MONTEGO BAY, St James – Nine members of the Port Security Corps here were singled out for special mention at ceeremony to commemorate their role in the Stephen Fray saga at the Sangster International airport here in April.

Nicholas Baugh, Kenieva Bowen, Marcel Johnson, Danish Lewis; Raval McKenzue, Fiona Reid, Sonia Reid, Shane Shirley and Nichole Whitter all received plaques and citations for chasing, albeit not catching, a gun-toting Fray through security check-points on April 19.

Fray, who is now behind bars pending an appeal against his conviction and sentence –he got 83 years of which he’s expected to serve about 18–barged past the security corps to shame the country via an attempt to hi-jack CANJET 918, a charted flight bound for Halifax, Canada.The hijacking plan never got off the ground, however Fray managed to hold some 159 passengers hostage before releasing them to concentrate on the eight-member crew during an all-night stand-off between himself and security forces.

According to Samuel Laing, the PSC’ s operations manager, Fray barged past and ran away from members of the corps, brandishing a gun on the night in question.

“They faced the trauma of Stephen Fray’s firearm. They alerted the police and saved the tourism industry from the fallout that would have followed if the attempt had gone badly,” he told the audience in an overview of the incident.

According to Laing, on catching up with Fray the officers were forced to retreat when he brandished his gun at them. On reacing gate #7 he discharged his firearm, boarded the aircraft and demanded to be flown to Cuba.

“His father, sister, brother, Rev Courtenay Walters were called to negoiate with him. All efforts failed. Finally JDF soldiers crept through the cockpit and disarmed during a moment of distraction. He was arrested and taken away…that is what took place,” he said, adding that the officers acted with commendable bravery.

“Well done, it was a brave encounter,” he said.

Regional Director of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Rosie Johnson also congratulated the officers on behalf of Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett, who sent apologies for being unable to attend.

“I encourage you to continue to push back against the criminal networks..and keep the faith knowing that your colleagues in the Ministry of Tourism are on your side,” she said.