Cindy Allman

  • Cindy Allman, Bookstagrammer

Cindy is a Jamaican living in Trinidad & Tobago who thoroughly enjoys the island life. She started the BookofCinz platform to encourage people to Read, read More, read Widely, and read Caribbean. Since starting BookofCinz in 2018, she launched a book club that meets monthly online and in-person. She also has a free BookofCinz Library open to people residing in Trinidad. She also started the Read Caribbean challenge where she actively created awareness for Caribbean authors and their work throughout the year, but especially during June – which is Caribbean Heritage Month. 

Sandra Ward

Sandra Ward, Cabinet Secretary, Government of the Virgin Islands

Sandra I. Ward is a seasoned public service professional with over 25 years’ experience in policy, management, administration, communication and public relations within the Government of the Virgin Islands. Her career spans several roles, including Chief Information Officer, Director of Communications, Deputy Secretary, and Acting Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office. She currently serves as Cabinet Secretary in the Cabinet Office.

A proud product of the Virgin Islands’ school system, Ms. Ward holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts (Broadcast Communication) from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey), and dual Master’s degrees in Public Communication and Public Administration from The American University (AU) in Washington, D.C.

During her time in Washington, D.C. she served as a communications intern in the Office of Mayor Anthony Williams. Her academic and leadership achievements include the International Student Services Leadership Award from AU for her work as president of the university’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She was also inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for Public Administration and Affairs.

Ms. Ward’s commitment to excellence was recognised by the Government of the Virgin Islands when she received the Public Service Excellence in Leadership Award.

Beyond her professional life, Ms. Ward is a committed Christian, avid news follower, and a passionate student of Virgin Islands history. She is also a pageant speech coach, an enthusiastic traveler and reader, and the owner of INFINITY, an events and bakery supplies specialty store.

Although she has travelled extensively, Ms. Ward still cannot think of any other country in which she would reside, but in her homeland, the Virgin Islands. 

Isabelle Baafi

  • Isabelle Baafi, Author
 

Isabelle Baafi is the author of Chaotic Good (Faber & Faber / Wesleyan University Press, 2025), which was shortlisted for the Jerwood Prize for Best First Collection 2025. Her pamphlet Ripe (ignitionpress, 2020) won a Somerset Maugham Award and was a Poetry Book Society Pamphlet Choice. She won First Prize in the Winchester Poetry Prize 2023 and Second Prize in the London Magazine Poetry Prize 2022. Her writing has been published in Granta, the TLS, The Poetry Review, Callaloo, The London Magazine, and elsewhere. She edits at Poetry London and Magma.

Kamau Georges

  • Kamau Georges, Musician

    Kamau Georges continues to prove himself to be one of the B.V.I.s finest musicians whose work as a jazz saxophonist, music producer, songwriter & recording artist continues to garner local, regional and international acclaim. Kamau is a graduate of the distinguished Berklee College Of Music in Boston Massachusetts, with a bachelor’s degree in music production & engineering. He has performed locally and abroad in countries like BVI, USVI, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago, Toronto, UK, France, & Italy. He has also performed in the US at venues like the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY has been fortunate to have shared the stage and perform on the same card with notable musicians such as Reggae Band Third World, Trumpeters Roy Hargrove, Darren Barret & Rashawn Ross, Saxophonists Gerald Albright, Ron Blake, & Arturo Tappin, & Bassist Ruben Rogers. Recently Kamau as has been hired to entertain at private parties for clients such as Paris Hilton, Justin Timberlake & Richard Branson.

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  • Throughout the Caribbean Kamau has produced and written for some of the Soca industry’s top international artists & since 2005 Kamau has worked closely alongside the world-renowned and award winning DJ, music producer, songwriter, recording artist, TV and radio personality, Clinton Sparks. Through this partnership, Georges continues to collaborate with some of the music industry’s top names in the Pop, Hip Hop, and R&B genres where he has already produced for names such as the Notorious B.I.G. & Lady Gaga. His production work has accumulated tens of millions of views on YouTube and contributed to the sale of over ten million albums for various projects worldwide.