Her Majesty, The Queen, has recognized the following Bermudians in her annual New Year’s Honours List:
Queen’s Certificate & Badge of Honour:
Ø Meredith Andrews for services to the environment.
Ø Nikita Robinson for services to the community in broadcasting.
Meredith Andrews: Bermudian artist and photographer Meredith Andrews has been creating professional work for almost 20 years, including portrait, documentary and lifestyle photography. But it’s her work with oceanic plastics and highlighting its devastating effects on the environment that has gained her recognition. Meredith has been collecting discarded ocean plastic from Bermuda’s shorelines for several years, and creates various sized artworks to visually highlight this global problem. Meredith has also worked to seek ways to solve the concerning issue of ocean plastics.
Her plastic clean-ups have inspired others around the island to do the same. And her repurposed art, which focuses on marine environmental issues, has been featured at signature events and locations throughout Bermuda. By promoting awareness of the dangers of oceanic plastics, Meredith has helped raise Bermuda’s profile, and in the process, she has gained international recognition for her efforts. And by cleaning up Bermuda’s beaches and oceans she has inspired others here at home to do the same.
Nikita Robinson: Nikita Robinson is the mid-day radio personality at Magic102.7FM. She hosts the popular weekday programme “Ladies Room”. Her enthusiasm and excitement as she greets her daily listening audience is infectious, and during these difficult times of uncertainty and concern about the global pandemic, Ms Robinson's voice of hope and reassurance has source of support for the community.
Nikita is also passionate about youth literacy. In January 2010 she was recognized for promoting literacy by the CedarBridge Academy Literacy Team. In February 2011 she was recipient of The Bermuda Reading Association 1st Literacy Advocate Award. In May 2011 she started the Ladies Room Annual World Book Day “Birthday” book drive with an aim to promote literacy. Ten years later the initiative has grown immensely and has expanded to middle and highs school, with libraries receiving free books as well. This annual event also includes community partners going to schools and reading to our children island-wide on World Book Day.
Nikita’s daily sign-off motto is “UME- Uplifting, Motivating, and Encouraging you and me”, and she shares this message both on and off the air to provide inspiration, empowerment and support to her listening audience and the wider community.
