ST. JOHN’S ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, NOVEMBER 2, 2026 – In a stunning sustainability display for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) now underway at Sandals Grande Resort, approximately 84,047 bottle caps have been transformed into an artistic display of the fifty-six (56) country flags spanning Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific.
The recycling project, valued at more than XCD $40,500, was organized by local non-profit Good Humans 268 Inc. with support from the Sandals Foundation. The flag-making phase engaged 698 students and at least 54 teachers from 39 schools, supported by 35 additional individuals involved in preparation, creation and installation.
The installation features 55 hand-built and hand-painted country flags, alongside an Antigua and Barbuda display flag, bringing the total to 56. Production involved 15 working days, comprising 10 full working days and five preparatory days at John Hughes. International attendees of the CHOGM will be welcomed by an element of the masterpiece as a large Antigua & Barbuda flag is now being displayed inside the V.C. Bird International Airport and throughout the conference. The full bunting of recycled bottle cap flags will adorn the Queen Elizabeth Highway. Following the close of the CHOGM, the flag display will be transported to six public locations around the island to further the sustainability awareness and message.
President of The Good Humans 268, Joshuanette Francis says the project is hoped to raise national consciousness and evoke change. “As Antigua proudly hosts these global leaders, we wanted to create a symbol that communicated to the world that sustainability is part of who we are. Our goal is to change legislation about waste management, to empower people to be active stewards of their community and the environment. Most importantly, we wanted to showcase the beauty of waste and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices,” she said.
The CHOGM Recycling Project is the latest in a series of environmental initiatives the Sandals Foundation has supported with The Good Humans 268. The Good Humans 268 has led a series of recycling initiatives across schools in Antigua since it was founded in 2023.
Heidi Clarke, Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation says the project was perfectly aligned to the mission of the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts, as it actively engaged students as change makers.
“This project is about more than art. It is about raising a generation of Caribbean citizens who understand that every bottle cap, every recycled item and every small action counts towards a more resilient future. The Sandals Foundation is honoured to invest in that vision alongside The Good Humans 268.”
This is the first time CHOGM is being hosted in Antigua and Barbuda. Heads of Government, Ministers and representatives from business, civil society and youth organisations will convene to discuss climate resilient, sustainable development and other crucial matters from Nov 1- 4. It is anticipated that roughly five thousand people will be visiting the island for the event.
Hospitality professionals across the Turks and Caicos Islands are now better equipped to deliver world-class service, following their successful completion of the Professional Development Programme for Hospitality Professionals, Caribbean Supercharged Service, Knowledge and Leadership series.
Sponsored by the Sandals Foundation, the flagship hospitality and service training programme is managed by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF). This year’s sessions were hosted by the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) in partnership with the Brighter Futures Centre, Providenciales, from October 13-19.
Sessions focused on encouraging mutual team member support, working in customer-facing roles such as the Welcome Desk or Concierge positions and continuously achieving consistency with service quality.
The Sandals Foundation is a longstanding partner Supercharged training series and have invested over US$10,000 this year, sponsoring chefs, cooks, stewards, warehouses and purchasing staff from seven resorts as well as two high schools to undertake the globally recognized Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point certification.
Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke extended kudos to the participants and said: “Investing in the future of the Caribbean tourism product means investing in the growth and development of every professional within the industry. From the transport or tour operators to the bartenders, culinary, steward, entertainment teams. For people who work outside of a resort, but whose roles make a significant impact on the experience of guests – each participant in this wide network of travel must continue to learn how to meet and exceed the needs of an evolving guest.”Some of the professionals who benefited were representatives from Grace Bay Car rentals, a heavy-machinery rental company, paint retailer, eight resorts, a luxury villa management enterprise and three junior chefs sponsored by TCHTA.
For her part, The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation’s Chairwoman Karolin Troubetzkoy encouraged participants to maximize their news skills in their future career endeavors.
“Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s workshops. Thank you for being fully engaged and making the most of your opportunity. It has been the Education Foundation’s honor to work closely with our sponsor Sandals Foundation and partner with TCHTA again to create Caribbean supercharged positivity within each of you,” she said.
At the Rio Nuevo Great House/Village, twenty Jamaican artisans from communities along the island’s north coast are discovering new skills, confidence and possibilities through Taino-inspired pottery and craft training under the Linking Legacy and Livelihoods initiative with an aim to preserve the country’s heritage and create livelihood opportunities.
The twelve weeks long project valued at just over JMD $2-million began in August with funding from the Sandals Foundation and is implemented by the Built Heritage Jamaica in collaboration with the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo).
Throughout the workshops, participants from across St. Ann and St. Mary have learnt how to bring principles of modern and traditional Taino design, including the use of Taino glyphs to create their pottery pieces. The Taino were arawakan-speaking Indigenous people, who originally inhabited the Caribbean islands prior to the colonial era. They form part of the historical heritage of Jamaica through various remnants in arts and culture. Training also includes clay preparation, kiln firing, wood and earth pits.
