User:Welch Ricardo/Ricardo "The Gladiator" Welch

Ricardo Adrian Allan Welch (1964- ) famously called "The Gladiator"; "Dr Carlos"; "The Emperor Of Talk"; "The Professor"; "The Voice Of The People"; "The Grassrooots Champion" was born at 3am Sunday 18th October, 1964. He was born at the Port Of Spain General Hospital in the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean in the Western Hemisphere. He was the fourth child of his mother (Gloria Peters Welch deceased) and the third child of his father (Carlton Harvey Welch deceased). Among other family members, his sisters and brothers are: Linda Peters; Elizabeth "Pinky" Welch (deceased); Allan Welch and Francis "Shepard" Quamina.

Ricardo Welch or "The Gladiator" is a household name in Trinidad and Tobago. He is one of the leading talk show host on national radio (currently on 104.7More fm)and the most controvercial individual on national radio. He is regarded by many as a frank; no nonsense; open minded; to the point; and liberal talk show host unlike his competitors at the other 30 plus radio stations in the country. He has fallen out with many politicians even his own political party (PNM). This years "The Gladiator" is celebrating nine (9) years in news and current affairs in the local media industry. It was under the NAR Government (1986-1991) the local media industry was open up in the granting of more radio and television licence to would-be interested parties or person. Back then the name Ricardo Welch as "Dr Carlos" was ringing out loud in the capital city of Port Of Spain as a grassroot "Professor". His stomping ground was the famous "University Of Woodford Square" named by the late Prime Minister Dr Eric Eustace Williams during the 1950's when Williams "Let Down His Bucket" at the then Woodford square. It was also called the "People's Parliament".

The name "Gladiator" was used as a title to describe the talk show host Ricardo Welch on national radio. Ricardo Welch got the title himself after doing a couple of historical research for a title of a new talk show program he directed on Power 102FM in 2001. He also viewed the motion picture "Gladiator" seven times. Such, also, was an inspiration to him. The management of Power 102FM had contracted "The Gladiator" to develop a new program for the station which was losing in ratings and listenership since Dale Enoch,Tony Lee and Louis Lee Sing had left the Gillette's radio station before the 2000 general election. Lindsay Gillette then Chairman of the family group of companies was appointed a UNC Senator that same year. Many viewed the internal conflict or departure of Dale, Tony and Louis at Power 102 as being political. However, Power 102 paid a great price for such interference of the media. They needed someone to reignite its image; to fill the void left and bring the station back to stardom. That person was Riardo Welch a man of grassroot up-bringing. Andy Johnson came to the Univesity Of Woodford Square in the early part of 2001 (February-March) conducting a live lunchtime outside broadcast for the station on current affairs and the heated political climate over the 18-18 parliamentary deadlock and there is where he discovered the marvelous talent of the chief debater, lecturer and leader "Dr Carlos" (Ricardo Welch).

"Dr Carlos" commanded a following that the station needed. He was very articulate, knowlegeable in many fields as in history, politics, philosophy, constitutional law, dialectrician, parliamentary procedures, social science and current affairs. He was gifted unlike others at the University Of Woodford Square. Ricardo "Gladiator" Welch was autodidactic or self-taught individual. He would go to the libraries including UWI library to research on any topic he would normlly disseminate orally for a price. "Dr Carlos" always held the view that knowlegde was not free and that every orator in the University Of Woodford Square was equal to a lecturer, professor or pastor at any given university or chapel and therefore should be payed or demand from their listening audience a fee as in ancient times. It should be noted that "The Gladiator" was also a weekly newspaper Columnist of the Trinidad Guardian during the late 90's. Whereas "The Gladiator" was and is still his radio name; "Dr Carlos" was his title at the "People's Parliament". Any politician or would-be politician must fist meet with "Dr Carlos" before talking to the masses. Question would be put to individual politician "did you meet 'Dr Carlos'?" if the answer was in the negative they were in big trouble of not being listened to or be provoked and harassed. Such was the power of Ricardo Welch during the middle of the eighties (80's)onwards.

History has recorded the contribution of a young man who grew up with his father and mother in the then Shanty Town located close to the Central Market in Port Of Spain. "Gladiator" as a child almost face death when he was four years. The Dry River next to the then Shanty Town, in what is called Beetham Estate today had overflown onto its banks and little "Gladiator" was playing in the rain that afternoon and was about to enter the river when a good friend of his mother "Tanty Phillis" (deceased) caught young Ricardo by his hand to him entering the dry river lest he drowned in the river. "Gladiator's" mother Gloria Peters Welch was a spiritualist (an Orisha worshiper) or what was called "Shango Baptist" during the 60's, 70's and 80's. Being a "Shango Baptist" in the colonial periods was a scar or stain to your good name. At age 3 "The Gladiator" was consecrated secretly under Orisha rites by his mother. His father, Carlton Welch, was very dissappointed and mad vex upon hearing(through a village maco)about the secret consecration of his child by the high priest of Orisha worshipers. "Gladiator's" father was a stout Roman Catholic. He never forgive his wife for what she did to young "Gladiator". It brought about a seperation between Ricardo Welch's father and mother. A long court battle ensued causing young Ricardo "Gladiator" Welch at age 5 to be placed in the Belmont Orphanage (later called St Dominic's Home) located in Port Of Spain. It marked the begining of a new chapter Gladiator's early life.