TWENTY young people will be presented with the 2023 Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence for achievements in various fields, at a ceremony scheduled for April 20 on the lawns of Jamaica House.

The award recipients will be selected from a list of more than 100 applicants who were shortlisted to 40 people.

These individuals went through a rigorous interview process and social interaction events before the final selections were made, chairman of the selection committee Fabian Brown told JIS News.

Equating the event to the national honours and awards, which is held annually in October, he said the award “is the highest honour that the country can bestow upon its young people for the great work and talent they display in the various categories”.

Brown said he was “very impressed and encouraged” by the calibre of applications that were submitted.

“Our young people are making us proud in every nook and cranny of our country,” he said, adding that, “It is safe to say that our nation is in very good hands.”

Recipients of this year’s awards will be recognised for their exceptional achievements in the categories of sports, agriculture, youth development, youth-serving organisation, arts and culture, academics, leadership, journalism/social media influencer, entrepreneurship, nation-building, international achievement, innovation in science and technology, and environmental protection.

There will also be the Prime Minister’s Special Award to be presented to an individual or organisation for exceptional achievement in their field of study or work.

The Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards for Excellence was introduced in 1998 to recognise young Jamaicans, aged 15 to 29, who have excelled and contributed to national development.

The award endorses each recipient as a positive role model for their peers and seeks to promote attitudinal change and social renewal by reinforcing the positive values of self-discipline, hard work, dedication, and humility.