The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards of Excellence The LAUREATE 2019 Edition The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards of Excellence THE LAUREATE 2019

“We, the ANSA McAL Foundation and the ANSA McAL Group, are privileged to be able to fund these awards.” A Norman Sabga Chairman and Chief Executive, ANSA McAL, 2019

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 1 Dr Anthony N Sabga, ORTT Founder of the ANSA Caribbean Awards for Excellence (1923–2017)

2 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION Contents

Introduction by A Norman Sabga, LLD (Hon) UWI 5

About the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence 6

The Laureates:

2017 Winslow Craig, Kwamé Ryan, Shadel Nyack Compton, Arif Bulkan 8 2018 Kei Miller, Andrew Boyle, Chevaughn and Noel Joseph, Adesh Ramsubhag 38 2019 Danielle Dieffenthaller, Kimala Bennett, Corey Lane, Michael Taylor 56

The ANSA McAL Foundation 78

Profile of A Norman Sabga, LLD (Hon) UWI 79

Profile of Anthony N Sabga, ORTT 80

Laureates of Previous Years (Pictorial) 81

Copyright © ANSA McAL Foundation, 2019 Editorial Consultant: Raymond Ramcharitar Editor: Skye Hernandez Cover photo of Chevaughn Joseph by Raymond Ramcharitar Design and Layout: Paria Publishing Co. Ltd. Printing: The Office Authority Ltd.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 3 The 2019 Laureates: Danielle Dieffenthaller, Kimala Bennett, Corey Lane, Michael Taylor

4 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION Introduction

Between our last publication, The laureates in Trinidad and Tobago. The film Excellent Decade, in 2015 and this one, premiered at the Trinidad and Tobago there have been momentous changes Film Festival in 2018. It has been shown in the awards. We lost our founder, Dr at the University of London’s Centre for Anthony N Sabga, in 2017, and it has Integrated Caribbean Research and the been my privilege to assume the mantle Society for Caribbean Studies Conference of Patron of these awards. I have done so in the UK (2019). many times in the last three years, but I As privileged as we at the McAL reiterate here: I pledge my and the ANSA Foundation are to be able to fund these McAL Group’s support to funding these awards, we would not be able to do it awards for many years to come. without support. Our Country Nominating In a departure from the preceding Committees, and our regional Eminent decade we have, since 2016, taken our Persons Panel, who oversee these awards, awards ceremony to Guyana, Jamaica provide us with exceptional service for and Barbados. Each group of laureates which we are grateful. It reminds us, yet featured in this magazine was conferred again, of the enormous and variegated in one of those territories. pool of talent that lives in the region. A Norman Sabga In our second decade, we have also We believe our Laureates are rays of embarked on disseminating material on light breaking the canopy of the storm our Laureates’ work and lives via online clouds that literally and figuratively cover platforms and social media. We have our beloved Caribbean region. We hope created podcasts and videos featuring their light reaches you, the reader, and Laureates, we have hosted lectures, that you share it with as many people as and we made a documentary film, possible. Sun Sea and Science: Trinidad After Oil, which features the work of three science A Norman Sabga, LLD (Hon) UWI Chairman, The ANSA McAL Foundation

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 5 ABOUT THE ANTHONY N SABGA CARIBBEAN AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards 2006. Presentation ceremonies were then for Excellence is the first programme of held biennially in Port of Spain in 2008 its kind in the Caribbean. Four prizes and 2010. Dr Sabga announced at the are awarded annually for achievements 2010 ceremony that the Awards would be in Arts & Letters, Entrepreneurship, given annually as of 2011. This continued Public & Civic Contributions and with a “gap” year between 2015 and 2017, Science & Technology. The philosophy and it is planned that the awards will behind the Awards is that in order continue to be an annual event. for the Caribbean to develop, in the sense of a civilization rather than an industrial centre, excellence in key GOVERNANCE fields of endeavour must be sought The Awards programme is governed out, rewarded, and promoted for the by a panel of regional persons called the benefit of all citizens. In this regard, Eminent Persons Panel (EPP). It comprises the Awards are similar in intention to people, respected in science, art, public the Nobel Prizes. service, commerce, the professions The idea was developed from the and academia, from throughout the meeting of many minds. As Chairman region. The EPP is presently chaired by Emeritus of the ANSA McAL Group of Sir Shridath Ramphal of Guyana and companies in Trinidad, the late Dr Anthony Barbados. Its members include: N Sabga (1923-2017) was able to give • Justice Christopher Blackman, GCM a body to an initial idea from Mr Wilfred (Barbados) Naimool, after consultation with Sir Ellis • Professor Compton Bourne, OE Clarke and various others. The idea was (Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago) finally ready to be given tangible shape • Mr Christopher Bovell, CD (Jamaica) in 2005, and the Awards programme was • Professor Bridget Brereton (Trinidad formally launched in Port of Spain. and Tobago) The Awards are fully funded by the • Dr Charmaine Gardner, SLMH (St ANSA McAL Foundation. The prizes Lucia) consist of TT$500,000, a medal, and • The Most Honourable Professor a citation which are presented at a Sir Kenneth O Hall, ON, GCMJ, OJ ceremony early in the year. Eight of the (Jamaica) eleven ceremonies so far have been held • Professor E Nigel Harris (Guyana, St in Trinidad, while the 2017 ceremony was Lucia) held in Georgetown, Guyana, the 2018 • Sir Royston Hopkin, KCMG (Grenada) ceremony in Kingston, Jamaica and the • Mrs Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, MDW, Hon 2019 ceremony in Barbados. It is expected LLD UWI (Trinidad and Tobago) that the ceremony will be held in different • The Honourable Justice Rolston territories in the future. Nelson (Trinidad and Tobago) The Awards programme was • Major General (Retd) Joseph G inaugurated in 2005, and the first laureates Singh, MSS, MSc, FCMI, FRGS, RCDS were named, and received their awards in (Guyana).

6 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION Each of five territories (Barbados After nominations are received, they which would be positively aided by Guyana, Jamaica, the OECS, and Trinidad must pass through a three-stage vetting the award. This is a function of the and Tobago) has a selection committee, procedure: A Country Nominating nominee’s age, his/her field, and the comprised of people from academic, Committee (CNC); a research-review of particularities of each. business, and civic organizations in those credentials and achievements; and a 3. The nominee should produce work, territories who select each territory’s final selection process by the regional ideas, theories, or whatever products best nominee. The committees are Eminent Persons Panel (EPP). The in his/her field are referred to, which presently headed by: Dr Jeannine Comma country committee selects its strongest are likely to serve as models for (Barbados), Mr Al Creighton (Guyana), Mr candidates in each of the categories, and further work, to encourage new Morin Seymour (Jamaica), Mrs E Ann all country committees present their best and interesting ideas which are Henry, QC (OECS), and Mrs Helen Drayton four candidates to the Eminent Persons directly relevant to the Caribbean’s (Trinidad and Tobago). Panel, which makes the final selection. particularities, and to influence the The Panel may decide (as it did in 2017) present and coming generations. HOW ARE SELECTIONS AND that candidates of suitable merit were not 4. While it is desirable that nominees NOMINATIONS MADE? presented and decline to make an award be held up as exemplars for the Ca- in any category. ribbean people, the reality is that The nomination process is an open one: most heroes are created retrospec- anyone may nominate a candidate, and The decisions of the Eminent Persons tively. Therefore, personality and candidates may nominate themselves, Panel are independent of the Foundation, personal attributes, unless these are using the appropriate form, which may are final, and not subject to review. overwhelming, should be secondary be downloaded from the awards website. to the nominee’s ability, and work The Foundation accepts nominations on done. a “rolling” schedule (i.e. at any time during CRITERIA FOR NOMINEES: the year). However, to be considered for 1. The nominee should show a track the following year, a candidate must be record of consistently superior nominated no later than March 31, of the work that demonstrates excellence, preceding year. originality, and a potential to Nominees for the ANSA Awards should create knowledge and add to the have already displayed excellence in disciplines in which the nominee their fields of endeavour (Arts & Letters, works. The work must be recognized Entrepreneurship, Science & Technology, by authorities in the field. and Public & Civic Contributions). 1b. There is often a lack of consen- However, the Awards are not intended to sus within disciplines for vari- be “lifetime achievement” or “crowning ous reasons. Nominees must glory” awards. It is intended that persons show excellence in the opinion who have shown exceptional promise of a significant number of ex- in their fields, and have already made perts, but these opinions need substantial achievements, but who have not be universal. the potential for further important work, 2. The nominee’s work should show the be considered. potential for future development,

THE SELECTION PROCESS

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 7 Winslow Craig Arts & Letters Laureate, 2017, Guyana

8 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION Prelude

The year was 1967. It was a bright sunny day The little room in the small wooden home was in the peaceful, tranquil setting of a clearing hot. There was one small window through which in the forest. The breeze blew gently, rustling sunlight filtered, and where occasionally a cool through the leaves of the giant hubudee tree. draught of refreshing breeze would enter. Outside in the bright sunlight was a huge mango tree with The air was filled with great expectation and wide extended branches that provided much hope, as a beautiful young woman lay on a needed shade on a day like today. Birds flitted bedding of fibre, atop a makeshift wooden bed. among the branches, and whistled and sang their She gripped the edges of the wooden bed; her merry songs. The tree provided partial shade knuckles white from the strain of the effort she was for the small home which now contained two making. Beads of sweat on her forehead rolled generations, and the next. down the sides of her face as she grimaced in pain Standing beside the mango tree was a young as the latest contractions wracked her body. She man in the prime of his youth. His powerful build wanted to scream, but she did not. It seemed like and confident posture were in stark contrast to the she was in labour for an eternity. She took a deep look of grave concern and worry upon his face. He breath and she pushed, and she pushed. “How stared at the doorway of the house. There was a much longer is this going to last?” she wondered, door blind made of natural fibre that blocked his as she had been there before dawn and it was now view inside. He had stood vigil here for almost almost past midday. Why was this taking so long, eight hours and he was now quite anxious. why was this so difficult? She had given birth three times before and she could not recall suffering he young woman inside who was groaning nearly as much. Her mother seemed exhausted T and struggling to give birth was his wife – his as she bent over her and felt with both hands, the strong and beautiful young wife who had sides and lower section of her massive belly which already given him three beautiful daughters. He was filled with new life struggling to enter a new stood strong, yes, but he could not disguise his world. Her elder sister stood by her bedside with concern for his wife and his unborn son. Yes! He a tired look of concern, but managed to smile at knew he was having a son. Why else would this be her reassuringly. so difficult? He had to have a son! When his first daughter was born, he was quite happy especially because he knew that his wife wanted a girl. They were both happy and delighted. The little girl, as she grew, would become a good companion for his wife when he was not around and later on a good little helper, too. This was the beginning of his own family and it made him a happy man. His happiness was multiplied two years later, when he welcomed his second daughter into the world. Yes, he wanted a son, but he accepted his daughter and gave thanks and praised God that all was well. His family was now

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 9 growing and so was his responsibility, He prayed to God and all his long- but it did not bother him one bit. He was gone ancestors and all of the universe, now a husband, a father and he was a to have mercy and bless his wife and his man, and it was his God-given duty to unborn son. take good care of his precious family. Inside the room, her mother, the His responsibility grew greater when his old woman, seemed troubled without wife bore him their third child. He had readily showing it. She gently placed her desperately hoped for a son, but this was wrinkled hand on top of her daughter’s not to be; he had a third daughter. He was massive orb of life and closed her eyes for sorely disappointed, but he loved his child a second, then she looked her daughter (his third girl) nonetheless. Taking care of in the eye for a brief moment. She said his now expanding family was quite a job. not a word as she turned and walked Things were difficult most of the time, towards the doorway. Tears welled up in but he never shirked his responsibility; the young woman’s eyes as her mother he was always up to the task. He had a walked away. Her sister held her hand wonderful family, and it was a great joy reassuringly. Tears rolled down the sides for him to come home in the evenings of her face, mingled with her sweat. to the warmth and delightful laughter of his darling daughters and his loving wife; The natural fibre blind was pushed they were the purpose and his sole reason aside, and the old woman appeared in for living, and drove him to do his best at the doorway. She looked at the young all times. man with a blank expression in her eyes then she turned silently and walked ow here he was standing, a strong across the warm white sand towards the N powerful young man with a great forest and disappeared into its dark green responsibility, anxiously awaiting depths. The forest seemed alive and, in a the birth of his first son. From the moment brief instant, it swallowed her up without that his wife informed him that she was a trace. pregnant with their fourth child, for whatever reason he was convinced that Fear gripped the young man behind his Fear gripped the this was his long-awaited son! It just had neck, and around his broad shoulders, to be. He looked at himself as a man, a cold fingers held his throat and clawed at young man behind proud, strong and confident man his heart. He trembled from deep within his neck, and (amongst his peers he had no equal). He and felt his heart beating in his ears at always stood at the head of the line; he an alarming rate. He was frozen in his around his broad led the way and other men followed; yet position as his emotional state became most of his peers already had sons. quite fluid; he had to do something. He shoulders, cold was confused. Suddenly he felt a jolt in his fingers held his Everything about this pregnancy body and spirit, and he was now in two seemed different. From the beginning, his places at the same time – he could see throat and clawed at wife always seemed a little more sick and himself standing like a statue beside the physically stressed; her belly was even mango tree, but was also at the doorway his heart. bigger and more elongated in shape and almost looking into the room where his form. He dreamt a lot about seeds and wife was in labour. He heard her laboured nuts, as did his wife. Things were different breathing and could almost touch the air with the girls, as they had both dreamt of of tension and uncertainty that filled the birds and fishes and flowers. Now here room. He had to enter that room whether they were, both desperately wanting a son. in body or in spirit. Something had to be It was now sometime past midday on done. that beautiful day in July, and everything uddenly something collided with his seemed brighter, clearer and sharper. This S spirit at the doorway, and the stern was a good sign. He had not eaten since voice of the old lady said, “Get hold of last evening and he was not even hungry yourself, boy.” He felt his two selves being right now; it was as though time had slammed back together. Now beside the stood still for him. He looked and listened mango tree, again, he blinked – how long and waited patiently, desperately hoping it had been, he could not say, but there for good news. was the old lady, pushing the door blind

10 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION aside as she disappeared into the I was quite comfortable in my “first darkened room. He thought he saw her world”; it was cavernous and expansive, look over her shoulder directly into his and filled with life-giving fluid. This world eyes. He was not sure, but he felt hope was warm and nurturing, comfortable surging from deep within his being. “It’s and peaceful. I felt loved by everything alright,” a soft voice whispered. Was it the within and without, and it felt secure and old lady? He wasn’t sure. safe. But I was growing and occupying more space as time wore on. My world A gentle breeze rustled through the Her body was was changing, and I did not know why – leaves above, the birds sang their merry my space was smaller now. There was a torn asunder. She songs – the kuduree especially whistled restlessness in me, and an atmosphere a delightful tune. Somewhere just of urgency and tension permeated my screamed as the beyond the edge of the forest, the fia fia/ entire world, seeped into my spirit and greenheart bird, screamed “‘fi-fi-yeow!”‘ world exploded in my total being. Something critical and These were all good signs. red and white light! stupendous seemed about to happen. Back inside the room, through pain and I did not want to leave my world, but it Her sister exclaimed exhaustion, sweat and tears, the young was closing in around me, pushing and with joy, “Is a bai! Is woman saw the old lady – her mother – squeezing me out. I fought and I fought, re-enter the room with her comforting I held on for dear life – my world was a big fat baby bai!” and reassuring presence. coming to an end. I will not let go. Oh She was now more energetic; her no! My world was collapsing around me, movements were deliberate and shrinking, shrinking. I was being pushed purposeful. There was a sparkle in her out/expelled. Something on the other weary old eyes. She smiled softly and side held on to me; it pulled, dragged her wrinkled face shed a few years. She and sucked me into another dimension. I placed both of her wrinkled old hands screamed in desperation. gently on her daughter’s glistening belly, y insides expanded as a sudden closed hers eyes and whispered softly a M rush of clean, cool, fresh, sweet silent prayer. She opened her eyes and oxygen filled my tiny lungs. I said: “It is time.” screamed and filled my lungs once again, he walked around the bed behind this thing felt awesome – was this the S her daughter’s head, looked down in breath of life! But I had already lived an her face then wiped the sweat from entire lifetime in my own private world; her forehead. She climbed up onto the this must be my second life – my second bed in a sort of crouching, kneeling world. It appeared all red, and quite unlike position, placed her strong sinewy arms my first world which I had felt and sensed beneath her daughter’s upper torso, and and experienced with every fibre of my lifted her up just as her body tensed and being. My world was me, and I, my world. spasmed in contraction. The young I felt the need to do something more than woman took a deep breath then gritted scream to fully connect to my new world. her teeth, and pushed with all her might. Why was it all red? The old lady held her firm around her I opened my eyes and beheld a glorious upper back and they braced and pushed white light, it filled my being throughout together. The moment was a fusion of the with fantastic beautiful shapes and forms past, the present and the future, for it and countless wonderful, indescribable seemed as though all the ancestors things – this was my new world. backed and braced the old lady as she I felt a soft, gentle complicated feeling strained and pushed with her youngest as another spirit touched my own, then child. The past pushed the present it severed me completely from my first desperately so that the future might world. It was shocking. I was completely be birthed. disconnected for a brief moment. Then I Her body was torn asunder. She was instantly reconnected on a profoundly screamed as the world exploded in red deeper level – mental, emotional, and and white light! Her sister exclaimed with spiritual; it was inexplicably complex, but joy, “Is a bai! Is a big fat baby bai!” felt quite natural.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 11 Two strong and gentle spirits It is a cool windy day with blue skies, enveloped me completely, and I knew white clouds and bright sunshine. then that I could not be separated again Somewhere within this picture I can see until one or both of these loving, nurturing the black and yellow kuduree bird, flitting spirits, disappeared completely from my and fluttering, jumping around singing a new world. sweet and happy song. The wind rustled the leaves of the ko-r-yu and coconut This was my first interaction (conscious trees. They are separate and different, or subconscious) with my mother and but somehow there is a fusion in the sky, father. “Is a bai! Is a big fat baby bai!” and they are one. The blue sky seems y father heard these words then he far away with its beautiful, soft white M heard me scream. These were the clouds. The rustling leaves and branches most delightful, wonderfully of the coconut/ko-r-yu tree reached up satisfying sounds that he had heard all to the seemingly endless sky like long day (maybe all his life). He had made his arms with green leafy fingers tickling the This first conscious mark – the circle was complete. His name white fluffy clouds as they slowly drifted would go on. Together with my mother, by. The sun smiled and shone brighter memory of myself and my three sisters and now me – my and the kuduree bird sang and whistled a was a prelude to father felt whole and complete. We were happy song. all a part of him and he a part of us. We I am mesmerized by this wonderful and a microcosm were all inextricably bound together by picture within which I am standing, the fibres and strands of life forever. My of, my life in my clothed in a cotton shirt and my father understood this to be the core innocence, fiddling with my scrotum formative years, foundation and the very essence of family. and nibbling at my nails. I believe with It was a divine blessing for him, and he growing up in an much conviction that this was truly my knew he had a sacred duty to perform. His first artistic adventure. Many years later environment that life was not his own, for his family was his in art school I would realize that this life. Take care of his family and he took nurtured, supported was surrealism come alive in the fertile care of his life. When his family is secure imagination, and the fluid reality of an his life is preserved – he will live a long and sustained infant’s artistic mind. time even after he is gone. every aspect of my This first conscious memory of myself My father never articulated his was a prelude to and a microcosm of, existence. thoughts on life and family in such my life in my formative years, growing descriptive language, but by his actions up in an environment that nurtured, he revealed many practical lessons that supported and sustained every aspect of have moulded my character and helped my existence – from the physical to the to shape my whole philosophy of life. emotional, the educational, the mental My earliest memory or recollection of and the spiritual. myself as a conscious being goes back to 1969. The images and scenario are still y family home was nestled quaintly quite vivid in my mind. I can see myself, M on the shoulders of a low, sandy hill a tiny boy, quite energetic and full of with the family farm nearby, curiosity. I am standing on a patch of firm surrounded on every side in the protective white sand wearing a little white cotton embrace of the forest and its mighty trees. shirt my mother made for me. I wore no Some of these trees standing on massive pants or underwear and I stood there trunks were supported by wide flaring in innocence, my left hand holding on buttresses and roots that penetrated the to my tiny, soft and wrinkled scrotum. I earth deeply. Some snaked across the am looking up to the sky, nibbling at the ground like lazy sleeping camoudis fingernail on my right thumb. My young, (anacondas). These green giants such as developing mind is being challenged as I the hu-bu-dee, the sow-a-ree, the struggle to comprehend what I am seeing. baromali, the kamahora, and the packuri I am looking towards the branches of a trees stood strong and faithful, like tall coconut tree which at the same time towering sentinels with knarled and appeared to be that of a ko-r-yu tree, knotty branches; their numerous which was a short distance away. outstretched arms always providing

12 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION shade and juicy delicious fruits when their transform fallen trees into sculptures. Knowledge about the environment season came around. Sculptures that took forms filled with had been passed down from generation movement and energy, possessing a to generation. We knew every kind of ometimes it was sad when one of different life of their own. Thus, did fallen tree in the forest and what fruits they S these giants fell. It felt like the loss of trees live again. bore. We knew every kind of animal, a dear old grandparent or some other bird, frog and insect and every sound ancient ancestor who was always When my father’s day was done and his that they made. Every creek and stream generous and kind. I vividly remember sun had set, as he passed into the night, I was known by name, as were the fishes when the big old baromali tree fell. It was remembered the “big old baromali tree” that they contained. We were familiar an awesome and terribly frightening sight and I wondered: “Will he live again?” Then with every bush/herb and their benefits. to see the old guardian bend and sway in I look at myself and he is looking back at Everything was connected and we were the storm then bow his last farewell as it me. I look at my sons and I know that he just a small part of a greater whole that rumbled deeply and groaned. Then with will live a long time, even after he is gone. pulsed and throbbed with a living energy an ear-splitting, thundering crack and a rowing up among trees in the midst and constant rhythm, a rhythm by which mighty shudder, with the wind howling G of the forest, I learned to accept and we moved to a song, a voice, a language and hissing through its leaves, the appreciate the natural environment that we understood. massive ancient form came crashing to as an essential aspect of my life as a child. the ground. The impact was tremendous These snippets and glimpses of the As much as I needed the nurturing as its massive trunk slammed its huge past are but a few of the conscious and relationships provided by my mother, my bulk back into the earth – its birthplace in subconscious memories of my early life. father and my siblings, together as a ancient times, now its final resting place. Inconspicuous as it was, this was a time of family we needed the environment I remember questioning in my childlike great expectations and significance, for it around us to support and sustain our way mind, full of curiosity and wonder: “Why was here that beautiful people, scenario, of life, continually. Nature was generous did this tree have to fall? Can it get up? circumstances and energies converged and kind like a loving mother, and we like Will it live again?” at a point of fusion that gave birth to a her children understood her cycles and strong, creative soul. Many years later I would answer seasons and lived accordingly in harmony this question for myself when I would with her ways.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 13 Kwamé Ryan Arts & Letters Laureate, 2017, Trinidad and Tobago

