‘Butch’ in Caribbean Hall of Fame

The late Chairman of the Jamaica Observer, Gordon “Butch” Stewart became the latest inductee into the Caribbean Media Hall of Fame when he was welcomed into the hallowed body at a virtual ceremony on Monday at the start of the 52nd Annual General Assembly of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU).

Chairman of the Selection Panel for the Awards, Vic Fernandes who was the longest serving President of the CBU said his panel of adjudicators saw a body of national and international contribution at a high level from the inductee which qualified him for their recommendation.
Stewart who died in January was also hailed for his contribution to other media organisations to which he contributed at the level of their Board, including the Express Newspaper and Caribbean Communications Network (CCN) in Trinidad and Tobago.

In a citation read in his honour, Stewart was also recognised for the advertising support that his businesses gave to media in the region in more than half a dozen countries. It was noted that his Sandals Resorts business also operated an Environmental Media Awards programme for several years in which journalists were awarded for work done in reporting on ecological matters and how they affected the region’s ecosystems.

It was also noted that Stewart has seen to the expansion of their media entities to now include two radio stations, one of which in its first few years of operation, gained a top five rating in listenership in Jamaica.

Current Chairman of Sandals, Adam Stewart, expressed delight at his late father being recognised with induction into the Caribbean Media Hall of Fame. He said his entire family was thrilled by the news and honoured by the recognition.

The Caribbean Media Hall of Fame has been operated by the Caribbean Broadcasting Union for more than two decades and is considered the highest level of recognition for media owners and workers in the region. (PR)