Positive message for youth as Sabga Caribbean Awards is hosted in Barbados

Barbados’ first hosting of the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence, and the announcement of social activist Corey Lane as a 2019 Laureate in Public & Civic Contributions, is a timely reminder to Barbadian youth of their potential for positive contribution to Country and Caribbean.

Programme Director, Maria Superville-Neilson said the Awards upcoming on March 30 would send a strong message to Barbadian youth, with Lane being the third Barbadian Laureate and the youngest in the history of the programme.

“Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence will make history on March 30, when this notable Caribbean event is hosted on Barbadian soil for the first time in its 13 year history. Barbadian, Mr Corey Lane will add to that history by becoming the youngest ever Sabga Awards Laureate. This is very timely for this Awards Programme and for Barbados as the Country focuses on motivating the next generation of Barbadian youth to strive for excellence and success, and to make positive contributions to their Nation and the region as a whole,” Superville-Neilson said.

The Programme Director said following its successful staging in Jamaica, last year, she looked forward to the event also making a very positive impression on Barbadians. She said while this would be the first hosting in this Island, Barbados had a shared history with the Awards programme, through the investment of founder and namesake, the late Dr Anthony Norman Sagba.

“What many Barbadians may not know, is that Dr Sabga during his stellar career as a leading Caribbean entrepreneur, invested significantly in Barbados from around the late 1950s.  The Norman Centre in Bridgetown is named after Dr Sagba’s eldest son and current chairman of the Ansa McAL Group, Mr A Norman Sabga.  His heart for the youth of Barbados was apparent from very early, when in the 1960s the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic was the recipient of a printing press donated by Dr Sabga.”

Previous Sagba Award Laureates from Barbados include solar energy pioneer and entrepreneur, Dr James Husbands of Solar Dynamics, who was awarded in 2008 for his contribution to Science & Technology, and Medical Research Scientist, Professor Anselm Hennis, awarded in 2013 also for science and technology.

The goal of the ANSA Caribbean Awards for Excellence is to recognize significant Caribbean achievement, to encourage and to support the pursuit of excellence by Caribbean persons, for the benefit of the region. Administered by the ANSA McAl Foundation, the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence are made in four areas: Arts & Letters, Science & Technology, Public & Civic Contributions and Entrepreneurship. Each Laureate receives a Gold Medal and Citation, and TT$500,000 to support their work and professional development. (PR)