Alongside pottery, the artisans are learning basketry (using the loom method) and other small craft techniques, as well as business development support and exposure to additional markets. As part of the project, some finished pieces are hoped to be sold in craft markets as well as hotel gift shops islandwide.
Director of Operations at Sandals Foundation, Karen Zacca said “We are very excited about this project as it seeks to nurture the growth and development of our island’s artistic cultural ambassadors. Together, we can share these unique interpretations with visitors for years to come.”
Karimah Palmer is a twenty-eight year old jewelry maker, who always explored arts, winemaking and natural products production. She intends to incorporate pottery and sculpting into her jewelry pieces such as pendants, earring and jewelry boxes.
“The artisan sessions were fun and impactful. I learned so much within a short period of time including the importance of patience, making mistakes so I could learn from them, balance and pressure control. It also made me appreciate my heritage more through the historical ways pottery was done and is still used today,” Ms. Palmer shared.
On his part, seventy-year-old Derek Harris, who works in Highgate, St. Mary started his artisan journey in wood carving before building his career as a photographer for over fifteen years.
He was intrigued by the many ways of using clay. “I find clay fun to work with and I certainly will be doing more ceramic pieces. I now believe I can become a famous artist if I practice more and I’m looking forward to more tutoring.”
Maxine Harris, Vice and Acting Chairman of the St. Mary/St.Ann Chapter of Built Heritage Jamaica said the organisation is intentional with linking Jamaican heritage and the livelihood of community stakeholders.
“During the workshops, participants were caught up in discussions on Taino and Maroons and were excited, although they incorporated self-inspired design ideas, some were also inspired by traditional items their grandmother used like a ‘waspan’ with the wooden scrubber,” Ms. Harris said.
She is optimistic that the participants will be able to access additional income from improving or acquiring these skills. “In November, we will place emphasis on exposure to markets not just for pottery but also embroidery,” she stated.
Over the long term, there are plans to add training in stone and calabash art, using materials that are readily available in the area. This is intended to attract more young people to craft as a part-time or full-time livelihood option.
Built Heritage Jamaica's goal is to expand and strengthen authentic, community-driven product offerings that reflect the beauty and nature of the island. The Sandals Foundation is pleased to support Built Heritage Jamaica’s mandate to preserve the island’s physical heritage and help people understand the culture it represents.
The paediatric and neonatal unit at the Falmouth Public General Hospital is set for a new beginning with the successful completion of the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge.
The trailblazing four-day endurance experience brought together some 30 UK and 16 local participants to run, hike and paddle through some of Jamaica's most iconic locations. On Monday, October 5, the team celebrated their success at Clifton Mount within the Blue Mountain range, having raised the targeted £100,000.
The four-day experience saw participants completing a 10km run from St. Mary to St. Ann, a 5km kayak through the White River Fish Sanctuary, climbing the Dunn's River Falls, and enduring a 3hour trek and tree planting activity in the Bogue 2 Forest Reserve. On Day 3 they completed a 21km half marathon from Falmouth to Chukka Good Hope, and on Day 4 - hiked through the lush Blue Mountain Range, experiencing the glowing Caribbean sun and rugged terrain in a different way.
Executive Director at the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke, said the event provided a unique opportunity to showcase Jamaica's beauty and culture. She commended the challengers for completing what was not an easy feat.
"This has been a unique opportunity to showcase Jamaica and connect visitors – to its beauty, culture, food and communities. I am incredibly proud of what we were able to achieve. Our challengers were committed to pushing their bodies to the limit all for an incredible cause.
“For us,” Clarke continued, “It’s all about providing lifesaving equipment to our hospital and equipping our heroes – the doctors and nurses who work hard every day to save lives and to give our children a healthy start."
Equal to the resilience of the participants, Karl Thompson, Managing Director at Unique Vacations (UK) Ltd. says the success of the Island Challenge is because of the local and international partners.
"A huge thanks to everyone who made this possible. We came as a team, and we'll leave as a team, representing every individual, corporate, and travel partner who believes in the mission and the cause."
The Falmouth Public General Hospital, having lost its roof during Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, will receive critical neonatal and paediatric equipment including incubators and beds to serve our island's youngest and most vulnerable.
Next year, the philanthropic organisation will take the fundraising event to a new island, continuing its mission to strengthen paediatric and neonatal healthcare services across the Caribbean.
Island Challenge Jamaica 2026 is made possible through the kind support of a host of local and international partners including Sandals Resorts International, Island Routes, Jamaica Tourist Board, British Airways, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, Mystic Mountain, Digicel, The Best Dressed Chicken, Wisynco, CPJ, Rainforest Foundation, Digicel, Jamaica Observer, Tour Jamaica Destinations Management Co. Ltd., Oxford Trading Ja Ltd., Trekkers Adventures Jamaica, the Jamaica Defence Force, Urban Development Corporation, the Forestry Department of Jamaica, the Western Regional Health Authority, the National Solid Waste Management Authority, CIBC, and A.L. Golaub & Sons all on board to create this unforgettable experience.
