MONTEGO BAY, St James — Sandals Foundation Executive Director Heidi Clarke was among those honoured during the St James Independence Civic and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday.

Clarke received the Mayor’s Special Award for 2025 in recognition of her years of community service. She has been at the helm of the foundation for the last 17 years but stressed that she does not deserve all the credit for the difference it has made in the lives of so many.

“It’s a great honour, obviously, to receive an award for community service but it takes a village and it’s the whole Sandals team that makes this possible — Sandals, Beaches,” Clarke told the Jamaica Observer following the event.

She was one of nine people lauded — and among four who received the Mayor’s Special Award — during a pomp-filled ceremony. She took time Wednesday, to reflect on what the foundation has accomplished.

“For me it’s been from strength to strength; we have grown, we have learned where we have the most impact,” Clarke said.

“We have learned how to scale our work and we have learned how to have tourism have a footprint far and wide in the Caribbean, and we’re just really pleased to be able to partner with so many incredible people to make this possible. I’m just happy to collect this on their behalf,” added Clarke.

Also presented with the Mayor’s Special Award were twin brothers, Vinton and Dwayne Haughton, who were honoured for their contribution to the development of music. Both are educators who have taught the art of music through their Young Jamaica Ensemble at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College and other locations.

“I’m elated! This is something that I am appreciative of: to be honoured in such a way for what we do as educators,” Vinton remarked.

“[This is recognition of] what we do with our students — whether they are in our communities or whether they are in our classrooms. I’m elated and I’m happy and I am glad for it,” he continued.

Dwayne recently took on a new role as an immigration officer, but that hasn’t dampened his passion for teaching music. He never expected to receive an award simply for doing what he enjoys.

“Honestly I don’t like to be in the limelight, I like to be in the background but I was actually surprised when I got the call from the St James Municipal Corporation,” Dwayne told the Observer.

The brothers said they will continue to help youngsters learn music.

“Whether they are in the communities that are contiguous to the college, like Granville or Tucker, or whether they are as far away as Lilliput, as long as they have an interest and they can play and perform, we are willing to take them and train them and give them the opportunities to go and perform at no cost to them,” Vinton stated.

This year’s other recipient of the Mayor’s Special Award was Tricia Ann Becarie, who was recognised for work done in the field of tourism.

Meanwhile, Spirit of Independence Awards were presented to Heather Robertson, in the field of health care; Clive Anthony Brown was honoured for his work in the area of community service; Dr Dawn Lemonias was acknowledged for the impact she has made in the field of tourism; Everton Esmie was recognised for his work in the field of commerce and industry; while David McIntosh was lauded for work done in arts and culture.

Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon presents the Mayor’s Special Award to executive director of the Sandals Foundation Heidi Clarke during Wednesday’s civic ceremony in St James.

Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon (seated, centre) surrounded by parish awardees during a civic ceremony in St James on Wednesday. In the front row, from left, are Sandals Foundation Executive Director Heidi Clarke; Heather Robertson, Dr Dawn Lemonias, Anna Kay Morgan (representing Tricia Becarie). In the back row, from left, are Dwayne Haughton, Clive Brown, Everton Esmie, David McIntosh and Vinton Haughton.