Eight individuals and two businesses have been awarded for their outstanding contribution in various industries, at an inaugural Economic Revival Summit Awards Ceremony.
The awards ceremony, spearheaded by the United Workers Party and Electoral Reform Coalition, was held on Thursday evening at the Jungle Bay Resort and Spa.
The awardees are Ordel Hamilton, Founder of the Extasy Band (Culture); Thea Lafond-Gadson (Sports); Davidson Anthony Edwards, Founder of ShopDM (Knowledge Industry); Terri Henri, CEO of Bee Natural (Agro-Processing); Daniel Perryman, Operator of Dive Dominica (Blue Industry); Dennison “Dice” Joseph, Calypso Monarch (Entertainment/Music); Emad Zarkha, CEO of Bloom Box (Agriculture); Ti Kwen Glo Cho (Tourism); Pickaat Innovations Ltd (Renewal Energy) and Phillip Nassief – recipient of a post-humous Lifetime Achievement Award.
President of the UWP, Lennox Linton presented a pre-recorded tribute to Mr. Nassief about his contribution to Dominica’s economy. His daughter, Mrs. Maroussia Reid received his award.
“He was a man of incredible humbleness, unsurpassed integrity and boundless philanthropy. He was a visionary and a leader. May we all follow in his footsteps and lead by his example,” she expressed.
Olympian Thea Lafond-Gadson expressed gratitude from Stockholm, Sweden.
“It is no surprise that sports has the ability to motivate, inspire and to revive not only the human soul, but our community and I take great honour in being nominated and receiving this award virtually. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart,” she said.
Leader of the UWP, Dr. Thomson Fontaine used the opportunity to invite Dominicans-based overseas to network with residing Dominicans.
“It’s important for us in the Diaspora to build partnerships with us here in Dominica. I am not simply talking about the barrel economy to sending support to your families. I think it’s time that can provide resources to help build factories, to source capital, to put our people to work. I think it’s time we move to that level… I know there are countless Dominicans that if we come together maybe in groups of five or ten, we pull our resources together, we can do a lot of things in Dominica… it’s time we begin to put that focus because our people here in Dominica they are in fact hurting. We have been going through some very difficult times here in Dominica,” Dr. Fontaine stated.
Some 100 people attended the awards ceremony. Guest performers included Lady of Song, Ophelia Marie, Calypsonian, Daryl Bobb and Comedian Franklyn Moses.
The awards ceremony was a precursor to the two-day Dominica Economic Revival Summit from June 5-6, 2024.