14 THE LAUREATELAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITION EDITION How does a boy growing up on a Caribbean Check! No danger of falling to one’s death, or ever island depart its shores at a tender age, become having to do the same thing exactly the same way an international symphonic and operatic twice? Double check! The only problem was that conductor, travel the globe for two decades in in Trinidad of the late 70s and early 80s, there that capacity, only to return to that island as was no path upon which a child harbouring these the Director of its fledgling Academy for the orchestral ambitions, could realize such a goal. Performing Arts? I only knew there was such a thing as a symphony orchestra thanks to the then Trinidad and Tobago The explanation I have grown most accustomed Opera Society, whose annual productions quickly to giving always starts the same way: “When I became the high point of my year. An Irish was a boy, no older than six, I wanted to be a conductor by the name of Havelock Nelson was professional conductor.” As true as that statement tasked with bringing together the best members is, it is also a somewhat romanticized over- of the Police and Regiment bands, and by adding simplification. At the age of six, I had also wanted the few string players on the island, create a pit- to be an airline pilot, (ludicrous, since I have a orchestra from the podium of which he directed the terrible fear of falling from heights), or a lawyer, Trinidad, and possibly the Caribbean premieres of (equally ludicrous, given my aversion at the time such works as Carmen, The Magic Flute, Cavalleria and ever since for rote-learning). So, in reality, Rusticana, I Pagliacci and other timeless classics between the ages of six and 10, my idea of a of the standard operatic repertoire. future path was mounted on the career carousel of lawyer, conductor, pilot, a fact I recall so clearly, therwise, because my parents had studied, because my mother had given me a book to record O lived, worked, and given birth to their children just such childhood vacillation. Each page of the (my sister and me), in Toronto, Canada, they book was an envelope, on which one could, as a frequently returned there for summer holidays, birthday activity, write down what one had done and I was afforded the occasional opportunity to during the previous year, what one hoped to do in hear The Toronto Symphony at Roy Thomson Hall the coming year, attach a recent photo, and then or Ontario Place. It was on one such occasion, that fill the envelope with souvenirs and keepsakes, I pointed to the stage and said: “I want to do what making it akin to a time capsule. Recalling that guy at the front is doing.” That guy was the what I wrote on those pages not only describes Japanese conductor, Seiji Ozawa. the swirling, spiralling path of my childhood On our return from that holiday, I started piano intentions, but also makes it abundantly clear that lessons, and an instrument was purchased so that I had not the vaguest inkling of what any of those I could practise at home. At the same time, I also three professions truly demanded. began “composing”, which to my mind at the time, entally putting myself back in school shoes, entailed committing to paper, in some form or M I can just about assemble the following fashion, the melodies and harmonic musings that rationale: the pilot gets to sit at the pointy I had improvised in my spare time. Great art they end of a complex, shiny, and expensive machine, were not, but I found the freedom of expression with the responsibility to deliver its cargo and and the privacy of emotion encoded in music occupants safely to a given destination, while the quite addictive at that age! Hungry for more, I lawyer gets to be in the business of persuasion quickly outgrew the limits of my weekly piano by means intellectual, theatrical, and above all, lesson and the basic musical training obtained creative. By these definitions, can there be any at The University School, St Augustine, and was doubt that the orchestral conductor enjoys the enrolled in a full-fledged music school called Pan best of both worlds? Complex, shiny and expensive Pipers, which added an entire Saturday of music- machine to “fly”? Check! Jet-setting, through making to my weekly regime. Dropped off mid- sometimes turbulent but always seemingly morning by my mother or sister, I revelled in the glamorous lifestyles? Check! Career trajectory playground that was an entire day spent singing, based on the power of rhetoric and persuasion? studying music theory, playing the violin, the

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 15 recorder and the pan into the early hours bear that Robert, myself and a group of of the evening. other boys who refused to accept such a chasm in our education, took it upon y the time I had spent a few years in ourselves to stage scenes from musicals B this environment and had become a from time to time, and even persuaded veteran of multiple Music Festivals, the then principal of the school, Mr Pan is Beautiful Festivals, and even one Mervyn Moore, to outfit the stage with a Junior Panorama, thoughts of any career brand-new, (and very expensive), curtain, path other than one in music were all but and purchase some theatrical lighting to gone. And yet even as my professional support our activities. intentions crystallized, I became aware that the training and exposure available he difficult situation at secondary to me were not commensurate with the T school was exacerbated by internal high ambitions I held. I would watch and drama at Pan Pipers Music School, rewatch the one recording of a when, following a series of disagreements professional conductor that I had on between the school director and a My parents videocassette, a concert “Live from Studio subsection of parents, a large number of separated, my sister 8H” which featured The New York senior students were “expelled”, and Philharmonic led by its Indian music found themselves in a musical wilderness left home, and my director, Zubin Mehta, (whose ethnicity searching for new teachers. The already was nothing but an encouragement to brewing storm in my young life was then best friend was me), and wonder how I might ever attain made complete when, in quick sent off to boarding such heights, building on the pedagogical succession, my parents separated, my platform on which I found myself at the sister (and only sibling) left home for school in England. time. Nonetheless, I remember being studies as the University of Toronto, and If I had immersed encouraged by that concert, not only my best friend from University School, because of Maestro Mehta, but because of and emotional anchor at Fatima College myself in music as his soloists – the Black soprano, Leontyne was sent off to boarding school in recreation to that Price, and the wheelchair-bound violinist, England. If I had immersed myself in Itzhak Perlman. It occurred to me that music as recreation to that point, I now point, I now dove they had all overcome considerable dove as deeply into it as I could, just to challenges to be standing together on a hold it together. as deeply into it as I New York stage for the money, and I I did eventually find piano and violin could, just to hold it took hope. teachers to replace those I had lost in together. As it transpired, soon after I had made the exodus from Pan Pipers, and looking the transition from The University School back, I can say without a doubt, that each to Fatima College for my secondary of them, in particular, my piano teacher, schooling, the hope I had found in such Nellie Bailey, played a critical role in the recordings became exponentially more next phase of my musical development, important. I would sit in front of the TV, setting standards that were higher than I watching, and trying to enter into the had ever known, and making me believe world I saw on screen: Studio 8H, Fame that I could attain them. and Carmen live from Queen’s Hall Even as I continued to excel in my were my sanctuary, because where The musical pursuits, the circumstances of University School had taken great pride my domestic life and secondary school in its young musicians, had an excellent environment weighed heavily on me. school choir and instrumental ensemble, Attending a so-called “prestige school” and would present fully staged musicals though I was, my academic progress was from time to time, the Fatima College of middling at best, no doubt a product of the the early 1980s was a musical wasteland. common uncertainties and frustrations of usic was not taught, nor were any puberty, quickened by an all-pervasive M extracurricular musical pursuits loss of foundation, which did not sit well encouraged beyond the annual with me, cloistered and sheltered child Calypso Monarch competition, for which I that I had been up to that point co-wrote a number of winning pieces for It is said that the human organism has my friend, Robert Wickham. In fact, the not one but two digestive systems – one circumstances became so impossible to physical, and one mental/emotional –

16 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION In 1985, following a two-year search for a suitable boarding school, and a lengthy period of impatient waiting, I set off for the United Kingdom to attend Oakham School, a progressive and ambitious co- educational school in Rutland.

linked, and mutually reactive. So, in the buoyant in a community of like-minded musicians, was afforded the opportunity same way that food not fully digested children, and with abundant support to meet and chat with the eminent might lead to “indigestion”, so too can from not one or two music teachers conductors who graced the podium, and undigested thoughts remain with us but an entire department thereof, all of cajoled my peers into chamber orchestra subliminally, forgotten yet potent. It may my other academic pursuits profited. projects which I conducted in our free be that none of us will ever truly fathom Somewhere between rehearsals and time. It was at NYOGB that I began to the quantum of memories sacrificed on performances with Oakham’s Symphony believe that I not only could, but would the altar of survival. I certainly have no Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Chapel become a professional conductor, and memory of ever having told my mother Choir, Big Band and Choral Society, not to once exposure, opportunity, and self- that I needed to be “saved” from the mention conducting my own orchestra, I belief were provided for, there was, in predicament in which I found myself switched from violin to double bass, on my mind, little else that could stand on in 1983, but she assures me that this which instrument I was accepted into my way. As it transpired, it was during transpired, and that it was the catalyst the National Youth Orchestra of Great my final course as a member of NYOGB, for a process that was to set my life on Britain (NYOGB), and was earmarked for which took place in Valencia, Spain, that I an entirely new trajectory, away from Oxbridge entry, all within the space of received my A-Level results, and knew full the shores of Trinidad and Tobago, and two years. certain that, come the following October, toward a second childhood. I would “go up” to Cambridge University s luck would have it, as I joined with scholarships and bursaries paving nd so it was that in 1985, following a A Oakham School, so too did its new the way. A two-year search for a suitable Headmaster, Graham Smallbone, boarding school, and a lengthy whose previous position as Director of y first of three years at Gonville and period of impatient waiting, delineated by Music at Eton College made him the ideal M Caius College, Cambridge University, ticked boxes on my wall calendar, I set off mentor for me during my four years at was undoubtedly one of the headiest for the United Kingdom to attend Oakham Oakham. With two of his own children periods of my entire life. There is School, a progressive and ambitious co- having attended Cambridge University, something very special about the educational school in Rutland, England’s he knew exactly what it would take for me induction into an elitist institution with a smallest and arguably proudest county. to achieve that goal, and proceeded to history many centuries long, and the Oakham School had vibrant and see to it that I remained on track despite rituals and traditions to show for it. The extremely active music and theatrical the occasional distraction or loss of focus. terms are only eight weeks long, but so departments, but in the spirit of its motto, During my entire A-Level schooling in much is packed into that short space of “A Preparation for Life”, insisted that England, it was of enormous help to me time that one invariably ends the year students emerge as well-rounded as that I could escape to Christmas, Easter, utterly exhausted. The Cambridge possible, with strong academic and summer courses with the National curriculum or “Tripos” as it is called, fundamentals enriched by most any and Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. It is referring to the three-legged stool on every extracurricular pursuit they could impossible to over-represent the mental which BA candidates once sat for oral dream up. gear-change that ensues when a young examinations, is essentially our “do-it- person is accepted into a community of Because it had been decided that I yourself” degree, in the sense that while peers living a mutual dream at the highest would write 10 rather than eight O-Level immense learning resources are put at level, and finds that he or she not only subjects, I repeated the Fourth Form, the students’ disposal, and supervisors belongs, but can excel there. relinquishing Accounts and adding Music, keep track of the process, the learning History and Chemistry. And yet, even During my two years as a member of the itself is in large part left up to the with more subjects to study, plus a new NYOGB, one of which as principal of the students themselves. curriculum and culture, the strangest double bass section, I was twice allowed And so it was that during my three thing happened. Perhaps made newly to conduct the full orchestra of 125 years at Cambridge University, I played

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 17 remember sitting with friends on the I grass of one of Gonville and Caius’ beautiful courtyards, when one of them, a German exchange student from the University of Tübingen, mentioned that the reverse leg of the exchange she was on was as yet unspoken for. Though the Tübingen Exchange programme was originally intended to permit students of German to spend a year honing their grammar and accents before returning to Cambridge for their final exams, in that particular year, they had all wanted to visit bigger and more glamorous cities such as Berlin, Munich and Cologne. Nobody wanted to go to Tübingen, and so the College offered the opening to any student who wanted to spend a year in I would complete in multiple orchestras, conducted Germany on its tab, contingent upon the University orchestra, had my own successful application in the form of an my time as a orchestra, and sang in the chapel choir essay explaining why he or she should be student in Europe, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday as the one to go. my core pursuits. For me, the degree in Four pages of explanation later as to in high orbit over Musicology for which I was studying was “The importance of the German language destined only to support my evolution for any Conductor-wishing-to-work- a Caribbean isle as a performer, an entirely legitimate, in-Opera”, and a year in Germany, all- whose gravity I had and as it turns out, long-practised expenses-paid was mine! There was just approach to the study of music at that one problem: I didn’t speak a single word eight years earlier venerable institution! of German. managed to escape, What all the music I made at Cambridge f the three months between the end could, however, not prepare me for, was O of the academic year at Cambridge only to find that the reality that there was a transition to be and registration at the University of orbit decay into a made from academia into the business of Tübingen, two weeks were spent on tour music, and that not one cubic centimetre in the United States with the Choir of fiery return, through of the rarefied air I had been breathing Gonville, and Caius College, Cambridge, an atmosphere for three years would ever help me get an and the other seven were spent taking an agent, or a job – far less start a career. It Intensive one-on-one course in German – thick with was in the last term of nine at Gonville and five days a week, three hours per day. In disappointment. Caius College that this dawned on me, speaking about this period, I often and I decided to take action rather than jokingly make reference to the character allow my greatest fear to be realized: that Neo in the film The Matrix, who learns by I would complete my time as a student having a spike-like probe inserted at the in Europe, in high orbit over a Caribbean back of his head, via which entire skill-sets isle whose gravity I had eight years earlier are downloaded into his brain. Learning managed to escape, only to find that German at breakneck speed was not orbit decay into a fiery return, through an unlike that for me initially, and I arrived at atmosphere thick with disappointment. Stuttgart airport in October 1992, scared One course of action was deliberate: an out of my mind, but determined to be, or application to attend the International at least appear, courageous. Things got Bartok Festival in Szombathely, Hungary, off to an ignominious start when, on my and study with the great composer/ way through Customs, I mistook the conductor, Peter Eötvös, who eventually officer instructing me to bring my luggage became my long-time mentor. The to the counter for inspection for a taxi other was rather more accidental and driver, and kept walking, chirping, “Nein ultimately, opportunistic. Danke” as I (almost) exited into Germany.

18 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION I never believed that I would spend though as I was soon to learn, early more than one year in Germany. After success does not always translate into eight years in England, I truly believed sustainable happiness. that my career would be made there, There is no school for the training of and that Germany would be nothing conductors who wish to become music more than a pit stop to replace tread- directors. The job, self-evidently enough, free tires after three years of burning involves conducting the orchestra, rubber at Cambridge University. As it choosing its repertoire and its soloists, transpired, Germany, far more than the and hiring, (though almost never firing), United Kingdom, is the land of milk and its personnel. Traditionally, the ins and honey for professional musicians of all outs of this complex role are learned in varieties. Historically divided into 16 an apprenticeship of many years; but independently governed federal states, because of my rapid rise through the each with its own cultural infrastructure, ranks, my apprenticeship at the Stuttgart often including one or more orchestras, Germany, far more Opera House was perilously short. In fact, an opera house or theatre, plus specific than the United on my first day as assistant to the Music regional festivals and traditions, the Director in Stuttgart, I already knew that Federal Republic of Germany which Kingdom, is the land I had been tapped for the GMD job in today embraces all 16 states, is a rich Freiburg and would be an assistant no tapestry of artistic opportunity that of milk and honey longer than a year before becoming the engages more performing musicians per for professional boss of my own opera house. square kilometre than probably any other European country. musicians of all Having therefore signed a four-year contract in Freiburg for a job I barely Within one year of arriving in Germany, varieties. Germany understood, it is safe to say that the and with the help of my new teacher, engages more first year was particularly difficult. I had I conducted my first concert as a come to the job with solid credentials to professional and was paid to do what I performing do everything but what the job actually had dreamt of eight short years earlier required, and so I was learning everything in Trinidad. The concert was with the musicians per on the job from scratch, with the press orchestra of the South German Radio, square kilometre looking over my shoulder. Once I had and was organized to celebrate the 60th survived the first year, however, during birthday of a great and famous Hungarian than probably any which I took on an insane number of composer named György Kurtag. As a other European productions, I settled into a rhythm result, most of musical Europe of any which saw me successfully through the influence was in attendance, and I was country. remaining three. promptly (as in, the very evening of the concert) offered other engagements, and From 2003, when I left Freiburg Opera, discovered what it felt like to get a good to 2006, I returned to freelancing. After review in a national newspaper. the heavy responsibility of leading, inspiring, organizing and disciplining t is not an overstatement to say that I over 100 musicians for four years, being I rode the wave of that burst onto the responsible only for myself was utterly European contemporary music blissful. Highlights of this three-year scene for many years to follow. Entering period included opening The Edinburgh the business at such a high level gave me Festival, and making my debut at The the credibility to quickly achieve two Paris Opera, the Stuttgart Opera and goals which are key in any career: agency English National Opera (ENO) in the West representation, and the music director- End of London. ship of an orchestra or opera house. In 1999, having been referred to the city of It was after my last performance at ENO Freiburg by my then agent, Jürgen in the Spring of 2006, that my agent joined Erlebach, I successfully completed the me in my dressing room to enquire as to arduous three-step evaluation process to whether I might be interested in putting my become its Generalmusikdirektor. name forward for the music directorship Becoming a GMD at the age of 28, made of the National Orchestra of Bordeaux me the youngest music director of a Aquitaine (ONBA), and having recovered, German opera house ever (at the time), and learned from my experience in

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 19 In 2012, my last year at the head of “Take It from the Top” was my memory the National Orchestra of Bordeaux of the desperate, frustrated musical child Aquitaine, after long discussions with my friend, Philip Julien, who had founded that I was in the early 80s, who would The Heroes Foundation, I decided to have given nigh-on anything to have the do a proof of concept for a new music mentorship programme inspired by my opportunity to interface with international dual Youth Orchestra experience. peers in his chosen field, musicians of his he idea was that I would select from T my orchestra in Bordeaux, the age, following the same dream. Stuttgart Opera, and the National Youth Orchestra of France, a contingent of professional or near-professional string players to come to Trinidad to rehearse and perform a concert in side-by-side configuration with the best young Freiburg, I was open to this possibility. I was have a conversation with Pierre Barrois, violinists, violists, and double bassists attracted by the quality of the orchestra, the Managing Director of the orchestra, studying at the time at UTT’s Academy for and the staggering beauty of the city (a and discuss my concerns. Pierre entirely the Performing Arts (APA). The project UNESCO World Heritage site), but also by put my mind at ease, saying that I had culminated in a highly successful benefit the fact that the position carried no direct nothing to do but be myself and give the concert “Tango In Trinidad” at The Hyatt responsibility for the National Opera of young musicians access to my energy, my Hotel, and everybody involved was aware Bordeaux and yet afforded the opportunity experience and everything I had learned that here was the seed of something that to conduct there. in double the number of years that any of them had yet lived. I accepted his offer, could potentially endure. ust over a year, and a further three- in no way aware that that very moment On my way back to Europe, I sketched J step audition process later, I was would become the next major turning out a broader plan, in which the music named musical and artistic director point in my career. mentorship programme would be of ONBA, a responsibility that I undertook permanently hosted at the Academy for with a certain trepidation, not least Leading the National Youth Orchestra the Performing Arts, and would run twice because I had only done French up to of France blew my mind, in the sense that a year under the title “Take It from the O-Level, and then had three months of every preconception I yet held about the Top”. The driving force behind Take It from private lessons before working at The path my career would take was called into the Top was my memory of the desperate, Paris Opera! Doing a job that required no question. I had never thought that I would frustrated musical child that I had been end of networking and small-talk in enjoy mentoring young musicians, nor did in the early 80s, who would have given French remained one of the major I know that I had any particular abilities in nigh-on anything to have the opportunity challenges of my six-year tenure at the that field. And yet, I seemed to take to it to interface with international peers in head of that organization, but just as had as the proverbial duck to water; relaxed, his chosen field, musicians of his age, been the case with German, being confident, light of spirit, and having more following the same dream, from whom dropped in the deep water certainly does fun than in most any a professional gig I to learn, and against whom to measure make you swim. had done to date. At the end of my two- year tenure at the head of that orchestra, progress. I thought about the multitudes When I had been at ONBA for no more my work was recognized by the then of gifted children of music who might not than a year, my boss called me into his Minister of Culture, Frédéric Mitterand, have access to the means my parents had office, and asked whether I might be with the country’s second highest award to send me abroad to pursue my dream, interested in accepting a parallel music in the field of Arts and Letters. I had verily and imagined that a programme like Take directorship with The National Youth been bitten by the bug. It from the Top would offer them at their Orchestra of France. My ears instantly very doorstep, opportunities for which I pricked up, of course, because of the s I left the Salle Pleyel after the had had to cross the Atlantic. happy memories I still held of my time A ceremony, walking along the streets From the date of conception to its as a member of the National Youth of Paris, I remember thinking, “If I’ve launch, Take It from the Top was three Orchestra of Great Britain in my teens. I been able to do this well for the musical years in the making, during which period was interested, but uncertain as to what youth of France, what benefit might I be I became so committed to the idea of a 38-year-old conductor, by no means able to bring to the musical youth of establishing the kind of pedagogical yet venerable or learned in any form or Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean?” infrastructure for young Caribbean artists fashion, could conceivably have to offer I didn’t have the answer right then, but that I as a boy would have loved to have the elite musical youth of the entire the thought percolated over the summer profited from, that I moved the centre of nation of France. He advised that I should of 2011. my professional activities to Trinidad, and

20 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION joined the faculty of the Academy for the ecognized internationally for its In 2017, it hosted its third international Performing Arts. R altruistic yet firmly grounded residency, PULSE 2017. The percussion studio of the Academy for the Performing he Take It from the Top concept was philosophy, the Take It from the Top Arts has been joined by artists aged 16 T inaugurated in September 2015 concept was quick to gain the support of to 23 from the United States, the United under the name CONNECTT, with an partner institutions such as the National Kingdom and Colombia, and the YMX orchestra comprising students from the Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, the Youth network has now extended beyond youth United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Orchestra of the Americas, The New York orchestras and music colleges to include France, Peru, Colombia, Barbados and Youth Symphony, the National Youth multiple universities. Trinidad and Tobago, rehearsing and Orchestra of France and the Music performing in side-by-side configuration Conservatory in Freiburg, Germany, some Today, I direct YMX from my position with multiple instructors from the of which have received young Trinidadian as Professor and Director of the Academy Academy for the Performing Arts. They musicians for study courses and short for the Performing Arts at the University of performed the music of Europe, South residencies, and have, on the basis of Trinidad and Tobago, and work every day America and the Indian subcontinent, those initial experiences, committed to with many of the wonderful instructors and bonded in the course of two weeks to do so again in the future. I have had the who helped give birth to the concept. pleasure of watching young Trinidadian become friends for life. They took their The 2017 Anthony N Sabga Caribbean music to children’s homes, hospices and artists walk in my footsteps, observed the birth of profound self-belief, and Award for Excellence in Arts and Letters is orphanages in the spirit of community an enormous encouragement, and will, I service, learning as they did so that the witnessed the acceleration in progress that ensued as a result. hope, serve to help YMX garner the kind privilege of any talent demands that it be of awareness and support that will allow generously shared to improve the lives of What was Take It from the Top is today it to continue its work for many years those whom it touches. called the Youth Music Exchange or YMX. to come.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 21 Shadel Nyack Compton Entrepreneurship Laureate, 2017, Grenada

22 THE LAUREATELAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITION EDITION I had never thought of myself as an entrepreneur. Should someone ask what was my profession my usual response would be “attorney-at- law”, for this was what I received my education in. Or sometimes it was “farmer”, as this I preferred over the nomenclature “managing director of an agribusiness enterprise”. In 2013, I was bestowed the award Business Woman of the Year by the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Initially, the significance of such an award was more about the promotion and recognition that it would bring to the company, rather than an Unfortunately, the marriage was short- Indo-Grenadian values of frugality, hard acceptance of this personal designation lived and like an eagle, Mum scooped up work, commitment and sacrifice yielded and honour. Winning the award gave me her two eaglets and landed them gently astronomical results. Starting their a deeper appreciation of the professional back in her best nest, Belmont Estate, business with only a corner shop in the that I had become. I also reflected on how in Grenada. village of Hermitage, they took advantage the business evolved from a simple farm, My very early memories of Grenada of the closed UK import markets during to a multi-faceted business that positively were of Papa and Mama – Norbert and the Second World War, bought nutmegs impacted people, environment and Lyris Nyack, my great aunt and uncle, who from the farmers who had no outlet country – a business that had earned me raised my mum, and also undertook to to sell, and made huge profits when a new appellation: “entrepreneur”. assist to raise Travis and me. Papa was a the war ended and trade resumed. eing conferred the prestigious man ahead of his times, a strategic leader This provided the revenue to purchase B Anthony N Sabga Caribbean who excelled in business. I had no clue Belmont Estate. Their other business Award for Excellence, 2017, for of the magnitude of his accomplishment ventures included trading in cocoa and Entrepreneurship has forced me to take while he was alive. I just knew that he nutmeg, supermarket produce, lumber- an introspective look at my journey to loved me, took me gallivanting with him yard and hardware merchandise, real entrepreneurship, and deeper still to a lot, and promised me a green desk in estate investments and even a horse race examine the merit of this award. It is a his office, so that we could work together. track. Sadly though, Papa died in his early journey fraught with trials and triumphs, Mama was a devoted wife, who supported 60s, intestate and without any succession shaped by strong morals and values him tirelessly through all the acquisitions plan. This precipitated a very lengthy and instilled by my mother and grandmother, and expansions, and focused on their arduous estate administration process salient childhood experiences, influential philanthropic, social and community that resulted in the properties distributed personalities, a deep, abiding faith in God responsibilities. Unfortunately, I never to his numerous siblings, and Belmont and a burning desire to make a positive received that desk, as he succumbed to Estate to Mama. difference. I embarked upon this journey illness at a relatively early age. ur Mum and Mama jointly raised my with constantly moving targets and an Belmont Estate was the second of six O brother Travis and me. Our almost elusive destination, and one that estates that Mama and Papa purchased. It childhood was a very stable and has been both challenging and exciting. became their home and the base of their happy time, where we enjoyed the Every story has a beginning, and mine operations. Simple people, descendants attention and affection of our conjoint started in foggy London. My parents both of Indian indentured workers, they mums. Though Mum helped to manage migrated from the Caribbean in the 60s for defied societal norms of the time, by the family business, her first responsibility education and broader horizons. There, in venturing into the business and social was always to her children, and she was the city of hope for West Indian migrants, realms of European plantocracy, much always a very present part of our lives for my Grenadian mother, Leah Nyack and to the chagrin of the remnants of the love, support, direction and discipline, my St. Lucian father, Augustus Compton colonial society. Though only armed upon demand. Mum was a very dedicated met, fell in love, and got married. My with an elementary school education, mother, and raised us to be well-behaved, brother Travis was born a year after I was. their innovation, enterprise and strong balanced and disciplined.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 23 When I was 14, our mum remarried; my Minister of Education congratulated step-dad was Baxter Fanwar, a quiet well- me on a job well done. I was a child of spoken Christian gentleman from north- the Grenada Revolution! These were east India. He was a father of six, and two exciting and formative times for me. The of his children, Shan and Balin, joined us themes of national pride and loyalty, at home. This began a new chapter of our people empowerment, agrarian reform, lives. My first reaction was that he’d take promoting literacy and adult education; my mummy away from me, but soon I fostering child and youth development realized that I had gained a father, and were widely promulgated and were a accepted the new family that his presence critical catalyst in the formulation of my forged. We were, in fact, excited about our stances on patriotism, duty to serve, step-siblings as it meant more company self-sacrifice and other commendable and excitement at home. Uncle Baxter nationalistic virtues. first won our hearts with his phenomenal y brothers, too, had interest in the storytelling. He could tell stories for hours M revolution but from a more on end, from Tarzan to westerns, Bible military perspective. They made stories to his childhood tales. Travis and I attempts to join the militia, but these were in awe with these incredible legends. were effectively annihilated by our Uncle Baxter could make characters parents. The boys weren’t too perturbed come to life, and his orations were more as they had more freedom. They could like movies than spoken words. He was a traverse the farm, bike-ride, drive the car, Professor of English and a Seventh-Day and “hang out” with friends. One of our Adventist pastor, but most importantly, Sunday pastimes was to visit nearby he embraced his position as head of our Pearls Airport to view airplanes land and home. Love for God and for our fellow take off. It was as a result of this that my men, and strong Christian values were brother Travis developed an interest in ingrained in us. Our parents had daily airplanes and decided early in his life to family worship. The kids gathered in become a pilot. I certainly had no such our parents’ bedroom every morning at epiphany about my future career. I had no 6 a.m. for family time and worship. It was early interest in either law or business. an important time for us to connect as a And, there was no orchestrated coercion family and also to build our relationship from Mama or my parents to get involved with God. in the business. I was simply encouraged ravis and I both attended the St to study hard and pursue my own dreams. T Andrews Methodist primary school Yet, I was surrounded by and exposed and later the Mac Donald College for daily to our business, either through high school. By then Shan and Balin had conversations or observations, and they joined us. We all performed well, as strongly impacted upon me. I now know studying was the number one activity at that if Papa had survived that I would home. There was no compromise. Our have been immersed in the business from dad was the principal and had a first-hand childhood. But that was not to be, so I knowledge of our performance at home lavished the love and protection of my and school. parents and Mama and resigned myself to being a bona fide home and book bug! the cross-cultural exchanges that our One of my loves was public speaking, family offered. and it was providential that I had the While for me life in Grenada was strict, advantage of Uncle Baxter’s expertise in shielded and routine, on the contrary, my My dad was a regional diplomat and English and public speaking to instruct St Lucia summer jaunts were exciting, Caribbean integrationist. I remember me. I got involved in both our school’s, adventurous and altogether fun. Needless spending a lot of time at his offices, and the national student councils, and to say, I looked forward to my visits to my where he served as Executive Secretary enjoyed public speaking opportunities. dad, and the large Compton family, who of West Indies Associated States (WIAS). My most notable was speaking at Queen’s made it their priority to ensure that my 12 There he was largely responsible for Park at a national students’ rally during siblings and I had a blast when visiting St the drafting of the treaty to set up the the revolutionary days. It was exhilarating Lucia. Yes, aside from my brother Travis Organization of Eastern Caribbean to speak before our beloved Prime and I, my dad had 11 other wonderful States (OECS), where he later served as Minister, Maurice Bishop and his team, children spanning several European and Deputy Director. I emulated him, as he and I was on top of the world when the Caribbean nationalities, and we enjoyed was painstakingly detailed in everything that he did, disciplined, methodical and

