In memory of Marcia

Last week’s unexpected passing of Jamaica-based Trinidadian public relations veteran Marcia Erskine was a tough loss to the region and especially the travel, tourism and media communities.

Erskine was close to the Marketplace Excellence and the Caribbean Media Exchange families. Our President & CEO Bevan Springer shared these reflections on the passing of a dear friend and colleague.

“Marcia’s passing leaves a huge void in countless lives in Jamaica and throughout the region. She was an exceptional human being, always ready to offer a word of encouragement or advice. Her outstanding competence in marketing and PR leaves a vacuum, which will also be very difficult to fill. Her collegiality made her even more valuable as she was as generous with her time as she was with her winning ideas. 

“Throughout the decades, we collaborated on many communications initiatives in Jamaica and throughout the region, including the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism, which launched in Ocho Rios in 2001 gathering media, government, NGOs and the private sector to change the way tourism was treated in the media and by the public sector and nonprofits. 

“Just last month, we connected on both a personal and professional level as we prepared for the upcoming CHTA Marketplace in Montego Bay. As we mourn our loss, we must also express our gratitude for having been blessed with such an extraordinary woman of the Caribbean, whose influence was deep and profound.”

Remembering the maestros

As the 42nd Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace approaches in Montego Bay from May 20-22, 2024, we reflect on the remarkable contributions of two tourism visionaries: the late Heinz Simonitsch (left), a sustainable tourism pioneer of Half Moon Montego Bay fame, and Gordon “Butch” Stewart, a preeminent trailblazer of all-inclusive resorts and the founder of Sandals Resorts. The two innovators were photographed together before Marketplace got underway in Jamaica in 2019.

Simonitsch and Stewart were instrumental in shaping and advancing the Caribbean’s tourism sector. Their enduring legacies are powerful reminders of the impact that visionary leadership can have on our industry.

Caribbean Travel Marketplace is CHTA’s premier event, bringing together buyers and sellers of the region’s tourism products and services in an engaging and lively environment.

For more information, visit chtamarketplace.com.

Photo credit: Margot Jordan

USVI pursues closer ties with CARICOM

The U.S. Virgin Islands is tightening ties with the Caribbean region.

First, with its return to the 25-member Caribbean Tourism Organization and now, the Government of the USVI is pursuing a relationship with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Teri Helenese, the Director of State-Federal Relations and Washington Representative for the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is leading efforts to solidify a functional cooperation relationship with the Georgetown, Guyana-based Caribbean grouping on behalf of Governor Albert Bryan Jr.

She explained that the areas of key interest to the U.S. Territory include working with CARICOM on:



• The development of a “blue economy”
• Investment in key economic sectors such as agriculture, tourism and technology
• Intraregional trade facilitation
• Climate change
• Regional employment opportunities
• Disaster recovery
• Initiatives to address crime, poverty, and emerging public health challenges

Virgin Islands women celebrated

In recognizing International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) 175th Emancipation Commemoration Committee honored the contributions of the Territory’s women not only to its rich historical past, but also to the present.

Carol M. Burke, Chairwoman of the 175th Emancipation Commemoration Committee, noted that throughout the history of the Virgin Islands, women have been central figures in shaping the islands’ culture, heritage and progress. 

As part of its Women’s History Month celebration, the 175th Emancipation Commemoration Committee will pay special homage this year to an honor roll of a “Dozen Roses”, 12 women of notable accomplishments in a range of areas impacting the Virgin Islands’ community and quality of life. 

Embodying qualities of leadership, innovation and community service, the selected women hail from sectors including public service, banking and telecommunications, hospitality and education, legal services, entrepreneurship and more. 

The honorees are:

• Dina Perry-Malone, Vice President, First Bank
• Jennifer Matarangas-King, Vice President, Viya
• Elizabeth Armstrong, Owner, The Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort
• Karen Nelthropp, Guest Relations Manager, Cruzan Rum
• Cynthia Arnold, Vice President, Diageo USVI
• Marjorie Roberts, President, Marjorie Roberts, PC
• Karla Yhan, St. Croix Island Manager, Tropical Shipping
• Maria Cabret, Judge, Supreme Court
• Dr. Karen Harris Brown, Dean, School of Education, University of the Virgin Islands
• Anise Hodge, Deputy Executive Director, Virgin Islands Port Authority
• Sonia Sprauve, Entrepreneur
• Elizabeth Rogers, Owner, Colormax

The Commemoration Committee will continue its work to spotlight the Virgin Islands’ proud legacy through several events and initiatives throughout the year.

Sushi by the sea

The Caribbean is blessed with amazing beaches and places to kick back and relax. One such locale at The Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort’sshores is Beauregard’s on the Beach – the go-to spot for top-notch sushi and cocktails in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands since 2018. Though it’s a newer gem, Grotto Beach’s history stretches back centuries. Beauregard’s mixes laid-back vibes with a dash of chic. It’s a perfect spot to unwind, enjoy tasty culinary offerings and sip on something cool.

Quotable Caribbean

“In small states like Barbados what we want is for the people to win. Political parties, instead of spending a lot of time and financial resources playing ‘tug of war’, should work together in harmony in search of constitutional and electoral reform. As the rich get richer, the poor should get richer too. The political processes in Switzerland and Singapore have achieved this. It makes no sense expending effort fighting each other on marginal issues when you could assemble the ‘best brains’ and spend the same total energy on productive issues which can take everyone in the country forward.” – Dr. Basil Springer, Director, Marketplace Excellence Corporation

Medical Moment

World Malaria Day takes place on April 25, 2024, and underscores the importance of preventing and treating malaria by emphasizing the continuous investment and steadfast political commitment toward creating a world free from malaria.

The use of preventive measures like insecticides and mosquito nets has contributed to a decrease in the death toll, given that mosquitoes are the primary carriers and transmitters of malaria. Malaria is a curable illness: the most effective antimalarial medications are Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), serving as the primary recommended treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the most lethal malaria parasite worldwide.

In keeping with the 2024 theme, “Time to achieve zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”, the World Health Organization will give priority to the third “i” – implementation. The specific focus will be on reaching marginalized populations, such as regions in the Western Pacific.

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

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