awards

Republic Bank makes annual awards to high achievers

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world”, was the quote of encouragement from the University of Guyana’s Vice-Chancellor, Ivelaw Griffith to the best performers at national examinations in the country, at Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited’s Power to Make A Difference Academic Achievement Awards last Wednesday.

The awardees were best performer at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), Saskia Twahir; best performer at CSEC, Michael Bhopaul; best performer at CAPE, Shannon Woodroffe; best graduating students from the University of Guyana with a Bachelor’s Degree in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Elsie Harry and Diploma in Banking and Finance, Shania Annirood.

Among those in attendance at the ceremony at the Head Office on New Market Street were the Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry and Superintendent of Examinations of the Ministry of Education, Saudia Kadir.

In his address, Richard Sammy, the Managing Director of Republic Bank (Guyana) stated that the organization continues its tradition of supporting and rewarding excellence in education through its annual partnership with the Ministry of Education and the University of Guyana. The Bank’s social investment programme `Power To Make A Difference’ is an initiative to serve, honour, encourage and empower Guyana’s youth towards a life and future of excellence, he said. He further stated that the bank tracks the progress of the awardees and made special mention of this year’s CSEC Awardee, Michael Bhopaul who, five years ago received the award for his performance at the NGSA.

Griffith shared with the awardees a quote from the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” Griffith then said “Nothing you have achieved so far you have done by yourself, as you celebrate your achievements, remember who your giants were because you have been standing on the shoulders of giants. Some of those giants may be parents, who never had a chance to go where you have gone like Queen’s College or the University of Guyana. Some of those giants may be your grandmother, grandfather, teachers, counselors, priests, pastors, pandits.”

Article adapted from: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2018/news/stories/03/07/republic-bank-makes-annual-awards-to-high-achievers/

CONGRATULATIONS! UG staff members to receive national awards

CONGRATULATIONS!

CACIQUE’S CROWN OF HONOUR

Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith – Vice-Chancellor

GOLDEN ARROW OF ACHIEVEMENT 

1) Winslow Marcellous Craig - Lecturer

2) Gwyneth George- Librarian

3) Raymond Mark Kirton – Former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences

4) Tota Charran Mangar - Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor

5) Barbara Patricia Thomas-Holder - Lecturer

6) Patrick Everton Williams - Lecturer

THIRTY-ONE women from various fields are among those who will be conferred with national awards by President David Granger for their outstanding service and sterling contributions to national development.

The announcement was made hours before Guyana celebrated its 51st Independence anniversary.

According to a Ministry of the Presidency release, leading the list of 69 awardees is acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Madame Yonette Decina Cummings-Edwards, who has been recognised with the Order of Roraima.

Madame Justice Edwards, who boasts an illustrious legal career that commenced in 1988, was sworn in to her current post on March 28, 2017.

She served as a judge on the Court of Appeal of Guyana for several years and is now the second woman to be appointed to the position of acting Chancellor of the Judiciary.

Acting Chief Justice, Madame Alison Roxane Mc Lean George, who was admitted to the Bar in October 1990, for service as a Senior State Counsel, Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Deputy Director of Public Prosecution and Director of Public Prosecution, has been named among the recipients for the Cacique’s Crown of Honour, along with Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin La Rocque.

Environmental activist and pilot, Annette Arjoon-Martin, who has been a driving force in marine conservation and mangrove replanting projects, has been named as a recipient of the Golden Arrow of Achievement alongside Secretary General of the Guyana Red Cross Society, Dorothy Fraser;  Chief Librarian of the University of Guyana, Gwyneth George; veteran journalist Julia Ann Johnson; General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) Coretta McDonald; veterinarian, Dr. Karen Pilgrim and veteran educator Gem Ann Rohlehr, among others.

Meanwhile, veteran journalists Enrico Woolford and Adam Harris, artist and sculptor Winslow Marcellous Craig, Human Resources Management and Organisational Development Specialist Sandra Jones are all among the recipients for the Arrow of Achievement.

Among the Medal of Service recipients are businessman Patrick Nigel de Groot, Camille Patricia Carrington and George Barclay, a Guyana Chronicle journalist with more than 50 years of service in the media.

President David Granger has said that the conferring of national awards is recognised as a mechanism, provided under the Constitution of Guyana to give due national recognition to outstanding citizens. The regular conferral of national awards is a commitment made by President Granger.

Under the current administration, 51 Guyanese women have already been conferred with national awards. In 2015, 19 women from a total of 53 received national awards.

The Order of Roraima was received by one person; three received the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH); seven received the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA); five received the Medal of Service (MS) and three received the Disciplined Service Medal (DSM).

In October 2016, a total of 32 women received awards; four received the CCH, 14 the AA, 12 the MS and two received the DSM.