24 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION serious, and extremely dedicated to regular at the house, as were several permeated most social interactions, his work. However, I held most closely other politicians. Later, after my dad’s and I revelled in it. These positive to the common attributes that both he death, Uncle John and my uncle Patrick early exposures among these learned and my mum shared: quiet-natured, took on the role of surrogate dads, and intellectuals, helped to shape my decision honest, simple and humble, with huge I also developed a close relationship for law school and leadership more than I hearts that cared more about others than with another prominent cousin from realized at the time. themselves. the Compton clan, Sir James Mitchell, pon graduation from high school, I former Prime Minister of St Vincent and On weekends, his home was a bustling U was very eager to travel to the US to the Grenadines, from whom I still receive hub for entertaining family friends and study. I remain grateful to my mum much appreciated coaching in leadership, his diplomatic and political colleagues. for ensuring that I achieved my desire. I agriculture and entrepreneurship. The His cousin, Sir John Compton, former first attended Andrews University, a intellectual environment in the home Prime Minister of St Lucia, was more like a Seventh Day Adventist College, in Berrien was very rich, as books, newspapers and brother, as both were raised by granddad, Springs, Michigan. After the US invasion vibrant intellectual and political debates Mailings Compton. Uncle John was a of Grenada, my parents migrated to

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 25 Washington DC, so I moved there to live involved study groups that met for days with them. I completed my undergraduate and nights, alienated from everything studies, with a major in Psychology and else. Generally, the students were very Minor in Political Science. Later, while at intelligent, ambitious and competitive, Howard University, I made the decision to yet also supportive and social. My go to law school. I found my Political law student life of classes, reading The decision Science curriculum very stimulating. The assignments, papers, clinics and exams to return to the intrigue of Washington politics, influences had to be balanced with my family life, of some admirable political science work and other responsibilities. It was the Caribbean was one professors, inspirations of my past, and rigours of law school that taught me how that engendered my realization of the value of a law degree, to efficiently manage various demanding all steered me away from my first calling responsibilities at the same time, work much deliberation as a psychologist. My decision was under pressure and meet deadlines. At confirmed when I did an internship at a law school, I formed a close network and internal turmoil. group home for troubled teens while in of friends, mostly of Jamaican young Eventually, my love college. Experiencing the complex issues women. I was deeply inspired by these of abuses, and a myriad of personality strong and patriotic Jamaican friends and values won over disorders, all resulting in pain and who exhibited the highest degree of career aspirations dysfunction, were too troubling for me. I loyalty and love to their friends, and who internalized the problems and couldn’t fiercely and unapologetically exhibited in the Land of let go of them after leaving the kids. This their nationalistic pride. Law school was Opportunity, so I re- sealed my decision to abandon altogether a very positive experience for psychology and to pursue a discipline me, shaping me to think like and become adjusted my plans less emotionally exhausting. a lawyer, sharpening my endurance to manage diverse portfolios, while building reparing myself for law school was a to incorporate my great friendships. P disciplined exercise. The entrance new priorities back exam, the LSAT, was a beastly one, It is said that in life you do not always home. though it paled in comparison to the get the path chosen, and so it was with me. extensive studies in preparing for the bar After attending Howard and Georgetown exam later. I scored well on the LSAT, and I Universities in Washington DC, my mind was accepted to all the law schools that I was more keenly focused on a legal and applied to. It was a tough choice, but political career in the United States. eventually I chose Georgetown University Working on Capitol Hill for Congressman Law Center in Washington, DC. The Benjamin Cardin during my first year of nation’s capital is a perfect place to study law school further stimulated my political law — the seat of the executive, legislature interest, and the nation’s capital seemed and judiciary. The law campus was the perfect place to realize those dreams. walking distance from the Supreme Court After graduating law school, I returned to and the Capitol, and we had the benefit of Georgetown University for another year to high-profile experts as law professors. complete a Masters in International and Comparative Law. However, in my latter Transitioning to law school was a steep years at Georgetown, I was continually learning curve, and a very intimidating preoccupied with thoughts of my aging process. The course work was gruelling, grandmother and my need to give back to and required tremendous discipline. her during her twilight times. Because of Law school classes are designed to the beautiful relationship that we shared teach students the law and how to think and my strong Indo-Caribbean values like lawyers. The Socratic method of that oblige children to care for their teaching — that most powerful teaching parents, these urges were strong. The methodology for fostering critical thinking decision to return to the Caribbean was — scared me. I recognized the deficiency one that engendered much deliberation in my primary and secondary education and internal turmoil. Eventually, my love at that time, in not cultivating critical and values won over career aspirations in thinking. The workload was very heavy, the land of opportunity, so I re-adjusted with several hours of required reading my plans to incorporate my new priorities every day. Preparing for exams usually back home.

26 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION After law school, I sat and passed my as I became initiated into the Caribbean bar exams and got admitted to the bar judicial system, and forged relationships at Maryland, Washington DC and New with young lawyers from throughout the York. Having studied Law in the United region. Little did I know at that time that States, I had to complete a six-month I would marry one of my Hugh Wooding Certificate of Legal Education programme colleagues, Jerry Seales, in a fairy-tale at the University of the West Indies, to wedding on the idyllic island of Canouan, be eligible to practice law in Grenada. in the Grenadines, the venue aptly chosen I completed the programme at the St by two uncles, Sir James and Sir John, in Augustine campus, and found Trinidad to honour of our Canouan roots! be an altogether enlightening experience. eturning to Belmont Estate was a I wanted to experience Trinidad life and R very different reality from the culture to the fullest, so I positioned myself vibrant, productive estate of to participate in this eclectic life, without yesteryear. Affected by revolution, losing sight of my primary purpose — my invasion, labour unrest, lack of succession education. I secured a job as a law clerk or a strategic plan after Norbert Nyack’s and gained practical experience, with J death, the business steadily spiralled D Sellier & Co, a prestigious law firm in downwards. In addition, the estate, like Port of Spain. Of course, I couldn’t miss others, was affected by the removal of this singular opportunity to enjoy the market protection privileges in the epitome of Trini culture — Carnival, so European market. Though my first priority from panyard to tent, J’ouvert to Parade was caring for my grandmother, I started a of the Bands, I experienced it all! Through law practice, and busied myself with all of this, I maintained maximum planning to resuscitate Belmont Estate. participation and performance at school,

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 27 My motivation was to preserve my grandparents’ legacy, contribute to the socio-economic development of my rural community and island, provide employment, and reinstate the business to success and profit. I recognized that operating the traditional farm was no longer viable, and so I examined varying business possibilities. Agriculture is the mainstay of most developing economies, and Grenada is no exception. Tourism, though, has become a very significant contributor to the GDP of Grenada, and has surpassed agriculture as the number one contributor to the national economy. Both are critical tools for employment generation, poverty alleviation and sustainable rural development. Agri-tourism incorporates a rural working farm with a commercial tourism element and as a concept was initiated and developed in Europe and North America, then spread to other developed over the years, suddenly regions in recent years. In the last two catapulted to treatise status for restaurant Our first product decades, the Caribbean has seen an reference. She perfected a line of ice offerings were emergence of such enterprises. creams using local produce, started a estate tours, a Agri-tourism initiatives regionally and value-added line of products for the internationally piqued my attention, as business, and trained staff. heritage museum a possible model for Belmont Estate. The tourism product at Belmont The beautiful clean, pristine, natural Estate was from inception extremely and a crudely made environment that God blessed us with well received. Initially, we invited tour coconut-palm- provided the perfect backdrop for operators and their staff and families this business concept — an authentic to experience Belmont Estate, and they covered restaurant plantation experience linked to local were immediately sold. We marketed that seated only foods, culture and heritage, promoting also to hotels, taxi drivers and all service environmental and community steward- providers within the industry. Another 25, but served the ship, delivered with high-quality critical market was our local guests, so service standards. special emphasis was given to creating best of local foods, special tours, activities and occasions for hough a sound business concept, compliments my locals. T agri-tourism had not yet achieved dear mother. the total confidence of funders, so Fourteen years later, the estate employs we self-funded a rather downscaled about 100 persons full- and part-time, and version of our plans. It was, indeed, by the offers a range of products and services, confluence of divine intervention, a organic and fair-trade-certified produce, fortuitous visit by our then Prime Minister, several tours, a restaurant seating 250 Dr the Rt Hon Keith Mitchell, and my persons, a goat dairy, producing goat’s dogged determination, that we opened cheese, a plant nursery and a museum. our doors to our first guests in April 2002. The main agricultural products now Our first product offerings were estate are cocoa, nutmegs and soursop, with tours, a heritage museum and a crudely smaller production of a variety of spices, made coconut-palm-covered restaurant fruits, vegetables and herbs. The value- that seated only 25, but served the best of added production activity of the business local foods, compliments my dear mother. is growing, as a considerable amount Mum started the restaurant at Belmont of the agricultural produce is processed Estate. Her compendium of recipes, into jams, jellies, condiments, pickles

28 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION Being a raw product producer for over 200 years, we ventured into value-added manufacturing, and opened our own chocolate factory in 2017.

and sauces. Total guests have grown destroyed. The damage in the fields was Grenada Chocolate Company, our through the years from 1,248 in 2002, severe — loss or damage of about 80% strategic partner, suffered an accidental to 27,919 in 2015. In addition, we have of nutmeg and cocoa trees. Not only death. These personal disasters were very received numerous local and regional did I have to deal with my own personal traumatic. I relied firmly on God for the awards for environment and community and business losses but also with the wisdom to understand, the serenity to stewardship, and best practices in tourism challenges of displaced employees. I accept, and comfort to heal. I further and agriculture. was keenly aware of my responsibility came to accept that believers are not Belmont Estate has become known as employer and community leader. It exempt from hardship and disaster, but for producing top quality cocoa for many meant making deep personal sacrifices through Christ comes healing, and the decades. Being a raw product producer to provide security; staying strong and strength and power to emerge victorious. for over 200 years, we ventured into value- holding on to my faith in the face of I also challenged myself to find the added manufacturing, and opened our adversity; and providing the leadership positive even in these unfortunate own chocolate factory in 2017. Our unique necessary to overcome the challenges occurrences: the opportunity to share this selling point is that we are producing and forge ahead. To further aggravate experience to help others similarly high quality, single-sourced, organic and our losses, the next year, hurricane Emily situated, to strengthen my faith and fair-trade-certified chocolate at Belmont repeated the disaster. After protracted relationship with my God, and prepare Estate, where the entire tree-to-bar construction, we re-opened in 2007. The myself for greater challenges ahead. challenges brought on by the hurricane production occurs. In addition, Belmont am grateful that my business has influenced me into taking more of a Estate and the Cocoa Research Centre I also given me the opportunity to be strategic approach to food security and (CRC) of the University of the West Indies a civic and charitable contributor. I to the development of the business. I signed a Memorandum of Understanding enjoy the opportunities to speak locally, pursued a Masters in Agri-business at to access the University’s expertise in regionally and internationally on behalf of Kansas State University that increased my propagation, agronomy, processing our organizations, writing, or making knowledge in agri-business management and manufacturing. This initiative will other contributions, helping to shape and development. offer a more scientific approach, and public policy or inspire other will improve the quality of services and ther personal tragedies proved entrepreneurs in organic farming and products offered by the estate. The CRC O challenging both to me personally agri-tourism. Service to my country, on is an excellent partner for Belmont Estate and professionally. On Christmas public and private sector boards in as it provides the science and technology Eve 2009, my brother was flying his Piper tourism, agriculture and heritage has for every step of the process from plant Aztec home for the holidays when the been very gratifying and educational for propagation to chocolate making. We plane plummeted into the ocean off The me, the most significant being my time of intend to extend Belmont Estate’s services Bahamas. Neither he, nor the plane, was service as Chair of the Grenada Board of to train farmers and processors, offer a ever found, but the remains of our cousin, Tourism, during its transition to the resource centre for research and to be a Bancroft Nyack, his co-pilot, were found Grenada Tourism Authority. Through model to foster entrepreneurship. one month later. It was devastating to me, Belmont Estate’s charity arm, the Belmont The evolution of this plantation from our family, and particularly to my mum. Estate Foundation, several programmes obscurity and near closure, to worldwide Through it all, I had to be strong, still have been developed: summer school recognition and sustained growth has leading the company, co-ordinating and school assistance for children, not been without severe challenges. Two search efforts, caring for my children, and financial and in-kind donations to years after opening, in 2004, our entire offering strength and support to my children, hot meals to the elderly, operation — farm and tourism — was parents and family and friends. Tragedy Christmas food hampers, home repairs, devastated by the passage of Hurricane again struck in June 2013 when Mott food and medication donations, and Ivan. Most buildings were totally Green, the visionary founder of the disaster relief. In addition, environmental

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 29 education programmes, building economy, and to an extent in most of awareness about environmental the Caribbean, entrepreneurship in responsibility, community, beach and sustainable agri-tourism is key to our river clean-ups have been executed economic development, as it engenders singularly or in collaboration with the St growth and facilitates innovation Patrick Environmental Community and change. Tourism Organization (SPECTO). Rural development is driven by Internship opportunities for both local entrepreneurship. For entrepreneurship and international students are also an in sustainable agri-tourism to flourish, important component of the career there must be an enabling environment. development services that we offer. I am Public policy, and clear strategy for the also grateful that the business has grown industry that identifies our products, my family to extend to my staff. Through target markets, and addresses issues of the years, I have developed close and personnel, funding, education and skills lasting relationships with an extraordinary development are important. A clear and My dream above team of people who work at Belmont defined policy and strategy create an all is that one Estate. I have seen them develop, take enabling environment to drive private ownership, support and protect the sector and public/private initiatives. I day, Grenada business and I have experienced a great see Belmont Estate’s role as pivotal in sense of loyalty, devotion and this industry, not only as a best practices can become a commitment from my staff. It is extremely model, but as resource of other aspiring truly sustainable gratifying to be able to “give back”, help “agropreneurs” aspiring to innovate in and inspire others, teach and make a rural development. My goal is to help economy, difference, simply because we care and shape public policy to embrace organic incorporating seek to enrich the lives of others. farming as a healthy, sustainable and high- Achieving this award is now a value option for Grenada’s agriculture sustainable significant part of my journey. Through and to encourage agri-business and agri- agriculture and all the preparations, it has given me an tourism as viable business models for opportunity to reflect on my life, but private sector development. My dream tourism, and more importantly, to focus on the future above all is that one day, Grenada can and my national contributions, legacy become a truly sustainable economy, achieving the creation, business growth, and succession incorporating sustainable agriculture ultimate realization planning. It has also made me introspect and tourism, and achieving the about the value of relationships, friends ultimate realization of green and blue of green and blue and family, and equally investing in economic success. economic success. people for whom we care. n addition, I aspire to venture more Businesses in the Caribbean are I strategically into social entre- constantly fraught with the macro preneurship — using my business and micro economic challenges to experience, resources and contacts to survival. Caribbean countries as Small assist budding entrepreneurs. The intent Island Developing States suffer peculiar is to bring together a group of business disadvantages related to small size, consultants committed to rural insularity, remoteness and proneness development to create a resource hub for to natural disasters, and Grenada is no agri-tourism or agri-business entre- exception. As a result, our economies preneurs, offering business development are very vulnerable to forces outside consultations and financing opportunities of our control. On a micro level, for rural development. In addition, it is my business challenges of surviving in the plan to access the resources of the Cocoa competitive and fragile marketplace, Research Centre to offer support to cocoa brand recognition, strategic product farmers. We would be able to define development, pricing, are all issues accessible paths that entrepreneurs can that affect our ability to grow, reach share, create and be inspired. Belmont profitability targets and remain relevant. Estate can serve as a best practices model There are, however, several opportunities and can be a practical learning to ensure our economic balance and environment for the said entrepreneurs. sustainability. In Grenada, an agrarian Further, Belmont Estate can truly

30 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION A stronger feminine presence in leadership positions is needed to orchestrate the reduction in economic and social gaps between women and men throughout the value chain in agriculture.

effectuate our mission: “To be a model of She considereth a field and buyeth it. sustainable agriculture and tourism She stretcheth out her hand to the poor practices by producing organic products, and needy creating extraordinary experiences and Her clothing is silk and purple preserving our heritage and environment, Strength and honour are her clothing. so as to enrich the lives of others.” She openeth her mouth with wisdom and kindness. I would also want to encourage women to pursue entrepreneurship am grateful to God for both the and agribusiness. Women make up a I opportunities and the challenges significant proportion of the workforce that life has offered me, for the in agriculture, but account for small lessons learnt, and allowing me to use His numbers in management or ownership resources to make a difference in peoples’ of agribusiness enterprises. A stronger lives. I am also grateful that I live in one of female presence in leadership positions the most magnificent places on earth and is needed to orchestrate the reduction can enjoy the beauty and providences of in economic and social gaps between nature. I am so thankful for the special women and men throughout the value people in my life. To my parents, children, chain in agriculture, address food Anna and Benno, relatives, friends and my security and gender parity and other key staff family, thank you for the love, areas like access to agricultural inputs, support and incredible encouragement technologies and finance. Women also that you give to me every day. I trust that can increase companies’ bottom lines by my example my children will both grow — while helping improve the lives of into God-fearing, honest, compassionate people in rural areas. In my quest for individuals that are committed to a life of female entrepreneurial inspiration, I was passion, service, sacrifice and excellence. surprised to discover that the virtuous I wish to thank my nominator, Dr Beverley woman described in Proverbs: Chapter Steele, for her belief and confidence in 31, doesn’t just describe a faithful wife and me. To the ANSA McAL Foundation, I am devoted mother, but largely addresses deeply grateful, humbled and indebted, the character and professional traits of as this award drives me to reach for a woman entrepreneur and encourages greater heights of excellence, and to planning, organization, industry, invest- encourage a culture of excellence for our ment, diligence, hard work, honesty Caribbean people. Thank you for and loyalty. My best business advice to bestowing on me this continuing entrepreneurs is to read this chapter obligation to improve, contribute and to with your entrepreneurial vision, and be make a difference. I wish to congratulate inspired. my co-awardees and challenge us all to Proverbs 31: 13-26 be the best role models for our region and She worketh willingly with her hands. the world, to encourage others to excel. She bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 31 Arif Bulkan Public & Civic Contributions Laureate, 2017, Guyana

32 THE LAUREATELAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITION EDITION Recently, and presumably because of the exposed the brutish and degrading conditions publicity generated around the constitutional of police lockups. Extremely overcrowded, those litigation in Guyana initiated by the group crammed inside are left to swelter in the heat in which I am involved, a Trinidadian and stench, fed from buckets also used to clean acquaintance (let’s call him “Will”) asked me: the cell and with no place to relieve themselves. “Are there so many trans people in Guyana?” In these debased surroundings, those detained are at the mercy of each other with little or no The case that provoked this question involves supervision, and it is not unknown for families of a constitutional challenge we initiated against victims to pay to have inmates beaten by others. a 19th-century law which prohibits “cross- All this in a holding cell, containing persons simply dressing” in public, but the blunt inquiry gave accused of crime. me some pause. What Will was really questioning was the necessity for investing so much time redictably, despite the severity of allegations and resources in a court challenge (at best an P against the trans women which included arduous and protracted undertaking) for an issue damage to property and robbery, no charge that might have very little national relevance of any moment was filed and instead the police — — whether because of the size or invisibility or ingeniously, I am tempted to add — resurrected plain powerlessness of the community it affected. this obscure, 19th-century offence of “being a man In truth, there is probably a much larger trans in any public place or way, for an improper community in Guyana than realized, precisely purpose [who] appears in female attire.” because of their complete marginalization Unrepresented, they did what most poor persons which forces its members underground. But do — they pleaded guilty and got out of the even accounting for some under-representation, courtroom quickly, but not after an agonizing one cannot deny that the trans community is weekend of incarceration in horrific, appalling still relatively small. So why did my colleagues conditions. It was the patent injustice of these and I feel so strongly about the constitutionality events that we found intolerable. That the state of the law and its enforcement against the would so casually trample on the rights of its trans community? I probably didn’t give Will an citizens, locking them up, humiliating them, adequate explanation, but at the risk of sounding subjecting them to inhumane conditions for two clichéd, the reason for my involvement lies days — simply for how they were dressed? squarely in how I have always felt about injustice. Obviously, this would never happen to the middle- You see why I paused when Will asked his question class person who likes to experiment with clothing — because who replies in such terms? choices, but who enjoys the insulation of money t was over a weekend in February 2009 and privilege. In other words, what happened to I that at separate times the police arrested these trans women had a lot to do with social and a number of trans women in Georgetown. economic status and their complete lack of Various allegations were levelled against them privilege, as opposed to them contravening some — that they were soliciting for prostitution, that legal or moral code. they were involved in a public disturbance, that The courts at two levels have so far said the they had damaged property — and they were same thing, namely that cross-dressing per se is deposited in the Brickdam lockups, where they not criminal, and that it is the act of doing so in were detained until their arraignment two days public for an improper purpose which constitutes later. For those unfamiliar with this holding cell, an offence. For sure, this feels like an important it has been described as a “hellhole”, which the clarification, but in real terms it is practically Chairman of the Bar Council of England and Wales meaningless. The ambiguity of the expression had recommended closing down entirely since “improper purpose”, which no one has been 2002. Not that we in Guyana need guidance from able to define with any clarity, confers enormous the English on standards of humanity and decency discretion on state officials. — our own local journalists have repeatedly

