Gilman Figaro to receive CTO”s Distinguished Caribbean Citizen award
Mar 14, 2019
CTO NAMES GILMAN FIGARO, FOUNDER OF THE SUNSHINE AWARDS, AS ITS 2019 DISTINGUISHED CARIBBEAN CITIZEN
~ Figaro will honoured for promoting Caribbean culture around the globe at Caribbean Tourism Industry Awards dinner during Caribbean Week New York ~
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (14 March 2019) – 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.
About Caribbean Week New York:
Organised by CTO-USA, Inc., the Caribbean Week New York programme takes place throughout New York City. The week is designed to raise awareness of the Caribbean’s diverse tourism industry by providing a platform for all CTO member countries to promote their product. Combining exciting consumer-oriented and informative business sessions with Caribbean-inspired cuisine, lively entertainment, authentic cultural experiences and networking opportunities, Caribbean Week New York is the largest regional tourism activity in the city. With vibrant colours, the tastes and excitement of the Caribbean and a showcase of the region’s rich heritage, Caribbean Week New York is a must for the Caribbean tourism industry, the Caribbean diaspora, travel consumers as well as businesses interested in forming relationships focused on developing the region.
Caribbean Week is supported by: Academy Engraving, Barbados, Bedessee Imports, Inc., Cholula, Cititech Solutions, Cool Tech Air Conditioning and Refrigeration LLC, Grenada, JetBlue, The Wyndham New Yorker Hotel.
About the Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados, offices in New York and London and representation in Canada, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of the region’s finest countries and territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish-speaking, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year-round, warm weather destination, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean.
Among the benefits to its members the organization provides specialized support and technical assistance in sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource development, event planning & execution and research & information technology.
The CTO’s Headquarters is located at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados BB 22026; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax:(246) 429-3065; E-mail: CTObarbados@caribtourism.com;
The CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad St., Suite 3302, New York, NY 10004, USA: Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax:(212) 635-9511; E-mail: CTOny@caribtourism.com;
The CTO’s London office is located at Suites 52A & 53, 5th Floor AMP House, Dingwall Road, Croydon CR0 2LX, England. Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067; E-mail: CTOlondon@caribtourism.com.
CTO has representation in Canada; Tel: (905) 857-1986; Email: droletn@caribtourism.com.
For more information on the Caribbean Tourism Organization, please visit www.OneCaribbean.org and follow CTO onFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to be part of the conversation. For more information on Caribbean Week, visitwww.caribbeanweek.com
