Four Former TalkSports Guests Among 2026 Grenada National Awardees

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, February 8, 2026 — Four former guests of the weekly TalkSports programme are among the 11 Grenadians named as recipients of National Honours for 2026, announced during the Independence Military Parade and Rally on Saturday as the nation celebrated its 52nd Anniversary of Independence.

The awardees—whose work spans sports, health, education, policing and community leadership—were recognised for outstanding service and commitment to national development. Among them are Michaele Hercules, Dr Deborah-Ann Stephens-John, James Clarkson, and Cheney Joseph—all of whom previously appeared on TalkSports to discuss their areas of expertise and national impact.

Award Categories and Honourees

The Spice Isle Award – Sports

Michaele Hercules received the Spice Isle Award for her long-standing contribution to sports. Widely respected for her extensive involvement in event planning and management, particularly in sporting events, Hercules has been a key figure in Grenada’s sports community for decades. Her work includes leadership roles in netball tournaments and school sports programmes.

The Camerhogne Award – Health and Sports Education

Dr Deborah-Ann Stephens-John was awarded the Camerhogne Award for her contributions to health and sports education. A family medical practitioner since 1997, she has broken barriers as Grenada’s first female certified ringside physician. Her expertise has taken her to the highest levels of international sport, serving as a ringside doctor and official at major boxing events, including the Paris Olympic Games, while continuing to advocate for athlete safety and medical best practices.

The Camerhogne Award – Policing

James Clarkson’s recognition reflects a career that bridges sports, culture and law enforcement. A former national footballer, Clarkson later transitioned into coaching, playing a formative role in developing the next generation of Grenadian footballers. Beyond the pitch, he has been a strong advocate for culture, directing steelpan ensembles and championing the steelpan art form. His leadership extended to national security when he served as Commissioner of Police.

The Medal of Honour – Sports (Football)

Cheney Joseph received the Medal of Honour for his contribution to football. A former national footballer, Joseph later served as President of the Grenada Football Association (GFA).

Other 2026 National Awardees

The remaining awardees are Ricardo Keens-Douglas (Arts and Culture), Catherine John (Culture and Tourism), Brigid Logan (Culture), Samuel Britton (Community Mentorship), Jean Jacqueline-Small (Community Mentorship), Kent Joseph (Entrepreneurship, Community Development & Empowerment), and Walter Clement Noel (Health & Research), who was honoured posthumously.

All recipients are expected to receive their awards from the Governor-General in the coming weeks.

TalkSports is a weekly sports discussion programme hosted by former sports journalist Michael Bascombe and former athlete and Olympian Rudieon Sylvan. The show provides a forum for athletes, administrators, professionals and policymakers to examine sports development and broader issues, while celebrating Caribbean excellence at home and abroad.

Collymore urges Caribbean unity to elevate Road Tennis across the region

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, January 31, 2026 - Barry Collymore, Chairman of Mount Cinnamon Resort, has issued a passionate call for greater Caribbean unity and self-belief as he urged the region to embrace and actively promote road tennis, a sport indigenous to Barbados but already played across several Caribbean islands.

Speaking as a guest on the TalkSports programme on Saturday, Collymore lamented what he described as a persistent tendency for Caribbean countries to overlook home-grown opportunities in favour of imported ideas.

“I get really mad at us in the Caribbean because we squander so many opportunities because of our lack of unity,” Collymore said. “Right now, you have hotels and facilities throughout the region, yet we are not pushing our own indigenous sports.”

He pointed to the global surge in popularity of racket sports—such as pickleball, padel and emerging variants like Typti—and questioned why road tennis, despite its Caribbean roots and accessibility, has not enjoyed the same coordinated regional push.

“Road tennis is indigenous to Barbados, but it’s played in other islands,” he noted. “How many hotels have road tennis courts in Barbados? How many hotels have road tennis courts throughout the Caribbean? Yet everyone is building tennis, pickleball and padel courts. We don’t push our own things.”

According to Collymore, this hesitation often stems from insular thinking, where innovations associated with one island are not readily embraced by others.

“Because something is invented or pushed by Barbados, someone in another island doesn’t feel the need to push it. That’s a flaw in our Caribbean psyche, and we need to correct it immediately,” he argued.

Collymore believes the region’s tourism sector—particularly hotels and resorts—can play a

transformative role by integrating road tennis courts into their recreational offerings and showcasing the sport at international travel and sports expos.

“Put it in every hotel. Put it in all the Caribbean shows throughout the world,” he said. “If you don’t believe in yourself as a region, who is going to believe in you?”

