Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper named 2025 Person of the Year

Jones Communications Network (JCN) has named Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Chester Cooper as its 2025 Person of the Year, citing his leadership and transformative impact on Bahamian tourism.

The award will be presented on January 30, 2026, during a ceremony at the JCN Media Theatre, where media, public officials, and industry stakeholders are expected to gather to recognize Cooper’s contributions to national development.

In announcing the honor, JCN highlighted Cooper’s steady stewardship of the tourism sector during a period of global uncertainty and recovery, noting that under his leadership The Bahamas has recorded year-after-year, record-breaking visitor arrivals.

Tourism officials credit sustained airlift expansion, aggressive global marketing, and strategic partnerships with strengthening the country’s position as a premier destination.

Cooper, a two-time Member of Parliament, assumed office as Deputy Prime Minister following the Progressive Liberal Party’s landslide victory in the 2021 general election.

Since then, he has led the Ministry of Tourism through four consecutive years of growth, helping to drive economic recovery, job creation, and increased investment across the Family Islands.

JCN noted that Cooper’s focus on innovation, destination development, and inclusive growth has reshaped the tourism landscape and delivered measurable results for Bahamians.

The network’s Person of the Year award recognizes individuals whose leadership and public service have had a significant and lasting national impact.