Legendary Guyanese newspaperman Godfrey Wray, who returned to the Guyana Chronicle newsroom after an absence for many years, and Trinidad & Tobago’s Dr. Slinger Francisco — The Mighty Sparrow, will be presented with the Guyana Cultural Association Award (GCA) at the organization’s Annual Awards Ceremony at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Aug. 30 at 5:30 pm.
Wray, whose career began at the Guyana Chronicle more than 40 years ago as a sports editor, and who, now helms the Guyana Chronicle, Georgetown, and New York editions, will be presented with the GCA Exemplary Award.
The Mighty Sparrow, in turn, will receive the GCA Award for his sterling contribution to calypso music that spans more than 60 years.
The GCA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to George Simon, a Lokono Arawak artist and archaeologist, and founder and mentor of the Lokono Artists Group, a group of Lokono artists from Guyana, based primarily in Simon’s hometown of St. Cuthbert’s Mission.
The ceremony will also pay tribute to Dr. Walter Edwards, who will receive the GCA Exemplary Award, while the Godfrey Chin Prize For Heritage Journalism will go to first prize winner, Guyana-based journalist, Neil Marks, second prize winner, writers Lear Mathews & T. Eric Matthews, and third prize winner, photographer Amanda Richards.
Faith Parris; Clinton Duncan, Kyle Igarta, Tevin Skeete, Dominic Alleyne, and Keanna McGarrell will receive the Youth Award.
Other nominees include: John L. Aaron; Desmond Alli Amerindian Research Unit-UG; Anything Guyanese First; Founder, Lloyd Phillips, Canada-Guyana Outreach Mission; Clinton Duncan; Walter F. Edwards, PhD; Guyana Christian Charities (Canada) Inc.; Health First; Aileen Hintzen; Ruel Johnson; Romola Lucas; Keanna McGarrell; Mercedes Pierre; Clive Prowell; George Simon; and the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology.