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 33 Historically, the law in question is always been important to me, for as long the epitome of 19th-century vagrancy as I can remember. law, part of a package introduced after In this, I think, I have had strong emancipation in order to police the role models very close to home. My bodies of freed slaves and indentured mother, who assumed the primary role workers. Today it continues to have the of raising me after my dad died when I same effect. It has enabled magistrates to was only six years old, has always lived refuse to hear trans women in court, even an exemplary life of service to others. I when they are the victims. It emboldens grew up in a house which was like an in- policemen on the beat to arrest and transit stopover for numerous relatives detain trans women for offences that and others passing through, and in never materialize. It reinforces an already my mother’s relationships with and hostile climate in which mistreatment treatment of others I have seen first-hand by private citizens of trans persons, in lived values of kindness, purposeful- The mere existence areas related to employment, housing, ness, and selflessness. Unsurprisingly, of the law facilitates and the provision of goods and services, I guess, my siblings have strong ethical can occur with impunity. In other words, sensibilities, and have consistently taken discrimination the mere existence of the law facilitates principled positions on issues of national discrimination against persons whom importance, even amidst a climate of against persons society simply dislikes. Even if a trans repression and during successively whom society person is eventually acquitted of this authoritarian regimes. My sister, Janette, “crime” of cross-dressing, until then he or is well-known as a relentless activist for simply dislikes. she would have to endure all the suffering the protection of our forest patrimony, and indignity of arrest, detention and and when she speaks out against public humiliation. All this not in some rapacious and corrupt multinationals in ISIS controlled territory, but right here in Guyana, it is not because she is hoping a post-colonial state where fundamental for greater profits in her own timber or rights are entrenched in a constitution. It gold mining concession (she has none), was these realities that so bothered my but purely because of a deep-seated colleagues and me; and it was the hope of concern for Guyana’s natural resources stimulating some change to the prevailing and the sustenance it provides for local indifference which has sustained us over communities. Long before this, Janette these long years while pursuing the courageously challenged the Desmond constitutional challenge we initiated. The Hoyte regime over its “Mass Games” and case is about trans rights to be sure, but its misplaced prioritizing of senseless crucially, it is also about the treatment of spectacle over education. She was one the poor and powerless. of the original speakers at GUARD rallies, orking on this case and other the civic movement in the early 1990s W projects with my colleagues Tracy that galvanized an apathetic population Robinson, Westmin James, Janeille and helped achieve free and fair elections Matthews and more recently Jewel in 1992. Amoah — all law lecturers at the University In short, for as long as I have known of the West Indies and members of our her, she has always been fearless and group, the University of the West Indies outspoken in her defence of what is right, Rights Advocacy Project (U-RAP) — has irrespective of the government in power, been profoundly important for me, and with absolutely no agenda of personal although it amounts to a demanding gain. In fact, her realities have been quite second job, not always manageable the opposite — because of her outspoken because I have so many academic and advocacy, Janette has been victimized administrative responsibilities in my day where it counts, the last government job as a lecturer. But U-RAP’s work is even writing to the World Bank to have important, not simply because it provides her removed from a panel on which she a way of remaining connected to the was serving. Another minister in that practice of what I teach, but more government even threatened to write Yale especially because it gives me a sense of University to tell them not to award her usefulness and involvement with the doctorate she was then researching community. Such engagements have

34 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION for — a letter, if written, that must have for it. I did and was accepted, but even been immediately tossed in the garbage that would have gone nowhere had I not by her supervisors. managed to win the prize for the best performance at the end of my first year, Janette is not unique in my family. My which enabled me to obtain a scholarship brothers, even as businessmen with much to continue the rest of the degree at the to lose, repeatedly and publicly criticized Cave Hill campus of UWI in Barbados. This the irrational national policy of exporting meant that when I was finished I was logs and sub-leasing forestry concessions, contractually bound to work with the even though this exposed them to Government, and I chose to serve my relentless victimization. One particularly time as a prosecutor. So, as it turned out I grotesque instance of this in my memory was fortunate to get an education and was when my eldest brother, Howard, in ended up pursuing the most conventional the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, of careers, but none of that was the result donated a container of sawn and dressed of foresight or careful planning. Mostly, it lumber to assist in their re-building efforts. Growing up in was me simply going with the flow, However, because he was blacklisted the late 70s and prodded by others, and being the as an advocate of good governance in beneficiary of some luck along the way. the forest sector, before he eventually 80s, I witnessed succeeded in sending the shipment, the debilitating eturning to Guyana in 1990, his efforts were stalled, obstructed, and R however, the political climate frustrated by the authorities. Howard effects on our seemed unchanged. Despite the might not even remember this, as he’ll obvious economic and civic reforms tell you it pales next to the microscopic society of economic initiated by Desmond Hoyte, the stain of scrutiny under which he carried out his mismanagement, rigged elections remained, and this businesses — scrutiny that was clearly became the chief target of a united politically motivated when one has regard corruption, and opposition. Even though I was employed to the known, public and very visible acts political repression. by then with the state, and subject to of money laundering that flourish in certain restrictions as a public servant, I Guyana with impunity. For a long time in involved myself with this as far as I could, Guyana our reality has been that dissent volunteering with the Electoral Assistance is actively and vigorously discouraged, on Bureau from 1990 until 1992. That pain of financial and economic censure, involved a variety of activities, one of but even in the face of such repression, which I recall meant me going house-to- silence never seemed to be an option for house on foot in Georgetown, which I did my siblings. with my brother Ronald, on more than one afternoon, checking whether ll around me, then, were these residents were registered and on the A inspiring models of integrity, voters’ list. And then for a full six weeks courage, and principle — values before the polls on October 5, 1992, I took which were lived and practiced at a high all of my accrued six weeks of leave and cost. This may sound like I always wanted spent the entire time volunteering at a career in law, but in truth that happened EAB’s main office opposite Bishops’ High by accident. For as long as I remember School. All this was entirely outside of my what I really wanted to do was write job as a prosecutor, but which I felt fiction, but that’s a tremendously difficult compelled to do because of the link I saw undertaking. I’m still not sure how one between political participation and social goes about being a writer, and back then justice and equality in the country. not only did I make no efforts in that direction, I had no plans for doing ndeed, while advocacy for good anything after A-Levels. I spent my time I governance may not seem to have immediately after exams loafing about any bearing on human rights, for me with no visible purpose. It was Janette the connections were as plain as day. who I guess was really concerned about Growing up in the late 70s and 80s, I my apparent lack of ambition, and three witnessed the debilitating effects on our weeks into the new school year she learnt society of economic mismanagement, of a single vacancy at UG’s first-year law corruption, and political repression. This programme and persuaded me to apply was a menacing period, where amid ever-

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 35 increasing economic hardship, free on a range of issues. Over the course speech was stifled, political rallies of seven years those topics spanned routinely broken up by paid thugs, and accountability in government, corruption, opponents of the government — many of nepotism, ministerial ethics, free speech, them being the courageous women and democracy and constitutionalism. I men of Rodney’s WPA — were harassed, found myself ghostwriting other pieces bullied, and pursued with the full force of as well, when we thought that an issue at the law. Although still in high school, hand might be taken over by personality. these events had a profound impact on The value that Alissa saw in this was me, encouraged as I was by one aunt who translating sometimes esoteric or arcane used to take me with her to Rodney’s legal issues for popular consumption, meetings. In 1978, I accompanied her to with the aim not just of educating but also pickets chanting “Kill the Bill”, not really for readers to expand their understanding aware then (at age 11) of the sinister of citizenship and participation. implications of the referendum we were I saw first-hand how some of these In a country protesting (namely that by replacing our columns galvanized popular opinion. One where politics is Republican Constitution with a strongly that stands out for me is a column I wrote authoritarian one it would enable on the sale of private property by a former dominated by decades of future corruption by president and the benefits of his office successively unaccountable govern- which included a magnificent, uncapped racial animus and ments). By the time of early adulthood, pension, while ordinary citizens were accountability is and while still in university, I began mired in poverty. It was reminiscent of volunteering with the Guyana Human what Dr Jagan himself had described often sacrificed Rights Association (GHRA). Although the as a “Cadillac lifestyle on the back of a on the ground of various projects I worked on probably do donkey-cart economy”. After that column, not account for much, it was a relationship the issue of the presidential pension partisan loyalties, that I cherished, for it exposed me to the catapulted in the spotlight, becoming a subverting type of work that by then I had already major talking point in the 2015 election — realized I was really interested in. an election which, for the first time in two the expected ll this is why, by a decade-and-a- decades, the People’s Progressive Party A half into the reign of the government failed to win a majority in Parliament. But stereotypes seemed that eventually replaced Hoyte’s, I felt another responsibility as well, one to me to be an many had become so dejected at how the that popular columnist Freddy Kissoon struggles for good governance and a also alluded to separately. And that was ethical imperative. corruption-free future had been betrayed. the duty as a Guyanese of East Indian It seemed that we had replaced one set of descent to speak out against abuses by dysfunction with another, with the only an Indo-dominated government. In a difference being the racial hue of those in country where politics is dominated by power. By 2007, the scale of corruption in racial animus and accountability is often Guyana had become so widespread, so sacrificed on the ground of partisan vulgar, so unchecked and normalized, loyalties, subverting the expected that we had plummeted below every stereotypes seemed to me to be an ethical other CARICOM country to the bottom of imperative. It was important to signal every credible international indicator of that not every Indo-Guyanese should be freedom, transparency and good associated with the corruption and abuse governance. by the government, and to demonstrate that certain bedrock principles and values It was beginning around this time, transcended petty loyalties. in the late 2000s after I had completed a PhD and began lecturing at the UWI, longside this, which Alissa that I began to write publicly against A describes as public intellectual this widespread corruption and abuse in work, shortly after joining the government. In a space provided by Alissa Faculty of Law I was involved in the Trotz, a school friend who edited a column setting-up of U-RAP with Tracy Robinson in the Stabroek News of contributions and Douglas Mendes SC, then a lecturer from Guyanese living in the diaspora, I at the St Augustine campus. U-RAP was occasionally provided public commentary conceived of as a pilot project of the

36 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION U-RAP has entered into a partnership with Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), a non-governmental organization working on behalf of Caribbean populations especially vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, in particular, men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who use drugs, orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV, migrant populations, persons in prison and ex- prisoners, and youth in especially difficult circumstances.

Faculty of Law with a strong focus on providing our students with opportunities Thus, from very modest beginnings public interest litigation in the area of to volunteer, which is valuable not just for with only a specific goal, U-RAP has Caribbean human rights. Broadly, the the practical experience it offers and the grown steadily in the number of project seeks to promote human rights, opportunities to build and develop skills, our undertakings, the extent of our equality and social justice in the but more importantly for the values of collaborations, and, I hope, our reputation Caribbean through pivotal human rights service to others and social responsibility for competent and ethical work. The litigation, research, advocacy, capacity it hopefully inculcates in them. Most incredibly generous Sabga Award will building, teaching and public education. recently, U-RAP has entered into a sustain this work in two very crucial It was formalized in 2010, and as part of partnership with Caribbean Vulnerable ways. The first is its splendid financial this mandate U-RAP has so far initiated Communities Coalition (CVC), a non- component, which has fortuitously come two ground-breaking cases in the governmental organization working on when our existing funding is about to Caribbean: the action in Guyana behalf of Caribbean populations end. The other, and arguably even more challenging the constitutionality of the especially vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, in enduring benefit, is the recognition of law prohibiting cross-dressing in public, particular, men who have sex with men, our public and civic contributions. I have and another in Belize challenging the sex workers, people who use drugs, tremendous discomfort with any label constitutionality of the provisions of the orphans and other children made that singles me out, being fully conscious Criminal Code that criminalize the vulnerable by HIV, migrant populations, of my inadequacies and limitations, “unnatural offence”. Although the litigants persons in prison and ex-prisoners, and and so I’d like to think of this award as in both cases are sexual minorities, we youth in especially difficult circumstances. recognizing the collaborative efforts of me viewed the core concerns — respect for This will involve a series of activities over and my colleagues in U-RAP. In particular, human dignity and a right to choose a life the next few years aimed at strengthening the driving force behind U-RAP is my of one’s own — as having fundamental the capacity of regional lawyers to provide colleague Tracy Robinson, and thus this symbolic and substantive value to post- pro bono services for some of those award for Public and Civic Contributions colonial Caribbean people who have communities in seven Caribbean is one that I hope can be thought of as faced oppression directed, among other countries, through continuing legal shared by both of us. Ultimately, I am fully things, at who we were, our psyche, our education and strategizing on issues with conscious of how much I have benefited worth and our entitlement to make basic constitutional or human rights from the work and support of others — choices about our sexual and implications of regional or national Tracy in the present but many, many, reproductive lives. significance. Our impetus for this many others in the past — and more than n pursuing these activities U-RAP collaboration was our belief that anything else, this award reinforces how I has forged close ties with the interventions on behalf of and for these much more I have to do to live up to such communities and activists we populations are necessitated by the a generous, public acknowledgement. serve, which we view as critical to extent of their marginalization and the ensuring accountability. Additionally, an very high levels of stigma and integral component of our work is discrimination to which they are subject.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 37 KeiKei MillerMiller ArtsArts && LettersLetters Laureate,Laureate, 2018,2018, JamaicaJamaica

38 THE LAUREATELAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITION EDITION Here is a truth — I’ve written 11 books so far in r else, I might think about the house in my 40 years on this earth. Nine have already O which I grew up — the house where my been published. The other two are making their family still lives. It is in Hope Pastures, a very ways through the machine of publication and quiet middle-class community in Jamaica. To will arrive soon enough. They represent a range think about that place now is to think about the of genres, these books — from collections of unremarkable, an uneventful place where poems and stories to novels and essays, some whatever tensions would have animated the lives academic, others more creative and lyrical. The of its residents, were tensions that played out one genre I don’t imagine I will ever write is an behind closed doors, so we did not hear or witness autobiography. This present essay feels, in a anything. A neighbour who lived directly across strange way, more difficult than anything I’ve from us is a man whose name I have never learnt written before. in 40 years. I see him in the morning open the gate, It is simply this — that I do not know how to he reverses the car, comes out and shuts the gate construct from my life a narrative that could and then drives off, presumably to work. The explain what I do right now, how I have come to process happens in reverse each evening. There author these books of West Indian literature, how was once a wife who did the same but I have not I have come to be so fascinated and preoccupied seen her in five years so I assume she has died. I do with our language and our stories. Or perhaps it not know. There really was nothing in the lawns would be more honest to say that while I could and fences and gates of Hope Pastures that ignited construct such a narrative, it would not be one a spark in me. It was so absent of the grit and the that convinces me. sounds that I now write about. n a library at the University of the West Indies I could go through this futile process with I I find amongst the stored papers of the late the schools I attended –— Vaz Prep, and then Jamaican writer, Vic Reid, a letter written Wolmer’s Boys — trying to find some event, some for my father. It recommends him to Howard inspirational teacher, something, anything that University. But my father never went to Howard. could explain me and the shape that my life would The letter is a memento of some ambition that take. There was a dead body once. This is true. It was ultimately not pursued, and also of the was just outside the gate of my prep school. I was relationship between my father and Vic Reid, and already inside, but I remember standing away Vic Reid and my grandfather. Reid was one of from the gate and daring myself to go out and my grandfather’s closest friends and my father’s look at it. The teachers and students just coming godfather. You see, my grandfather was also a in were screaming and holding their hands over writer though he never published a book. Like their mouths. I only remember this now, searching Seepersad Naipaul in Trinidad, my grandfather for some seed from which the tree of my life would spent his working life as a journalist. He was have blossomed. I never saw the dead body. I was friends with Roger Mais and Reid, men who wrote not brave to go out and look. I am searching for the disposable everyday stories of their island but something now that I cannot find it. Look — this who all had the ambition to write something more is the truth: I was always a better than average lasting. I am tempted often to start my biography student, but never extraordinary. If I really pushed here — with my grandfather, Percy Miller, and myself, I would come third or fourth in my classes, this literary heritage, except it wasn’t much of but usually I did not push myself. I never won a a thing in our family. It wasn’t spoken about nor major scholarship. No teacher singled me out as did it shape us. My father tells me how he and his particularly gifted or a student with real potential. siblings were forced to memorize whole passages And yet I was never in doubt of this, which is of Shakespeare as children, but he did not do the probably just the arrogance of youth — the way same to his own children. Much of what I know we are so utterly convinced, when young, of now about my grandfather as a writer I learned some splendid future that is in front of us, some after he died and after I had already embarked on magnificent world that would be ours when we my own path as a writer via some unknown road. grew up. From quite early I was convinced that I

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 39 would be a writer, but I do not know why I Visiting Professor to the University of Iowa Miller and Vivette Miller. They came from was convinced of it, or what planted that and is a Fellow of the Royal Society different worlds — my father from the city ambition inside me. of Literature. and my mother from the rural side of the hen book #10 comes out later this The generous thing to say about such island. Maybe I learnt from my mother W year, this will be the biography on biographies is that they are carefully how elastic language could be as she one of the front pages: Kei Miller curated things — cherry picking, as they could easily move from a rural dialect to was born in Jamaica in 1978 and has do, our most significant successes. The the most precise English. Maybe I learnt written several books across a range of less generous thing to say is that they from my father the joys of thinking. It was genres. His 2014 collection, The are lies — not because the things listed an unspectacular childhood, and I was an Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion, are untruthful, but because they are unspectacular child. I grew up in an won the Forward Prize for Best Collection such careful documents of omission. unspectacular neighbourhood. Maybe while his 2017 Novel, Augustown, won the This biography does not list my failures. the ho-hum of it all taught me, from very Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, the It makes mention of an MA and PhD but early on, how to retreat to myself and how Prix Les Afriques, and the Prix Carbet de la carefully says nothing of the BA in English to use my imagination. My mother loved Caraïbe et du Tout-Monde. He is also an Literature that I dropped out from, or the scrabble. Sometimes I got home from award-winning essayist. In 2010, the BSc in Sociology that I also dropped out school and the scrabble board was Institute of Jamaica awarded him the of. It does not list the jobs I lost or my already set up. Maybe there was Silver Musgrave medal for his struggles with ADHD, or any number of something in that that sparked a contributions to Literature and in 2018 he things that would be more honest to the fascination with words — even simple was awarded the Anthony N Sabga Award complicated people that we all are. And I words, because it is the simple words that for Excellence for Arts & Letters. Kei has an would list them all right now, except even will make you win in scrabble. But all of MA in Creative Writing from Manchester in these I do not know the narrative that this is guess work. I knew that I wanted to Metropolitan University and a PhD in explains me. write. I was certain of it. And I have been English Literature from the University of lucky. It really is as simple as that. I wanted erhaps all I can tell you is the Glasgow. He has taught at the Universities to write and I have been lucky. unspectacular truth of it all. I was of Glasgow, Royal Holloway and Exeter. P born in 1978. My parents were Keith He is the 2019 Ida Beam Distinguished

40 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION Andrew Boyle Entrepreneurship Laureate, 2018, Guyana

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 41 I was brought up in the humble and of our simple and uncomplicated village lives. underprivileged village of Haraculi, Berbice Eventually, against all odds, we prevailed and did River. This beautiful and practically untouched exceedingly well. The first hurdle was crossed! indigenous settlement is situated some 79 Somewhere during my first few years of high miles from New Amsterdam, the nearest town. school, I was introduced to a wonderful book: The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent There I lived a very peaceful and simple life with Peale, which was surely was one of the major a large family, an extremely closely-knit unit with contributing factors that influenced my modus amazing parental and grandparental support. My operandi later in my life. nine troublesome siblings were totally loving for the most part. During my childhood, electricity, y life’s trail led to Cuba and again, one of my treated running water and regular telephone M brothers and I made that trip almost at the services were totally non-existent. Despite these same time. Both of us were very fortunate to deficiencies, our parents insisted on giving us have secured government scholarships. There the type of education that was lacking in their were simply no means by which my parents could lives. It also meant that in order to attend the only have afforded the opportunity for us to study school in relative proximity, we had to paddle abroad. This was a mixed bag of bitter and super- in our canoes: one hour paddling, whether rain sweet experiences. Living and studying in this or sunshine to get to the Kimbia Reformation lovely Spanish island was quite different and Primary school, then another hour to get back totally remote from any of my previous home. This was obviously done after we would experiences. Nevertheless, we were there to study, have performed our routine chores of milking the and we did exactly that while enjoying the strange cows and other odds and ends. Even though this and different island life to some extent. There I life can be described as being underprivileged, capitalized on the various opportunities and we never felt that way. It was an enjoyable, sort of managed to learn Spanish and French, in addition carefree existence that was dominated by extreme to becoming an expert in microbiology. It is a fairy- fun and childhood frolic. tale chapter, one that is filled with numerous exciting stories. My years of study flew by so y life took another turn after successfully quickly. This usually happens when you are having M finishing primary school. It meant living a whale of a time. During this period, I prepared with relatives, far away from my home my mind mentally for the world of work. I always village. It was certainly not a walk in the park. fantasized of having my own medical laboratory. Being ridiculed and laughed at was not an In retrospect, it was indeed a far-fetched vision, uncommon phenomenon. I remember my first one that seemed impossible and not doable at trip to the movies as if it were just yesterday. In one the time. of the scenes, James Bond came out of the water in a diver’s suit and aimed his pistol at the screen, n my victorious return to my dear homeland, towards me. Peals of laughter and pandemonium O I was raring to go, to put into practice what I broke loose when I dropped to the floor while had learnt over those years in Cienfuegos. I exclaiming, “Oh God, help me!” After that bizarre had wanted to make an impact, a difference to my incident I was taunted and called names; “bush society and a name for myself. Almost immediately boy” was the most popular of the many false I was made the supervisor in the Tropical Diseases names. It was not a smooth transition, but I Laboratory of the Georgetown Hospital. I was persevered and pressed on. With the strong beginning to live my dream. I subsequently support and guidance of my two bigger brothers, I discovered that one of my hidden passions would persisted. We were determined to finish what we be lecturing at the University of Guyana. It was had started and to make our parents, forefathers fascinating sharing my learnt knowledge and skills and village proud. Yes, there were lovely, with the young and vibrant students. Even though unforgettable moments and there were hardly I was passionate about my job as a clinical ever any prolonged, dull ones. There were also scientific officer and part-time lecturer, at the back instances when we wanted to return to the luxury of my mind, I fantasized setting up my laboratory.

