SUNSHINE Awards Organization Announces More 2016 Nominees Professor Ken Julien & Sir Garfield Sobers Included
The SUNSHINE Awards Organization today announced in New Jersey the nominees for the 2016 SUNSHINE Award which will be presented at the 28th Annual SUNSHINE Awards in New York City. The black tie event is scheduled for Saturday October 15, at the AXA Equitable Center 787 Seventh Avenue at 51st Street in New York City.
The SUNSHINE Awards was founded 28 years ago to recognize excellence in the performing arts, education, humanity, science, and sports of the various Caribbean countries. Over the years, the program has expanded in depth and breadth with a global view including countries from Africa, South America, Central America, Europe and India.
Dr. Hollis Chalkdust” Liverpool, Co-founder of the SUNSHINE Awards Hall of Fame and Chairman of the Nomination and Network Committee said, “What an array of bright minds and thoughtful souls for this year’s SUNSHINE Awards event. Our institution and all the nominees are to be commended for making this world a better place, given the many atrocities we face daily.”
The nominees for this year’s SUNSHINE Awards includes:
Father Richard Ho Lung – Jamaica
Father Ho Lung will receive the 2016 Nelson Mandela Human Rights Achievement SUNSHINE Award for his contribution and unselfish commitment to humanity. This will be the inaugural presentation of this Award.
Professor Ken Julien – Trinidad & Tobago
Professor Julien will receive the 2016 Dom Basil Matthews SUNSHINE Award for his contribution to education, human and national development.
Canute Spencer – Trinidad & Tobago
Mr. Spencer will receive the 2016 Friend of the Arts SUNSHINE Awards for his contribution to the performing arts.
Earl Crosby – Trinidad & Tobago (posthumously)
Mr. Crosby will receive the 2016 Friend of the Arts SUNSHINE Awards for his contribution to the performing arts.
Eddy Bourjolly – Haiti
The world renowned jazz guitarist will receive the 2016 SUNSHINE Award for his over 40 years of contribution to the performing arts – creole music and jazz.
Jacouba Sissoko – Mali, Africa
A world renowned kora player/musician, will receive the 2016 SUNSHINE Award for his contribution to African Music.
Pascual & Gema Nieto-Forteza – Spain
A Spanish clarinetist (Pascual) and pianist (Gema) will receive the 2016 SUNSHINE Awards for their contribution to the performing arts and in particular Latin music. In 2001, Pascual became the first Spanish musician to become a member of the New York Philharmonic orchestra. Gema is a music consultant, a music promoter and artist manager. In 2003 she began performing with Pascual and made their New York debut, at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. Ms. Nieto-Forteza has also played in chamber groups with other Philharmonic musicians.
Kirani James – Grenada
He will receive the 2016 SUNSHINE Award for his contribution to sports. He is a sprinter who specializes in the 200 and 400 meters. He won the 400 meters at the World Championships in 2011 and the 2012 London Olympics. He was Grenada’s first Olympic medalist in any sport. He was also a silver medalist at the recently concluded Rio Olympics.
Caldwell Taylor – Grenada
Mr. Taylor will receive the 2016 SUNSHINE Award for his contribution to education and research. A teacher, trade unionist, diplomat, an historian, journalist, lecturer, and cultural commentator. He is consumed in the study of Calypso and Carnival, two ways he described as seeing the world from street-level.
Sir Garfield Sobers – Barbados
Sir Garfield will receive the 2016 SUNSHINE Award for his contribution to sports. His first class cricket debut was at the age of 16 and he played for the West Indies between 1954 and 1974 and is regarded as the greatest all-rounder in the game of cricket.
Lance Gibbs – Guyana
Mr. Gibbs will receive the 2016 SUNSHINE Award for his contribution to sports. He is a former West Indies cricketer and is regarded as one of the most successful spin bowlers in Test cricket history. He made his first-class debut at the age of 19.
David Cuffy – Trinidad & Tobago
Mr. Cuffy will receive the 2016 SUNSHINE Award for his contribution to journalism. He spent more than 40 years working as a journalist. Along the way, he reported on politics, labor and entertainment. For the past 20-plus years he has been working exclusively in the arts and entertainment sector, writing on all aspects of the nation’s cultural diversity
Samir Chatterjee – India
Mr. Chatterjee is a virtuoso Tabla player from India. He travels widely across the world throughout the year performing in numerous festivals as a soloist or with other outstanding musicians from both Indian and non-Indian musical traditions. He is also the founder of Chhandayan, is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Indian music, dance and culture
Gil Figaro, Sr, Chairman and Founder of the SUNSHINE Awards said, “We are privileged to be able to recognize the accomplishments of these stalwarts’ and their contributions to our lives. Generations to come will embrace their legacy to accomplish their own goals and objectives. We must remember, without them life would be without excitement and purpose. They have enabled us to engage in dialog and debates and sometimes shape a point of view. My congratulations to them all.”
The 28th Annual SUNSHINE Awards Program is sponsored in part by United Airlines, “the preferred airline of the SUNSHINE Awards Program,” Alizé, National Staffing Associates, All Star Motors and Essex County Towing, and Trini Breakfast Shed. Tickets can be obtained on the SUNSHINE Awards website at www.sunshineawards.com or by calling 201-836-0799. The SUNSHINE Awards Program is hosted by the Caribbean’s funnies comedians, Errol Fabien and Nikki Crosby.
