分类： entertainment

In a landmark move to celebrate the country’s centuries-old diverse cultural legacy, Belize’s National Celebrations Commission has unveiled the first three recipients of the newly established Creative and Cultural Excellence Awards, recognizing decades of extraordinary contributions to national literature, cultural heritage protection, and indigenous knowledge preservation. Scheduled to roll out additional honorees in the weeks ahead, the inaugural awards shine a well-deserved spotlight on three icons who have dedicated their lives to elevating and sustaining Belize’s unique cultural identity.

The first award, the Zee Edgell Award for Literary Arts, goes to beloved poet and author Margaret Reynolds, a literary trailblazer whose work has centered empathetic storytelling and nurtured a new generation of Belizean writers. Reynolds shared that her journey with the written word began at just nine years old, when she first started experimenting with poetic form. “My writing should increase your view about how others feel. It is basically leaning towards teaching you to be empathetic,” she explained, reflecting on her decades-long creative mission.

A founding member of Belize’s iconic 501 Poet Society, Reynolds helped launch the collective’s first public showcase in June 2013, an event that drew an enthusiastic crowd and sparked connections with emerging young poets that solidified her commitment to growing the national literary scene. Speaking to the honor of receiving an award named for celebrated Belizean author Zee Edgell, Reynolds noted Edgell’s extraordinary ability to immerse readers in her narratives: “Zee Edgell, she’s a painter with words. Her writing, it brings you in. So when I heard about the award, I felt really good.”

The second honoree, Master Drummer and long-serving cultural ambassador Emmeth Young, takes home the Leela Vernon Award for his tireless work safeguarding and amplifying Belize’s traditional cultural practices. Young, who got his start as lead drummer for the late Leela Vernon’s renowned Ebolites Dance Company, says his work is rooted in a core belief: “Culture is very special and unique and culture is what drives a community. If you don’t know your culture, then you are totally lost.”

Young credits Vernon with instilling in him a deep understanding of personal and cultural identity, saying her mentorship shaped his lifelong mission to pass traditional knowledge to younger generations. “She gave me a lot of knowledge about myself, about culture, and the importance of culture. I love to share the cultural knowledge, whether it’s drumming, cooking, farming, fishing. Those are our traditions of the village that need to live on. And by teaching the youths, this is the only way that it’s going to live on, so that’s what I do,” he shared.

Completing the trio of inaugural honorees is Felicita Cantun, a Yucatec Maya leader and educator who receives the Don Elijio Panti Award for her decades of work protecting and advancing indigenous knowledge and keeping ancient Maya cultural traditions alive for future generations.

Created to uplift Belizeans whose ongoing work shapes, preserves, and passes down the nation’s distinct cultural identity, the Creative and Cultural Excellence Awards fill a longstanding gap in national recognition for cultural stewards across the country. The National Celebrations Commission has confirmed that additional award recipients will be announced publicly in the coming days. This report is adapted from a transcript of a televised evening newscast, with Kriol language content transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accessibility.

On the night of August 26, 2026, a nationwide power outage swept across Belize, casting entire communities into sudden darkness. But for hundreds of loyal KTV The Remix fans gathered at Belize City’s iconic Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, the unexpected blackout was far from enough to dim the excitement of the talent competition’s season eight finale. Packed shoulder to shoulder inside the venue, the crowd kept the energy high as the final three contestants waited to hear who would walk away with the grand title and $10,000 top prize.

After weeks of grueling auditions, weekly live performances, and public voting that had whittled an initial field of hundreds down to just 12, and eventually three finalists – country artist Trevet Campos, soulful performer Tiana Sterling, and missionary Judson Baker – host Williams Neal finally opened the envelope to announce the winner. “Finishing in first place which means the grand champion of KTV The Remix Season Eight is Trevet Campos,” he declared to raucous cheers from Campos’ supporters.

For Campos, a Belizean country artist with a background in cattle ranching, the victory almost never happened. A last-minute accident on the day of his initial audition nearly forced him to miss the cut. Speaking after his win, Campos recalled the chaotic morning that almost derailed his competition journey: “The day I’m late for my picture. I da like, ‘Man, I hope they people ya noh dash me out of this competition,’ you know? But, you know, I had a accident and you know I called and made arrangements to but ah de ya now.”

