Outstanding Persons from St. James Honoured

Thirteen outstanding individuals from St. James were honoured for their exceptional commitment and contributions across various sectors, during the National Heroes’ Day Civic & Awards Ceremony, held on Monday, October 21.

The event, hosted by the St. James Municipal Corporation in association with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), was held at Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay.
Eight individuals received the prestigious Sam Sharpe Awards, while five were recognised with the Mayor’s Special Awards.

Among the Sam Sharpe Award recipients were O’brian Haughton for Community Service, Sasha Wedderburn for National Security, Valrose Ambersley for Health, Lenworth “Tony Ruption” Williams for Arts and Culture, Kerryann Quallo Casserly for Tourism, and George Graham for Service to Media.

The Mayor’s Special Awards were presented to Donavon Graham for Community Service, Simon Lawrence for Tourism, Claudette Bryan for Community Service, Rojé Stoner for Sports, and Nigel “Nigy Boy” Hector for Entertainment.

In his address, Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, emphasised that the parish is on a positive trajectory, with increasing opportunities being driven by the dedication of these trailblazing individuals.

“Together, we are building a brighter future, step by step. Guided by the resilient spirit of Jamaican heritage and the remarkable efforts of men and women blazing trails in their respective fields, we are on the right track to turn challenges into opportunities,” Mayor Vernon said.

He encouraged communities to embrace their heritage and tackle challenges with creativity and determination to forge a Jamaica that honours its past, while remaining hopeful for the future.

In response to receiving the award for Entertainment, Mr. Hector expressed his gratitude for the recognition, pledging to continue making strides in his industry.

“I am extremely elated to receive such a prestigious award from the Mayor himself. It’s truly a great feeling. I’m humbled by the honour, and I will continue to make Montego Bay and all of Jamaica proud,” he said.