-says region’s heroes must be recognised, supported, and celebrated
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips underscored the importance of recognising and celebrating the mastery emanating from the Caribbean, as Guyana once again hosted the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence.
Delivering the keynote address at last evening’s ceremony at the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown, the Prime Minister lauded the depth of the occasion and the strength, resilience, and collective potential of Caribbean people.
The ceremony, he added, stands as one of the region’s most distinguished celebrations of achievement and serves as an important reminder that “the Caribbean is not defined by limitation, but by greatness.”
Reflecting on the question posed by beloved Guyanese musician, the late Dave Martins – “Where are your heroes, Caribbean?” – he answered: “The answer tonight is simple. They are right here. They are in this room. They are in our universities, our laboratories, our boardrooms, our clinics, our studios, our families, our farms, and our communities. They are walking among us, often quietly, often without fanfare, but always with impact.”
Prime Minister Phillips added that Caribbean excellence is not rare, but recurring, and pointed to the region’s history of survival, resilience, and endurance as part of the foundation for its success.
He said Caribbean people have emerged from some of the most difficult chapters in human history, including slavery, colonial domination, indentured servitude, plantation economies, natural disasters, and post‑independence struggles.
“We are, therefore, not accidental survivors. We are the descendants of resistance. We are the heirs of resilience. We are the embodiment of endurance. We are a people forged in struggle but not defined by it.”
The Prime Minister also reminded that education must remain a major factor in shaping the destiny of the Caribbean.
Learning, he explained, remains a path to liberation and a bridge to a better life. He further acknowledged the role of the wider community – including elders, religious leaders, neighbours, and relatives – in guiding and shaping future generations.
Prime Minister Phillips added that the Caribbean’s size should not be viewed as a limitation, but as a defining strength that has fostered adaptability, resourcefulness, and innovation across the region.
“Because we are small, we are adaptable. Because we are small, we are resourceful. Because we are small, we learn to innovate where others rely on scale.”
He also identified entrepreneurship as one of the region’s strongest assets, noting that Caribbean people have long demonstrated the ability to create, build, and provide for themselves through small businesses, farming, market vending, and other forms of enterprise.
The Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards, the Prime Minister added, matter deeply because it does more than honour individuals. He said the awards tell a regional story of the excellence that exists in the Caribbean.
“It reminds us that we are not a people who have been left behind. We are a people who are contributing, building, and leading.”
Prime Minister Phillips urged the region to go beyond celebration by continuing to support, invest in, and believe in its heroes and heroines, while noting that greatness often develops over time and may not always be immediately seen.
“We must understand that within the DNA of our Caribbean region lies a blueprint for excellence. It is encoded in our history. It is expressed in our culture. It is visible in our achievements. And it is waiting to be fully unleashed in future generations.”
During his congratulatory message to the distinguished awardees, Prime Minister Phillips stated that the ceremony serves as a reminder that Caribbean greatness is not a distant aspiration, but a present reality.
