Bajans sweep prestigious excellence awards

n an unprecedented achievement, Barbados dominated the Anthony N Sabga Awards for Caribbean Excellence held over the weekend, with three out of the five laureates hailing from or affiliated with the island.

Composer and musicologist Dr Stefan Walcott won the arts and letters award and disability advocate The Most Honourable Kerryann Ifill was named public and civic laureate while Canada-born Barbadian paediatric neurologist Dr Morris Scantlebury won the science and technology award.

The other laureates were marine biologist Dr Diva Amon from Trinidad and Tobago, and customer experience provider Johann Yoni’Epstein. The award ceremony took place at the Hilton Barbados.

Ifill, a former president of the Senate and disability rights advocate, said: “People with disabilities had a rightful place in society, adding that having a disability did not equate to a limited horizon.”

Dr Scantlebury expressed his gratitude: “This is a special moment for me, pointing out that his deceased father would have been really proud of this accomplishment.” He dedicated the award to his late father.

Musical creative Walcott said: “My work was a labour of love and passion, and I made numerous sacrifices to earn the level of success I enjoy today.”

The laureates thanked the ANSA McAL Foundation for the recognition. In addition to the awards, they each received $370 000.

Named for the founder of the Ansa Group, the Anthony N Sabga Awards for Caribbean Excellence is administered by the ANSA McAL Foundation, ANSA McAL’s philanthropic arm. It is primarily funded by the group and its investments. Launched in 2005, with its first laureates named in 2006, the awards have since honoured a distinguished coterie of more than 50 laureates whose work uplifts their communities.