ST JAMES, Jamaica – Mayor of Montego Bay, Leeroy Williams, has called for a change in attitude and behaviour in Jamaicans that will bring about a “kinder and gentler society.”

Williams said that crime and violence will destroy the foundation of the society. He added that attitudes and behaviours that will stifle the development of the nation must be replaced with attitudes such as respect and law and order.

“We must do away with attitudes, which promote behaviours that eventually stifle social cohesion and development. We must replace these negative attitudes with honesty, peace, cooperation and respect for law and order,” he said.

“Crime, violence and lawlessness are eroding and destroying the very foundation of our society. These are negative aspects of the culture that we must dispose [of], as well as disruptiveness and counter productivity,” he added.

Williams was addressing the St James Municipal Corporation’s annual National Heroes’ Day Civic and Awards Ceremony, held in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay on Monday, October 17.

During the function, hosted jointly with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), 11 people were honoured for outstanding service to the parish.

Nine people received the Sam Sharpe Award for work in the fields of community service, education, and industry and commerce, while two people got special awards for gallantry.

Mayor Williams commended the recipients as he urged citizens to take pride in the island’s rich cultural heritage and be inspired by the indomitable spirit of the forefathers.

In his National Heroes’ Day message read by Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Richard Vernon, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that citizens must draw from the outstanding qualities that the island’s National Heroes possessed.

“Our heroes, through their sacrifice and struggle, are extraordinary models and lessons in resolve, strength of character, grit, determination, selflessness, grace, and dignity. They represent the potential of our future, if we model their examples, learn from their experience, and draw inspiration from their sacrifice and accomplishments,” he noted.

He urged Jamaicans to fight against those figurative shackles in the society “representing the mindset and mentality, which holds us captive and prevents us from realising our full potential as a people and as a nation.”

Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen, in his message read by Custos of St James, Bishop Conrad Pitkin, said that citizens must be grateful for the accomplishments the nation has achieved and work to preserve the island’s cultural heritage

The civic ceremony was held under the theme ‘Reigniting greatness through our heritage’.