Caribbean National Weekly (CNW) announced the 2026 recipients of the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Excellence Awards—leaders in science, civic work, entrepreneurship, and the arts. The laureates are (in alphabetical order): Niven R. Narain – Guyana / United States (Science & Technology); Dean Nevers – Jamaica (Entrepreneurship); Shamelle Rice – Barbados (Public & Civic Contributions); Sheena Rose – Barbados (Arts & Letters); and Tannecia Stephenson – Jamaica (Science & Technology). The announcement was made from Port-of-Spain via video stream. See CNW descriptions of the laureates below and additional information from Barbados Today. [Many thanks to Corrie Scott for bringing this item to our attention via Critical.Caribbean.Art. Special congratulations to Sheena Rose, whose work we know and admire.]
Dr Niven R. Narain, a Guyana-born American biotech innovator, also received an award in Science & Technology. Co-founder and president of a Boston-based biotechnology company, Dr Narain developed an artificial intelligence-powered drug discovery platform that has generated around 650 patents, over 100 scientific publications, and numerous global research partnerships.
Dean Nevers, a Jamaican telecommunications engineer and founder and CEO of Konnex Services Ltd., was recognized in Entrepreneurship. The company provides telecom, renewable energy, and industrial network solutions across ten Caribbean territories and employs hundreds of people. Nevers has led the company from a net loss in its first year to annual revenues exceeding US$20 million and has received the Order of Distinction from the Government of Jamaica.
Shamelle Rice, founder and director of Jabez House in Barbados, was honored for Public & Civic Contributions. Since 2012, her registered charity has provided vocational training, job placement, mental health support, housing, and basic needs assistance to women involved in sex work. The organization has supported more than 1,000 women across the Caribbean, many of whom are mothers.
Sheena Rose, a Barbadian visual artist, received the award in Arts & Letters. Her work spans painting, performance, murals, and mixed media, and has been shown in solo exhibitions in London, New York, Taiwan, and across the Caribbean. A 2014 Fulbright scholar, Rose has received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and mentors emerging artists from the region.
Professor Tannecia Stephenson of Jamaica, a climate scientist and co-director of the Climate Studies Group at Mona, was recognized in the Science & Technology category. Her work focuses on regional climate change research and developing tools and digital platforms to support policy decisions across the Caribbean.
In Barbados Today, Lauryn Escamilla writes: Rose and Rice emerged as standout honourees in the Arts and Letters and Public and Civic Contributions categories respectively, during a video‑streamed announcement from Port of Spain on Monday evening. The laureates will be formally inducted into the programme’s College of Laureates at a gala ceremony scheduled for later this year.
Providing broader context, program director Maria Superville‑Nelson said the initiative continues to build a legacy of regional accomplishment. “This is the 21st year of our awards program,” she said. “We have awarded 66 laureates in the categories of arts and letters, entrepreneurship, public and civic contributions, and science and technology, presenting them with over 32 million Trinidad and Tobago dollars in support.”
[. . .] Rose “is a painter, muralist, and performance artist who challenges classism, racism, and colorism through art,” she said, noting her work “has been described as fully executed and intellectually rich”.
Her influence extends beyond galleries and exhibitions. Superville‑Nelson noted Rose is a 2014 Fulbright scholar whose art has featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times and the BBC, while her paintings have appeared on the covers of several Caribbean publications. She further emphasized Rose’s investment in the next generation of artists, stating she “devotes considerable time to mentoring emerging artists, ensuring that her own success opens doors for others”. [. . .]
Announcing her award, Superville‑Nelson said Rice “has empowered vulnerable women by funding a charity that helps sex workers transition to legal employment.” Rice’s recognition highlights over a decade of advocacy work [as] founder and director of Jabez House, a registered charity that has provided women sex workers with access to vocational training, job placement opportunities, mental health support, food, housing, and basic needs assistance since 2012 in efforts to facilitate their transition process from the trade. [. . .]
Watch the announcements here:
For full articles, see https://barbadostoday.bb/2026/02/04/barbadian-duo-among-five-honoured-in-2026-anthony-n-sabga-awards/ and https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/news/five-caribbean-leaders-honored-with-2026-anthony-n-sabga-excellence-awards/
Caribbean National Weekly (CNW) announced the 2026 recipients of the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Excellence Awards—leaders in science, civic work, entrepreneurship, and the arts. The laureates are (in alphabetical order): Niven R. Narain – Guyana / United States (Science & Technology); Dean Nevers – Jamaica (Entrepreneurship); Shamelle Rice – Barbados (Public & Civic Contributions); Sheena
