SOME of the top entertainment figures in Hanover and Westmoreland will be recognised Saturday at the inaugural West Awards which takes place at Kokonut Grooves in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

The event is produced by Tia Rainford of Queen T Promotions and comprises 18 categories, including Artiste of The Year, Sponsor of The Year and Party of The Year.

Rainford is the proprietor of Kokonut Grooves and promoter of the annual Western Kite Festival. She says the entertainment scene in Hanover and Westmoreland has picked up considerably in the last decade, which influenced her to stage an awards show to reward leading players in both parishes.

“It’s a good way to motivate them to keep on doing their thing. Entertainment down here is very vibrant, there’s a party going on every weekend,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Rainford says this represents a complete transformation from the 1990s when entertainment in the rural parishes was limited to tourist-friendly events or sound system dances in chief towns like Lucea, Negril and Savanna-la-Mar.

“There was a time when you could count the number of parties on your hands,” she said.

Winners will be selected by voting. The following are some of the categories and nominees for the West Awards:

Selector of the Year

* Party Crusherz

* Jah Wayne

* Force Ripe

* DJ Absolute

* Mackie and Gemini

* Kwaku Vybz

* Denny Hype

Sponsor of the Year

* Charley’s JB rum

* Magnum

* LC Couture

* Wappy King

* Smirnoff