RC priest among Sabga laureates

The others were Professor Terrence Forrester for science and technology and Robert Yao Ramesar for Arts and Letters. Sir Ellis Clarke, Chairman of the Regional Eminent Persons Selection Panel for the awards, made the announcement at Tatil, Maraval Road, Port-of-Spain.

Born in 1952 in Trinidad, Fr Gregory has lived in Jamaica since the mid-70s, and is still based there. In 1978, as a young academic, Fr Gregory lectured in geography at University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica.

While there, he began a ministry in a low income community situated at the gates of the university hospital. Among the needs he identified was a care centre for children with disabilities. Through volunteer efforts and donations, he built a wooden building this was the beginning of the Mustard Seed Community.

Through his passion, vision and unrelenting dedication, the Mustard Seed Community has grown. He has also helped establish similar facilities in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua and Africa continent. Fr Gregory lives by his philosophy that “faith can move mountains.”

Forrester’s contribution included the use of science to create technology to address practical human and community needs. After an initial degree in physiology, Forrester qualified in medicine. He holds a Fellowship in the Royal College of Physicians of London and Edinburgh. He too is based in Jamaica.

Ramesar is an award-winning Caribbean film-maker. He was born in 1963 in Tamale, Ghana, of Afro-Jamaican and Indo-Trinidadian parents. He has created approximately 120 films, mostly short experimental documentaries, many on the spiritual and cultural life of people in the Caribbean.

Ramesar BA, MBA (film directing), has received numerous indigenous and international awards for his work. The 43-year-old is based in Trinidad. Each laureate will receive a gold medal, $500,000 to support their development and a citation to recognise and commend their achievements. The laureates will be honoured at a gala ceremony on October 7, at the Hilton Trinidad.

Sir Ellis congratulated the Ansa McAl Foundation and stated that there is a tremendous amount of hidden talent all over the region and it was no easy task to come up with the final three.