Pounder fêted in Ja
ALREADY SIGNED to four out of five Avatar movies, veteran actress – renowned for her role in NCIS – C.C.H. Pounder wants the islands in the region to capitalise on their strength and power.
“If the islands would consider themselves not just Jamaica, or Trinidad, or Guyana, but a CARICOM community, you could have spectacular strength and power,” Pounder told an intimate group of diners, hosted by Director of Tourism Donovan White, recently at the Sugar Mill at Half Moon.
The words, ‘separate’ and ‘conquer’, were what she used to describe what currently gives.
“It is in the fabric of our lives, but we have to get over it. Because St Lucia is gorgeous; Trinidad has a spectacular carnival; Guyana has a great eco system.”
Pounder, who easily communicated with the group, spoke about embracing her culture.
“I consider myself a sister of the Caribbean. Born in Guyana, I would like to spread love, education, information, all around our fabulous islands. I am really proud that I have actually arrived in Jamaica for the second time.”
Her trip to Jamaica, she said, was spurred a year ago when she was awarded the AFUWI Bob Marley Award, in recognition of her contribution to the advancement of art and culture on the global stage.
ACTIVE SUPPORT
At the awards, she was moved by the scholarship recipients and what they were able to achieve, regardless of the challenges. She said she wanted to actively support the institution and so Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett invited her to come to Jamaica to see the institution.
“It would be nice if each one of us spent five per cent of our time giving our pearls back to these islands,” she urged.
Last Thursday, when she arrived on the island, before moving on to Kingston, where she engaged and motivated students and faculty members at the UWI, Mona, and Edna Manley College, it was all relaxation at the Half Moon.
Her first social gathering was at the award-winning Sugar Mill Restaurant, where she was feted by Director of Tourism Donovan White and tourism stakeholders.
The tourism director, an admitted NCIS binge watcher, said he was a fan and was extremely excited about having the star in Jamaica.
White invited Pounder to consider a Jamaican charity that she could associate with.