From left: Avon Carty Director of Youth & Culture; Chanelle Petty Barrett accepting an award for her father Colville Petty; Patricia J. Adams; Corinne “Sproka” Richardson; Farah Mukhida; Joleyne Robin-Williams accepting an award for Ijahnya Christian (posthumously); and Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers Minster of Social Development & Education.
ANGUILLA--Five distinguished persons were recognised with the National Culture and Arts Awards, also known as the Rock Awards, at the CuisinArt Resort’s Santorini clubhouse on Saturday, December 19. In its fifth year, the annual awards recognises and honours persons who have dedicated their lives and careers to the development, promotion and preservation of Anguillian culture and arts.
The Cultural & Arts Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest accolade of these awards and was awarded to Ijahnya Christian, posthumously. It recognises a widely known Anguillian whose contributions and achievements throughout the island exceed fifteen years. A teacher and high school counsellor, Christian also served as Executive Director for the Anguilla National Trust. She contributed weekly articles to The Anguillian newspaper, worked with the Department of Youth and Culture and established a Pan-African study centre demonstrating her love for history, society and culture. She worked closely with the Caribbean Pan-African network, the Caribbean Rastafari organisation, the Ethiopian World Federation and many other regional and international organisations.
Corrine “Sproka” Richardson received two Rock Awards – one in the category of Participating in/Promoting Culture and Arts, and the other in the category of Developing and Leading Culture and Arts. Sproka is a gifted vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, saxophonist and trumpeter who began playing at the age of seven. A multi-talented musician who performs a multitude of musical genres, he performs both locally and throughout the Caribbean.
Patricia J. Adams received the Literary Arts Rock award. She began writing at the time she graduated from school, which coincided with the Anguilla Revolution. She went on to pursue a career in teaching where she continued to write children’s stories, plays, poetry and songs.
Colville Petty received the Rock award for Heritage, History and Museum initiatives. Having served over three decades as a public servant in the Government of Anguilla, he is known for his contributions to the preservation of Anguilla’s history and culture. He has combined his passion for Caribbean history and the power of his writing skills to record Anguilla’s history in numerous publications. His hobby – collecting historical items, is on display at the Anguilla Museum, a cultural icon visited by visitors and schoolchildren alike to gain better insight into the island’s history.
Farah Mukhida received the Rock Award for the Cultural Champion within an Organisation category. She joined the Anguilla National Trust in 2005 and has served as its Executive Director and lead researcher from 2008 to present. Working as a conservation leader in not only Anguilla but throughout the region, she has spearheaded world-class projects to protect endangered reptiles, birds and protected areas. She was instrumental in forming the Caribbean Conservation Network to share skills and coordinate projects and training within the United Kingdom Overseas Territories.
Following the award ceremony, family, friends and invited guests socialised and congratulated the honourees.
