Honorees

Angela Cropper

“I do not have a personal mission. But among all the purposes for which one might work, I feel that sustaining our planetary home and in ways that contribute to human dignity and equity among groups and peoples transcend everything else. It is for me a most noble mission. I do like to leave a place somewhat better off by virtue of my having been there…Every employment option I have chosen over my life since university has been seen as an opportunity to continue to change the world. In that work I do draw heavily on the work of academics, but I try to put it to use for the larger public interest.”

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Christopher Laird

“I am not alone in believing that in this society the fate of the truly innovative and committed artist is vagrancy of one sort or another, literally and/or figuratively. Our history makes us so brutal with those who don’t accept their station. I have seen too many of our heroes talking to themselves in the street to not take it as a caution and know that those who have escaped that fate have done so because someone SAW them, recognised them, loved them, usually a nurturing friend or family member and they were wise enough to accept that love as more important than their dreams. Recognition and appreciation too often happens here after death.”

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Robert Riley

“I think the real failure of the Caribbean is leadership in all its spheres. So those who have money are not doing what they’re supposed to do with it. Those who have privilege in learning and intellect are not using that for others and really devoting their lives to the better…there are people who do it but I don’t think it is enough.” “…I really do believe that there is no rank. I absolutely detest the idea of the total leader. I think it is passé and old and I think it is destroying the Caribbean. I think the modern leader is the one who has a vision, has something burning in their soul that is about bettering their society, not bettering themselves.”

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