He also highlighted growing scientific evidence that racket sports contribute significantly to longevity and healthy ageing, describing them as “the fountain of youth.” This, he said, presents a timely opportunity for road tennis to be positioned alongside global racket sports trends.

“Pickleball was invented long after road tennis and has taken off. Now there’s another one coming. But road tennis could be in that mix if we, as a region, decide that this is what we’re doing.”

Collymore stressed that meaningful progress will require collective action, strategic planning and political will, bringing together sporting administrators, private-sector stakeholders and policymakers.

“That’s why a regional summit on sport and physical activity is so important,” he added. “We’ve got to get the best minds in a room, along with a few politicians, and get these things going.”

Brian Lewis Explains Decision to Go Public with Prostate Cancer Diagnosis on TalkSports

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, January 25, 2026 - Immediate Past President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), Brian Lewis, has opened up about his decision to publicly disclose his prostate cancer diagnosis, describing it as an evolving process shaped by family discussions, personal reflection, and concern over the high mortality rates among Afro-Caribbean men.

Lewis shared his story on Saturday’s edition of TalkSports, hosted by Michael Bascombe and Rudieon Sylvan, in an interview that focused on health awareness, stigma, and the urgent need for early screening.

“I wouldn’t say something led me,” Lewis explained. “It evolved. In the early stages of my diagnosis, my wife and adult children agreed that going public would wait. The family needed time, with all the distractions, to come to terms with the diagnosis, the treatment options, and all the important decisions.”

He said that initial privacy proved necessary, as the emotional and mental strain of the diagnosis was significant.

“The mental and emotional strain of processing and coping and making all the decisions, despite the different opinions on the table, was debilitating,” Lewis said. “So that proved wise.”

Lewis noted that his thinking began to shift as he observed other high-profile figures confronting prostate cancer openly. He referenced legendary British cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, who was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer, as well as former Trinidad and Tobago and Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.

“I’ve always followed Sir Chris Hoy, the Olympian cyclist from the UK,” Lewis said. “I saw how he embraced the challenge and refused to allow the diagnosis to define him. Then recently, Shaka Hislop, whom I consider a very good friend, came out publicly. There was also another well-known public figure here in Trinidad and Tobago who was open about his situation, which is quite dire.”

Those examples, coupled with conversations with Hislop and others, reinforced for Lewis the need to confront what he described as a deeply rooted stigma surrounding male cancers in the Caribbean.

“There is this stigma about male cancers not just prostate, but testicular,” he said. “There is a silence because of the way we, particularly in the Caribbean, have been socialised into our ego, our virility, our masculinity, the machismo culture and how we identify ourselves as men.”

Lewis pointed to stark regional data to underscore the seriousness of the issue, noting that Afro-Caribbean men face significantly higher risks.

“The statistics will bear this out,” he said. “Research from the World Health Organisation, PAHO and CARPHA shows that Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, in particular, have some of the highest prostate cancer mortality rates in the world.”

He explained that reluctance to undergo screening is a major factor driving those outcomes.

“Afro-Caribbean men are at higher risk because of our ethnicity, but also because of our reluctance to be screened, to do the PSA, to do the digital rectal examination and the other markers that point to early detection,” Lewis said. “The huge challenge is that prostate cancer does not provide symptoms in the early years.”

As a result, many men seek medical help only when the disease has advanced.

“By the time we get symptoms and go to the doctor, it’s already late stage,” he said. “That’s what causes the high mortality and morbidity rates in the Caribbean, with consequences not just for the individual, but for families, communities, and public health systems.”

Lewis added that public health experts now consider prostate cancer a major public health concern in the region.

Reflecting on his decision to speak openly, Lewis said encouragement from others who had gone public helped solidify his resolve.

“So I was saying all that to say, it evolved,” he said. “And I would say I was encouraged, if that’s the word, by Shaka Hislop and Sir Chris.”

Brian Lewis Uses TalkSports Platform to Urge Prostate Screening Across the Caribbean

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, January 25, 2026 - Immediate Past President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), Brian Lewis, has issued a powerful call for men across the Caribbean to prioritise their health through regular prostate cancer screening.

Lewis was a featured guest on Saturday’s edition of TalkSports, hosted by Michael Bascombe and Rudieon Sylvan, following his recent public disclosure of a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Rather than keeping the matter private, Lewis said he made a deliberate decision to turn his personal challenge into a public appeal, aimed at raising awareness about prostate health while continuing to advocate for athletes and sport throughout the region.

“What is often a very private struggle, I felt, had to become a public one,” Lewis explained during the programme. “If my experience can help save even one life, then it is worth sharing.”

