Cultural Ambassadors ‘Elated’ on their elevation

Recognised among eight cultural ambassadors last Monday, October 27,2025, carnival mas band leader of High Voltage, Kingsley “Whiteman” Collis, and music producer, Alex “Kubiyashi” Barnwell, both used the extreme adjective “elated” to describe how they felt about their most recent accolade.

Both men also told SEARCHLIGHT they were caught “off guard” when Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, announced that they were among the 13 Vincentians who were named as cultural and sports ambassadors during the PM’s 46th anniversary independence address last Monday.

“I’m elated to be honoured as an ambassador. I am thankful they recognized my hard work over the last 50 years,” Collis said.

“I’m the youngest band leader ever, and on top of that, I am really elated to know that I am the first member of Paul’s Avenue to have such a title,” Collis told SEARCHLIGHT.

He said that Paul’s Avenue has produced many cultural and sporting icons but he is the one who has been given the Cultural Ambassadorial title.

“I am proud to represent so many people in my area, some of them which have come before my time and it is so beautiful knowing that I’m the rose from the thorns that was picked,” Collis said.

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