Despite the early setback, organizers made an exception for Campos, and he went on to win over both judges and voters week after week to earn his spot in the finale. The rising star credited his family – particularly his mother, who he affectionately calls his “momager” – for pushing him to join the competition. “They’re everything. If it wasn’t because of my mom, my family, my aunt and you know my dad, and you know, my sponsors. It never mi wa be possible. And especially my mom, you know, she’s the one that pushed me,” he said, adding that he still feels overwhelmed by the victory. “It’s a overwhelming feeling. I don’t know how to feel right now.”

Campos plans to put his $10,000 prize to work first by expanding his cattle operation, before investing further in his music career. “Well I gwen buy some cow. Then after that I’ll, you know, try pursue the music career. So I just ask for the same support that my fans gave me on the show,” he said.

While the top prize went to Campos, the other two finalists said they left the competition with no regrets. First runner-up Tiana Sterling said she focused on enjoying the experience rather than fixating on winning. “I had fun while doing it, and I never make it like beat me up to the point as to whereby I feel defeated. I just feel energetic, and I feel happy with the result, and I just glad for the season,” she said.

Third-place finisher Judson Baker, a missionary who moved to Belize from abroad, said the competition gave him an unexpected gift: widespread recognition across the country. “I feel like I’ve gone from being, like, you know, ‘Who’s this, who’s this white guy in Public? Is this a tourist or what?’ Now people recognize me. People know my face. People know my name so I’m honored by that. You know, I never – when I came to Belize I never would’ve expected that,” he shared.

Even with the unplanned national blackout creating chaos across the country, Belize’s longest-running premier televised talent competition once again delivered a memorable finale full of joy, inspiring personal journeys, and breakout new stars. Great Belize Media, the broadcaster behind the series, has already teased future local entertainment productions for audiences across the country. Reporting from the Bliss Centre, Shane Williams for News Five.

On the night of August 25, 2026, a nationwide power outage across Belize failed to extinguish the electric atmosphere at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, where 23-year-old Trevet Campos etched his name into local entertainment history as the champion of KTV the Remix Season 8.

After weeks of grueling competition that began with 12 aspiring vocalists, Campos outperformed finalists Tiana Sterling and Judson Baker to claim the prestigious crown and the $10,000 grand prize. For the young winner, the spotlight of the national singing competition was far from unfamiliar. Campos first discovered his passion for singing as a child, performing in his local church congregation with the unwavering support of his mother, who not only nurtured his talent from a young age but also encouraged him to sign up for this year’s tournament.

In an interview with local morning program *Open Your Eyes* the day after his win, Campos reflected on the months of hard work that led him to that championship performance. “It was a lot of work, getting my team and band aligned and prepared every step of the way, but the whole experience was absolutely beautiful,” he shared. “I know people invest their time and their votes in me, so it’s my job to deliver a performance they’ll remember. For the finale, it was all about giving the crowd a night they’d enjoy, and that was my only focus going in.”

Campos entered the final round of the competition with remarkable self-assurance, saying he was 99.999 percent certain he would walk away with the top prize. That confidence stemmed from an aggressive last-minute campaigning strategy that saw the singer connect directly with voters across the country. “All of last week, from Wednesday evening straight through Friday, I was popping up at karaoke venues all over the country, performing for anyone who would listen,” Campos explained. “Even if people had never watched the show or heard my name before, after hearing me sing, they’d immediately say they’d vote for me. It’s all about putting yourself out there, and I wasn’t afraid to put in the work.”

Much of that late-stage campaign strategy was borrowed from the previous season’s champion, Darlon Usher, who took Campos under his wing and shared insider tips to win over voters. Usher advised him on everything from stage presence to connecting with audiences, even suggesting he reach out to large local businesses for broader support. “Darlon told me to loosen up a little on stage, connect with the energy of the crowd, and channel that excitement into every performance, that’s the tip that stuck with me the most,” Campos said.

Now, fresh off his win, the 23-year-old singer has clear plans for his prize money and his future in music. He intends to invest his $10,000 winnings to eventually open his own recording studio in Belize, and he aims to follow in the footsteps of his biggest inspiration, American country star Morgan Wallen, to grow the country music scene in his home country. Campos points to Wallen’s journey as a major motivation: after being rejected on *The Voice*, Wallen has become a mainstay on the Billboard Top 10 Country Music charts year after year, a rags-to-riches story that resonated deeply with the young Belizean artist.

Looking ahead, Campos says he hopes his journey on KTV the Remix will inspire the next generation of emerging Belizean singers to put themselves out there and chase their dreams. “No matter what, it all comes down to putting in the work and not being afraid to show people what you can do,” he added.