42 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION I had an old, second-hand microscope some businesses do fail, and financiers that I had acquired in Cuba. This encounter difficulties to recoup antiquated instrument would now fetch a their losses. good price in an antique shop and I pressed on and persevered. With the probably earn its rightful place in a proceeds from the sale of my seven cows, museum. This was the first equipment on donations/loans from generous relatives, With the proceeds which my dream rested. a much-needed infusion was injected into from the sale of It was towards the end of my the Eureka project. I remember writing to contractual obligations that the move my parents saying that I received my first my seven cows, was made. On March 5, 1995, my family client and that I could see the light in the and I opened the doors of my lifelong tunnel. donations/loans vision — Eureka Medical Laboratory was y dream team gave and continues born. The location was not of the best, from generous M to give incredible and unwavering but the first of many steps was made. support and Eureka has become a relatives, a much- When Eureka was launched, some people household name. After 24 years of scoffed and laughed at me and said that it needed infusion unbroken service, Eureka was able to was a silly idea. “How in the world could spread its caring wings in most of the you compete with those existing giants?” was injected into regions of Guyana. We even ventured to some of my critics said. the Eureka project. provide similar laboratory services to the uring the planning and execution people of St Vincent. The services of EML I remember writing D phases of the Eureka project, we were such that they captured the hearts of to my parents saying brought forth three amazing its clients and exceeded expectations. children into the world; my life has never Every year has been better than the that I received my been the same. Mark, Andrew Jr. and previous one and improvements have first client and that Keziah gave me reasons to work even been made in all sectors. New and harder and to strive for excellence. I innovative services have been added. I can see the light in yearned to be a better person and they During the last three years, new and motivated me to be exemplary in all my cutting-edge technological services were the tunnel. endeavours. My love for them also added. is boundless. With the support of and collaboration In the quest to improve and to add life with my HR manager, Mr Renato Gonzales into my new venture, I sought assistance of the Philippines, we began offering from a few of the local banks. The thought psycho-diagnostic services. Other new process was that perhaps one might agree services came: to fund this very promising endeavour. • Fast Track: A system to cutdown on The unanimous rejection was heart- waiting time of busy executives was breaking and enormously disappointing. launched; Those bankers who were approached • State-of-the-art PCR for sexually thought that it was a waste of time to even transmitted infections, including HPV consider my well-researched proposal. testing; “Where is your collateral? I’m sorry, a • Home and office visits became a loan cannot be secured and it’s too risky,” regular feature. they all said. I remember trying to assure • Strategic collaborative ventures with them that I was a hard worker and that I overseas medical laboratories offering would personally guarantee payments various exotic testing, for example on the loan. “I’m sorry, Sir; this is a policy DNA paternity, forensics, ancestry of the bank; good luck with your future testing, etc. endeavours,” was not uncommon to hear. he unstable and erratic power After my unsuccessful experiences supply in Georgetown forced me to with these banks, I made a resolution T venture into installing solar to prove them wrong. I only wanted to photovoltaic (PV) systems on the main borrow a measly sum of US$25,000. office. It was an expensive but extremely I have observed that our local banks cost-saving project. Overwhelming can be a huge deterrent for initiating requests from friends and family for business ventures. Quite understandably, smaller solar PV systems influenced me to

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 43 form Caribbean Wind and Sun Inc, a solar With some of the proceeds garnered company with a difference. This entity from this prestigious award, I was able proved to be quite successful and it is to commence the construction of a expected that within the not-too-distant computer laboratory at my alma mater, future, it will become a very Kimbia Primary School. It is envisaged powerful company. that this fully solar-powered and free Internet-ready centre — the first of its My father, before his sad demise, kind in this hinterland region — will allow was a very hard-working man. He was the youths to become computer literate a farmer but not an ordinary one. Sadly, and to be able to connect to the outside when he died, some 18 years ago, the world. That hopefully, their dreams could farm died with him. Some of my siblings be realized. decided to try to resuscitate the farm but to concentrate only on egg production. ome 49 years ago, Guyana became Thus, Amazonia Farms Inc was born. After S a Republic and to commemorate, a few months into operation, they opted we have one week of massive My three companies to remove themselves from this new celebrations called Mashramani (an have grown and company because of several reasons, Amerindian word which means the major one being that they lived “celebrating after a job well done”). On the continue to grow overseas and didn’t have direct access to eve of the flag-raising ceremony, the its operational issues. I decided to take President speaks to the nation and exponentially, and over its operations and did some major outlines his vision for the future. During were ably supported expansions with farms also on the Linden his speech, an announcement is made of Soesdyke highway. Today, Amazonia persons chosen as national awardees. It by very proactive eggs can now be found in all the major was such a distinct honour in 2018 when team players. supermarkets in the city. the name, William Andrew Boyle, Microbiologist and Entrepreneur was Eureka became hese additional operations did not called as a recipient of the Golden Arrow T deter me from pursuing a master’s internationally of Achievement. Oh, what an honour! Two degree in business administration. major awards in one year. I must be doing These learnt skills would have greatly accredited, being something right. But then again had it not assisted in me being more scientific and been for the overwhelming support and the first medical strategic in the efficient running of guidance from the Almighty God, my my enterprises. laboratory in super and ever-present family members, My three companies have grown and my proactive team, kind friends and Guyana to achieve continue to grow exponentially, and were stakeholders, I would be absolutely this monumental ably supported by very proactive team nothing. May I, through this medium, players. Eureka became internationally express my sincere gratitude to all those status. accredited, being the first medical who assisted in making me into what I am laboratory in Guyana to achieve this today. To the Anthony N Sabga team, monumental status. This extraordinary thank you for giving me this golden feat was not simply because of luck, but opportunity to be a role model for my rather was due to tireless dedication young people. and hard work by the committed team members. It was no surprise to s a postscript, please allow me to my friends, family and clients when I A say that I usually relax on Saturdays was chosen as the Anthony N Sabga and recharge my batteries. It was Caribbean Awards for Excellence Laureate one of those early Saturday mornings for Entrepreneurship in 2018. when I received the fantastic news. William Andrew Boyle, the Government of Oh, what a tremendous honour that Guyana wishes to confer you with the was! It caused a spike in my businesses, Golden Arrow of achievement, would you and people wanted to do interviews accept this accolade? My answer was with me. I was featured in magazines, clearly in the affirmative, but do people newspapers, and social media and really refuse those awards? The feelings made me into a local icon. I gave several were not dissimilar to when I received motivational talks to young people, that call from Maria, several months ago. especially through the Rotary family. Oh, what an amazing feeling that was!

44 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION Chevaughn and Noel Joseph Public & Civic Contributions Laureates, 2018, Trinidad and Tobago

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 45 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declared are grateful to family and friends in the UK who the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to assisted us. harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” JB’s procedure involved major reconstructive (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) surgery and entailed the removal of almost half of After several years of trying, I became a mother his tongue — on the right side — and rebuilding it at the age of 32 to a beautiful baby girl RaVen with stomach muscle. The surgery was a success J’Nay Camille Joseph. Having had a very difficult and he was able to eat and talk. He was fitted with pregnancy and delivery, it was our decision not a gastronomy (feeding) tube and it was time for to have any more children. She was perfect and us to return to Trinidad. JB was livid. He had been exactly what I had prayed for. Motherhood was very happy at the RVI for several reasons. It was a great! I loved being a parent and believed I was place he described as “hospital heaven”. The RVI excellent at it. had a ward exclusively for children with cancer and therefore it was not necessary for him to be When RaVen was four years old, we got pregnant in isolation. It was a place of fun and games and with our second child. Our beautiful baby boy had lots of activities for the patients to do while Jabez “JB” Joseph joined our little family. Feeling warded, and they even catered to the needs of like a pro and loving every minute of it, it was our RaVen, as his sibling. We were also given free decision to have a third child when JB turned four. short-term accommodation while JB was in ICU. However, in early 2005, six months before his The space was brightly painted, and fourth birthday, JB was diagnosed with alveolar everyone—doctors, nurses, security guards and rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood cleaners—displayed an attitude that reflected the cancer. This not only devastated us as parents cheerfulness of the physical surroundings. This but our faith as individuals was also challenged impacted him so positively, he firmly believed and tested. Our dreams and hopes for ourselves that the orange-coloured chemotherapy he was and our children were replaced with fear being administered was Lucozade because it did and apprehension. not make him feel ill. The truth is, this was one of nstead of continuing to plan for our third the very same drugs he received back home. So, I child, we focused on caring for JB and doing sitting in the lobby of the RVI with a taxi meter whatever was humanly possible to make running, we had to promise JB that we would fix him better. While at the children’s hospital at our hospital here in Trinidad and make it just like Mount Hope, where he received the majority of his the RVI. We were determined to create our own chemotherapy treatment, JB was very brave and “hospital heaven”. was generally concerned more about the other patients than himself. He would ask Noel to bring nfortunately, JB’s illness became his favourite toys, not for him to play with, but to U progressively worse. He was still amazing distribute to the children on the ward. If he heard a though, never complaining. We celebrated child crying, he would instruct us to go to see what his fifth birthday when we got back home, and he was happening, just in case he or she did not have was happy. He learned to feed himself through his a parent to comfort them. peg (G-tube) and he was also able to clean it, so he became self-sufficient and embraced his new life. Because of the acute nature of JB’s illness, we We knew he was in pain, but he did not like the were advised to go to the Royal Victoria Institute way the morphine made him feel so he would (RVI) in Newcastle, UK. In 2006, we bundled refuse it and simply say, “I could handle the pain.” our family together and we gratefully took up The cancer was aggressive and had spread to his the opportunity to go to England for his major skull, hips, spine, shoulder, ankle and lungs. It was surgery. We were lucky enough to experience and difficult for him to walk and holding him would learn about many medical and support services cause him much pain. So, in January of 2007 I had for children with cancer and their families. At the to get him a wheelchair. I sat in my car for 45 time, we had no clue that this was all part of God’s minutes with his wheelchair in the trunk, not plan to prepare us for something huge, and we wanting to go upstairs. My intelligent, funny,

46 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION computer-literate little boy, who was order to seek treatment for their children always running and playing, with dreams at the children’s hospital at Mount Hope. of becoming a footballer, would now be This, and all the JBF services were made confined to a wheelchair. I eventually got available free of charge to the families it inside and wheeled it into his room and of childhood cancer patients. Over the he said: “Wow Mom! This is so cool — I past 11-and-a-half years, we have been always wanted a wheelchair!” We helped honoured to host local and regional him on and rearranged the furniture to families including those from Tobago, make space and he was on the move Guyana, St Lucia, St Kitts, Grenada, again, happily embracing his situation Antigua, and St Vincent & The Grenadines. and making the best of it. To complement this service, we added ne day in early March 2007, we went a patient-transport component to take “Wow Mom! This O to feed the homeless at Woodford them from the HAFH to hospital or is so cool; I want Square, Port of Spain. JB’s body treatment centres for radiotherapy. It was was then riddled with cancer and he had such a hectic time for Noel and me, as to do this for the to lie at the back of the car while Noel and our two vehicles had to become shuttles. rest of my life. But RaVen shared sandwiches and juices. He That was until his car conked out from was thrilled to hear the stampede of feet exhaustion. The service continued and next time, give and the many “thank yous” from those included the hiring of taxis and enlisting who received a simple meal that day. Just the help of volunteers, when necessary. them soup with as they were finished sharing, he held on Thankfully, a few years later, we were vegetables in it.” to the back of the car seat, sat up and tremendously blessed to have been given exclaimed, “Wow, Mom! This is so cool; I a donation of a 15-seater Toyota Hiace want to do this for the rest of my life. But commuter bus through the generosity of next time, give them soup with vegetables the Rotary Club of Port of Spain West, and in it.” other chapters of Rotary International. This meant bigger things were on the way. JB died three weeks later on March 24, 2007. He was just five-and-a-half Our next major project saw the launch years old. of the JBF Siblings Only Club in 2008. This initiative was the result of a heart-to-heart Inspired by his life, and certainly chat with RaVen, who was between the encouraged by his spirit and his words, ages of seven and nine years old while in June 2007 we set out to honour JB’s JB was being treated. RaVen recalled request and launched phase one of “many instances over the two years of the newly-incorporated NGO, The Just his illness when I felt that I was being Because Foundation. We sought and neglected by family and family friends received permission to set up a tent at because JB was in the spotlight.” She Woodford Square for the distribution of further described the emotion of feeling soup (with vegetables), other types of like a “sack of potatoes”. This was such food and clothing to the less fortunate. an eye-opener for us as we believed that With the help of friends, we did this for we were good parents. As we researched a few months before taking things to a the topic, we discovered that siblings different level. It was time for phase two often suffer silently due to feelings of fear, — a focus on childhood cancer support anger, abandonment and a host of other services. negative emotions because their parents’ On August 2, 2007, which would have emotional and physical resources are been JB’s sixth birthday, we celebrated by focused directly toward the sick child. opening the doors of the JBF Home Away Siblings Club outings take place at From Home (HAFH). This unique facility different locations and include hikes, involved the rental of a four-bedroom fishing, horseback riding, as well as talks house that was nicely outfitted with all on nutrition, exercise, craft, drama, fun amenities and which we used to provide and games. An essential component of short-term accommodation for families each of these meetings is a child-friendly of children with cancer who had to travel group therapy session and exercises here from remote areas of Trinidad, that allow the siblings to share their Tobago, or from around the Caribbean in

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 47 experience, thoughts and emotions either got it ready to be launched on November in writing, through discussion or via some 14, 2008. To date, the JBFSU has served other creative medium. over 3,000 children. In the same year, we launched The JBF And what about the fun dimension? Kiddi K Children’s Walk Against Childhood The JBF Specialty Unit is known as Cancer. This is our flagship event that the “party ward” where everything is attracts large numbers of participants celebrated — birthdays, national and annually. It takes the form of a Health and religious holidays and special occasions Fitness Family Fun Fair with the overall such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. theme “Creating Awareness. Promoting The ward is nicely decorated to mark Wellness in Children”. Each year, sub- each occasion. With the help of a group of themes are added as we recognize the amazing women affectionally known as courage and resilience of our young “Lovin’ Lunches”, we are able to provide patients who endure so much in their tangible support for the parents and fight against cancer. caregivers in the form of tasty meals. To date, the JBFSU We’ve also introduced “Breakfast is he year 2008 turned out to be has served over Served” and, as the name suggests, this T phenomenal for us. There was such initiative seeks to ensure that parents or passion and momentum that it was 3,000 children. guardians can enjoy a hearty breakfast only natural for us to tackle another after a sometimes challenging night at project. This is the biggest one to date — hospital. Wifi, puppet shows, presents, keeping our promise to JB with the magic shows, computers, toys, art and creation of our version of “hospital craft sessions as well as occasional visits heaven”. This involved the conversion of by celebrities makes us feel confident that an unused ward at the children’s hospital JB would have given this project “two into what is now known as the JBF thumbs up”. Paediatric Specialty Unit (JBFSU). The first of its kind in the English-speaking When the need arises, or upon Caribbean, the JBFSU is a family-centred, receiving a verified request from the multi-disciplinary ward that looks after doctors, the JBF has provided assistance the health care needs of childhood cancer with the purchase of chemotherapy, patients and children with other chronic medical equipment and other critical non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) support such as contributions toward such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia surgical procedures, diagnostic blood and other inherited blood disorders, as and urine tests, and the distribution of well as heart and kidney disease. Children food hampers, clothing and toiletries to from across the region are treated at the families in need. JBFSU. Depending on available resources, We were certainly out of our depth support for some of our regional guests in getting this done so we must includes assistance with airfare to return acknowledge the trust placed in us and to their respective territories at the end of the support given to us by the board of the child’s treatment. directors, management and staff of the Even with all of this going on, it was North Central Regional Health Authority important for us to develop other areas (NCRHA) and the Ministry of Health. We of service via family support groups. No are also grateful to the members of the matter how busy we get or how much the public, other NGOs and Corporate citizens Just Because Foundation has evolved, who responded to our call for assistance we will never lose touch with our own — providing significant funding, journey, constantly referencing our own materials and mind-boggling levels of situation, our own crisis. This helps us to volunteerism. We were awestruck by stay grounded and focused. We may not the “sea of red”, as literally hundreds of be able to predict the outcome for these volunteers representing the Unit Trust patients and their families, but we are Corporation and Digicel Trinidad and determined to keep doing whatever we Tobago swarmed the corridors of the unit can to make this journey a little easier for on different occasions to ensure that we

48 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION them. his sentiment has led to the T establishment of JBF Embrace. We know only too well that the need for emotional and practical support does not come to an end with the loss of a child. In fact, for some family members, it’s now more important than ever, as they are forced to come to terms with emotions they may have suppressed along the way in addition to the crushing reality of the death of their child. Embrace is based on the model of a peer counselling group where families at different stages of loss can share their thoughts and emotions and provide advice and encouragement for one another. We will also have a structured programme to further assist parents to cope. Noel spearheaded the introduction of “OncoDads”, which is one of the newest JBF initiatives that focuses exclusively on the fathers of paediatric oncology patients, because we recognize the need to provide a peer support opportunity Blue Reef Aquarium and the Life Science be the primary teachers of our children, for the men who are facing their own Centre. But this trip was different. The RVI but I am happy to say that I have learned challenges. Dads are perceived as being was changed, transformed into a much more from our son JB than I have learned “always strong” and because of the larger, more modern hospital. It caused from anyone else in my life. overwhelming demands placed on their us to dream about the possibilities back shoulders during this period of turmoil, He taught me unconditional love, home in T&T. We missed JB tremendously there is hardly an outlet or an avenue compassion, patience, kindness, courage, and took photos of Mr Waffles — one for them to just let their guard down to faith, selflessness and the ability to smile of JB’s favourite stuffed animals — who talk, to share, to express their faith. After through the pain, all in the two years of accompanied us on the trip. It was very a pilot project — which was a pond- his illness. I learned to attend to him, to emotional, but it provided a measure of fishing outing — the dads continued to be brave like him, and to embrace all of closure for us. interact on a personal level and, much him. JB is my guardian angel and though to the delight of their families, some But there was even more purpose I know he is in a better place, I long for of them even perform on stage at the to this trip. RaVen is now 21, and has the day that I can feel his hug, listen to JBF Hope Concert. received an open scholarship and is him giggling in a nearby room, hear him studying medicine at Cardiff University in call my name or hold his hand as we s we move forward, we will remain Wales, UK. She’s still exactly what I prayed walk through the mall. I still wish for the consistent with our mission of A for. She is following her dream with all moment when I can hear him running creating awareness of childhood the studying and sacrifices that her work down the corridor calling “Mommy, cancer. I have been given the priceless demands. This dream was sparked all Mommy, Mommy,” and feel him throw opportunity to write a column in the those years ago when we were in England himself at my legs. Health Plus section of the Trinidad for JB’s major surgery. As an eight-year- Guardian and I’m using that forum to s for the third child we never had, old girl, she told us that she wanted to go feature our little fighters and their families, A God has given us the opportunity to back to the UK to study medicine and she as well as their caregivers. This is an care for and be of support to so has worked diligently towards it. We’re so amazing avenue to promote early many children and their families. It is such proud of her. detection and to present information on a privilege and an honour. I thank God some of the potential signs and symptoms I (Chevaughn) was 54 years old in May every day for the assignment He has of various childhood cancers. 2019 and I have to admit that in just over handed us though our son Jabez and for half-a-century of living, when I think of the legacy that would touch the lives of so We revisited Newcastle in 2017 — over a Jabez, I have to conclude that I have many! Out of our loss and JB’s beautiful decade later. We retraced our steps visiting never met a more remarkable person. As soul was born the Just Because some of the sites that JB loved including parents or guardians, we are supposed to Foundation — the JB Foundation, just because he cared.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 49 Adesh Ramsubhag Science & Technology Laureate, 2018, Trinidad and Tobago

50 THE LAUREATELAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITION EDITION As a child growing up in the 1970s, it would The resolve, hard work, determination and have been unimaginable to conceive the selflessness of his mother made a strong impact idea of a life outside farming for Dr Adesh on Dr Ramsubhag’s life. The influence of his Ramsubhag, who was born and grew up in the father has also been tremendous. Mr Ramsubhag rural community of Rochard Road, Penal. He was a visionary who was completely focused on was the last of nine children born to Bridglal improving the welfare of the family. He set the and Rajdaye Ramsubhag. standard for hard work, planned for the long-term and was always willing to take high risks in making At that time, the mainstay of the village was investments to expand his farming operations. agriculture, and almost everyone was destined He was highly creative and innovative and always for and eventually became involved with farming. developed novel approaches to solving problems, His family were primarily sugarcane farmers but which Dr Ramsubhag was able to emulate later on also did vegetable gardening, rice cultivation and in his laboratory. animal husbandry. Like most in his community and family, this also appeared to be his destiny, owever, the greatest lesson learned from Mr but the universe had other plans, and he was H Ramsubhag was resilience and the ability to propelled into the unlikely world of academia. maintain a positive attitude, irrespective of His was not a typical journey, and he attributes the circumstances. Crop failures that were due to the values instilled by his family and community, adverse weather conditions or pests and diseases and the rich experiences of his rural upbringing were frequent occurrences in the life of the family, as largely responsible for his achievements in sometimes happening several years in a stretch. academia. Mr Ramsubhag senior was never daunted nor was r Ramsubhag’s parents only received limited he down, not even for a single day. He was always D primary school education, but like many able to re-energize himself and work even harder, rural families at that time, they sought to give with the firm belief that there would be a bumper their children the opportunity they didn’t have: a harvest the next season. sound education to escape a life of the hardship Being the last in the family has its advantages perceived for those in agriculture. While his father and Dr Ramsubhag had eight older siblings who was busy looking after the sugarcane fields, his always had his interests at heart and helped take mother was the one who focused her efforts on care of him. Some were disciplinarians who were ensuring all nine children received a secondary even more strict than their parents and ensured school education. The five older children attended he took the straight path. He attributes much private secondary schools while the four younger of his growth and development to his siblings. siblings went to public secondary schools. This His passion for sports, music and culture only was almost a Herculean task given the seasonal developed because of the influences of his income from sugarcane farming and unstable brothers and sisters. He is most grateful to them earnings from vegetable gardening. Against the for planting the seeds of curiosity in his mind and odds, Mrs Ramsubhag would let nothing come on developing the thirst for knowledge. Different the way of achieving her goal. She worked sun-up siblings had different interests; some were into to sun-down to ensure funds were available for the the arts, some into sciences and others into basic necessities like school fees, uniforms, books humanities. There were constant intellectual and taxi fares. In addition to being a housewife, discussions and debates at home, and as a young she worked tirelessly on the vegetable and rice boy this atmosphere provided ample intellectual fields and supplemented the family’s income by nourishment for a developing mind. utilizing her skills as a seamstress, sewing the most Dr Ramsubhag also learned the spirit of unity, elaborate and fashionable dresses for villagers. camaraderie, cooperation and responsibility from She also had a number of cows which were milked the home environment. The elder children helped for home use and to make butter for sale.

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 51 One of the key elements of Dr Ramsubhag’s success was the influence of his community. Most in the village were poor, but his earliest exposure was to a positive environment of contentment and hope, and also with higher aspirations through hard work and dedication. to take care of the younger ones, and interests and involvement, he also got members of the family were engaged with involved in these activities that became helping with the daily tasks in the home core to his existence. He considers these and farm. Work often started early in social interactions as most important in morning and ended late in the afternoon. providing a broader perspective of the While there was room for expression of world and for instilling discipline and self- individuality, the siblings functioned as a confidence, even in the ability to influence single unit, and one could be assured of major changes on how things work. full support from the others whenever the Inspired by the older boys in the village need arose: financial, moral or emotional. cricket team, including his brother who There were never quarrels or fights, even was a star bowler, young Adesh and other though they lived in a small 8m x 8m, young boys in their early teens organized two-room single-storey house until Dr themselves into a youth sports club, of Ramsubhag was 12 years old. They even which he was a core member. The youths had a cousin living with them who the quickly became a highly disciplined unit siblings considered a brother. Once, when with strict codes for conduct. With no his school teacher asked if he lived in playing field available in their immediate the “little house” on the hill he became vicinity, they organized fundraising upset since he never thought his house activities and constructed a concrete strip was little. with nets to practice. He even learned ne of the key elements of Dr to weld and helped with the fabrication O Ramsubhag’s success was the of the structure. Within a few years they influence of his community. Most in successfully undertook a major project the village were poor, but his earliest to develop a piece of swampland into a exposure was to a positive environment cricket playing field; this was while they of contentment and hope, and also with were still teenagers. higher aspirations through hard work and This experience taught Dr Ramsubhag dedication. It was no surprise that the lesson that, with the teamwork and economic progress was rapid. The appropriate systems and structures, thatched-roof houses quickly gave way to seemingly insurmountable barriers can more stable structures, and over time, be overcome. Additionally, it showed many were transformed to mansions. him that it was better to take charge Children going to school with bare feet and take the “bull by the horns” to effect was a common sight and he experienced change than to wait on others to make this for a while. things happen. Having always served However, things in the village gradually in senior administrative positions, his improved and by the time he completed experience with the club also reinforced primary school most children at least his conviction of the importance of wore slippers, if not shoes. Music, culture principled and transparent leadership, and sports were central to the village, and and the need to develop mutual trust provided much of the entertainment for and respect to foster harmony so that a villagers. Inspired by his older siblings’ shared vision could be achieved.

