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 eight (8) 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 Special Mentions; Capital Media HD 99.3 on its first ever outing in the storied CBU competition taking three (3) Awards; Starcom Network two Awards and one (1) Special Mention.  And two Barbadian entrants each earned a Special Mention on their first outing in the CMAs: Plan A Productions 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
  • St. Lucia Times with two (2) Awards and one (1) Special Mention
  • API of St. 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)

1. 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
2. Best Magazine Programme
   AWARD – Institute of Information and Social Communication (Cuba)
   Desde La Musica
   Elizabeth Alvarez Hernandez
3. 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
4. Best News Story
   AWARD – Capital Media 99.3 (Barbados)
   Did You Know – Ep Heritage Economy
   Sir Henry Fraser, Donovan Clarke
5. Best Sports Story
   SPECIAL MENTION – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
   Sprinting Prowess
   Denise Walters
6. Best Investigative Report
   AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
   Housing Crisis
   Giovanni Dennis

C. PRODUCTION AWARDS (TELEVISION)

1. Best Documentary Programme
   SPECIAL MENTION – Plan A Productions (Barbados)
   A Rock And A Hard Place
   Chantelle S. Evelyn, Plan A ProductionsSPECIAL MENTION – Teleislas (San Andres Island, Colombia)
   Flora Y Fauna Marina
   Sociedad de Television de las Islas, TELEISLASSPECIAL 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

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

3. 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 DonellySPECIAL MENTION – Greater Belize Media
   Captain and Passenger Save Flight From Hijacker
   Reporter – Marion Ali, Videographer – Darrel Moguel, Graphics – Sheena SmithAWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
   The Tough Journey To Irwin
   Andrea Chisholm, Dean Sutherland, Hugh Clarke, Uton West
4. 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 DonnellySPECIAL 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 ClarkeAWARD – News Room Inc (Guyana)
   Between Scorecards and Stethoscopes
   Vishani Ragobeer, Davin Ramnarine
5. Best Investigative Report
   SPECIAL MENTION – CCN TV6 (Trinidad & Tobago)
   Lifesports Secrets Revealed: Part 2
   Mark BassantAWARD – News Room Inc (Guyana)
   Back to the Beginning: Could a Muddy Coast Be Guyana’s Saviour?
   Vishani Ragobeer, Shaconeil Burnette
6. Best Comedy Item
   AWARD – Greater Belize Media
   Grinch Steals Christmas at GBM
   Rick Romero, Sheena Smith, Nisa Sanchez
7. Best Entertainment Programme
   SPECIAL MENTION – The National Channel (Belize)
   The National ChannelAWARD – Carnival Catwalk Ltd (Trinidad & Tobago)
   Carnival Catwalk Season 1
   Jerome Precilla, Rodney Seemungal & Gian Franco

D. PRODUCTIONS AWARDS (PRINT)

1. 1. Best News Story
      SPECIAL MENTION – Barbados Government Information Service
      Tourism, Airlift, Accolades and Arrivals
      Sheena Forde-Craigg and Tyson HenrySPECIAL MENTION – Trinidad & Tobago Newsday
      Ganja Prices Climb Higher As US Blows Up “Drug Boats”
      Stephon NicholasAWARD – The Nation Publishing Co (Barbados)
      Three Days of Melissa’s Misery
      Natanga Smith
   2. Best Sports Story
      SPECIAL MENTION – Guardian Media (Trinidad & Tobago)
      20 Years On: Remembering When T&T Qualified
      Ryan BachooAWARD – Richès Karayib (Martinique)
      La Transat Cafe L’or
      Richès Karayib

E. PRODUCTION AWARDS (DIGITAL)

1. Best News Story – Sponsored by Massy
   AWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group (Jamaica)
   Siblings in Distress: Hurricane Melissa Victims
   Romardo Lyons – Reporter & Videographer, Uton West – Editor
2. Best Sports Story
   SPECIAL MENTION – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
   Dream Deferred, Not Denied
   Denise WaltersAWARD – The Nation Publishing Co (Barbados)
   Your Guide To The 2025 NBA Finals
   Daniel Collymore
3. Best Investigative Item
   SPECIAL MENTION – Trinidad Express
   The AI Revolution and Elections
   Khamarie RodriguezSPECIAL MENTION – Starcom Network/The Nation Publishing Company (Barbados)
   Staying Afloat Beyond the Boat
   Tre Greaves, Esther Jones, Ashada Joseph, Kristojay Paul and Gabrielle WilliamsAWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group (Jamaica)
   Sorrel & the Climate Challenge
   Romardo Lyons – Reporter; Jeovanni Heslop, Ivan Shaw and Aires Fagan – Video; Stefan Murray – Editor
4. Best Entertainment Item
   SPECIAL MENTION – Richès Karayib (Martinique)
   Les Journees du Patrimoine
   Richès KarayibAWARD – API (St. Vincent & the Grenadines)
   Union Island Culture
   Yinca Chambers

