Musicians Throw Support Behind World Leadership Awards

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.

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 recognize a number of Caribbean personalities.

The awards will go to the President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernandez; 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.

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.

Counterpart International, founded in 1965, gives people a voice in their own future through smart partnerships, offering options and access to tools for sustained social, economic and environmental development. Operating on five continents, Counterpart is supported by the generosity of its corporate and individual donors, foundations, host countries, multilateral institutions and several U.S. government agencies.