NEW YORK – A former Caribbean tennis champ turned steel pan player, and an international recording artiste from the Republic of Georgia in the former Soviet Union will showcase their musical genius at Counterpart International’s 2007 World Leadership Awards, to be held at Guastavino’s in New York City on Wednesday September 19, 2007.
The New York-based Barbadian Adrian Clarke, equally proficient at playing Davis Cup team tennis and beating the steel pan, will offer his musical talent to support Counterpart International’s awards which will recognise the President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández; St. Lucia’s Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Senator Allen Chastanet; Paxton Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager of BET J and BET Digital Networks, and President of BET Event Productions; Public relations legend, David Finn, Co-founder and Chairman of Ruder Finn; and the Caribbean’s largest carrier Air Jamaica, the national carrier of both Jamaica and Barbados.
Adrian Clarke
“There was no other instrument I was so attracted to,” Clarke says, “either the look or the sound.” In Trinidad one time for a tournament, he decided to buy a pan to teach himself. He has since recorded a CD, “Pan Impressions,” and is at work on his second. He plays at private and corporate events and works for several Caribbean tourism offices.
Tinatin
Tinatin Japaridze, an artist, songwriter and journalist, was born in Tbilisi, the Republic of Georgia and is currently completing her debut album. Her first single, “We the Peoples”, inspired by the United Nations Charter and performed at the recent Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) meeting in Puerto Rico, has already premiered on American and British radio stations. A UN correspondent for Russian and American media, Tinatin’s regular column and US radio show “United Nations Uncovered” focuses on world events and global awareness of HIV/AIDS and the world’s struggle against the epidemic.
Also supporting the Awards will be virtuoso Jamaican jazz pianist, Monty Alexander who will present the CMEx Cultural Award to BET’s Paxton Baker. The award celebrates the achievements of individuals who have enhanced and revitalized the cultures of destinations.
“We are delighted that these professionals will honour us with their time and talent,” said Lelei LeLaulu, who announced that former Caribbean Hotelier of the Year, Anthony Bowen, Vice President and Managing Director of St. Lucia’s Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort & Spa, will also be present to support the Awards and St. Lucia’s Minister of Tourism Senator Allen Chastanet. “What a tribute Anthony Bowen is making to travel from St. Lucia to support the Minister,” said LeLaulu, who thanked other hoteliers, governments and supporters for their generous contributions to the success of the Awards to be hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist and former CNN news anchor Andria Hall along with noted diver and environmental advocate, Alexandra Cousteau.
