(Trinidad Guardian) T&T marine biologist, Dr Diva Amon has praised the Ansa McAl Foundation for providing unrestrained funding to laureates selected for the Anthony N Sabga Awards.
Dr Amon, the sole T&T national chosen for the prestigious honour this year, is the laureate for Science and Technology. She jointly holds the title with paediatric neurologist Dr Morris Scantlebury of Barbados.
The 36-year-old was recognised for her commitment to improving the conservation of the region’s global marine environments through marine science, policy, and communication.
Dr Amon said the funds will help laureates who are forging unconventional paths to create change and find solutions to growing challenges. She said her allocation will be especially beneficial to the ocean.
“There’s much work to be done but there’s also a lot to be hopeful about. Tides are changing and this award will help to make the light that we shine on the deep ocean so much brighter and it will be used to especially uplift many, like my students at UWI, to answer critical questions and co-create ocean action that considers all so that we can ensure the deep ocean and its incredibly fragile and important ecosystems stay around so many more Caribbean people get the chance to experience them in the future,” she said.
For the first time in its history, the awards inducted three of its five laureates from the same territory, which is why the event was held in Barbados. The other two laureates were from Jamaica and T&T.
The ceremony took place at the Hilton Barbados Resort on Saturday night. Apart from Science and Technology, Caribbean excellence was also celebrated in Arts and Letters, Entrepreneurship AND Public and Civic Contributions. Each category received a $500,000 cheque which Dr Amon split with her co-awardee.
Chairman of the Ansa Mcal Foundation Andrew N Sabga noted that after years of stability, two members of the eminent person’s panel HAD retired. They are Jamaicans Professor Sir Kenneth Hall and Christopher Bovell. Three new members have now joined the selection panel -Jamaican Central Bank Governor Richard Byles; Ambassador Dr June Soomer of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States; and Professor of Perinatal and Paediatric Medicine at UWI Mona, Professor Minerva Thame.
The Anthony N. Sabga Awards are administered by the Ansa Mcal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Ansa McAl Group. To date, 62 Caribbean nationals have been recognised with more than $30 million in funding distributed.
The four other 2024 Laureates awarded last night were:
Musician and composer Dr Stefan Walcott of Barbados (Arts & Letters)
Customer experience provider Johann Epstein of Jamaica (Entrepreneurship)
Disability rights advocate and educator Ms Kerryann Ifill of Barbados (Public & Civic Contributions)
Pediatric neurologist Dr Morris Scantlebury of Barbados (Science & Technology – Joint)