A total of 86 individuals were conferred with awards. Additionally, 12 groups were conferred with the MS insignia on the occasion of Guyana’s 46th Republic Anniversary in February, earlier in 2016.

The President and members of the Advisory Council for the Orders of Guyana offer sincere congratulations to all the persons who have been honoured.

Order of Roraima
1 Yonettte Decina Cummings-Edwards

Cacique’s Crown of Honour
1 Alison Roxane Mc Lean George
2 Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith
3 Moeenul Hack
4 Irwin La Rocque
5 Murtland Raphael Massiah

Golden Arrow of Achievement
1 Ramsay Ali
2 Annette Arjoon
3 Lloyd Fitzgerald Austin
4 Everette Lancelot Carberry
5 Rhoda Amelia Stephne Clarke
6 Winslow Marcellous Craig
7 Jose Louis Da Silva
8 Jennifer Dewar
9 Dorothy Fraser
10 Gloria Regina Fraser
11 Ameena Gafoor
12 Samuel Jaidatt Goolsarran
13 Gwyneth George
14 Adam Elias Harris
15 Hilton Gregory Hemerding
16 Sandra Hooper
17 Julia Ann Johnson
18 Sandra Valerie Jones
19 Raymond Mark Kirton
20 Hemraj Kissoon
21 Doris Ann Lewis
22 Tota Charran Mangar
23 Hyacinth Gloria Massay-Thomas
24 Julie Andrea Matthews
25 Coretta McDonald
26 George Gladstone McDonald
27 Ann Elizabeth McLennan
28 Marie June Mendes
29 Abena Nkenge Moore
30 Cecil Norman Murray
31 Vibert Virnen Parvatan
32 Jawahar Persaud
33 Karen Pilgrim
34 Andrew Godfrey Proctor
35 Khakan Ally Ramjohn
36 Gem Ann Rohlehr
37 Sonya Indira Roopnauth
38 Pradeep Parmanand Samtani
39 Godfrey Steve Statia
40 Barbara Patricia Thomas-Holder
41 Desmond Trotman
42 Patrick Everton Williams
43 Enrico Mortimer Woolford
44 John Carlson Yates

Medal of Service
1 Sandra Michelle Adams
2 John Andries
3 George Rupert Barclay
4 Erma Hyacinth Bovell
5 Camille Patricia Carrington
6 Patrick Nigel de Groot
7 Denise Dias
8 Merlene Ellis
9 Joan Anges Fredericks
10 Heeralall Makhanlall
11 Jenevieve Jenny Murray
12 Julio Perreira
13 Ryan Perreira
14 Emelda Sandy

Military Service Medal
1 Lt Col Lawrence Anthony Fraser
2 Lt Col Ramkarran Doodnauth

Disciplined Services Medal
1 Assistant Commissioner of Police Nigel Anthony Hoppie
2 Acting Director of Prisons Gladwin Andrea Samuels
3 Deputy Chief Fire Officer Winston Michael McGregor

Article adapted from: http://guyanachronicle.com/2017/05/25/31-women-to-receive-national-awards

Excellence Is Both Art And Attitude: Mr Winslow Craig

The University of Guyana (UG) extends sincere congratulations to Mr. Winslow Craig, Master Sculptor and Lecturer in our Faculty of Education and Humanities, whose superb craftsmanship, creativity, and pursuit of excellence have been rewarded with him being named a 2017 Sabga Laureate for Arts and Letters.

We also applaud the other 2017 Laureates—Ms. Shadek Nyack Compton from Grenada (Entrepreneurship), Mr. Kwame Ryan from Trinidad and Tobago (Arts and Letters) and Dr. Christopher Arif Bulkan from Guyana (Public and Civic Contributions). We note with pride that Dr. Bulkan is a former UG lecturer who validates the importance of the Guyanese Diaspora, soon to be engaged at our historic Diaspora Conference in July.

The University of Guyana extends sincere gratitude to the Sabga Foundation, Dr. Norman Sabga and the family of Dr. Anthony Sabga, O.B.E, the national selection committees and the panel of Eminent Regional Persons for their generosity, erudition and diligence in seeking and supporting the pursuit and practice of Excellence in the Caribbean.

We embrace the values of Excellence, Integrity, and Service that the Laureates demonstrate and we pledge to pursue and practice these values across the university, including in the newest entity, the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation— SEBI. 

Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith
Tenth Vice Chancellor and Principal
The University of Guyana 

Click here to download the PDF file.

Caribbean’s rich talent rewarded

A CALL was made on Saturday evening for the Caribbean’s rich talent and expertise across various sectors to be cherished and promoted, when the 2017 laureates of the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence were recognised for their outstanding contribution to the Region.

The laureates this year — the ninth instalment — are Guyanese sculptor Winslow Craig, who was awarded in the Arts and Letters category; Trinidadian musical composer, Kwame Ryan (Arts and Letters); Grenadian entrepreneur, Shadel Nyack Compton (Entrepreneurship); and Guyanese lawyer and regional educator, Dr Christopher Arif Bulkan, whose award fell into the Public and Civic Contributions category.

