TTPBA honours three

TWO media veterans, Peter Ames and the late June Gonsalves, were honoured for their lifelong contributions, by the TT Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA) which also hailed community activist Sensei Marva John-Logan for her efforts against crime and extremism.

The TTPBA held its 14th Annual Dinner and Awards for Media Excellence on Thursday at Jaffa Restaurant, Woodbrook.

Gonsalves who died in August was a broadcaster who also bought to the fore media talents like Sir Trevor McDonald, Hazel Ward-Redman and Jones P Madeira. Her daughter, Rachel Gonsalves, said her mother would have been thrilled to be honoured.

She gave insights into her mother’s success as a broadcaster. “She made the rounds of the mas camps. She took endless notes. When she had to go on air she would prepare. Listeners would say ‘We could “see” the mas on stage’.” Rachel said her mother collected foreign recipes and substituted local ingredients, the adapted dish first being tested on her children.

“It wasn’t bad,” she recalled. Regarding Lord Invader’s song questioning June’s cooking, Rachel said, “My mother was not exactly happy with that but I think she took it in good stride.”

Ames was recognised for setting up Radio 97 FM whose success was largely due to its state-of-the-art computerisation and its innovative sales of advertising. In his address he recalled his shift from running a television rental firm to running 97 FM.

He recalled once inviting Digicel to partner with Clico in TT, but although the deal crashed he had no regrets, even as Digicel went elsewhere in the Caribbean. “I’m glad I invited Digicel here which I think gave competition to ensure a better service through the whole Caribbean.”

John-Logan was honoured for running her Ryu Dan Dojo at Enterprise, Chaguanas, where she trains youngsters in martial arts, trade skills and life skills. In her address, she urged all to invest in the nation’s youth.

“Investment in our young people is one of the best game-changers towards Trinidad and Tobago’s development.” Guests applauded at her news that she was due to attend a United Nation’s conference on combating crime, violence and extremism, in Austria.