Respected JIS Photojournalist Dedicates National Award to Late Parents

Monday’s (Oct. 21) National Honours and Awards Ceremony will be the first time in many years that Dave St. Patrick Reid will not be behind the lens capturing moments at the investiture ceremony.

Instead, the respected Senior Photographer at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), will be the one in focus, becoming part of the story.

He will be among the outstanding Jamaicans who will be presented with national awards for dedicated service to the country.

Mr. Reid will receive the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for 36 years of contribution to Photography and Photojournalism.

“Initially, I was surprised. I have covered the Honours and Awards Ceremony for years, and seeing persons being recognised for their work and service was always heartwarming. The truth is, a lot of people work extremely hard and contribute a lot to society but may not be recognised,” he says.

Mr. Reid dedicates the milestone achievement to his late parents who instilled in him the unwavering belief that with hard work, nothing is out of reach.

“When you grow up with parents who keep you grounded and instill in you a belief that with hard work anything is possible, you will always want to share your accomplishments with them as if to say ‘thank you for believing in me’.

“Your first car, your new home or a promotion at work, these are all things that you want to proudly share with your parents. Pain comes when they are not there to share in your joy. Pain comes when they can’t say ‘that’s my son’. Pain comes because they won’t know that their sacrifices were not in vain. Now, as I celebrate this milestone, in their absence I must say ‘thanks to my parents’,” he says.

Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Reid tells JIS News that his deep passion and fascination for photography were ignited at the then Jamaica School of Art and Crafts, now the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

“The love for photography started because of Donnette Zacca, who was my teacher and mentor,” he says.

His entry into photojournalism in 1988 was unexpected and came at the urging of founder of the Jamaica Record, Mark Ricketts.

“He attended our art exhibition and asked three of us to help start the newspaper. This was a big difference to the photography I was used to, but life is about evolving and adapting,” he points out.

Recalling his early days in the profession, he says that working with persons like Desmond Richards, Franklin McKnight and Winston Witter at the Jamaica Record, made the journey “interesting.”

He learned the value of always being prepared, as the journalist does not know when he/she will be called to capture the news.

“I remember an occasion where I just returned to the office on West Street and was about to get some lunch only to be told by Mr. Witter that there was a shooting up the road and I needed to go now.

“After complaining about my hunger, he quietly told me that ‘in this business, make sure you always walk with a bag a tuff crackers’… and after all these years, I still keep a pack of crackers with me,” the St. Catherine Preparatory School and St. Jago High School past student says.

Mr. Reid stayed at the Jamaica Record until 1994, then spent the next four years at the Jamaica Herald Limited before moving on to the now defunct Jamaica Press (JAMPRESS) where he worked from 1998 to 2001.

He joined the JIS in 2001, when JAMPRESS was subsumed into the agency, and is now a vital part of the Editorial and Photography team.

Mr. Reid is passionate about his work and will do all within his power to get that perfect shot.

He recalls a memorable moment while working at Jamaica Herald, where he started as a graphic artist but was soon tasked with supervising the photography unit.

On a particular day, there was no electricity at the editorial offices and the paper was waiting on a photo for the front page.

“Feeling like the weight of an entire newspaper was on my shoulders, I quickly thought about it and used a flashlight at the top of the enlarger to print the photo for the front page,” he shares.

Having worked as a photojournalist in both the private and public sectors, Mr. Reid tells JIS News that he is fully aware of the responsibility he has in getting the story right.

“With government media you have a responsibility to not only be accurate but to be as informative as possible to the people of Jamaica,” he says.

He shares that he has a good working relationship with photojournalists over the years, citing Winston Sill and Junior Dowie as “patient professionals who would guide you as a newbie.”

The national award recipient has adapted and evolved in the profession especially with the advent of technology and the introduction of newer devices.

He has copped five Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) Awards and Certificates over the years.

Mr. Reid informs that his first award was the 1989 Aston Rhoden Award for Human Interest Photography in his first year in the profession.

He shares that in his 36 years in photojournalism, 27 have been dedicated to the government service, where he has continued to grow in his craft.

He has had the opportunity to travel extensively to cover assignments and participate in training.

Some of the international trips include: Jamaica-China Sports Cooperation Agreement in China, 2024; World Expo in Dubai, 2022; Jamaica-China Sports Cooperation Agreement in China, 2019; 7th Summit of the America’s in Panama, 2015; CARICOM Meeting in Bahamas, 2015; Prime Minister Simpson Miller’s address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, 2013; Mrs. Simpson Miller’s Trade and Investment Mission to China, 2013; Prime Minister PJ Patterson’s tour of Granada after Hurricane Ivan, 2004; Mr. Patterson’s official visit to Japan, 1998; and the opening of Sandals in St Lucia, 1993.

Also important were the local assignments covered, some of which include:

visits of President of India Ram Nath Kovind, President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, and Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2022; visits of United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister, David Cameron and President of the United States of America, Barack Obama in 2015; visits of President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma and His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales in 2012; visit of Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper in 2009; and visit by Her Majesty the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh in 2002.

Mr. Reid tells JIS News that he is grateful to be recognised with a national honour and is as passionate about his job today as when he started 36 years ago.

The Photojournalist is married and has two sons.