elections
    Khamarie Rodriguez

    SPECIAL MENTION – Starcom Network/ The Nation Publishing Company (Barbados)
    Staying Afloat Beyond the Boat
    Tre Greaves, Esther Jones, Ashada Joseph, Kristojay Paul and Gabrielle Williams

    AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group (Jamaica)
    Sorrel & the Climate Challenge
    Romardo Lyons – Reporter; Jeovanni Heslop, Ivan Shaw and Aires Fagan – Video; Stefan Murray – Editor

 

27. Best Entertainment Item
    SPECIAL MENTION – Richès Karayib (Martinique)
    Les Journees du Patrimoine
    Richès Karayib

    AWARD – API (St. Vincent & the Grenadines)
    Union Island Culture
    Yinca Chambers

 

F. ADVERTISING AWARDS

28. Best Advertisement (Radio)
    SPECIAL MENTION – National Broadcasting Corporation St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    SVBLA – Turn Up the Vibes Loan
    Jason Bess

    AWARD – Capital Media HD 99.3 (Barbados)
    Santa’s Sleigh Ride
    Wayne LeBlanc, Rebecca Fernandes, Brian Mendes, Capital Media HD 99.3

 

29. Best Advertisement (Television)
    SPECIAL MENTION – Greater Belize Media
    OYE 17^th Anniversary
    Sheena Smith

 

30. Best Public Service Advertisement (Digital)
    AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
    Bees in Agriculture
    Paula Harper-Grant, Rommel Cumberbatch

 

31. Best Public Service Advertisement (Radio)
    AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
    Encouraging Good Hand Hygiene
    Paula Harper-Grant, Andre Olton
32. Best Public Service Advertisement (Television)
    AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
    Christmas Praedial Larceny
    Paula Harper-Grant, Rommel Cumberbatch

 

G. THEME AWARDS (RADIO)

33. SDG Champion – sponsored by UN Sub-Regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
    AWARD – Starcom Network Inc (Barbados)
    Reindustrialisation and the Future of Barbados’ Export Building Capacity For Sustainable Economic Growth
    Starcom Network Inc and Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry

34. Excellence in Media Coverage of Caribbean Arts and Culture – sponsored by the Caribbean Culture Fund
    AWARD – Institute of Information and Social Communication
    La Decima Es Una Sola
    Elizabeth Alvarez Hernandez

 

H. THEME AWARDS (TELEVISION)

35. Best Item on a Children’s Rights Issue – sponsored by UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office
    SPECIAL MENTION – CCN TV-6
    Vacation Camp Needed
    Cindy Raghubar-Teekersingh
36. Child Rights Champion: Investigative Reporting Story – sponsored by UNICEF Belize
    AWARD – Greater Belize Media
    Special Ed Students Locked Out of School Two Days Straight
    Reporter – Paul Lopez & Britney Gordon; Videographer – George Tillett
37. Child Rights Champion: Children who Inspire Story – sponsored by UNICEF Belize
    AWARD – Greater Belize Media
    Belize’s Children’s Parliament Debates Adolescent Health Access
    Reporter – Britney Gordon, Videographer – George Tillet
38. Excellence in Environmental Reporting on Mangrove/Seagrass Beds – Sponsored by The Nature Conservancy Caribbean Division
    SPECIAL MENTION – News Room Inc (Guyana)
    Sweet Survival: How Guyana’s Mangrove Forests Save The Coastland & Sustain Livelihoods
    Produced by Neil Marks, filmed and edited by Shatanand Anude

    AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group (Jamaica)
    The Vanishing Catch
    Romardo Lyons – Reporter, Courtney Morgan & Richard Brown – Video, Stefan Murray – Editor

39. Best Production on Land Degradation Neutrality – Sponsored by the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management
    SPECIAL MENTION – Greater Belize Media
    Boston Village Fights Back Against Illegal Logging
    Reporter – Paul Lopez, Videographers – Dennis Tucker & Cleon Barrow

    AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group (Jamaica)
    The Reality in Content; Degraded Land
    Romardo Lyons – Reporter/Producer, Courtney Morgan – Videographer, Uton West – Editor

40. Excellence in Media Coverage of Caribbean Arts and Culture – sponsored by the Caribbean Culture Fund
    SPECIAL MENTION – TTT Ltd (Trinidad & Tobago)
    Woman Power Wednesday: Penelope Spencer Ep 23
    Executive Producer TTT Ltd; Producer Nicole Green; Junior Producer Mikhail Cooper; Editors Peter Thompson & Israel Ramjohn

    AWARD – News Room Inc (Guyana)
    Steel Pan Revival: Guyana’s Big Bands and the Fight to Keep Mash Alive
    Produced by Daniel Swain, Filmed and edited by Shatanand Anude

