CTO News

Hugh Riley Retires as CTO Secretary General After Ten Years at the Helm

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (23 April, 2019) – The region’s tourism development agency is to begin the search for a new secretary general to replace the departing Hugh Riley.

Riley, who was appointed to the top post at the Barbados-headquartered Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in August 2009 after acting for a year, has gone on pre-retirement leave ahead of his departure at the end of June this year. The organisation’s director of finance, Neil Walters, will act in the position until a successor is appointed.

The secretary general is the public face and chief spokesperson of the CTO, and provides the organisation with visionary leadership, strong direction and clarity to its policy development. The holder of the post is responsible for implementing the vision of the organisation based on the strategic direction set by the council of ministers and commissioners of tourism and the CTO board of directors.

CTO Names Gilman Figaro as its 2019 Distinguished Caribbean Citizen

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will present its “Distinguished Caribbean Citizen Award” to Gilman Figaro, founder and chairman of the SUNSHINE Awards, for promoting the Caribbean’s culture around the globe by gripping audiences with exciting and entertaining art forms, including dance, music and poetry.

Figaro will be honoured during the Caribbean Tourism Industry Awards programme which recognises excellence in promoting the Caribbean and honours individuals whose outstanding, passionate and dedicated work has contributed to the development of the region. The esteemed awards dinner takes place on Thursday, 6 June, during Caribbean Week New York, when the Big Apple is captivated with Caribbean flair, pulsating energy and colourful sounds.

“The Caribbean Tourism Organization recognises Gilman Figaro’s drive for promoting Caribbean culture through the creative arts,” said Sylma Brown, Director, CTO-USA. “His untiring hard work, dedication and commitment to positioning the Caribbean as an important region for all art forms are praiseworthy and for that reason we will honour him with the Distinguished Caribbean Citizen Award.”

Figaro was born in Trinidad and migrated to the United States two years after graduating high school. His determination to enhance the integrity and global awareness of Caribbean art forms led him to create the SUNSHINE Awards. This organisation recognises excellence in the performing arts, education, science and sports of the various Caribbean countries.

Always placing a great emphasis on education, Figaro established the SUNSHINE Awards Student Recognition Programme which, annually, recognises and applauds the scholastic achievements of the top students from selected Caribbean island.

Figaro also co-authored “Song for Montserrat“, which brought together an ensemble of 119 top performing artistes from across the Caribbean in a fundraising concert for families in Montserrat who had lost their homes during the volcanic eruption of 1995.

Figaro also scripted and composed the First Annual Indo-Caribbean Music Awards for Jamaica Me Crazy Records for which he adopted a format comparable to the Grammy Awards. He produced and penned the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College’s First Annual Steelband Festival titled “The Pride of the Caribbean,” leading Figaro to subsequently create four shows for well-known pianists, as well as other successful musical endeavours.

Driven by his passion for the Caribbean and its art forms, Figaro has received multiple awards highlighting his dedication to the performing arts, music and Caribbean communities.