In a recent virtual meeting with the Guyanese community in New York, to discuss her upcoming visit, Rosalinda Rasul, head of the Diaspora Unit, Remigration of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said she was proud of the incredible achievements nationals are making around the world, and congratulated Trevor Phillips, who was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of England, in the 2022 honors, for services to equality and human rights.
The politician, who said she wants to give the diaspora a greater say in a lot of decision making, wants to also start an event program, to recognize members of the diaspora for their contributions.
“Some of the things people have done I am so amazed. I reached out to Trevor Phillips, who is a person of Guyanese descent, a broadcaster with SKY News, who was knighted by the Queen,” said Rasul.
Phillips who was shortlisted for comment writer of the year at the British Journalism Awards in 2020 and was also asked to provide expert support on a review into the impact of coronavirus on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, the same year, received the honor from her Royal Highness.
According to Metro News, Phillips, a broadcaster and former politician, currently anchors Sky News’ Sunday morning news program, taking over from Sophy Ridge in May 2021 while she is on maternity leave.
The 68-year-old straightforward journalist has campaigned against racism and has spoken out about the lack of diversity at the highest levels of politics, business and the media.
Phillips, the youngest of 10 children, was born in London to Guyanese parents, who emigrated from the then British Guiana in 1950, spent his childhood in British Guiana and while there, studied at Queen’s College.
According to reports, he is the current chair of Green Park, after finding, at the start of this year, that none of the FTSE 100 companies had black directors holding top roles for the first time in six years.
Phillips who was also previously the head of the Commission for Racial Equality from 2003 and the founding chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, won the documentary series prize in 1998 for a four-part program marking 50 years since the MV Empire Windrush arrived in Britain.
Phillips was previously the head of current affairs at LWT, a division of ITV, and won Royal Television Society awards for journalism in 1988 and 1993. His tenure as EHRC chairman is the longest for any individual in any similar position in the UK.
Born in Islington, London, Phillips is the youngest of 10 children. His parents emigrated from then British Guiana in 1950. He spent his childhood partly there, and partly in Wood Green, north London and attended Wood Green County Grammar School, that became Wood Green Comprehensive in 1967 on White Hart Land. He completed his A-levels at Guyana’s prestigious boys’ school, back then.
He returned to England to study at Imperial College, London where he obtained a BSc degree in chemistry in 1975.
