AFTER being kept waiting for almost two months, this year’s Musgrave Medal awardees finally received their awards yesterday.

The ceremony was originally scheduled to be held in October, but was postponed because of what the Institute of Jamaica described as the “terror and fear spread by the violence in the inner-city areas of Kingston”.

There was also bad news at yesterday’s function, as it was announced that a relative of junior education minister Noel Monteith, had been gunned down.

In a heartfelt plea, Professor Barry Chevannes, chairman of the Institute of Jamaica, urged communities in Kingston to search for solutions to the violence. “It is time we revert to a season of softness and value the importance of the arts in the current situation in Kingston today,” he said. “The way of the gun is not the way of the arts.”

The ceremony saw the legendary record producer and head of the famed Studio One recording facility Clement “Sir Coxsone” Dodd, being awarded one of the two Gold Musgrave awards for his outstanding work in the field of music.

Speaking to the Observer, Dodd said he was “delighted” to have received such an honourable award. “It is a wonderful feeling to know that the world has accepted your efforts, and that you’re being appreciated,” he said. Also awarded with a Gold Medal was highly respected artist David “Jack” Pottinger, 91, for his accomplishments in the field of art.

A further six honourees were awarded the Silver Medal, among them highly-regarded scientist and government advisor Dr Arnaldo Ventura, for his work in the field of science. “It is good to be remembered and recognised for the work you have done,” Dr Ventura told the Observer, “but we now need to continue working for the future.”

Another Silver Medal awardee, well-known architect Herbert Denham Repole, said it was a “wonderful feeling” to have been awarded the Musgrave Silver Medal, but that there still was a lot more that needed to be done. “Jamaica has come a long way, and there is more acceptance of the work we do now, but we still have a long way to go,” he said. The other four honourees in the Silver Medal category were actor and drama teacher Brian Starmer Heap for drama education; retired dancer now turned choreographer Barrington “Barry” Moncrieffe for dance; music teacher Joan Tucker for music education; and top folk group The Cari-Folk Singers in the field of music.

In the Bronze Medal category Leonard Daley was awarded for his work in the field of art while classical singers Marilyn Brice-MacDonald and David Reid were recognised for their work in the field of music.

Additionally, the Musgrave Youth Award went to Chantal Partice Ononaiwu for her work in the field of law.

The Institute also held a mini-exhibition, honouring five persons who were given Musgrave honours in 1962, the year Jamaica became an independent nation. This was done in commemoration of Jamaica’s 40th anniversary.