They were awarded at a lavish ceremony at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown. Chairman of the Regional Eminent Persons Panel, Sir Shridath Ramphal and Norman Sabga, son of the late Anthony N Sabga, presented the awards to the laureates. The former patron passed away recently after a period of illness. Speaking to an audience which included President David Granger, Ministers of Government and members of the diplomatic corps, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock, a 2010 laureate, told the gathering that he has benefitted immensely from the countless opportunities which came his way. He said he looked for solutions to many issues, by using the guidance he has achieved from his parents.

Allicock said the award caused him to be able to meet on many occasions with persons who possess the willingness to provide support to ideas, to create opportunities, including job opportunities. According to the Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister, the award provided him an opportunity for exposure here and overseas “in a way that gave me the encouragement to keep working towards the identity of our indigenous people, our Guyanese nation and even to join hands with our Caribbean brothers and sisters.” He said the rich talents in the Region should be preserved and promoted. Like many others who spoke, Allicock paid tribute to the late Anthony Sabga, noting that the businessman made it possible for him to achieve much of his accomplishments, personally and professionally.

Sir Shridath, who spoke of the awards, noted that they serves the entire Region. The awards have recognised some of the outstanding talents in the Region. “If in any year we fail to identify in any category, the fault is within the system of detection,” Sir Shridath said, noting that the panel will continue to search for those who exemplify the characteristics for being awarded. He also paid tribute to the late Sabga. This year’s ceremony was the first to be held outside of Trinidad and Tobago, the base of the ANSA McAl group. The awards were initiated in 2005 in the twin island republic, and to date, 31 exceptional individuals have been recognised by the award panel. According to the organiser, one of the main reasons for the event being hosted in Georgetown lies in the recognition that nine Guyanese have been the recipients of the awards. In addition, it was noted that another reason for the hosting lies in the regional group having significant business interests in the Land of Many Waters.

Article Adapted from: http://guyanachronicle.com/2017/05/15/caribbeans-rich-talent-rewarded

Two Guyanese among Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awardees for Excellence 2017

Two Guyanese, one Grenadian and one national of Trinidad and Tobago Saturday night copped the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence 2017 that was held in Georgetown, the Guyanese capital.

The laureates are Mr. Winslow Craig (Arts and Letters) -Guyana ; Kwame Ryan (Arts and Letters)- Trinidad and Tobago; Shadek Nyack Compton (Entrepreneurship)- Grenada and Christopher Arif Bulkan (Public and Civic Contributions)- Guyana.

Craig is a Guyanese sculptor whose natural talent manifested at an early age and blossomed with formal training at the ER Burrowes School of Art in Georgetown. He currently lectures in Art at the University of Guyana and his work can be found in collections locally and internationally.

Kwame Ryan, who is Canadian-born to Trinidad and Tobago parentage, is a conductor and music educator whose career has spanned the globe and has seen him practise his vocation with some of the leading orchestras and opera houses in Europe, Africa, Australia, North America, South Korea and the Caribbean.

Ms. Compton is an entrepreneur who has managed to merge history, commerce, agriculture, tourism and environmental and community responsibility into a single viable enterprise that the Belmont Estate in Grenada. The estate, which was a traditional agricultural plantation during the eras of slavery and colonialism, and which had fallen into ruin, was revived by Ms Nyack Comption as a successful tourist attraction, producer of organic agricultural products and a source of material and intangible enrichment to the community.

Dr. Bulkan is a Guyanese lawyer and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. As an academic and legal practitioner, he has been at the forefront of promoting indigenous rights, environmental rights and human rights regionally through legal interventions, training and advocacy.

You can listen to a podcast of the event here:

Under the chairmanship of broadcaster, Margaret Lawrence; the night’s proceedings began with prayers by Ansa McAl Foundation Director, Victor Mouttet. The welcome address was delivered by Chairman of the Regional Eminent Persons Panel, Sir Shridath Ramphal; and the address was by Laureate, Sydney Allicock who is Guyana’s Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Affairs.

Before the presentation to each of the four laureates, there were short videos featuring each of them. The presentations were done by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Ansa McAl Group of Companies, Dr. A. Norman Sabga and Sir Shridath Ramphal.

Dr. Norman Sabga then paid tribute to the founder of Ansa McAl, Anthony N. Sabga, who passed away earlier this month.

Closing remarks were delivered by Mrs. Maria Superville-Neilson who is the Secretary of the Ansa McAl Foundation and Programme Director of the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence.

Article adapted from: http://demerarawaves.com/2017/05/14/two-guyanese-among-anthony-n-sabga-caribbean-awardees-for-excellence-2017/