CMIA Honors first winner of the Caribbean Defender of Media Freedom Award

The Center for Media Integrity of the Americas (CMIA) was proud to join the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) at its 57th Annual General Assembly in Georgetown, Guyana, on August 18, 2026, for the presentation of the inaugural Caribbean Defender of Media Freedom Award. The award was presented by John Feeley, Executive Director of the CMIA, in the presence of members of the Caribbean media community, the president, prime minister, and other ministerials and officials of the Guyanese government, and CBU leadership, including Sonia D. Gill, a CMIA Board of Advisors member and President of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union. The new award reflects the shared commitment of CMIA and CBU to recognizing journalists whose work strengthens independent media, accountability, and democratic institutions throughout the Caribbean.

Image Courtesy of NCN Guyana

The inaugural recipient was Jules Vasquez, News Director of 7News Belize, whose more than three decades of journalism have been marked by persistence, independence, and a willingness to ask difficult questions of those in positions of power. In presenting the award, Feeley emphasized the fundamental relationship between a free press and democracy, declaring that “a democracy without a free press is a democracy without a memory, without an independent witness, and ultimately without an effective means of holding power accountable.” He highlighted Vasquez’s record of continuing to report despite personal attacks, legal pressure, economic pressures, and political criticism. The award recognizes not simply an individual career, but the essential role of journalism in giving citizens an independent voice and demanding accountability from those who exercise power.

Image Courtesy of NCN Guyana

“News is a public utility, just as important as water or electricity. A modern democratic society cannot survive without it.”

In his acceptance remarks, Vasquez offered a powerful description of why that work matters

His words captured the spirit of the inaugural award and the broader mission shared by CMIA and CBU: that independent, ethical journalism is not a luxury, but an essential public good. At a time when traditional media faces economic pressures and the information environment is being transformed by social media, artificial intelligence, and disinformation, recognizing journalists like Vasquez is more important than ever. CMIA is honored to celebrate his contribution and to stand alongside Caribbean journalists committed to protecting the public’s right to know.

You may view the the entirety of the event in the video here.

Image Courtesy of NCN Guyana