BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is mourning former chairman and former U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism Pamela Richards.
“The U.S. Virgin Islands and the Caribbean have lost a tireless leader who championed the cause of the Virgin Islands and the broader Caribbean tourism industry,” said CTO Chairman Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands.
Richards’ dedication to tourism and numerous important causes throughout the Virgin Islands helped to advance socioeconomic development and quality of life in the Virgin Islands.
“She was not just a leader, but a beacon of service, her passion, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on the region,” Bryan added, emphasizing the personal qualities that made Richards so impactful.
As CTO chairman from 2004 to 2006, Richards presided over the 2005 appointment of Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace as Secretary-General, following the late Jean Holder’s retirement in December 2004.
During her chairmanship, the CTO undertook a series of transformative initiatives to bolster Caribbean tourism. These included enhancing tourism data collection, expanding training and development for tourism sector staff, and fostering public-private sector-focused sustainable development and cooperation through an MOU with the Caribbean Hotel Association.
Richards led the USVI in hosting the CTO’s annual Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-28) meeting in St. Thomas in October 2005.
Bryan extended condolences to Richards’ family, friends, the government, and the people of the Virgin Islands.
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