Action Bequia honoured with prestigious Tradewinds Environmental Hero Award

In celebration of Earth Day 2025, the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture has named Action Bequia as the recipient of the prestigious TradeWinds Environmental Hero Award, in recognition of its exceptional contributions to sustainability and marine conservation in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The award was presented at the Awards and Prize-giving Ceremony of the SVG Sailing Week by Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture, Carlos James, in partnership with Ricardo J. Flores, Vice President of Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations at TradeWinds. The honour was received on behalf of Action Bequia by their Executive Board Chair, Lucille Cozier.

Flores emphasised that the award is part of the global TradeWinds Experience family’s mission to celebrate those creating meaningful, on-the-ground environmental change. In his remarks, Minister James praised Action Bequia as “an inspiring model of grassroots leadership and environmental responsibility.”

The recognition highlighted several of Action Bequia’s transformative initiatives, including: Reducing litter and promoting recycling, especially through awareness campaigns and youth education programmes; Cleaning beaches and supporting marine ecosystem protection, including coral reefs and other vital habitats; and

Providing crucial community support during major crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the volcanic eruptions in 2021, and passage on July 1, 2024 of Hurricane Beryl.

These efforts, and so many more, have helped forge a sustainable path forward for Bequia and St Vincent and the Grenadines as a whole, a release from the SVG Ministry of Tourism states.

The TradeWinds Environmental Hero Award affirms the Ministry’s and the nation’s shared commitment to environmental protection and the building of a sustainable future. As Minister James noted, “Protecting our natural heritage is an act of preservation and nation-building.”

The Ministry in its release said it has extended its “deepest congratulations to Action Bequia and encourages all Vincentians to draw inspiration from their work as we continue to advance sustainable development and climate resilience across our islands”. Earth Day is celebrated globally each year on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first held in 1970.