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Montego Bay, August 6 (JIS):
Eleven distinguished individuals were honored with the 2024 Spirit of Independence Awards and the Mayor’s Special Award during the St. James Independence Day Civic Ceremony held at Sam Sharp Square in Montego Bay on August 6.
The award is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of St James since 1962. Their work has spanned a variety of fields including tourism, journalism, sport, education, healthcare, business and community development.
One of the winners is Hyacinth Chambers, a long-time employee of Western Publishing Ltd, publisher of the Western Mirror.
With 48 years of experience, including as a support staff member, Ms. Chambers reflected on her journey with the company and expressed her love for the job and the great people she worked with.
“I love this job and I’ve met some really nice people while working there,” she said.
Mrs Chambers was known as the Mirror’s “resident adviser”, always offering advice and encouraging solidarity to her colleagues.
She pointed out: “For Jamaica, it is about living well and living in peace, and for the media, it is about always striving to publish the right content so that no mistakes are made.”
Another recipient was welder Alva Gordon, 69, who was recognised for his significant contribution to sports refereeing at St James.
Mr Gordon’s areas of expertise range from football to athletics and he has served as a referee, timekeeper and track referee in various leagues and tournaments across Jamaica.
He expressed immense pride and joy upon receiving this recognition, noting that “I did not expect to receive such recognition.” He expressed gratitude for the award and encouraged the country’s youth to actively contribute to society.
Janet Richards, founder and president of the Janet Richards Foundation, was honored for her dedication to philanthropic work.
The foundation is dedicated to supporting disabled children and disadvantaged people in St James and Hanover. Mrs Richards said volunteering has been a passion of her life.
“Philanthropy has been my passion since I was a little girl till high school. For me, charity is not about money, it is about helping others,” she said.
Meanwhile, Montego Bay Mayor, Councillor Richard Vernon, praised the winners for their transformative impact in various sectors.
He noted that their efforts have inspired others to work for positive change in Montego Bay and St. James.
“This theme must remind us that our culture has always been a powerful driver of economic development. Our culture is one of our most important resources. We must protect it,” Mr Vernon said.
The event, themed “62 Loves of Jamaica… for the World”, celebrated the 62nd anniversary of Jamaica’s independence.
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