Charles Kong Soo
The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence honoured its four 2019 laureates at a gala ceremony in the Sandals Royal in Barbados.
The laureates are: Arts & Letters: Danielle Dieffenthaller, Filmmaker, T& T, Entrepreneurship: Kimala Bennett, Media Entrepreneur, Jamaica, Public & Civic Contributions: Corey Lane, Civic Activist, Barbados, Science & Technology: Prof Michael Taylor, Climate Scientist, Jamaica.
In his feature address tonight, Executive Chairman of the ANSA McAL group A Norman Sabga said “During the course of our 14-year history we've made great strides in growing the prestige and recognition associated with these awards. “We acknowledge that in order to truly be a Caribbean award, we couldn't limit these celebrations to only Trinidad.
“Last year we had a successful staging in Jamaica. In 2017 we were graciously hosted in Guyana. Barbados boasts of a proud and significant impact on our region and has supplied the world with a phenomenal array of scholars, professionals, artists, musicians, sportsmen, and leaders.”
He said it was a contribution that all should be proud of regardless of which island we called home.
Sabga said the ANSA McAl group has had a presence in Barbados for over 97 years and considered themselves to be Bajans. He said from those shores, Dr James Husbands in 2008 became the first laureate in science and technology and in 2013 Prof Anselm Hennis was also inducted in the same category. Sabga said this year the organisation was proud to add another inductee and recognise the excellence of the people from Barbados.
He said The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence was something very dear to his father, the late Dr Anthony Sabga.
Sabga said excellence to his father was the truest sense, it was something he admired, respected, and endeavoured to portray in everything he did.
He said during the course of his life, Dr Sabga encountered many exceptional people.
Sabga said by the time his father retired, he was aware that many outstanding people lived in the Caribbean.
He said his father was also aware of the enormous quantity of native genius that lived in our people which was not recognised and rewarded.
Sabga said as a final gesture to the region that had been so generous to him and his family, he felt that it was his duty to seek them out, recognise and reward them and to inspire all by their actions and dedication to excellence.
He quoted a proverb: "Generation after generation will live on our dreams. What we do and say today will have an impact on whatever happens tomorrow."
Sabga said this proverb embodied everything that these awards stood for. He said by honouring those of today that create a powerful and inspirational change that will impact the lives of generations to come, they hoped to not only congratulate them on their achievements but more so to inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
Sabga said as the world moved towards global culturisation, they were forced to look beyond their communities to face challenges and seek opportunities.
He said as a people they can go forward secure in their Caribbean identity only if they invested the resources necessary for its preservation and strengthening.