TWO years after the passing of Anil Bheem, Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Barry Padarath says he plans to nominate the local Indo-music giant for a national award.

Speaking at the Orange Valley Vishnu Mandir’s celebration of Indian Arrival on Saturday, Padarath said he would be carrying forward Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s prior call for Bheem, the former leader of the BMRZ Band and a leading entertainer in the local industry, to be honoured posthumously.

At his funeral at the Divali Nagar site in 2023, the then-Opposition Leader had said, “It was my distinct honour to let Anil perform at the People’s House which was the prime minister’s residence in 2012, for our nation’s 50th anniversary, and today I call, in the same way we gifted Black Stalin a national award, I call for a national award for Anil Bheem.”