52 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION Religious and cultural activities were away from the external materialistic world important parts of life in the community, to the realm of inner peace. As a young and music and song were inherent man, Dr Ramsubhag became profoundly parts of these traditions. Influenced by influenced by Advaita Vedanta, the Indian elder siblings who were in the habit of school of philosophy emphasizing the acquiring and learning different musical oneness of the universe, and the path to instruments, Dr Ramsubhag taught attaining the ultimate goal of realizing himself to play several instruments at our true nature by removing desires and a young age, including the keyboard, attachments to the external world. He mandolin and guitar. Soon, he and two strives to live by the guiding principles other siblings joined a village religious of not focusing too much on the self, and group that frequently performed performing his duties to the best of his devotional songs and gave discourses ability without too much expectations or from the Ramayana, one of the Hindu emphasis on the rewards. religious texts. Dr Ramsubhag’s Dr Ramsubhag’s path to academia e started to play the mandolin with path to academia was almost accidental. As a young boy, H the group, and this provided the he came to hate school. At first he had platform for him to advance his was almost loved school, but at around his second skills. At a high school event, members of year, he was transferred to a new class the Dil-Ki-Awaaz orchestra heard him accidental. Losing and he wasn’t able to catch up with the performing a solo item on the mandolin confidence and new work. Losing confidence and with and invited him to join the band, and he the stigma of placing last in class, he graciously obliged. For the first time he with the stigma of lost interest and became withdrawn became exposed to professionally trained placing last in class, from studies, and started making every musicians, and realized the vast difference possible excuse possible to not attend between his amateur skills and those of he lost interest and school. He was lucky to have kind and the experts. He was fortunate to be taken became withdrawn understanding teachers at the Clarke under the wings by musical director and Rochard Government Primary School arranger, Mr Kalicharan Dookie, and other from studies, and who did their best to inspire him, and his members who were instrumental in his performance did improve substantially evolution as a musician, albeit still at an started making over time. However, the psychological amateur level. In this environment he every possible effect remained and his dislike for school learned what it takes to function at the never subsided, even in high school. higher levels, with the absolute need for excuse possible to f he’d had the option, Dr Ramsubhag complete discipline, dedication, not attend school. I would certainly have quit school, commitment and focus. but being faithful and respectful to The community was also one of his family, this question never arose. fellowship and harmony, where there Although he did not like school, especially was acceptance of everyone, irrespective the nature of rote learning in our system, of religious persuasion. Although Dr he always had a great desire for Ramsubhag is a Hindu, some of his closest knowledge. He thinks this thirst was friends were Christians and Muslims and developed from infancy by listening to he attended church and also learned discussions of his older siblings. He Islamic prayers. He learned Hindi from a looked forward to their deliberations on Muslim teacher but also participated in academic matters related to their school the Urdu and Arabic classes. Similarly, all work and on general topics of interest, his friends also participated in the Hindu and absorbed everything like a sponge. festivals and functions. That spark led to a deep curiosity in him, This exposure led him to the firm belief and he was constantly daydreaming and that, at the core, all religions promote thinking about a wide array of subject similar universal values of peace and love. matters and trying to figure out how He believes that once one can plough things worked. He became an active through the layers of symbolism and learner: observing, reflecting, contem- decode the cultural forms of expression, plating and even experimenting. He never it becomes clear that the goals of all accepted anything that didn’t have a religions are the same, to take one’s focus logical and rational basis.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 53 After primary school, Dr Ramsubhag when he was not driving the tractor. He attended the Palo Seco Secondary School insisted on performing whatever task was for his O’ Levels. The distance of almost 35 at hand, including manual harvesting km from his home and an unreliable bus of sugar cane, which his parents always service meant sometimes having to take tried to shield the children from because three taxis to reach to school. This was an of the perceived difficulty. This is a additional financial burden and he would period that Dr Ramsubhag cherishes, not stay away from school at any opportunity only for the accomplishments, but also to save the family the expense of for the interactions and relationships commuting so far. When it was time to built with workers and other farmers. select subjects for O’ Levels, he couldn’t He learned and gained tremendous decide on any specific area because of his technical knowledge and life skills from broad interests, and he ended up doing them. He insists that the brilliance he a combination of science and modern observed among the simple workers was studies subjects. His performance in the no less than what he observed within the His entry into end was adequate and he passed all the university environment. university was with subjects. His biology class did not have Dr Ramsubhag worked for two years a teacher for significant periods over the in the farm before he went to pursue much sacrifice and final two years because of the difficulties the BSc degree in Agriculture at the in filling teacher vacancies in the remote University of the West Indies. Since he did support from his school. not complete A-Levels in the sciences, entire family. He r Ramsubhag was the only student he completed a one-year preliminary D to pass this subject in his class, science programme before gaining entry was interested in which was probably foretelling his to the degree programme. His entry into completing the future interest in the biological sciences. university was with much sacrifice and support from his entire family. He was degree not only for Not sure of which subjects to pursue interested in completing the degree not at A-Levels, he eventually signed up for gaining employment only for gaining employment for himself, Modern Studies at the Barrackpore Senior but also to contribute to the growth Comprehensive School, not too far from for himself, but and development of his family’s farm. his home. This was the only programme The programme gave him exposure to also to contribute offered by the school that year, so the the sciences, particularly in pure and choice was, in a way, made for him, since to the growth and applied biology and chemistry, which he no longer wanted to commute to provided much fascination, excitement development of his any school far away from his home. He and satisfaction. He enjoyed learning in enjoyed being in the school, especially family’s farm. the enabling environment of intellectual for the range of cultural activities he exploration and quest for deeper was able to participate in, but he was knowledge in the university environment. never inspired by the formal academic classes. Not surprisingly his performance With encouragement and support of was mediocre. a small group of friends, he gradually transformed into a more conscientious After a few unsuccessful applications and focused student. After graduating for positions in the public sector, Dr with his Bachelor’s degree, he registered Ramsubhag decided to work full time in for the MPhil research degree for which he this family’s farming operations. He had was awarded a UWI Open Postgraduate already spent a lot of time developing the Scholarship. He was intrigued with technical skills by helping on the farm on molecular genetics, and chose a research weekends, holiday periods and on days project on microbial genetics and he stayed home from school. By that time, biotechnology. His supervisors, Prof his family’s focus was shifting to poultry Pathmanathan Umaharan and the late production, but being a vegetarian who Dr Alfred Donowa, served as mentors didn’t subscribe to killing animals, his and were instrumental in his intellectual interest was on crops and he worked development. He was keenly interested towards revitalizing and expanding his in applying the latest cutting-edge family’s sugarcane operations. He not technology in his research and received only assisted with managing activities, full support from his supervisors to pursue he also worked alongside the labourers

54 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION this strategy. Dr Ramsubhag subsequently postgraduate and undergraduate courses research articles in peer-reviewed upgraded to PhD in Microbiology which in microbiology, biotechnology and journals as well as dozens of abstracts, he completed in 1997. plant pathology. He believes the current short communications and conference education system encourages rote proceedings. He also has a patent fter completing the doctoral degree, learning and is doing a major disservice application pending for a novel class of A Dr Ramsubhag took up a position to our young people and the country. He adjuvant compounds that break as Microbiologist and Deputy uses strategies to promote active learning resistance in disease-causing micro- Laboratory Manager at the Caribbean and for students to develop deeper organisms. He attributes his success to Industrial Research Institute (CARDI). This interests and a love for knowledge. He the influences of his family, community was an environment that provided further is also a very active researcher and has and teachers, as well as from the support opportunities to learn and to grow, and completed a number of pure and applied of friends and colleagues at the UWI. the experience was extremely satisfying research projects. He emphasizes keeping and rewarding. He was involved in up with current technology in order for laboratory testing and consultancies his work and teaching to remain relevant related to food and water, public health, to local needs, e.g., for diagnosing and the environment and industrial managing diseases of plants, animals and microbiology. Being a “problem solver” humans, and detecting and managing by nature, he thoroughly enjoyed working pollution in the environment and drug with clients to analyse problems and discovery from microorganisms. develop solutions. However, he was missing research in hardcore r Ramsubhag enjoys working with biotechnology, and when the opportunity D students and has supervised 35 presented itself in 2001, he moved to the MSc, MPhil and PhD student Department of Life Sciences, UWI, St projects. He also depends on teamwork Augustine as a Lecturer in Microbiology for accomplishing research and has and Plant Pathology. collaborations with many researchers in all the science faculties at UWI, as well as Since joining the UWI, Dr Ramsubhag many from foreign universities. Thus far, has lectured to thousands of students Dr Ramsubhag has published over 50 in a relatively large number of

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 55 Danielle Dieffenthaller Arts & Letters Laureate, 2019, Trinidad and Tobago

56 THE LAUREATELAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITION EDITION I’ve often asked myself how I got here, had piles of scripts on his desk that I would run sometimes in despair, sometimes in wonder, away and read, and when a spot opened up in the and I’ve come to believe that it’s in my DNA. I second season of No Boundaries, I pleaded my come from a long line of resilient, tenacious, way onto the crew. I was the whole production determined, creative and sometimes impulsive department — assistant director, script supervisor, women. All these traits were passed on to me continuity, craft services, production assistant, in abundance, some more than others. My make-up sometimes and even an actress, by parents were creative, each in their own right: default. It was definitely where I cut my teeth, and my mother is a fine artist and my late father — this certainly prepared me for what was to come. though an accountant by profession — was a left TTT to study at Ryerson Polytechnical storyteller of great repute. I University in Toronto, to round off my It seemed inevitable that despite the many education in television. I would return every protestations and insistence from some family “summer” to work with Horace or in the news members that I study law, on account of my room. After university, on a whim decided I wasn’t argumentative nature, that I chose to go into ready to come back home so went to England to the field of television. There has always been see what could happen. As fate would have it, I a fascination with television for me from as was introduced to Darcus Howe through a mutual early as six years old, when I would recruit the friend. Darcus was producing a current affairs neighbourhood kids and recreate Auntie Hazel programme focusing on Africa, South Pacific and or whatever was on television at the time, framed Caribbean affairs. I was interviewed and told he with a cardboard box as the television screen. would get back to me. After two months in London hen I was 13, my family went to live in I returned to Trinidad and after a week at home I W Kenya as a result of my stepfather’s job got a call from Darcus Howe saying: “Come. You as a diplomat. Kenya was a turning point start on Monday!” in my life; it was where I came to appreciate the So, I scrambled to get a flight to London, said beauty of nature, but it was also where I learned my goodbyes, and headed over. Thankfully, a to appreciate my own culture as I had to define childhood friend of mine was accommodating, myself as a person from the Caribbean, from and I actually had a comfortable place to stay. I Trinidad. They had never seen someone looking presented myself to The Bandung Files offices in like me, although there was another girl in my Kentish Town (learning the Tube as I went along) school from Trinidad who would say she was bright and early Monday morning, to be told that from Italy — which incensed me — so I was on a I was headed to Zimbabwe that Saturday. Thus mission to educate the people around me about began my adventure with Darcus Howe and The my country and region from then. Bandung Files, most of which always involved It was an August holiday when I was 15, when I some impromptu travel, like camping out outside returned home to visit, when I saw an after-school of prisons on my birthday. It was all an amazing TV special, and for the first time saw people who experience and certainly a whole other education. were my age and looked and sounded like me on But living in London also focused my need TV. That had a huge impact on me. I felt then that to tell our stories. Seeing statues and artefacts that was what I wanted to do. I graduated from in museums and mansions built by the blood, high school at 17 and upon returning to Trinidad, sweat and tears of my ancestors, or as a result of went directly to Trinidad and Tobago Television the rape and pillage of my region, irked me and I (TTT) for a job. They laughed me out of the figured after two years it was time to come home. building and said to come back when I turned 18. That said, I was not completely sold on the idea So, after a year in Paris, I returned to TTT and of coming home. I was enjoying the travel my began my journey into television. I was assigned job afforded me and the learning about different to news, but my heart was with the drama cultures. I loved London as a city and my friends department which was run by Horace James. He there but still there was a nagging.

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 57 Upon returning home for Christmas, spot in the Clico building opposite the two people influenced my decision to Red House. come home —Richard Tang Yuk, who had He acted like we were his crew and for years been saying I had to come home were able to film the release of the and give back (he’s now living in New parliamentarians. We scrambled to get Jersey working at Princeton), and Alfred back to Maraval Road where we heard Aguiton, who ran the ad agency called the TTT hostages were being released. AMPLE. He claimed that I would be able I bailed Walt out on Picton Street and to travel still while here and to prove it, went to find a parking spot. At this point offered me a job to go on assignment in it was raining, as I made my way onto the Guyana with Georgia Popplewell and Walt Savannah where I heard the cocking of a Lovelace who were working for Banyan gun and voice shouting out to me with Productions. On our Guyana adventure an American accent: “Ma’am you are not we all hit it off and there on the banks of allowed to be here.” Before I could answer, the Essequibo River, hatched the idea of journalist Denis McComie appeared from We started with starting our own production company. a nearby building and said: “She’s with an environmental fter working with Banyan as a me, we’re press,” and they let us go. We A production house on a couple were on time to see the tail end of the series called other assignments I was eventually TTT hostages being released and the offered a job there and started work on Muslimeen emerge. I was half expecting Ecowatch. It was a the series Body Beat. On July 27 of that Abu Bakr to go down in a blaze of glory learning experience year there was an attempted coup in like the Mujahideen I had spent months Trinidad. Walt and I had been filming at TTT covering. But no, he came out like in a number of ways around the city that day, ending up on a Trini “saga boy”. I knew at that moment — we learned about North Post Road. I was also working on that our country had changed forever. I another assignment at TTT and after our contemplated leaving then but the pull to our environment shoot was heading there to edit the tell our stories was still strong. and the threats to it assignment. On a whim I decided to turn year later, Earth TV was born. We around and head home to shower before A started with an environmental first-hand. I went, and there I turned on the television series called Ecowatch. It was a to see the events unfolding. learning experience in a number of ways After a day at home with my phone — we learned about our environment and ringing off the hook for information, as if the threats to it first-hand. We learnt every I were actually at TTT, I called Walt and corner of this country and grew an said: “Let’s go cover this.” He thought I was appreciation for it and its people, and it crazy but came anyway. After being caught was also the beginning of a lesson in in the curfew at a press conference at the business the hard way. We decided to then Holiday Inn (now The Radisson) we invest in the latest state-of-the-art camera. were “discovered” by Bernard Pantin, It would be the only one in the region. who was running communications out of First, we had to find a bank willing to lend Camp Ogden. He started out saying it was the money to some twenty-something- too dangerous for me to be out there, but year-olds with a kind of business plan. after I pointed out that I was there already After many “No’s”, and with a loan from and going nowhere, he co-opted us to my mother as our down payment, we come film what was happening. finally found an equally young banker willing to listen, and thus we got what was amp Ogden felt like propaganda, so the equivalent of a mortgage on a house C we didn’t stay too long, but long in Trincity for our first camera. enough to know what army food is and to get a curfew pass, which allowed We thought with the critical success us to move a little more freely. We got of Ecowatch that it would be easy sailing wind that a deal had been struck and that but we suffered for a couple more the hostages were being released. We years with the odd job up the islands made our way downtown, parked a (most notably we covered the Cayman distance away and went the rest of the Islands elections, worked on the Michael way on foot, befriending a New York Times Gilkes’ film version of Wide Sargasso journalist on the way who had secured a Sea in Dominica, a documentary for the

58 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION A great number of hurdles to overcome besides the actual fact of filming on location in Trinidad with all the dogs, garbage trucks and parrots to contend with, I found myself dealing with personnel problems including two nervous breakdowns by actors and the general attitude of crew members who weren’t in the habit of taking instructions from a “girl”.

Caribbean Development Bank which It would be two years after the filming took us throughout the Caribbean, and a of the pilot that any TV station would documentary on a Habitat for Humanity give us the time of day. We faced many conference in Istanbul, Turkey. naysayers, most of whom didn’t think we could compete with Y&R or anything We were still struggling and decided foreign because we didn’t have the to get into the music video business. budget. Then after a CBU meeting during At first many were reluctant to pay a which regional TV stations were chastised whole TT$6,000 for a video when they for not investing in enough local content, could get it done for $2,000 elsewhere. we got a barrage of requests from the two We started doing videos for alternative stations in the country asking if I was still groups like Odd Fellows Local and Zoom doing that “thing” I’d come to them with Salloum, and eventually got into the soca years ago. They both wanted to own the arena with David Rudder (“Mad Man’s series outright and have me just produce Rant”, “Feeding Frenzy”), 3 Canal (“Blue”, it for them, but one thing I learned from “Revolution”) Colin Lucas (“Wham Bam listening to Oprah was to never release Thank you Ma’am”), Iwer, Shadow, Chris your copyright, just license it. So, I did just Garcia (“Chutney Bacchanal”), Machel that, I licensed the content for a specific Montano (“Big Truck”) Alison Hinds (“Aye, length of time, long enough, supposedly, Aye, Aye”, “Iron Bazodee”) Krosfyah (“Wet for the licensee to retrieve its investment. Me”) and many others. We started getting our videos on BET and this was incentive I went with TTT initially as they were for many others to come to us. willing to spend closest to what we required to get the show done — not fter returning home from touring nearly enough, but enough to see us A with the Immortelle Theatre through. The first season of Westwood company for three weeks in Park was a baptism of fire. At this time Barbados performing for an international Walt Lovelace would have left Earth conference, I became restless and, while TV because Westwood Park wasn’t his at dinner with Bernard Hazel and Deborah cup of tea. He wanted to do films of his Maillard who were also on the tour, I came father’s work. I didn’t think we were ready. up with the idea to do a soap opera to Westwood Park was, for me, the vehicle to rival The Young and the Restless, an get ready for bigger ventures. American soap opera which was the top- rated show in Trinidad at the time. We o, I had to forge ahead with a new went through several rewrites and S DP (director of photography) new eventually came up with Westwood Park. crew, new everything. It was the We decided to shoot a pilot to be able to first time, other than the films I had shop it. We begged our friends to act, our worked on, that I had a crew of more than families were extras, as we asked friends five people. There were many moving and businesses to lend us their houses parts to coordinate. A great number of and premises as locations. We asked hurdles to overcome besides the actual designers to borrow clothes and almost fact of filming on location in Trinidad with everyone worked for free. all the dogs, garbage trucks and parrots to contend with, I found myself dealing with

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 59 A Bajan man working for Paramount pictures took pity on us and explained the ropes. He said we should have made an appointment months in advance to see people.

personnel problems including two I ended up doing that many seasons eanwhile back at home, TTT was nervous breakdowns by actors and the because after the first season, armed with M taking its cool time to renew the general attitude of crew members who my VHS tape with a homemade sleeve series for another season. Despite a weren’t in the habit of taking instructions and homemade brochure, I decided to go ratings success, the board was unhappy from a “girl”. to the television market call NATPE held with some of the racier, more controversial in New Orleans, to sell my show to the We were also working with people aspects of the series. So, after waiting a world. My attempt was laughable as the who were accustomed to theatre work. year-and-a-half for approval, and one big guns came out blazing. Baywatch, the Television is not theatre and many of inappropriate conversation that would number one show at the time, came with the techniques had to change, and constitute a #MeToo conversation today, I a whole beach display, replete with sand, habits broken, and for many it was being hung up the phone with them and took lifeguard chairs, and women in swimsuits. directed by someone of whom they had the series to TV6. We would do the Hundreds of thousands of dollars and no knowledge. We worked for sometimes following five seasons with them. It wasn’t in the case of the King brothers who 18 hours per day, but mostly 12 hours. smooth sailing all the way, every year were selling Inside Edition, Hollywood There were times I would spend the night despite leaving Y&R in the dust and Squares, Oprah (at the time), millions of editing and the crew would meet me in becoming the second most-watched dollars were spent to peddle their shows. the same clothes the next day to start programme after the news, after only our They even hired Elton John for a private shooting again. second season, it often took more than a concert for their clients. year to renew each season. By Season 6 everal times Antoinette Hagley, the A Bajan man working for Paramount I’d gotten married. By the time it went to S then production manager/co- pictures took pity on us and explained the air I had delivered my daughter who writer/best friend, would be on set ropes. He said we should have made an became what would have been Season 7. with me doing a scene, and writing new appointment months in advance to see scenes with me because we would realize I decided to devote my time and energy people. We barely scraped in the door that an episode was too short. I had a lot to her at least for another one-and-a-half having decided last minute to come. of skepticism from some of the more years, when the bug bit me again and Furthermore, he said, nobody would be seasoned actors who wondered who the I decided to join CNMG to help them interested in a single season of anything. hell was I to be telling them what to do. I relaunch their station, supposedly with They want bulk. He invited me to his think I cried every day for months and at the focus on local content. While there London office “anytime I was in town.” I one point thought I was having a stroke. I green-lit a number of programmes in took him up on his offer a year later. He sat Until one day Deborah Maillard (my then their first year (Young Explorers, Road to and watched three episodes of WP with assistant director) pulled me aside and Germany, Get Real) and produced a couple me. I was surprised. I didn’t expect him to gave me some words of advice series of my own: Iere Vibe, 52 Nights. get past the opening credits. He then said (concerning the language and attitude I eventually left to produce The Reef, a go back and produce at least 100 episodes which would capture the attention of the 13-part series based in Tobago. Once and then we could talk distribution. He crew). That advice has become my again, not understanding that production noted it looked much better than he ever armour from then on. With it I was ready money is for production and marketing expected and was worthy of international to face the next five seasons of battle. I money is for marketing, miracles were distribution. I was buoyed and bummed went through several crew members until expected after only the expense of the by the meeting. I thought that while I was the end of season three, when I think we production with minimal marketing clearly on to something, how the hell hit our stride and Jamaican DP Richard behind the production. So, after another was I going to find the money to do 100 Lannaman and writer Melvyn de Goeas year of waiting for the second season to episodes. I could barely get through 15, let came on board, and I settled with the be approved, The Reef was buried with alone 85 more. crew that would see me through the next the arrival of my son. After a stress-filled three seasons.

60 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION pregnancy, I could no longer keep up I continue to discover my the fight. country, to try to understand it, I lay low for another year and a half to resist the temptation to leave when I was approached by an ad agency to to be in an environment that do a drama series promoting government understands my craft. In 2014, services. It was called Matthews In The after mulling around in my head Middle. A number of people invested in the crime situation in Trinidad the show believing it be a “real” series, and Tobago, and increasingly proving my mantra that people are becoming frustrated with the desperate for images of themselves. reporting and treatment of such in the news and elsewhere, After MIMS, as the government series and after speaking with a friend was called, I worked as a producer on who worked closely with the several other short documentaries and “hot spot” areas, we came up short films but really devoted my time with an idea to do a series that to bringing up my children. Westwood would put faces to the bodies Park proved to be a good investment in that keep piling up only to the following years as stations around become statistics. The series the world picked it up starting with a Plain Sight was born and for the small OTB station in New York which following two years we would eventually got a Nielsen rating because of go into the so-called hot spots WP. Though the programme initially aired in and around western Trinidad throughout the Caribbean, the diaspora making ourselves familiar was slow to catch on, again because and recognizing how much of of a lack of marketing. We eventually our country lives in individual were able to sell it to London and North bubbles. America and we are distributed online (at least the first two seasons). We got t’s been a five-year-and- fans in Malaysia, Sweden, Australia, and I counting battle to get Plain were even pirated in Nigeria. Not great Sight to the screen. For for the pocket but for the viewership one, we recognize, as we always numbers. From the people who actually have, that our market is the paid to air the programme we were able world and as such have to keep to begin to pay off some of the debt our production values on par incurred during the production. To this with the world standards, but on day we continue to sell Westwood Park to a Caribbean budget. Though new markets. I knew from the onset that considered still low for the rest of it would take a while before we saw any the world, here, people still baulk Caribbean. The previous generation grew returns and cautioned the people who at the cost per episode. The industry in up with images of themselves reflected thought that we would get rich instantly the US and other places still consider us on our screens. The current generation is, from the production from thinking so. low-budget and are amazed that we unfortunately, being fed a diet of YouTube But that didn’t stop many from thinking could get anything done for our budget. noise, Netflix and Americana. This will not we were raking in the millions, which was That said, on pitching the concept of Plain end well unless we start supplying Netflix absolutely not the case. Sight to an audience we immediately drew the attention of a Canadian and the other online, global platforms uring this time my resolve to stay distributor who was fascinated that with attractive Caribbean content. D the course has often been tested. I Caribbean society was so complex. often would be irritated by the The series remains to be funded but we accolades bestowed upon the people continue to work on it in the hope that one who left or were forced to leave in order to day someone will wake up and see the practice their craft, and of course excelled value of investing in the region’s greatest in other, more nurturing environments. It resource — its people. While we’re aware was to me like celebrating a neighbouring that we are not rocket scientists or finding country’s discovery of oil on our land and the cure for cancer, as an industry we exploiting it for their purposes does can contribute to the development of nothing for us. the emerging society that we are in the

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 61 KimalaKimala BennettBennett EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship Laureate,Laureate, 2019,2019, JamaicaJamaica

62 THE LAUREATELAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITION EDITION Kimala Bennett was born on December 10, would be able to identify with their own beauty 1980, in Kingston, Jamaica to Michael Bennett, through a Miss Musgrave Pageant. It was through a music producer, and Judith Bennett, an this experience that Kimala began to understand entrepreneur. As a child she attended the Holy the impact of empowering those around her. Out Childhood Preparatory School, after which she of a desire to continue to help others, she decided moved on to the Holy Childhood High School to pursue psychology, and applied to several for girls. As the eldest of six siblings Bennett universities. grew up with a strong sense of responsibility. he received a scholarship to attend the Innately drawn to leadership, she quickly S prestigious all-female Mount Holyoke focused on becoming Head Girl of the school. As College in Massachusetts, USA, where she early as Third Form she began re-prioritizing her majored in psychology and minored in film goals and activities, and even campaigning for the production and African-American history. At post years in advance. Her efforts paid off and she Mount Holyoke her star shone even brighter, was named Head Girl in Sixth Form. This scenario serving as Hall President, Student Advisor and as is a demonstration of her extraordinary drive and Co-Chair of the Association of Pan-African Unity. vision. This very same goal-oriented mindset has For her tireless efforts, Kimala was honoured by continued to serve Kimala throughout her life. the school with an award for leadership. Her parents played a core role in her It was also during her time at Mount Holyoke development as both a person and a professional. that Kimala encountered Dr Patricia Romney who Through her father she learned how to be a served as her advisor, and was a catalyst for the creative professional, and from her mother she turning point in her trajectory. As she began to learn learned entrepreneurship. Her parents also from her mentor their rapport became friendly. fostered in her a love for people and an ability to Kimala would often jokingly pose scenarios in dream as big as possible. Kimala says her visionary which she would get her mentor to be a guest trait comes from her knowledge that her parents on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Dr Romney, seeing supported her aspirations in her formative years. Kimala’s passion and creativity on the subject, She was also raised with both her grandmothers encouraged her to explore film and advertising Patricia Gray and Ivy Bennett, whom she credits as her career path instead of psychology. Always with honing her drive and determination. eager to explore her opportunities, Kimala pon completing her studies at Holy enrolled in a filmmaking class, and found her U Childhood, Kimala took a gap year to gain calling in storytelling. some work experience. She worked with She threw herself wholeheartedly into film- Air Jamaica as well as with Mrs Paulette Rhoden making. Using her younger brother, recording artist at local manufacturing company, Crimson Dawn. Nicky B as her guinea pig, she began producing Kimala would later cite Rhoden’s example as her first music video, “Are You Ready,” and a female business owner as one of her early managing his career as a performer. After testing influences in becoming an entrepreneur. She was her limits, she shifted her focus to increasing her also influenced by Janet Davidson of Mad House skill level. Again pulling on her passion for setting Records, whose example showed her how to high goals, she attended a USC summer course manage and structure creative talent. where she was immersed in film production for It was during this time that Kimala began her six weeks, and started a film project on Afro/Black philanthropic ventures, founding the Friends of Hair which later evolved into her passion project The Musgrave Girls Home, an organization meant today, Combing Through The Roots Of Black Hair: to empower girls who were wards of the state. The Politics Of Hair. Supported by her mother, and pulling on her hile spending her school breaks in Jamaica, own experience as Head Girl, she leveraged her W Kimala continued to pursue film projects. network to get gifts from corporate sponsors, as Once more seeking to create her own well as ball dresses from her peers so that the girls opportunities, she caught wind of a Beenie Man