F. ADVERTISING AWARDS

1. Best Advertisement (Radio)
   SPECIAL MENTION – National Broadcasting Corporation St. Vincent & the Grenadines
   SVBLA – Turn Up the Vibes Loan
   Jason BessAWARD – Capital Media HD 99.3 (Barbados)
   Santa’s Sleigh Ride
   Wayne LeBlanc, Rebecca Fernandes, Brian Mendes, Capital Media HD 99.3
2. Best Advertisement (Television)
   SPECIAL MENTION – Greater Belize Media
   OYE 17^th Anniversary
   Sheena Smith
3. Best Public Service Advertisement (Digital)
   AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
   Bees in Agriculture
   Paula Harper-Grant, Rommel Cumberbatch
4. Best Public Service Advertisement (Radio)
   AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
   Encouraging Good Hand Hygiene
   Paula Harper-Grant, Andre Olton
5. Best Public Service Advertisement (Television)
   AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
   Christmas Praedial Larceny
   Paula Harper-Grant, Rommel Cumberbatch

G. THEME AWARDS (RADIO)

1. 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
2. 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)

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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 AnudeAWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group (Jamaica)
   The Vanishing Catch
   Romardo Lyons – Reporter, Courtney Morgan & Richard Brown – Video, Stefan Murray – Editor
5. 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 BarrowAWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group (Jamaica)
   The Reality in Content; Degraded Land
   Romardo Lyons – Reporter/Producer, Courtney Morgan – Videographer, Uton West – Editor
6. 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 RamjohnAWARD – 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
7. Financial Literacy Journalism – Sponsored by Sagicor
   SPECIAL MENTION – Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica
   Eliminating Debt
   Dennise Williams, Financially FocusedAWARD – 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)

1. 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 AlgarinAWARD – Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network
   Is Barbados Keeping Cruise Tourism and Marine Protection On An Even Keel?
   Esther Jones
2. 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 InitiativeAWARD – Starcom Network Inc (Barbados)
   Early Warning Systems: Bridging the Accessibility Gap
   Shantelle Legall-Gibson, Seigonie Mohammed
3. 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 HuntSPECIAL MENTION – Richès Karayib
   Machel Montano; Summer Fest Anguilla
   Richès KarayibAWARD – TTT Ltd.
   Right Here with Khary Roberts – Rope Jab
   Executive Producer – TTT Ltd; Producer – Khary Roberts; Camera – Jvon Pollonais

J. THEME AWARDS (PRINT)

1. 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 SpringerAWARD – Trinidad Express Newspaper
   Mariah’s Painful Life and Brutal Death
   Carolyn Kissoon
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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 SpringerSPECIAL MENTION – Joanne C. Hillhouse (Antigua & Barbuda)
   My Art Week Faves: Creative Space #25 of 2025
   Joanne C. HillhouseAWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
   Beyond Buns and Flying Fish
   Sheena Forde-Craigg and Tyson Henry
5. Health Education Journalism – Sponsored by Sagicor
   SPECIAL MENTION – Guyana Chronicle
   Telemedicine: A Digital Lifeline
   Shamar MeusaSPECIAL MENTION – The Nation Publishing Co (Barbados)
   Nutrition, Dignity Cannot Be Overlooked
   Carol MartindaleAWARD – RJRGLEANER Communications Group
   Silent Spread
   Sashana Small

STUDENT AWARDS

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

CONTENT CREATION AWARDS

1. Best Social Media Content Creator
   AWARD – Greater Belize Media
   Benita Keme-Palacio
2. Best Videographer
   AWARD – Greater Belize Media
   Rick Romero
3. Best Director
   SPECIAL MENTION – Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica
   Marlon SamuelsAWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
   Mikul Elcock
4. Best Producer (TV)
   AWARD – News Room Inc (Guyana)
   Vishani Ragobeer
5. Best Sound Engineer (Radio)
   AWARD – Barbados Government Information Service
   Andre Olton