41. Financial Literacy Journalism – Sponsored by Sagicor
    SPECIAL MENTION – Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica
    Eliminating Debt
    Dennise Williams, Financially Focused

    AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
    Money Matters: Navigating Your Financial Future
    Mikul Elcock, Aisha Reid, Andre Olton, Anthony Husbands, Stephanie St. Hill, Aaron Greenidge, Fabian Belgrave, Sharon Austin-Gilmore

 

I.  THEME AWARDS (DIGITAL)

42. Excellence in Environmental Reporting on Coral Reefs – Sponsored by The Nature Conservancy Caribbean Division
    SPECIAL MENTION – The BVI Beacon (British Virgin Islands)
    Caribbean Corals: Bleaching Ravages A Region Built On Reefs As Aid Falls Short
    Freeman Rogers, Jean-Michel Hauteville, Krista Campbell, Yaneris M. Soto Muniz, Suzanne Carlson, Sara Kirkpatrick, Noel Algarin

    AWARD – Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network
    Is Barbados Keeping Cruise Tourism and Marine Protection On An Even Keel?
    Esther Jones

43. SDG Champion – sponsored by UN Sub-Regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
    SPECIAL MENTION – National Transformation Initiative (Barbados)
    Interview with STARR Bajan – Janelle Skinner
    National Transformation Initiative

    AWARD – Starcom Network Inc (Barbados)
    Early Warning Systems: Bridging the Accessibility Gap
    Shantelle Legall-Gibson, Seigonie Mohammed

44. Excellence in Media Coverage of Caribbean Arts and Culture – sponsored by the Caribbean Culture Fund
    SPECIAL MENTION – St. Lucia Times
    Behind the Culture; Behind the Stage
    McAllister Hunt

    SPECIAL MENTION – Richès Karayib
    Machel Montano; Summer Fest Anguilla
    Richès Karayib

    AWARD – TTT Ltd.
    Right Here with Khary Roberts – Rope Jab
    Executive Producer – TTT Ltd; Producer – Khary Roberts; Camera – Jvon Pollonais

J.  THEME AWARDS (PRINT)

45. Best Item on a Children’s Rights Issue – sponsored by UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office
    SPECIAL MENTION – The Nation Publishing Co (Barbados)
    Position Youth As Agents of Change
    Diara Springer

    AWARD – Trinidad Express Newspaper
    Mariah’s Painful Life and Brutal Death
    Carolyn Kissoon

46. SDG Champion – sponsored by the UN Sub-Regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
    AWARD – The Nation Publishing Co (Barbados)
    Erosion Takes Toll At Worthing Beach
    Diara Springer
47. Best Production on Land Degradation Neutrality – Sponsored by the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management
    AWARD – Guardian Media Limited (Trinidad & Tobago)
    Rising Seas and Vanishing Lands
    Ryan Bachoo
48. Excellence in Media Coverage of Caribbean Arts and Culture – sponsored by the Caribbean Culture Fund
    SPECIAL MENTION – The Nation Publishing Co (Barbados)
    CARIFESTA Shines Light On Bajan Icon
    Diara Springer

    SPECIAL MENTION – Joanne C. Hillhouse (Antigua & Barbuda)
    My Art Week Faves: Creative Space #25 of 2025
    Joanne C. Hillhouse

    AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
    Beyond Buns and Flying Fish
    Sheena Forde-Craigg and Tyson Henry

49. Health Education Journalism – Sponsored by Sagicor
    SPECIAL MENTION – Guyana Chronicle
    Telemedicine: A Digital Lifeline
    Shamar Meusa

    SPECIAL MENTION – The Nation Publishing Co (Barbados)
    Nutrition, Dignity Cannot Be Overlooked
    Carol Martindale

    AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
    Silent Spread
    Sashana Small

K. STUDENT AWARDS

50. Best Student Television Item
    AWARD – University of the West Indies: Broadcast Journalism Television II Course
    Rising Tuition
    Javoney Hamilton
51. Best Student Digital Item
    SPECIAL MENTION – Barbados Community College: Digital Video Production Course
    Female Students Stepping Into Male Spaces
    Victoria Boyce

L. CONTENT CREATION AWARDS

52. Best Social Media Content Creator
    AWARD – Greater Belize Media
    Benita Keme-Palacio
53. Best Videographer
    AWARD – Greater Belize Media
    Rick Romero
54. Best Director
    SPECIAL MENTION – Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica
    Marlon Samuels

    AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
    Mikul Elcock

55. Best Producer (TV)
    AWARD – News Room Inc (Guyana)
    Vishani Ragobee
56. Best Sound Engineer (Radio)
    AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
    Andre Olton