The veteran sports administrator, who has served Caribbean sport at both national and regional levels for decades, stressed that his diagnosis has not diminished his commitment to athlete development and welfare. He noted that his vow to “Walk for Athletes” symbolises both his ongoing recovery and his continued service to sport.

“I am still walking for athletes, still walking for sport, and now I am also walking for health awareness,” Lewis said. “This is about responsibility—to ourselves, to our families, and to our communities.”

The most emotional moment of the programme came when Lewis was asked what single message he wanted to leave with the TalkSports audience. His response was emphatic and wide-reaching, directed particularly at men of Afro-Caribbean descent.

“Go and get screened,” Lewis urged. “Tell your brother. Tell your husband. Tell your sweet man. Tell your cousin, your brother-in-law, your uncle-in-law, your father-in-law, your uncle, your grandfather. Go and get screened. Early detection saves lives.”

He went on to outline the urgency of action, especially for men over the age of 40.

“Today is Saturday. Make an appointment on Monday,” he said. “If you have never been screened and done a PSA in the case of prostate cancer, go Monday or Tuesday latest and do it. If you have done one before and you haven’t done one for the last two, three, or four years and you’re over forty and of Afro-Caribbean descent, go Monday morning, Tuesday the latest, and get screened.”

The interview resonated strongly with listeners across the Caribbean and the diaspora, many of whom regard Lewis as one of the region’s most respected sports leaders. On Saturday, however, he spoke not only as an administrator, but as a man using his voice and platform to confront stigma and promote early detection.

From Pool to PhD: Oreoluwa Cherebin Defends Doctoral Dissertation in the US

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK - At just 28, former Grenada and OECS swimming champion Oreoluwa Cherebin has reached another milestone, successfully defending her PhD dissertation in Analytical Chemistry on Tuesday, January 20, at Indiana University in Indianapolis.

Cherebin’s dissertation, titled “Enhanced Paper-Based Electroanalytical Sensors by Leveraging Magnetic Fields,” was presented in the Department of Chemistry and Biology and supervised by her research advisor, Frederique Deiss. The work explored innovative approaches to improving low-cost, portable electroanalytical sensors, with potential applications in health diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and resource-limited settings. Her successful defence earns her the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Analytical Chemistry.

Cherebin’s academic journey began in Grenada at St Joseph’s Convent St George, where she excelled in the classroom, sitting and passing 12 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) subjects, including an outstanding 11 Grade Ones. That strong academic foundation would later prove critical as she balanced elite sport with higher education.

After secondary school, Cherebin spent just one semester at the T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) before taking a bold step abroad. She joined the York YMCA Aquatic Club in Pennsylvania, where she trained at a high-performance level while simultaneously earning college credits. Her performances in the pool and discipline in the classroom soon attracted attention, leading to three scholarship offers. She ultimately chose Fairfield University, where she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics.

She later earned a Master of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, before continuing on to doctoral studies.

On the sporting front, Cherebin is one of Grenada’s most decorated swimmers. A product of the local Grenfin Swim Club, she is a CARIFTA, Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships (CISC) and Central American & Caribbean Swimming Confederation (CCCAN) gold medallist and represented Grenada at numerous OECS and Caribbean championships. She also competed on the global stage at the Commonwealth Games, the FINA World Championships, and the Olympic Games—a rare blend of elite international sport and academic excellence.

Cherebin credits swimming with instilling the discipline and resilience that fueled her through demanding lab work and late-night research sessions.

"Swimming taught me discipline and resilience—those same qualities carried me through the long nights in the lab," she said. "I hope young athletes in Grenada and the OECS see that sport doesn’t limit your future; it can actually expand it."

"If my journey shows anything, it’s that you don’t have to choose between academics and athletics—you can strive for excellence in both," Cherebin added.

Her mother, Pamela Cherebin, has long been an advocate for young swimmers and athletes exploring the opportunities sport can provide, while consistently stressing the importance of education. She has cautioned parents that athletic success must be matched by strong academic performance.

She also encouraged parents across Grenada and the OECS to expose children to multiple sporting disciplines at an early age. During her school years, Ore was not limited to swimming alone—she also played netball, football through the Jason Roberts Academy, participated in cycling and triathlon, and even pursued dancing, experiences that helped shape her all-round development.

“Sport can open doors, but education keeps them open. We always made it clear that academics had to come first,” she said. “I encourage parents to let their children try different sports early. You never know where their talent or passion will lead.”

“Opportunities exist, but young athletes must be prepared in the classroom to truly benefit from them," she added.