Ian Randle chosen for 2012 Prince Claus Award

Jamaica's pioneering publisher Ian Randle has been chosen by The Prince Claus Awards to honour his outstanding achievements.

"The pioneering Ian Randle (1940, Hanover) transformed the knowledge, production and circulation in the Caribbean through his first local independent publishing house," announced a release from The Prince Claus Fund.

The Netherlands-based fund has constituted the awards in the field of culture and development. The awards are presented annually to 11 individuals or organisations whose cultural actions have a positive impact on the development of their societies.

"In keeping with the Prince Claus Fund's guiding principle that culture is a basic need, the awards highlight significant achievements in areas where resources and opportunities for cultural expression, creative production and research are limited and cultural heritage is threatened," the release said.

Argentinean publishing co-operative Elo'sa Cartonera has been awarded the 2012 Principal Prince Claus Award.

Randle shares the honour with Sami Ben Gharbia, Tunisia-based cyber-activist; writer and filmmaker Habiba Djahnine of Algeria; Yassin al Haj Saleh, writer from Syria; Widad Kawar of Jordan recognised for her rescue and preservation of important cultural heritage; Mexico's visual artist Teresa Margolles; and self-taught photojournalist Boniface Mwangi of Kenya. Cultural organisation Phare Ponleu Selpak from Cambodia; performer, comedian and social activist Maung Thura, alias Zarganar from Burma, and poet Maxamed Ibraahim Warsame, alias Hadraawi, Somaliland/Somalia are among the awardees.

The laureates, selected by an independent, international committee, will be awarded on December 12 during an official ceremony at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, in the presence of the Fund's Honorary Chairman, HRH Prince Constantijn, along with other members of the Royal Family.