ACMF names Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness keynote speaker for 9th Annual Anchor Awards
Marie McKenzie and Richard Scheff to be Honored at Gala Supporting the Next Generation of Caribbean Maritime Professionals
The American Caribbean Maritime Foundation (ACMF) is proud to announce that Dr. The Most Honorable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, will serve as Keynote Speaker and Special Guest at the 9th Annual ACMF Anchor Awards, taking place Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at The Diplomat Beach Hotel in Hollywood, Florida.
Under the theme, “Caribbean Maritime Professionals: The Backyard Advantage”, the evening will honor Marie McKenzie and Richard Scheff, two distinguished leaders in the Caribbean maritime community, for their exceptional contributions to the maritime, cruise, shipping, logistics and legal sectors and their commitment to the continued growth of the Caribbean.
Prime Minister Holness is Jamaica’s ninth Prime Minister and currently serves as Minister of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development. He has been a prominent advocate for economic development, infrastructure investment, education and opportunity throughout Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
“We are deeply honored to welcome Prime Minister Holness to the ACMF Anchor Awards,” said ACMF Interim Board Chairman, Dr. Jennifer Nugent-Hill, AVP Government and Community Affairs at Tropical. “His presence underscores the importance of the maritime sector to Jamaica and the Caribbean and the critical role that education and human-capital development play in creating opportunity for our young people.”
Celebrating Caribbean Maritime Excellence
The 2026 Anchor Awards will recognize Marie McKenzie, Senior Vice President of Government & Destination Affairs at Carnival Corporation & PLC, and Richard Scheff, Partner at Faegre Drinker, for their leadership and contributions to the Caribbean maritime industry. Both have also been part of ACMF’s support network, reflecting their longstanding commitment to the Foundation’s mission.
The Anchor Awards have become a signature gathering of leaders from the cruise, cargo, shipping, logistics, ports, government, and maritime sectors. The event celebrates those who have helped build and strengthen the Caribbean’s maritime economy while raising vital resources for the next generation.
Investing in the Future of Caribbean Maritime Leadership
Proceeds from the 9th Anchor Awards will support scholarships and grants for aspiring Caribbean maritime professionals, including future marine engineers, logisticians, captains, port managers and other maritime and logistics professionals. The ACMF’s mission is to alleviate poverty and transform lives in the Caribbean through maritime education and community development. The Foundation provides scholarships, grants, and educational resources to students pursuing careers throughout the maritime sector.
Since its founding, ACMF has invested more than US$3 million in over six hundred full-tuition scholarships and grants, helping students from across the Caribbean pursue maritime careers. Beneficiary students, to date, are from Jamaica, The Bahamas, Grenada, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis, and the Dominican Republic. The Foundation’s investment reflects a simple but powerful principle: the Caribbean’s maritime future depends on developing Caribbean talent.
“Every scholarship represents more than an education,” said Dr. Brown Metzger, ACMF President and Executive Director. “It represents a young person gaining the opportunity to become an engineer, captain, logistics professional, port manager or other maritime leader— and, ultimately, to contribute to the economic future of the Caribbean.”
A Night of Leadership, Purpose and Opportunity
The 2026 Anchor Awards will bring together senior executives, government leaders, maritime professionals, philanthropists, educators, investors, and supporters of Caribbean development for an evening celebrating achievement while directly investing in the region’s future. The ACMF is dedicated to creating educational and professional opportunities for Caribbean youth and strengthening the human capital necessary to sustain the region’s maritime economy.