(Jamaica Observer) A number of Jamaican Olympians have been shortlisted to be inducted in this year’s Caribbean Hall of Fame, as nominations open for the 13th staging of the Awards for Excellence.
Over 30 Caribbean nationals will be honoured for their outstanding contributions in the fields of sports, music, arts, and culture. The event –- hosted by the Caribbean Development for the Arts, Sports and Culture Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) – was first staged in 1989 and was last staged in 2014.
The list of nominees includes double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, 110m hurdles champion Omar McLeod, 4X100m relay gold medallists Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmeade and 4X100m relay silver medallist Veronica Campbell-Brown.
Also on the list are 400m bronze medallist Shericka Jackson, 4x400m relay silver medallists Javon Francis and Novlene Williams-Mills and 400m hurdler Dionne Hemmings, along with coaches Stephen Francis and Glen Mills.
In the music arena the list is headlined by Beresford Hammond, Etana, Sean Paul, and Shaggy. Minister Olivia Grange and former Prime Minister Edward Seaga have been shortlisted in the Cultural/Entertainment category.
This year, the Caribbean Hall of Fame Awards for Excellence will be held in association with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on November 25, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel at 7:00 pm.
It will be under the distinguished patronage of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen.
Garnett Reid, executive director, said the Foundation’s programme is geared towards strengthening and preserving Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean’s cultural heritage.
He noted that the main aims of the foundation are to “supervise and aid in the development of the creative ability of Caribbean people through creative planning, and to encourage the natural geniuses of our people to reach the highest point”.
This prestigious award will be made to persons who have excelled in their field of endeavour, and have exhibited unswerving commitment to the growth and development of a particular field.
The recipient of the hall of fame award must be a Caribbean national, whose performance has been recognised by the public and whose selection is not influenced or determined by factors of race, colour, sex, religion or political affiliation.
According to Reid, this organisation is the only one of its kind within the Caribbean to stage such an event, and he is therefore calling on other Caribbean Nations to support this “regional Red Carpet affair”.
