The Tribune

The Tribune's Publisher and founder of Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network has received a prestigious international award at a glittering ceremony in London.

Robert Dupuch-Carron was presented with the African Innovation Excellence Award in recognition of his BACSWN project - a "First-of-its-Kind" $427m aviation, climate and severe weather network designed to deliver dedicated live flight tracking, search-and-rescue coordination and real-time meteorological services across the full 173,000 square miles of Bahamian sovereign territory.

He accepted the award at the Hilton London Kensington Hotel from awards chairman and founder Elvis Iruh and HRH Princess Moradeun Adedoyin-Solarin, a Yoruba Princess and previous award recipient.

The Voice Achievers Award is an annual programme recognising men and women who have made substantial contributions towards the advancement of African nations, their people and the wider diaspora. More than 490 people have been recognised since the awards were established, including former African heads of state, government officials, diplomats and other prominent figures.

The awards are organised by Mr Iruh, publisher of the Voice Magazine, a European publication headquartered in the Netherlands, and are considered the United Kingdom's leading platform for recognising excellence across African, Caribbean and global diaspora communities.

A high-level delegation from The Bahamas attended, led by the Hon Myles Laroda, Minister of National Security, His Excellency Andrew Gomez, High Commissioner of the Bahamas in London and Michael Strachan, the Bahamas' ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Also in attendance were Patrick Rollins, chief executive of BACSWN; Mr Adam Darville, the network's senior vice president of infrastructure; Dr Rohil Raghavan, chief executive of Response Plus Medical, the Middle East's largest emergency services and pre-hospital care provider; and prominent Bahamian businessman Mr Vince McDonald.

Accepting the award, Mr Dupuch-Carron described BACSWN as the culmination of a nine-year effort and credited his wife, Elizabeth, as central to both the achievement and the moment.

Mr Dupuch-Carron's grandfather, Sir Etienne Dupuch, was among the most influential journalists in Caribbean history. His mother, Rt Hon Eileen Dupuch Carron, recently retired after a 65-year tenure as publisher and editor of The Tribune, a span widely cited as the longest in global newspaper publishing. The family has produced seven members of Parliament since 1840.

Awards chairman Iruh said the selection committee was drawn to Mr Dupuch-Carron because he had chosen to extend his family's legacy rather than simply maintain it. “He is not content to rest on the family's achievements,” he said. "He is building a future upon them."

The organisers also highlighted BACSWN's strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi-based Response Plus Medical, aimed at strengthening emergency medical services throughout the archipelago.

Mr Dupuch-Carron said: "As an island boy, I'm really humbled by the international recognition of BACSWN and a project that began nine and a half years ago when I was almost taken out by a hurricane in Crooked Island, Hurricane Joaquin.

"I think the lesson that can be learned is that you're not that which you were born into; it's who God created you to be.

“I think it's a testament to the ingenuity of Bahamians, to the creativity of Bahamians, that we as a people can meet and compete on a global stage. It is wonderful that you can have a vision and it then becomes a team's common goal.”

BACSWN has already drawn support internationally, including from leading US aerospace and defence contractor Raytheon. Its executive director Gene Welch said: "BACSWN's first-of-a-kind transformational aviation, climate, meteorological and severe weather network exceeds those of other industrialised nations, propelling The Bahamas into a world leader in live flight tracking, environmental infrastructure and unparalleled real-time meteorological services for its airspace."