Often referred to as the "King of All-Inclusives," "Cupid of the Caribbean," and the "Master of Marketing," The Honorable Gordon "Butch" Stewart was a beacon in the travel industry. He was a man with a great vision of courage to build, grow and evolve his business, always moving forward and looking into the future.

“The horrific assault yesterday on the Capitol was not a protest. This was a failed coup attempt deliberately designed to circumvent the will of the people with the goal of keeping in place the flawed leadership that was overwhelmingly defeated in the November elections. From the president of the United States downward, all involved — whether via their actions or their failure to act — must be held accountable.  

“The people and government of the U.S. Virgin Islands join me in sending our heartfelt condolences to the family of the Honorable Gordon “Butch” Stewart, whose passing reminds us of the momentous achievements he recorded as he helped build tourism into the Caribbean’s major economic driver. We also remember that while he propelled the growth of tourism he did so in a way that increased local control to ensure its profits benefitted Caribbean people and their communities. He is carried into the arms of his Lord with our respect, affection and gratitude.” – Albert Bryan Jr., Governor, U.S. Virgin Islands 

WASHINGTON - “Today, nearly 60 years removed from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s speech during the March on Washington, countless barriers remain between his dream and America’s reality. Earlier this month, our country received a stark reminder that America remains a place in which, as King said, too many ‘are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.’

Dear Friends,

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has expressed deep sadness at the passing of tourism stalwart Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.

WASHINGTON – The Family, a national network of Black conservative leaders issued the following statement regarding the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol.

On Wednesday a White man strolled into an office, settled down in a leather chair, and casually put his dirty boots on the desk in front of him. I saw this and I wept.

MIAMI – As we mourn the loss of Caribbean tourism icon the Honorable Gordon “Butch” Stewart, OJ, CD, Hon. LLD, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Stewart family and the thousands of extended family members in the Sandals organization. 

In recent days, we’ve seen the dying gasps of the Trump administration turn into tragic violence in Washington, D.C. There is much to say about that, and serious reckoning ahead when it comes to the causes and the solutions. But in spite of the anger and sadness, here is my plea to you today: Don’t let the chaos created by Donald Trump and his supporters distract you from appreciating something beautiful—the victories of Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia’s Senate runoff races and the organizing that made those victories possible. 

This pandemic is exposing the weakness of many societies, with some appearing to be crumbling. Most civilizations or societies through the passage of history, did not just die overnight, but rather suffered a slow demise, a crawling, creeping destruction that moved so slowly that its downward passage was hardly noticed, until too late.

Fair warning: this isn’t a traditional Christmas-week column.