Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
GREAT BAY, St. Martin – The awards season is not over yet, and St. Martin's longest, uninterrupted cultural awards – the Annual Culture Time (ACT) Awards – announced its winners for 2014 Sunday, March 15, 2015 during the radio magazine program, Culture Time.
According to hosts, Fabian Badejo and Rhoda Arrindell, "this year's winners are practically all new faces."
The dance award went to a young St. Martin dancer, Kyle Patrick, described by Broadway star, Nicole de Weever as "amazing" and by renowned dancer/choreographer and National Institute of Arts (NIA) co-director, Clara Reyes as "spectacular." It is the first time Patrick has been nominated for the ACT Awards.
Another first time nominee, actor Jesus Richardson took the Theatre/Film award, for his work in the hit South African play, Sizwe Banzi is Dead, directed by Felix Fleming, while the Red Eye Crew (R.E.C) won in the Music category. The band repeated as winners of the Video of the Year.
Art teacher, Henry Thomas, received the Fine Arts Award for his work in grooming a new generation of artists, while prolific "grassroots" poet, Raymond Helligar, won the Literature Award.
Helligar ("Big Ray") first erupted on the literature scene with his "dialect poems" published by House of Nehesi in the seminal anthology "Where I See the Sun – Contemporary Poetry from St. Martin," and has been a fixture since, with a growing popular following.
The prestigious Culture Time "Person of the Year" award went to radio personality, and cultural activist Jacques Hamlet ("Billie D"), while the "Lifetime Achievement Award" was bestowed post-humously to Madam Mingau, founder/director of Grain d'Or, a well-established folkloric dance group.
Other winners include the Marcus Garvey Grassroots School, which won in two categories – Cultural Organization of the Year and Youth Organization of the Year. It is the only other group, besides REC, to win in two categories.
The ACT Award for DJ of the Year went to DJ Ricky, with Control Band being adjudged "Band of the Year." The St. Martin Song of the Year was "My Baby Yolo" by Oswald, with the "Foreign Song of the Year" going to Mr. Killer for his "Rolly Polly" which many consider the unofficial Road March for Carnival 2014.
The Fashion award this year went to Zillah Duzon Hazel, while the Chef of the Year was won by Maranatha Leconte. Patron of the Year went to GEBE.
The prestigious, non-monetary, non-material awards now in its 18th consecutive year, recognizes cultural workers in various fields for their excellence, consistency, and impact throughout the year.
"We're keeping a close watch on all those engaged in the cultural life of the island year-round," said Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, who added that "although we do not give statuettes or cash prizes, it is our own way of saying, 'well-done, keep up the good works' to the winners and nominees as well."
Photo captions; 1. Above; Kyle Patrick – ACT Dance Award Winner - with Mallika Bauman (Photo by Lovis Ostenrik). 2. Maranatha Leconte – ACT Chef of the Year (Photo: Facebook). 3. Raymond ("Big Ray") Helligar – ACT Literature Award Winner. 4. Jacques Hamlet 9"Billy D") – ACT Person of the Year.
