Meet our President…

Mrs. Ethel Turner, President

Ms. Turner is the Principal of Arthur’s Town Comprehensive School, youth Pastor of the Church of God in the Bluff and a community leader in North Cat Island. She is a proud founding member of Cat Island United, leads its Board of Directors and represents Cat Island United nationally.

Ms. Letitia Brown, Treasurer

Ms. Brown is the manager of the Bank of Bahamas Cat Island Branch. As Treasurer, she is responsible for CIU financial management, accounts and records. She is a founding member of Cat Island United and serves in the memory of her father, a treasured son of Cat Island.

Mrs. Denice Bethel

Mrs. Bethel, a founding member of Cat Island United, is focussed on advancing eco-tourism in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism. She is an organic farmer, pursuing innovative farming techniques, co-owner of the Hidden Treasurers restaurant with her husband, Trevor, in the Cultural Village in New Bight. She serves as Vice President of the Cat Island Christian Council and is Chairman of the Cat Island Agri-Producers Cooperative.

Ms. Jacqueline Campaigne

Ms. Campaigne, a founding member, is a journalist, author of the Cat Island Guide and active supporter of innovative farming techniques and solar technology. A Swedish national, she lives year round in Shana’s with her husband Curtis.

Dr. Marcus Cooper, MD

Dr. Cooper is associated with Doctor’s Hospital, Nassau and has worked tirelessly to raise the level of medical facilities on Cat Island by creating Smith Bay Clinic to provide specialized medical services and more advanced technology to supplement the local clinics.

Dr. Charles Hollander, MD

Dr. Hollander serves as President of FCIU and co-leads CIU’s strategy for the preservation of Cat Island’s Marine Protected Areas A certified medical doctor also in the Bahamas, he regularly volunteers as a doctor at Old Bight Clinic.

Ms. Jennifer Johnson-Calari, CFA

Ms. Johnson-Calari, a founding member, leads FCIU’s financial management and is deeply engaged with the environmental and youth enrichment activities on Cat Island.

Mr. Harrison King

Mr. King is the Pastor Restoration Baptist Church in Devil’s Point, runs a highly productive farm in the South and is an active member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Mr. King is active in CIU’s composting project

Ms. Melanie Knutsen

Ms. Knutsen recently joined the CIU board, bringing important expertise in informational technology from her career in software development and coding. She leads CIU’s working in employing AI and web based tools to streamline our workloads.

Mr. Bill Long

Mr. Long brings to the CIU Board a lifetime of non-profit experience from his professional career as a conservation organization executive, and volunteer leadership board work.  Bill’s is honored to be on the board assisting CIU’s sustainability, and specifically, protection of the MPA’s.

Mr. Rich Pappalardo

Mr. Pappalardo brings valuable project management skills to the Board from his international career in leading installation of complex software systems. He is leading the initiative to develop greater youth employment opportunities through developing a platform on Cat Island for remote work.

Mrs. Manette Poitier

Manette Poitier is a Cat Islander, retired teacher and guidance counselor, minister and respected community leader in the north of Cat Island. She is interested in environmental and cultural preservation.

Mr. Deon Stewart

Mr. Stewart is a senior environmental science professional with more than two decades of experience in environmental governance, sustainable development, and strategic program managementacross national and international contexts. He currently serves as National Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme at the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) in The Bahamas, where he provides strategic oversight of nationally funded environmental and community-based initiatives.

Ms. Portia Sweeting

Portia Sweeting is a proud descendant of Cat Island and a nationally recognized educator and conservation leader with more than three decades of service to education, youth development, and community advancement in The Bahamas. Portia currently serves as Director of Education and Outreach at the Bahamas National Trust (BNT). In that role, she was instrumental over the past decade in bringing environmental science programs an summer camps to Cat Island youth.

Ms. Gabi Zimmerman

Ms. Zimmerman is a year round resident of Cat Island and serves also a board member of the the Cat Island Humane Society. Now retired, she devotes her time to small scale farming and is a committed environmentalist. She leads CIU’s recycling and local composting programs in the north.

Ms. Eleanor Phillips, Advisor

Ms. Phillips has been an advisor to the CIU board since retiring from The Nature Conservancy, Nassau where she was instrumental in developing Marine Protected Areas throughout the Bahamas.

Mrs Caroline (Kay) Chriswell, RN,CCRN Secretariat

Mrs. Chriswell is a long time Bahamian resident who recently retired from her role as Nurse-In-Charge at Orange Creek Clinic. She is a strong health advocate for preventative care and nursing education and is very keen on environmental protection and community building. Ms. Chriswell manages CIU’s accounting, records and correspondence.