MIAMI, USA – Eighteen Jamaicans in South Florida are to be honoured for community service and development of that Diaspora, at the first annual Community Service Awards ceremony of the Jamaican Consulate General.

Professor Kenneth Hall, Jamaica’s governor-general, will be the guest speaker at the awards ceremony, to be held at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, on Sunday, March 25.

According to Consul-General Ricardo Allicock, the event was organised to officially recognise and honour Jamaicans who have made a significant cultural impact on the community.

“While there is an abundance of persons who have made significant contributions, the intention is to focus this year on ‘cultural originators’ and persons who have served in a cultural or artistic capacity,” Allicock said.

Nearly 400,000 Jamaicans reside in the South Florida tri-county region of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, with several affiliated with nearly 70 charitable and service organisations.