St. James Honours Outstanding Citizens on National Heroes’ Day

Individuals who have made outstanding contributions to St. James were honoured at the parish’s National Heroes’ Day Civic and Awards Ceremony, held at Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay on Monday (October 19).

Ten persons received the Sam Sharpe Award, while another 10 were presented with the Hurricane Melissa Medal of Honour. Four individuals also received the Mayor’s Special Award.

Among the recipients of the Sam Sharpe Award were Roxan Hayles of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), who was recognised for community service; Miriam Williams of the Western Mirror, for service in media; Denham McIntyre, for service to education; and Executive Director of the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Maureen James, for service to tourism.

Other recipients included Bishop Leroy Gordon, for service in religion; Roy Edward Graham, for service to industry and commerce; Althea Allen-Keen of the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), for service in national security; Alex Grey, for service in arts and culture; Dr. Dianne Campbell-Stennett, Regional Technical Director at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), for service to the health sector; and footballer Owayne Gordon, for his contribution to sports.

Mrs. Allen-Keen and Dr. Campbell-Stennett said they were honoured and humbled to receive the recognition.

Meanwhile, the Mayor’s Special Award was presented to Sandrine McGhie of Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Resorts, for service to tourism; Dr. Maxine Coates-Brown of Barracks Road Primary School, for service in education; Nicole Thomas, for community service; and Dwayne Ambusley, for sports.

A major highlight of this year’s ceremony was the presentation of the Hurricane Melissa Municipal Medal of Honour to individuals recognised for exemplary acts of service and bravery.

Among the recipients was Akeem Nesbeth, a volunteer with the St. James Emergency Operations Centre, who said he refused to let the chaos caused by Hurricane Melissa deter him from rescuing persons with disabilities he had gone to evacuate in Mount Salem.

Despite sustaining injuries, Mr. Nesbeth said he remained committed to getting the individuals to safety, an act of courage and selflessness that earned him the award.

He encouraged others to serve their communities in positive ways, noting that heroes can be found among ordinary people.

Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in St. James were also recognised with the Medal of Honour for their bravery and service.

Constable Horace Bryan, Corporal Oral Johnson, Constable Fabian Rose, Detective Sergeant Ricardo Lattibeaudiere, Detective Corporal Ronald Bowen and Constable Walter Mothersill were honoured for a daring rescue operation along the Howard Cooke Boulevard coastline, where rising floodwaters placed residents in immediate danger.

Working together in treacherous conditions, the officers risked their own safety to rescue residents trapped by floodwaters and unable to escape on their own.

For Detective Corporal Bowen, the decision to act was both immediate and instinctive.

“The first thing that came to mind was that there were lives to be saved. I put everything else behind,” he told JIS News.

Their actions, carried out amid the uncertainty and force of the floodwaters, exemplified courage and an unwavering commitment to public safety.

Other recipients of the Hurricane Melissa Award included Courtney Campbell, who was honoured posthumously for a rescue effort in which he lost his life; Petroy Maxwell; and Father Dalmas Agan.

The St. James Civic and Awards Ceremony also featured Special Awards recognising numerous individuals, companies and communities for their contributions and service.