Prince Edward presents CCMI award to Cayman attorney
(L-R) Joanna, Lara, Chris and Basil Humphries with Prince Edward at the presentation of the CORAL Award
(CNS): During his brief visit to Little Cayman Sunday, 6 March, Prince Edward presented the Central Caribbean Marine Institute’s (CCMI) CORAL (Commitment, Outreach, Respect, and Leadership) Award to attorney Chris Humphries for his years of commitment to the institute and its work. The award is presented to an individual or organisation for outstanding contributions to the protection and preservation of coral reefs.
“We are recognising Chris Humphries for his tireless efforts as an advisor and a mentor over many years and also wanted to especially thank his firm (Stuarts Walker Hersant Humphries), including the partners, attorneys and support staff who have donated countless hours in support of CCMI,” said CCMI president Dr Carrie Manfrino.
Prince Edward, who is CCMI’s royal patron, said when he presented the award, “I offered patronage to CCMI because I applaud their efforts to sustain the biodiversity of coral reefs so that children of the world may forever discover the treasures of the sea. I commend Mr Humphries in his efforts to ensure that this is possible.”
Humphries accepted the award at a dinner hosted and sponsored by Peter Hillenbrand at the Southern Cross Club on Little Cayman. “To receive this award is a distinct honour,” he said. “CCMI and its work in preserving one of the most spectacular reef systems in the world are important to me, as anyone who knows me will know. I would rather be sitting in a lab in Little Cayman than running a law firm in Grand Cayman, so I consider that my involvement gives my life some balance and it is a pleasure to be able to contribute.”
The award was a Caymanite stingray statue created by Caymanian artist Horacio Esteban.
Humphries has been involved with CCMI since 2004, joining the board of directors in 2010 and now serving as chair. He graduated from the University of London with a bachelor’s degree in biological science in 1994 and worked as a marine biologist in Belize, Bermuda and the Philippines prior to reading law.
His law firm, of which he is managing director, has been underwriting CCMI’s London fundraiser each year, providing multi-year support for the institute’s long-term monitoring programme (LAMP) and their Coral Reef Early Warning System (CREWS2), where data is collected that helps scientists understand and protect coral reefs globally.
Past recipients of the CORAL award have been Peter Hillenbrand, Jim O’Neill and Derek Haines (on behalf of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman).
Category: Marine Environment
