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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING JUNE 19, 2014
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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Veteran broadcast journalist Julian Rogers has been appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Broadcasting in the Queen’s birthday honours list. News of the honour was released Monday. Barbados-born Rogers, who has more than 45 years’ experience working in television, radio and print across the region, said he had known of the honour for a few weeks, but the reality only hit Monday when people
from all over the world flooded his phone, email and Facebook pages with special salutes. He said he spent most of the day “savouring the congratulations from family, friends and professional colleagues”. Rogers was based in Trinidad and Tobago from 1993 to 1998, first as general manager of the now defunct Prime Radio 106, a subsidiary of Caribbean Communications Network (CCN), then as an anchor on TV6. He pioneered breakfast television in TT, launching the country’s first live morning television talk show, the Morning
Julian Rogers is currently based in Antigua and Barbuda (Photo courtesy: Julian Rogers)
Edition, with producer Natalie Williams. Rogers was also part of the original team appointed to rebrand Trinidad and
Caribbean’s creative sector to benefit from TT$10 million European boost
Tobago Television (TTT) into CNMG. However, in 1998 he found himself at the centre of a controversy when
then Prime Minister Basdeo Panday refused to renew his work permit. This led to widespread protests by many who felt the move was motivated by the fact that many guests on the Morning Edition had been critical of the government. Rogers moved on to another job outside TT, hosting the very successful Talking Caribbean (1998–2000), a television talk show featuring hour-long interviews which was the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s first attempt at live interactive television. In recent years, Rogers has won accolades for his live broadcasts, in-
cluding his 2007 coverage of general elections in TT, the inaugural ceremony of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which took place in Trinidad in April 2005 and his commentary at the November 2010 state funeral of Barbadian Prime Minister David Thompson. Now based in based in Antigua and Barbuda, Rogers served there as a consultant in the setting up of Observer Radio and general manager of the Observer Media Group comprising two radio stations—Observer Radio and Hitz FM—as well as the Daily Observer newspaper. (TT Guardian)
Jamaican-born doctor on a mission to help homeland "We have a better impact when we are treating the same areas, getting to know their needs and are able to provide better care when we are going to specific areas rather than jumping around," Anderson-Worts explained.
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The support will advance the development of the region’s audiovisual arts and film industry (TT Guardian file photo)
ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: The creative industry in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region will receive a boost with the award of a grant of €1.3 million (more than TT$10 million) from the European Union (EU) to five organisations undertaking innovative projects in the audio-visual sector. Specifically, the support will advance the development of the audiovisual arts and the local film industry. The grants will be used for training, film development, broadcast and distribution and networking, a release from the Delegation of the EU to TT said. The beneficiaries of these awards include Maturity Music Ltd who is developing a documentary about Culture and Steelpan in TT, Caribbean Tales Worldwide Distribution Inc who is partnering with Banyan for a 3D project which will strengthen distribution channels for local films in the Caribbean. Other beneficiaries of the grant are the TT Film Festival Ltd whose funds will enhance the broadcasting and distribution of Caribbean films via the development of an online database of actors and the launch of a new film market. Visiting Arts (in conjunction with the Ministry of Arts and
Multiculturalism) will provide training and capacity building for operators in the film industry to develop marketing and distribution networks. Visual and Performing Arts (in partnership with the Arthur Lok Jack School) is receiving receive funds for training and education to improve the business and marketing skills of filmmakers and producers. On receiving the grant funding, Arts and Multiculturalism minister Dr Lincoln Douglas said, “For many years the EU has been a strong supporter of economic development in Trinidad and Tobago and the region. We welcome the EU’s continued support in the area of culture which will assist in the diversification of our economy and build capacity in our citizens.” Chargé d’Affaires of the Delegation of the European Union in TT, Daniela Tramacere was proud to state that, “The EU has developed a strong partnership with TT and confirms its support to the non-energy based services sector.” She further added, “We often admire the skill and talent from the region and we hope that this grant funding would take TT one step further to make its creative industry.” (TT Guardian)
Dr Paula Anderson-Worts is flanked by Lascelles Chin (right), founder and executive chairman of LASCO-affiliated companies, and Professor Sir Kenneth Hall as she is presented with a token of appreciation at a cocktail reception for the volunteer doctors on June 6 at the Jamaica Pegasus Gardens (Observer photo)
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I N G S T O N , JAMAICA: Although she left Jamaica some 46 years ago, Dr Paula Anderson-Worts is committed to giving back to her island home. The coordinator of the Jamaica Medical Mission, along with fellow Jamaican Don Daly, has since 2001 organised the United Statesbased mission which has provided free medical attention to more than 65,000 Jamaicans. Now the family medicine residency programme director at the Florida-based Nova Southeastern University, Anderson-Worts left Jamaica at age two but with her family originally being from Linstead, St Catherine, and Oracabessa, St Mary, she never forgot her roots. "I have very strong ties to my roots because my parents were very diligent in making
sure that we came back at least once a year," AndersonWorts told Jamaican media in an interview last Thursday. The coordinator envisioned participating in medical outreach since she was 16 years old. So when she was approached by a group of students for whom she was the faculty advisor about coming to Jamaica, "I said to them you don't have to twist my arm, I am Jamaican, so let's do it". The first trip was 14 years ago and since then, the team has been visiting Jamaica twice yearly. A mission that started with 55 health professionals has grown to more than 160 volunteers to date, several of whom are repeat volunteers and include doctors, dentists, optometrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists.
After studying Biology at the University of Miami she went on to complete her medical degree at the Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine before completing her residency at the Sun Coast Hospital in Largo, Florida. Anderson-Worts went back to school, this time to complete her Master's in Public Health at Nova Southeastern University and decided to concentrate on family medicine. Anderson-Worts said that starting the Jamaica Medical Mission was not easy but credited the institution for which she works for facilitating the mission. "I am fortunate to be at an institution that has a lot of health professionals, so I have many of the disciplines there at my fingertips," she stated. "But just taking over 100 people would be challenging because it takes a lot of co-ordination." Some of the locations the team visited include: Four Square, Cassia Park; Mandela Centre, Hagley Park Road; the Tower Street Correctional Facility; and the Maxfield Avenue Health Centre all in Kingston, as well as Flint River Clinic, and Marlborough in St Mary. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)