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 63 video being directed by international As The Production LAB grew, Kimala music video maker Little X in collaboration began to restructure her business and in with local director, Kassa. Thinking there doing so, found that local paperwork and might be experience or opportunity to be processes were a challenge. Instead of gained, she showed up on set uninvited being deterred, she turned her challenge and offered her voluntary services as a into an opportunity. Inspired by the production assistant. Her enterprising handbook she had received as a student spirit so impressed Little X that through at Mount Holyoke, she decided to write their connection she was able to receive a manual to ease the way for others who an internship at HSI, a renowned music also wanted to go into business. In 2010 video production house in Los Angeles she wrote her first book Starting A Business California. In Jamaica, a manual for entrepreneurs which has become a business standard. imala again leaned on her family in Intent upon sharing her knowledge K her aunt and uncle (Janel and of business, she was instrumental in Howard) who supported during her In 2010 she wrote developing two programmes for high tenure at HSI. She worked on a number of school students which included an her first book prominent music videos, and gained entrepreneur camp at the Moorlands singular exposure while working with the Starting A Business camp grounds, and a nationwide legendary Hype Williams on projects innovation competition “i3”. Recognizing including the Kanye West “Diamonds are In Jamaica, that her skills did not yet match her Forever” video shoot in Prague. Not only a manual for passion for supporting the dreams of did she hone her filmmaking skills, she young people, she went on to join the also learned the inner runnings of a entrepreneurs Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship production company — knowledge which (NFTE) and became a certified trainer. She which has become a later helped create the foundation for her then went on to write her second book current enterprise. business standard. The Young Entrepreneur’s Handbook, Having seen the possibilities of which was made recommended reading filmmaking, Kimala crafted a new vision for national training programmes. for her path, setting out to change the face of filmmaking in her own region. During ith the nation’s highest-net-worth her early years she was (and continues to W clients now seeking her out, Kimala be) mentored by Maxine Walters, working quickly expanded her team and her on her sets as a production assistant for range of services in order to provide the projects featuring the likes of Lauryn Hill most cutting-edge and creative content and Donell Jones. Having seen that she for brands like Digicel, Grace Kennedy, could make a career for herself in her local JPS, Heart, NCB, Wendy’s and Domino’s, creative industry, in 2007 she banded to name a few. Over time The LAB became together with Melissa Llewellyn to create known for its international standard of The Production Lab (now The LAB). The work. The business, however, began to be duo started the company with a Mac spread thin, and Kimala came to realize laptop in a room at her father’s Grafton that as a leader she would have to make recording studios and J$20,000. some tough decisions. With the knowledge that her leadership skills s millennials, the duo employed would need to be expanded to meet her A new technology to produce high vision, she began to step back from the quality films in record time, and camera and creative roles and study the disrupted industry standards. It was back end of the business. during this period that Delano Forbes of Though her creative spirit remained, Phase 3 Productions, seeing talent in she took to her administrative role like a Kimala’s group, encouraged her to pursue duck to water. She enlisted in the Action an opportunity with Digicel Jamaica. The Coach programme to better help her learn project was a hit and The Production LAB how to plan and execute her vision. She quickly built a reputation as the go-to film sought the help of mentors Andrea Coy crew for “Wow” work. The company and Douglas Orane. She read the book became a fast favourite of advertising Winning by Jack Welch and later enrolled agencies, and over time segued into client in an EMBA programme at the Jack Welch services.

64 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION Management Institute. All steps taken were with the purpose of widening her knowledge base in order to further enrich the value of her business. er presence and input in the H business community have earned her the respect of several business leaders. Don Wehby, CEO of the Grace Kennedy Group, invited Kimala to sit on his innovation council, comprising a group of young progressive entrepreneurs and thinkers whose diverse points of view he uses for guidance. The LAB has grown from a two-person creative project to a multi-million dollar end-to-end creative agency with expertise in design and production. It also does creative concepts, marketing strategy, audio recording and engineering, film production, equipment rental, digital content, graphic design, public relations, and media buying, among other services. Always with her finger on the pulse of trends, Kimala also invested in sister company Blue Dot Data Intelligence, a her work with young people, Kimala was slated to be an annual event in which local technology-based market research firm selected to attend a town hall meeting businesses and creative professionals will with no equal within the Caribbean. with US President Barack Obama where have a chance to interact with The LAB’s She has recently also launched Scope he launched his Young Leaders of the international network. Caribbean, an online location and talent Americas Initiative. The event inspired ith all this, Kimala was also able to scout platform which allows film crews Kimala to continue her efforts with full W find love with her fiancé Adrian, and to remotely view and book local talent force. Recognizing the power of such the couple has a young child, Liam, and venues. With her “sky is the limit” inspiration, she began to be more vocal who is now the love of her life. She is a attitude she is also near completion of about empowering those around her. devoted mother and continues to list her construction of the Cr8space enterprise, n 2018, many of Kimala’s long-time son’s first birthday party among the which is a rented workspace model I goals came to fruition. An avid greatest productions she’s headed. In tailored for creative professionals, with believer in vision she often says that winning the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean filmmakers in mind. Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama have Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Kimala’s work has been widely been icons in her life. In 2018 Kimala met Kimala Bennett will be using the platform recognized. She is held in such high Mrs Obama at the reading of her book to increase collaboration within the esteem by her mentor that Mr Orane Becoming, an event moderated by Oprah region and to invest in opportunities asked her to be one of the first people herself. In that same year Kimala also throughout the region, expanding the to review his book and to be the keynote purchased a permanent office space for footprint and impact of The LAB, and speaker at his book launch. She was The LAB, and she continues to invest in building the reputation of Caribbean named one of Jamaica’s “50 under 50”, the growth of her company. filmmaking as a collective force. and her ADDY Award-winning firm was She has also modelled her career selected as the local production company on that of African-American Millennial for Nick Cannon’s feature film King of the Entrepreneur, Tina Wells. In 2018, Kimala Dancehall, and has worked on music brought Ms Wells to Jamaica as keynote videos for the likes of Drake, Rihanna and speaker of The LAB’s inaugural Think Busta Rhymes. Tank Conference. The conference was Her corporate clients trust her to a carefully curated event where brands produce their most complex projects, from across the island engaged with including reality series Capital Quest for new market research done by Blue Dot NCB, and her firm manages all of Digicel’s Data Intelligence which gave insights on Jamaican productions. In 2015, based on Caribbean millennials. The conference is

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 65 who would turn out to be one of the persons who “Someone, somewhere, had the greatest impact on the total sum of person has got to do something, I “add to be” today. somehow, to make Midway in Class 3, my class teacher changed and so did my academic life. My new class teacher the world somewhat a was now Mrs Beverley Holder. She cared for me, she was strict, firm but very caring and this “magic better place; can it be combination” worked. My new average was up to you?” – Corey Lane, 2008 the 80s and my position was up to third in a class of 28 pupils. It may not have been in those same exact words nother early memory is at age nine, at the time, but from the time I remember A organizing a set of children in my community, myself it felt like this mantra ran through my including my older family members in a veins. raffle, Raven Community Raffle, clearly something Born June 2, 1982 to conductress Annette Lane that I had picked up on television where you had a and bus driver Victor Bishop, I grew up in the drop box and you could deposit ideas and win community of Free Hill, Black Rock, St Michael prizes. I also remember at nine years old, thinking in a happy, humble, old wooden house with the about money and how it just didn’t make sense infamous pit toilet. My earliest memory is as a but made enemies. How it caused division in toddler, listening to music they now call “old dub” families, including my own. I remember thinking and playing with my friends in the community. of how the love of money was strange, as an Around three years old, I can clearly recall my average job calculated by week, by wage, by mother dropping me off at St Stephen’s Reception month, by year, by 40 years, didn’t make you rich Class. As one of my clearest early memories, I without even so much as a deduction included. I remember crying for dear life and my fear that my decided on a path of rebellion against money and mom woud not return for me. The memory is so was proud to say I am probably one of the few vivid that I can see her clothing and the lady next humans who hates money. Of course, life and to her as they disappeared around the corner. I experience have caused some adjustment to this. figured that these adults thought this was a case But I still value time, humanity, health and love of cry and stop, but needless to say, my mom over this necessary asset. was extremely surprised to discover when she These ideas of giving and selflessness seemed returned that afternoon that I was still crying. I had to have been born within and developed in large cried and sulked the entire first day. I loved my part by being a Cub Scout and following the Cub mom so much, that I believe it was greater than Scout’s pledge: “A Cub Scout always does his best, separation anxiety. thinks of others before himself and does a good settled into reception after a while and the turn every day.” I next hurdle was Class 1. My teacher from Primary school was a very interesting time. Classes 1 to 3 was Ms Husbands. She named School was up and down, home time was time her strap after me and I got lashes most days, had spent with Gran, my grandmother, Mrs Olga an average of 40%, came last in class and took Lane, and her favourite grandson, my cousin silly pride in being one of the most badly-behaved Reneldo, and my other cousins. Mom was children at the school. away at work most days and nights; she was a At seven years old I joined the Cub Scouts workaholic, she taught me to work hard, was a because my older brother Kevin had joined, and strong disciplinarian, taught me that tasks started it was a great way to get out of school and go must be tasks completed, or else! She taught me on trips. But my mom was glad as she thought I dedication, “stick-ability” and determination. needed a father-figure and some more discipline. Mr King reinforced the four Ds: determination, This is when I met Mr John King, my Scout Leader, dedication, discipline and desire. My grandmother

66 THE LAUREATELAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITION EDITION Corey Lane Public & Civic Contributions Laureate, 2019, Barbados

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 67 taught me many proverbs, sayings for life as an opportunity for a fresh start. that help me with decision making to this However, in short order I had developed a very day. reputation as a comedian and a joker. Before the end of week one, some of the Like most good things, primary school more popular and stronger seniors in the had to come to an end. Just before the school vowed to protect me as they end of school, it was time to learn which enjoyed my comedy. Also, by the end of secondary school we passed for. At full the first week I was in major trouble as assembly one day the headteacher stood one of these seniors was receiving a prize at the podium and called name after at full assembly on that Friday and I name and school after school, then she wanted a good vantage point. As I was said: “Corey Lane — The Lodge School”. trying to make my way to the front, I was Joy and pride filled my soul as I had stopped by a prefect who asked me where just learned that I passed for the school I was going, and I said: “To heaven one of my choice, the school with the long day, I hope.” I was reported to the principal bus ride, the school for which my older I remember an who sentenced me to four of the best with brother Kevin had passed. A little concern a bamboo stick. After the third lash I could early desire for accompanied the joy as we all had heard take no more and that was the beginning rumours of death in the canefields by leadership, maybe of a very rocky secondary school career. the school and the tradition of putting first formers in a coffin and rolling them rom first to third form I competed a prefect or form around the school. F with one of my good friends, Damien captain badge, a Soon it was time for junior school Hall, for second-to-last place. sixer or second to come to an end. I remember the Damien is now a special branch police significance of the last school bell and officer. I remember the same senior, badge in Cubs. Well, the mixture of feelings. Excited to be nicknamed “Gargamel”, who is now a moving on, anxiety about my new “big youth commissioner, returned to the a game-changer boy” school, happy to be all packed up school and said he wished he had paid occurred at the age for Cub Scout camp and extremely sad attention and that the world out there to be leaving my friends of over seven was so difficult. I told myself if Gargamel, of 13, when most of years; it was a very emotional time. In that one of the “baddest” men in the school the youth leaders of summer of 1993, because of Cub Scout could return to the school, something was camp, I had to miss Ellerslie Summer wrong. I started to think about my future my Boy Scout group Camp, the preferred camp in my district, and the fact that I wanted to leave were suspended on to attend the St Stephen Anglican Camp. secondary school with CXC certificates Here I met my Sunday School teacher and not have to go through the turmoil the same day. Jason Carmichael. He remains my chief that he was describing. By now, I had advisor to this day on all things, least of developed a reputation of being late them, religious matters. That summer every day, playing pranks—hiding the was no different from the four summers canteen van keys and switching the before it. Go to camp, return home, play school song cassette to a more Star Trek in Gran’s plum tree, break a limb, entertaining version—and many other spend some time in the hospital — the pranks which I debated my way out of. average summer. I remember an early desire for leadership, maybe a prefect or form oon summer was over, and it was captain badge, a sixer or second badge S time for my first day at the Lodge in Cubs. Well, a game-changer occurred School. It was a very uneventful first at the age of 13, when most of the day. Most of my friends had attended youth leaders of my Boy Scout group orientation with their parents and some were suspended on the same day. This of them even had their parents escort gave me the opportunity to become them on their first day. But I did not attend an Assistant Patrol Leader, which led orientation and my first day was day three almost inevitably to Patrol Leader and of the school term. Six students from my Senior Patrol Leader. I embraced my role junior school passed for the Lodge School wholeheartedly and did things differently, and all except me got a transfer so I was so differently that it led to what is known the only person I knew going to the school as the infamous Camp Sandy debacle of and, for me, this was a positive, as I saw it

68 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION On the front of the vest that I made I had “Tribute to Mom” in her favourite colour: purple, and the back had a lightning bolt and the legend “Catch me if you can”. I won all the races in my age category — the 100m, 200m, 400m and the 800m.

1997. My Scout Leader was overseas and life. It all changed on that very normal day Though I was the youngest of the first I took my patrol to a national camp that in typing class, when my aunt showed up set of children. I was asked to read the my district was not participating in. At at school and told my brother and me eulogy. I wrote the story of the life of my the same age of 14 my ideas of thinking that we needed to go to the hospital with mom in the happiest way. During the of others before oneself were challenged her. What would happen next would be eulogy I enjoyed the laughs until the by one of my mentors at a PE session. the launch pad and facilitating force of a wailing of my aunts, who ran out the Mr MacDonald Fingall explained if you new level of work. church one by one. But I remained happy were in an accident and you were injured It all started when my mom got married and proud to be able to talk about the you needed to take care of yourself first, in 1997 and got pregnant with twins woman who made me who I am today. so you wouldn’t bleed out and then you shortly after. She was extremely excited She brought me into this world and would be no help to anyone. I understand and by this time I would have welcomed gave me the tenacity and strength that that in critical times we must take care of three siblings after I had a 10-year run as I stand tall with today. She gave me the ourselves, we must take care of our family, the baby in the family. We had welcomed confidence and love of self, helped me so I must bring balance to the public and two boys and one girl and now twin girls over many, many, many hurdles that I civic life but in the main, I believe that were on the way. My mom was so excited, believe I would have found difficult to get we are here to help each other to have a planning to brush their hair and put in over without the self-esteem and strength better life. matching bubbles and ribbons. This of character. also had a strange encounter that pregnancy was different, if felt bigger went on to do my CXCs two months I year. I did catering with my and longer. This time she went into the I later, as a D student. I read my text stepfather’s stepbrother from 11 hospital early and she spent a couple of books cover to cover and after years old until 18. His mom had days. She had been in the hospital before dedicating them to mom who woke us up Alzheimer’s and when we were prepping and she came home every single time. with the song “Little Black Boy” by or cleaning up, she would wake, not Trinidadian calypsonian Gypsy, I was able hen Aunt Kathy was taking us to see recognize us and start to say, “Stop to gain seven out of eight subjects. Even W her, she said we need to come be coming here, stop playing in here, in here running home with the results, I thought with her as she was getting “low”. int’ no ranch, in here int’ no ranch!”, firmly they had to have mixed them up with The truth is that by the time we got there planting this image of a ranch in my mind someone else’s results. I went on to Sixth she was gone. Gone to Australia maybe, as a happy-go-lucky fun place to horse Form when I decided to run for the first because that is something that she around. One day, I was on a punishment time in school sports in my final year. On threatened us with regularly: “One day I’ll my mom gave me. I had to hold up two the front of the vest that I made I had pick up and go to Australia and never encyclopaedias in each hand, stand in the “Tribute to Mom” in her favourite colour: come back”. Ten long years I convinced front patio and face the wall. While doing purple, and the back had a lightning bolt myself, maybe she’s in Australia. On this a voice, God’s voice, whispered in my and the legend “Catch me if you can”. I hearing the news, I remember walking ear, I felt the breath on my ear, and it said: won all the races in my age category — the from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to “You will build a ranch”. I paid it no mind 100m, 200m, 400m and the 800m. Collymore Rock, maybe some three miles at that point. away, and cleaning some dusty Shortly after this, I reconnected with I think age 15 and the year 1998 were abandoned instruments in the Barbados my Sunday school teacher who invited the most significant in creating the Boys Scout Headquarters. That led to the me to the Youth Parliament; I got involved Corey Lane known by many today. The restarting of the defunct Scout Band the in boxing and I joined as many things as combination of all that went before and following week. That band had been possible. This was because one night I all that was about to happen would lay defunct for over a decade prior, and is still remember seeing an image of my mom the foundation for the trajectory of my going to this day. lying next to me and I never wanted that feeling again so I stayed up all night

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 69 writing project proposals and researching label, stuck it to my CEO chair and the encyclopaedias until I was fast asleep. Nature Fun Ranch was born. On returning to school, there were I continued to work very hard at so many stares, glassy puppy-eyes; the building my Scout group’s programme. pity of teachers and students invaded I was awarded the highest Boy Scout the atmosphere. Everyone treated me Award, the Chief Scout Award, at 16 years so nicely, so differently. I had to hide in old. It was the first in the history of my the library everyday with librarian Ms Scout group. I then went on to be named Jackman. While there, I made use of first Queen’s Scout in Barbados, and the time and feelings. I needed to do opened the door for many troops and something about my peers, as many scouters to work on both of these awards. of my them had started to drop out The Queen’s Scout/Eagle Scout Award is of school and they wanted to join the the highest Scouting award globally. blocks, gangs, fight fowls and fight dogs. At 18 years old, I The Scouting pioneering didn’t I tried to get them into Scouting but, to stop there. For the first time in many be honest, the programme was boring met up with Jason years, I represented Barbados at the and the uniform was expensive. I needed International Camp Staff Programme in to start something that could deliver the Carmichael and the United States, in 2005 and 2006. It was type of innovative, exciting, adventurous, he invited me to an eye-opening experience and brought challenging and fun activities that any and my vision from the encyclopaedias and all teenagers would enjoy. I got together join the Barbados television to life. This experience helped with four of my friends from Scouts and Youth Parliament. to shape the physical and organizational we started the outdoor organization set up of the Ranch. CoCoCabana, inspired by my mom’s I loved it. I signed nickname for me, Coco. At 18 years old, I met up with Jason up, and shortly after Carmichael and he invited me to join got $300, a sympathy gift from one of the Barbados Youth Parliament. I loved I my mom’s friends, and I had a was appointed the it. I signed up, and shortly after was decision to make: buy a pair of shadow Minister appointed the Shadow Minister for Youth Timberlands — the shoe of the day — or a and Community. Within a year, I was broken-down horse nicknamed “Move for Youth and elected Youth Prime Minister and it was Out Starve Out”? I bought the horse and Community. at this time that I saw the value of the when I say the rest is history, the rest is debating practice from my Scout Leader history. The horse brought excitement to Wednesday after Wednesday, come the community and from five to 15 to 75 sharply into play. As Prime Minister, I people were passing through to check it wanted to do things differently. At that out. My grandmother allowed us to use a time, the main thing was “mock” debates. small quarter-acre plot behind her house, To my mind, there were too many real and she also gave us 20 rabbits. We grew issues to be tackled. We improved the lettuce and we competed to see who format to include real debates and could grow the best lettuce, the fastest, creation of policy papers for submission the biggest and the tastiest. We sold these to Parliament. We started to expand this in the community, and it helped us to buy across the Caribbean. We went further our school clothes, but it also helped us and brought in the parliamentarians to build the organization. from the Scottish Parliament on a foreign On June 1, 1998, we built a hut exchange. I am extremely proud that my nicknamed the “Mombore Shack”, and sat youth government was able to assist and thought of a new and proper name. with national policy and particularly, We agreed that we were committed to as it related to HIV programmes and outdoors hence “Nature”. We committed community policy. to deliver the activities promised that he next award was the Minister of we never got in Scouting, the kayaking, T Youth Phoenix Award, received in karting, etc, hence “Fun”. And the word 2007, followed by many awards for “Ranch” — after all, we had a horse and voluntary service at the community and the significance of the whisper all made national level. As Vice President of the sense at that moment. We created the Barbados Youth Development Council

70 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION and PM of the Youth Parliament, I was Before I knew it, an old man with a dog appointed as a youth representative to came beating my tent with a cane and told many boards and committees including me I had half-an-hour to get off his land. the Rights of the Child, UN HIV theme I was nervous but didn’t panic. I found a group, National Committee on Aging, and nearby campsite for rent and set up, but it others. The National Committee on Aging was too cold, and I went on the Internet to had a strong interest in Alzheimer’s and see if I could find another place. Instead, I dementia, and I was able to help my own saw a friend of mine online, a girl, Patricia grandmother when I attended a Canadian from England. I had met her and helped conference on reversing the symptoms when she was stranded at the airport of Alzheimer’s. in Barbados. When I was appointed to the Barbados discovered she lived less than two National HIV Commission in 2001, three I miles away from where I was. She ladies started to play a significant role in was eight months pregnant, but she supporting me in many ways and are a I broke down came for me, took me to her apartment, large part of my development to this day. uncontrollably in gave me her BMW convertible and went to Dr Carol Jacobs (Lady Carol Haynes) then stay with her mom. I went from homeless chairman, Ms Alies Jordan, then director, tears to the point to having my transportation and and Diana Edghill, then commissioner, accommodation taken care of. What was affectionately referred to by me as the where everyone significant in England for me was after “Power-puff Girls”. After being appointed including myself was returning to the family home late one Youth Rep on the Commission, I needed night, Patricia’s mom scolded me like my to get young people involved and we wondering what was mom would and for the first time I came needed to do projects, so I spearheaded happening. That face-to-face with my reality. I broke down the development of the National HIV AIDS uncontrollably in tears to the point where Youth Committee. We started awareness night I cried and everyone including myself was wondering projects in the school, started the HIV cried and cried and what was happening. That night I cried Awareness Song Competition (HASCo) as and cried and cried and I admitted to a signature project, working with DJs and I admitted to myself myself for the first time 10 years, three many direct intervention projects. months later that my mom was gone, and for the first time 10 I missed her so much. ncouraged to go to university by the E Power-puff Girls and my former years, three months It was a transformational time in my life. Sunday School teacher, who was later that my mom That year, 2008, was also the year that the now my Attorney General in Youth Nature Fun Ranch went nationwide. We Parliament, I enrolled at the University of was gone, and I had spent two years in my grandmother’s West Indies, Cave Hill. I graduated with yard and after the numbers grew, we had honours without slowing down my pace. I missed her so much. to move out. At that time, I remember did sociology with some focus on social telling myself that my grandmother was work and political science and then a just old and miserable but on reflection, with a more mature mind, I don’t believe diploma in project management. My many people would appreciate 75 young previous work helped me through UWI people going through their backyard and I enjoyed being quoted in lectures, to get to some land. We moved about a particularly for my work with Youth, HIV half-mile up the avenue where my great and the Green Paper on Aging that I aunt controlled about five acres of land. worked on as Assistant Secretary General After being there for about two years, for Youth, Elderly and the Disabled in the her children convinced her to kick us off Barbados Association of Non- the land because of some of the rights Governmental Organizations (BANGO). they thought we would be entitled to. In 2008, I took myself on a lone-wolf Thereafter, we moved a half-mile up and mission to England, the birthplace of squatted in an area known as The Mount, Scouting, for the 100th anniversary right behind my old primary school. It was Jamboree. I had an adventurous and small, about an acre, and we had about exciting experience. I flew to England six horses, but it was okay. On Sundays, without a plan, and pitched my tent in the in particular, we would entertain about 22 young people from a red-light district woods near to the Jamboree campsite known as Nelson Street. because I was not an official participant.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 71 Today, as a leader, I reflect on all that I’ve been through over the last 21 years in building an organization, and I understand how that “stick- ability” and dedication taught to me by my mom, has brought me great success.

