It was a case of rain but lots of action as the Icons of Annotto Bay staged the inaugural awards ceremony in recognition of some of those who have helped to develop the St Mary sea coast town over the years.

All told, 39 people were saluted and handed plaques during the ceremony held at the refurbished Markingstone Beach on the outskirts of Annotto Bay on December 23, with some recipients left in awe following the recognition.

Icons of Annotto Bay, a not-for-profit, non-political organisation started by New York-based Wyatt “Spur” Williams, his wife Odette Smith-Williams, and Annotto Bay businessman Rohan “Bob” Williams was marking the second major event in the town, following a football for peace event staged around the time of Jamaica’s Independence anniversary celebrations last August, which sought to attack crime at its base in the town.

There are now nine directors which make up the board of management.

Walking away with the main award was retired businessman Oswald Umrah, who ran one of the first auto parts establishments in the town.

Also coming in for special recognition was retired senior medical officer of the Annotto Bay Hospital, Dr Ray Fraser, CD, now head of surgery at the institution.

The list includes health workers Dr Ba Thein, Shirley Thomas, Hyacinth Nelson, Hyacinth Green, Norma Leveridge, Eileen Allen, Iris Murray, Trevor Neil, Pastoria Wilson, Thelma Lewis, Zoie Barnes, Lorna Perry, and Gloria Drummond; William McCalla for justice; Umrah, Audley Seow, Colleen Seow, Emmanuel Habib, Trevor Lowe, Pamella Chang and Cislyn Haffizulla for business; Delceta Umrah, Aldon Smikle, Beatrice Smikle, Hyacinth Barclay, Maisie Lewis and Edmond Badal in education; retired firefighters Oscar Cruickshank, Rector Harrison and Nedely Walker; members of the security forces Aldon McKay, Clifton Watson, Jabez Barclay, Angella Williamson; farmers Fermin Addison and Carl Archie; and Othneil Ellis and Pastal Salmon representing artisans and skilled workers.

Director Smith-Williams underscored the importance of the awards to the further development of the town that in recent years faced crime and other challenges that threatened to destabilise activities there.

She stated that already the ‘Icons’ were on a path of success, as some of the youth of the area had been enrolled in HEART Trust programmes, while the football for peace activity that was launched in August had seen a lull in criminal activities, and was only scarred by an unrelated shooting incident recently.

Smith-Williams lauded Bob’s Supercentre and its owner Rohan “Bob” Williams which was the sole sponsor of the event and urged others to get involved to make it even bigger in subsequent years.

Among the other speakers were Rohan Williams; Member of Parliament Dr Norman Dunn, who was also fully involved with the football programme; Dr Fraser; Principal of the Annotto Bay High School Trudy Philp; ‘Bob’ Williams, and superintendent of Police in charge of St Mary, Bobette Morgan.