he wife of a deceased owner of some facilitates attachment so they can feel solving. I believe that is a large part of why T of the brothels, Mrs Price, would beloved and have a sense of belonging, I am solution-oriented to this day. The query where the 22 guys on this where they can gain a passion and exposure he gave me to current affairs, truck were going every Sunday? When she purpose of life, be empowered, exchange has helped me extremely well today as learnt they were going to horse church a negative lifestyle for a positive one and I moderate Barbados’s most popular where Pastor Mark Hill and his wife would share what they learn with others who call-in programmes: Down to Brass Tacks bring a pot of food, have service, ride the were once like them. and Brass Tacks Sunday. My thirst for knowledge and love for current affairs horses and eat, she offered us the In 2007, I was approached at the World locally, regionally and internationally is opportunity to use “her” 39-acre AIDS Day church service by Lady Oneata an attribute that has made me a good plantation, just with the agreement that Forde to do a session at the prison. The moderator and I pay tribute to him we keep her lawn clean with a session was intense; it was emotional for that. drive mower. and many of the inmates cried that day. The only problem was that her lawn I was invited to do a repeat the following I must admit that 2016 was an was really a pasture and the drive mower day and the next thing I knew, I was there extremely interesting year. In October was so useless, it would have been easier Monday to Friday with a contract from 2015, I learnt that it was possible that for to cut the grass with scissors. With the 39 the Ministry of Home Affairs. Internally, the 50th anniversary of Independence acres of land, we were able to expand and the prison used me in the Prisoner for Barbados that Prince Henry of Wales, to help young people, not only from Free Education Programme, to build a Youth better known as Prince Harry, would Hill and Black Rock, but across the island Reform project and start a Radio Max, be visiting Barbados. He would be here in schools, communities and through where we would be using speakers and for November 30th, our Independence agencies. After being there for two years, a microphone to create a radio station- Day, but he wanted to interact with the real owners of the plantation land saw like vibe to transmit rehabilitation some young people the following day, us on their land, liked what we were doing programmes to the solitary cells of these World AIDS Day. After checking out many and allowed us to stay. maximum security inmates. options, his team chose NFR, as the place he would do his rap session. We discovered that Mrs Price owned Today, as a leader, I reflect on all the plantation house but not the that I’ve been through over the last 21 reparation was gruelling, plantation land. They explained to us that years in building an organization, and I P coordinating the media from across they had bought the land to subdivide understand how that “stick-ability” and North America and Britain and but because it was Zone 1, they couldn’t. dedication taught to me by my mom, has getting much of the paperwork and The following year it was changed to brought me great success. I understand logistics in place required a meticulous Zone 2 and hence we started looking for how the proverbs of wisdom drilled in approach. The real excitement came for land all over again. By this time, we had my head by my grandmother help me me as we interacted with Prince Harry: he attracted the attention of the new Prime every day as I make decisions and, even was so real that it was like a child’s dream Minister, the late David Thompson, who more so, I understand how my Scout of meeting a Prince and the excitement worked diligently with his Minister of Leader taught me leadership, leading for the young people was phenomenal. Agriculture to get us some land to lease from the front, setting the example and We held a sleepover the night before and affordably from Government. After about problem solving. I remember being at so none of them could get to sleep and two more moves we were able to settle many events where things were going during the night, some of the younger into our present location at Bruce Vale, wrong or disorganized, and he would say ones would awake and ask if he was here St Andrew. Over the last seven years we “Come, Lane”, and just start to organize yet. It reminds me very much of our 2018 have been able to build an organization of things in a way to just start to solve Christmas trip to Canada as a youth group which we can all be proud. One that helps problems: “Put this over there; let’s go,” and the excitement many of these young young people reach their apex, one that motivating others to join the problem- people felt as they got their ID cards, birth

72 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION certificate, passport, as they entered the departure lounge, as it became real and they got on the tarmac, as they saw the plane, as they sat on a plane. During the safety briefing, one 16-year-old turned from the seat in front of me and asked if the flight attendant was saying that we were supposed to wear life jackets when the plane got over the ocean. The excitement, the brightness and all the novelty of the big world outside of Barbados, the skyscrapers, the big buildings, the trams, the trains, the malls, the subway, the sites, the zoo, the hotel and, we cannot forget, the snow. The year 2018 also saw me taking part in the International Visitor Leadership Program. An extremely educational experience across five US States, nine cities, 12 planes in 22 days. The opportunity to interact with dozens of non-profits has helped increase my knowledge of several best practices. This has helped me to refine the work from a philosophical level and also from a more strategic level. The years 2018/9 have been very rewarding as I’ve been able to witness for the first time the refurbishment as farmers and involved in many other marry a partner who now works with me and building of many buildings up to fields, I look on as a proud mentor, as a in an organization to build an institution the standard that I had only dreamt of proud Dad, as a proud human. specifically for the at-risk girls of Barbados. when I started on this journey. It was a s I moved through life, from 14 in year of awards: the Point of Light Award A 1996 to 25 in 2007, serious remember going on dates with conferred upon me by Queen Elizabeth II, relationships lasted about two years I LaToya in cars where one could see the Commonwealth Award and becoming each because I believe that is how long it the road through the bottom of the the youngest person to be awarded the took for most of my girlfriends to realize car and going to birthday dinners and coveted and prestigious Anthony N Sabga that probably I was more married to my having to divert to go and help other Caribbean Award for Excellence (my first work than thinking about myself in a people who had broken down. As they award providing with it developmental personal relationship. But it was in 2007 would say, she is my ride-and-die. She funds). Other recognitions include the when I started to date LaToya, who is now was with me in the old car in the days that Rotary Vocational Service Award and the my wife, I remember her telling me: “I love we had to push-start or push to the gas Peace Ambassadors Award. The greatest the work you do, I love to watch you work, station for gas. Our life together has been reward is looking back at many of the in our relationship you can go and do you one of adventure, one of love, dignity and young boys and girls coming across the and I’ll work so you can go and do your respect. Just four years ago she gave me gates of Nature Fun Ranch for the first volunteer work.” I knew I would marry her my firstborn daughter Alexandria Cori- time with letters that said they needed then. I was going through intense Ann Analese Lane and just two years ago psychology, psychiatry, drug testing, depression at that time; she was very she gave me my firstborn son Corey anger management, and so on, realizing patient with me and helped me through Alexander Lane II. I am a diligent husband, they needed love, attention, care, it. On May 26, 2012 we got married and in I am a loving father, I am a humanitarian, I facilitation and opportunity. Looking our first year of marriage as I tried to cut am Corey Alexander Lane I. now at these young leaders in our society back on projects, and she said “You are Someone, somewhere, has got to do excelling at many vocations, business trying to be happy but I recognize you something, somehow, to make the world and careers. Watching them travel the were born to be great.” It is this type of somewhat a better place; I will continue world and dominating the world stage in understanding that helped me make the to play my part. bodybuilding, horse racing, seeing them easiest but best decision of my life, to

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 73 It is the values instilled and the example to return to the University to pursue a Master’s provided by both my mother, who was a school degree in physics. I had already encountered Prof teacher, and my father, who is a minister of Anthony Chen in my undergraduate years when I religion, and then later on by many others took his climate physics course, and although I am who came in and out of my life, that continue still unsure what he saw in me, I am forever grateful to underpin my actions and motivate any for his invitation to be a part of his then fledgling achievements I have made to date. From my research group in climate studies. My first-class first schoolboy days at Dunrobin Primary honours degree, earned two years earlier, paved School, I wanted to be like my parents, who the way for yet another scholarship (the UWI modelled what it meant to work hard and Postgraduate Scholarship) and soon I was back at always give of your best. Undoubtedly, that the UWI pursuing a MPhil degree in physics. ensured that I went to high school (Campion o say that Prof Chen was a visionary is really College) on a government scholarship. T to underscore the insight he had to see, In high school my mother’s love of literature from the early 1990s, that climate influenced my pursuit of both the sciences and represented a significant influence on the the arts through to Sixth Form, from where I developmental path of the small island states of again graduated with a scholarship in hand (the the Caribbean and therefore demanded to be Government Exhibition Scholarship) to pursue a studied. It was this insight that led him in 1992 to Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of form the Climate Studies Group, Mona (CSGM) —– the West Indies, Mona. Looking back, it is easy to which he was now inviting me to be a part of as a graduate student — to examine the science to see now that many of the life skills that I now behind Caribbean climate variability and change possess were shaped during those early years by and the resulting impact on Caribbean way of life. the things my parents stood for and represented in My thesis work on “Validating a General Circulation their daily lives. These included selfless service, a Model”, for use in modelling Caribbean climate prioritization of the human over the material, and was under his supervision, and was the first of its a commitment to standards of integrity deeply kind. It anticipated a long-standing relationship rooted in the Christian faith. with climate modelling that has subsequently hough university brought confusing characterized my research career. It was Prof Chen T moments about what courses to pursue and who suggested further studies in climate and who where I was headed in life, there was always pointed me in the direction of both the a love for the sciences and a particular interest in Organization of American States (OAS) scholarship physics. It was this that led to the pursuit of a degree and the University of Maryland where I enrolled to majoring in General and Environmental Physics. On pursue a PhD degree, even while completing my completion of the Bachelor’s degree, I returned to MPhil degree at the UWI. I drew upon the inspiration of my father who in my late high school my alma mater to teach physics, as, though still years pursued a PhD in Theology at Leeds (UK) as not entirely sure of my life’s ultimate goal, I was the culmination of his formal educational journey convinced that this was the initial route by which which began in rural Jamaica and incredibly I could start to pay back the investment that had progressed through Oxford University. Within four already been made in me by others to that point. years I had my own PhD and was headed back to Being a high school teacher, just like my mother, the UWI to start my career as a lecturer in the opened my eyes to a love for imparting knowledge, Physics Department and a researcher with the to the thrill of seeing when discovery and CSGM. Along the way I picked up a National understanding took root in others, and ultimately Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA) Fellowship instilled a passion for helping others succeed and a University of Maryland Fellowship. through their own self-actualization. I could now Importantly, I returned with not only new degrees, see why my mother remained in the classroom for but with a deepened understanding of the her entire working life. It was during my teaching important role of mentorship as embodied stint that I received a life-changing invitation through Prof Chen.

74 THE LAUREATELAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITION EDITION Michael Taylor Science & Technology Laureate, 2019, Jamaica

THETHE LAUREATE LAUREATE 2019 2019 EDITIONEDITION 75 Irrespective of where life would take at the small island scale, and me, the manner in which I should pursue demonstrating our region’s ability to my professional career had by then clearly generate relevant, applicable and world- been laid out by the significant influences class climate science from within, in my life. (I add to those influences notwithstanding significant limitations in already mentioned to this point, my two resources. The CSGM continues to older brothers, Mark and Jeremy, and conduct seminal research which posits a supportive church community). So it fundamental theories about how was clear to me that: I was to pursue my Caribbean climate varies on multiple time teaching and research with passion; I scales and the resulting impact on the should not be afraid to push the envelope Caribbean way of life, as well as provides with respect to the next frontiers in critical data on which to premise decision Caribbean climate; I could not but making. encourage young scientists and provide he CSGM continues to contribute to scope for their advancement through T positioning the UWI as a centre for The Climate Studies resources I would be responsible for and national and regional thought and opportunities I would be able to create; Group Mona expertise with respect to climate change I was bound to always pursue excellence science and as an entity for coordinating demonstrates our and achievement through dint of hard regional climate actions. The CSGM work; I should not readily compromise continues to serve as a training ground for region’s ability to on integrity and moral principles; I should the next generation of regional climate generate relevant, value and treat others as my equal in scientists now positioned throughout the God’s eyes. It is these principles, I think, region and beyond, while also continuing applicable and which have seen me through to Senior to attract visiting experts, international Lecturer and Professor in Applied Physics world-class climate meetings and grant funding to the region. (Climate Science), while also providing (Much kudos to Dr Tannecia Stephenson, science from within, me with the opportunity to serve two a former graduate student who now co- terms as Head of the Physics Department, notwithstanding directs the CSGM with me and is also the as Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Science current Head of the Department of significant and Technology, UWI, and now as Dean. Physics at the UWI, Mona). The CSGM It is those principles which helped me continues to serve as a hub for a multi- limitations in refashion the Physics Department giving country coordinated climate science primacy to quality and contextually resources. effort thereby keeping the region at the relevant undergraduate programmes, forefront of climate science and global student and staff engagement, loyalty climate negotiations. It is a source of pride and mobility, and promoting science that the vision of Prof Chen continues to for the national and regional good. It is live on in an expanded way and has the striving to adhere to these principles that potential to do so for years to come. have, along the way, brought Principal’s Research Awards (UWI) and a Silver Throughout the journey my faith in God Musgrave Medal (Jamaica) among other has provided the underpinning for and the unsought recognitions for my scientific backdrop against which my endeavours work, and have given me the opportunity were to be pursued. My involvement in to serve as a Coordinating Lead author for a church community from an early age a special report of the Intergovernmental and through to the present has provided Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). additional avenues for character shaping and other outlets for service to others. The articularly important to me was the church community is for me the “village P way my stewardship of the Climate that helped raise the child” and which has Studies Group Mona (CSGM) now, in turn, afforded me the opportunity formed by Prof Chen would evolve, once to participate in raising the children of a its directorship was entrusted to me in new generation. For example, it is through 2007. Though its work is by no means a trusting church community, that I was finished, I am particularly pleased that the able to test and implement an idea for a group has played a leading role in Summer Youth Employment Programme enhancing our region’s knowledge of how aimed at sourcing and providing climate change has and will continue to employment, workforce training and manifest itself in the Caribbean, especially

76 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION We must embrace the unknown as the gateway for learning more and relish the opportunities to provide mentorship and guidance to others — that is the lesson of Prof Chen embodied in the 15 graduate students I have graduated.

mentorship opportunities to youth from We must never feel that character does all walks of life. The programme celebrates not matter and is mutually exclusive with its 20th anniversary this year. The church fulfilment, success, and achievement community is an outlet for me to indulge — that is the lesson of my father and my musical passion — playing the organ, embodied in my recent appointment piano and in the steel band. And it is the to the Climate Change Advisory Board church community that continues to for the Government of Jamaica. We give me the wider scope in which to offer must embrace the unknown as the service to others through the diversity of gateway for learning more and relish the ways it meets needs. These range from an opportunities to provide mentorship and onsite credit union to a fully functioning guidance to others — that is the lesson of healing centre with doctors, nurses, Prof Chen embodied in the 15 graduate counselling services and pharmacy, to students I have graduated. We must educational and community outreach contribute wholeheartedly in our various through basic schools, clinics and spheres of existence drawing on the skills, feeding programmes. My faith ultimately gifts and talents with which we have been underpins my decision-making, as it endowed, and not be surprised when mandates my actions to be respectful combined with the similar contribution of human character and dignity and to of others who are like-minded, they elevate the worth of every individual I transform lives; that’s the lesson of my encounter in whatever sphere of life. church community and embodied in the over 1,000 youth who have successfully inally, I was fortunate to have met passed through the Youth Summer F my wife, Yvette, who is my chief Employment Programme. We must not support and encourager. We take for granted the silent supportive together have three lovely children — contributors who through example, Amanda, Melanie and William. I am word, or deliberate action have made motivated to do what I do for their sakes. a difference to who we are and what You see, our world may not be heading in we have become — that is the lesson of the direction we want it to, or be the kind my brothers, their families, mother and of place we had envisioned it would be sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, wife when we were young, but I am convinced and children which is embodied in the we cannot give up in our quest to improve gratitude I am expressing for the Anthony the space we find ourselves in, for their N Sabga Award. sakes. Rather, then, we must pursue whatever we choose to do with passion, herever we are in our life journey is convinced that even as one person in one W ultimately an accumulation of the moment in time we can make a difference investment of others and the that is enduring and impactful — that is lessons learnt by experience. For me, the the lesson of my mother which is journey continues. embodied in the hundreds of physics majors I have been privileged to teach who have taken their place in society.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 77 THE ANSA MCAL FOUNDATION

Since inception the Foundation has been From 1991 to 2003 the Foundation received 1 per cent committed to addressing a broad range of social of profit of the ANSA McAL Group. By investing this needs. In recent times it has adopted a policy of endowment, the Foundation is now self-financing, concentrating on projects of national and regional and able to undertake in perpetuity the significant significance. The Foundation was created by a commitment of the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean merger of the ANSA Foundation, formed in 1986 to Awards for Excellence programme. assist charitable causes, and the McAL Foundation, formed with similar aims in 1981. The merger was Board of Directors effected on November 17, 1993. Mr A Norman Sabga, LLD (Hon) UWI (Chairman) Notable achievements include: Mrs Linda Sabga-Hadeed • Building the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Mr Nabeel A Hadeed Centre at UWI, St Augustine. Mrs Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, MDW, Hon LLD UWI • Vitas House Hospice, five-year endowment (2012- Mr Ravindra Nath Maharaj (Raviji) 2016). Rev Fr Ronald Mendes CSSp • Benefactor of the ANSA McAL wing of the Mr Victor Mouttet Diagnostic, Research, Education and Therapeutic Mrs Maria Superville-Neilson (Secretary) Centre for the Hearing Impaired (DRETCHI) for the Trinidad and Tobago Association for the Deaf. • Significant support for The Princess Elizabeth Home for Handicapped Children; SERVOL; the Jaya Lakshmi Children’s Home; Junior Achievement of Trinidad and Tobago; The Living Water Community Food Assistance Relief (FAR) Project; the Blood Bank; and Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society, and the Lady Hochoy Vocational Centre. • Founding member of the UWI Institute of Business.

78 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION PROFILE OF A NORMAN SABGA, LLD (HON) UWI

Mr A Norman Sabga is patron of the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence, Chairman of the ANSA McAL Foundation and the Executive Chairman of the ANSA McAL Group of Companies. As Chairman of the ANSA McAL Group, Mr Sabga is responsible for overseeing the health and economic performance of over 75 companies throughout the Caribbean and the United States. The Group’s portfolio includes construction, media, insurance and financial services, retail and distribution, chemicals, automotive, real estate, shipping, brewing, beverage and manufacturing. Mr Sabga is also responsible for the livelihood and wellbeing of close to 6,000 employees throughout the region. The companies which formed the McEnearney Alstons (McAL) Group were established in 1881. McAL was acquired in 1986 by the ANSA group, founded by Dr Anthony N Sabga in 1948, and the entity ANSA McAL was born. Mr A. Norman Sabga, the eldest son of Dr Anthony N Sabga, took control of the group as Managing Director in 1996, and was appointed Group Chairman when his father retired in 1999. Mr Sabga was educated in Trinidad, the UK, and the United States. However, his business education was hands-on, working in the family business. He started from lower management in Standard Distributors, and worked his way through the Group, managing various business units and companies. Mr Sabga is credited with transforming the ANSA McAL Group, delivering exceptional returns to investors. Under his unswerving leadership, the Group’s share price has increased more than 400 percent. For his contributions to business in the region, he was awarded the University of the West Indies Doctor of Laws Degree (Honoris Causa) in 2015. Mr A Norman Sabga takes from his father the firm belief in the pre-eminence of family in shaping and maintaining a stable society. He and his wife, Alma, are the proud parents of five children, four of whom work in the ANSA McAL Group.

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 79 PROFILE OF DR ANTHONY N SABGA, ORTT

The Founder of the ANSA Caribbean Awards for Excellence, fraternity. At the convocation in Guyana in 2017, Mr A Norman Dr Anthony N Sabga, ORTT, passed away on May 3, 2017, days Sabga, Dr Sabga’s eldest son and successor in his business, and before the Awards’ first ceremony to be held outside of Trinidad the new patron of these awards, promised they would continue. and Tobago. This is as Dr Anthony N Sabga would have wanted. Dr Sabga ended his life as one of the giants of Caribbean achievement and foresight. He was part of the last wave of Dr Sabga’s Awards and Achievements include: immigrants to arrive who make up the mosaic that is 21st • Posthumous Lifetime Achievement from the Trinidad and century Trinidad and Tobago. Tobago Manufacturers’ Association Hall of Fame, 2018 • Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce Award for Outstanding His business life began at the tender age of 12 after his father Achievement in Business and Contribution towards the took ill. From there, he founded his own agency business at the Growth and Development of Chaguanas, 2017 end of the First World War, and registered Standard Distributors • Keys to the City of Port of Spain, 2015 Ltd, the cornerstone of his empire, in 1948. • National Icon of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for Dr Sabga was involved in many businesses: printing, outstanding contribution to Trinidad and Tobago in the automotive distribution, household goods, food distribution, field of Entrepreneurship, 2013 construction and manufacturing. In retrospect his journey • Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 2011 might have seemed to some certain and inevitable. This was • The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and far from the case. He faced many more failures than he ever did Commerce Business Hall of Fame, 2008 successes, but when he succeeded, he did so extravagantly. • The American Foundation for the UWI for Outstanding It was after his retirement in the early 2000s that he turned Contribution to the Caribbean, 2004 his attention to a problem many people spoke of, but few knew • Prime Minister’s Award for Innovation and Invention, how to address — regional unity. He believed many stories of Lifetime Achievement Award, Manufacturing Sector, 2004 achievement and excellence existed in the region, but because • Trinidad &Tobago Icons of the Nation in the Category — of the nature of regional politics and society, they were not “Thinkers, Movers and Shapers,” 2002 being told. His answer to this, after consulting with many friends • The Ernst &Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year, 1998 and associates, was the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for • The Chaconia Medal, Gold, 1998 Excellence, launched in 2005, and its first laureates named in 2006. • The UWI Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, 1998 • Prime Minister’s Export Award, 1968 The Awards has since named a college of 39 laureates and provided a unique regional platform for cooperation, unity, and

80 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION Laureates of Previous Years

2006 Trinidadian Filmmaker, Robert Yao Ramesar; Trinidadian/Jamaican Poverty Activist, Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon; Jamaican Scientist, Prof Terrence Forrester

2008 Guyanese Novelist/Critic, David Dabydeen; Guyanese Environmentalist, Annette Arjoon-Martins; Jamaican Child Rights Activist, Claudette Richardson Pious; Barbadian Energy Entrepreneur, James Husbands

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 81 2010 St Lucian Poet, Adrian Augier; Grenadian Medical Researcher, Prof Kathleen Coard; Guyanese First Peoples Activist, Sydney Allicock

82 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 2011 Trinidadian Medical Researcher, Prof Surujpal Teelucksingh; Trinidadian Historian and Filmmaker, Dr Kim Johnson; Dominican Historian Dr Lennox Honychurch

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 83 2012 Vincentian Geneticist, Prof Leonard O’Garro; Trinidadian Literacy Activist, Paula Lucie-Smith; Guyanese Archaeologist, George Simon

84 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 2013 St Kitts Novelist, Caryl Phillips; Trinidadian Poverty Activist, Rhonda Maingot; Barbadian Medical Researcher, Prof Anselm Hennis; Trinidadian Entomologist, Prof Dave Chadee (deceased)

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 85 2014 Guyanese Children and Women’s Rights Activist, Karen de Souza; Vincentian Volcanologist, Dr Richard Robertson, Trinidadian Musician, Prof Liam Teague

2015 Trinidadian Computer Scientist, Prof Patrick Hosein; Vincentian Software Entrepreneur, Herbert Samuel; Guyanese Physicist, Prof Suresh Narine; Guyanese Poet and Playwright, Prof Paloma Mohamed Martin

86 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 2017 Grenadian Entrepreneur, Shadel Nyack Compton; Guyanese Sculptor, Winslow Craig; Guyanese Human Rights Lawyer, Dr Christopher Arif Bulkan; Trinidadian Conductor, Kwamé Ryan

THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION 87 2018 Andrew Boyle, Medical Entrepreneur from Guyana; Noel and Chevaughn Joseph, Founders of the Just Because Foundation in Trinidad and Tobago; Kei Miller, Novelist and Poet from Jamaica; Dr Adesh Ramsubhag, Microbiologist from Trinidad and Tobago.

88 THE LAUREATE 2019 EDITION

The LAUREATE 2019 Edition The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards of Excellence

The Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence is the first programme of its kind in the Caribbean. Four prizes are awarded annually for achievements in Arts & Letters, Entrepreneurship, Public & Civic Contributions and Science & Technology. The philosophy behind the Awards is that in order for the Caribbean to develop, in the sense of a civilization rather than an industrial centre, excellence in key fields of endeavour must be sought out, rewarded, and promoted for the benefit of all citizens. In this regard, the Awards are similar in intention to the Nobel Prizes. THE LAUREATE 2019 www.ansacaribbeanawards.com