Heroes Day Ceremony Recognizes Outstanding Contributions to Parish from Different Fields
ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann; Oct. 21, 2026
Nine people from St Ann were honoured at the traditional Heroes Day Honours and Awards Ceremony put on by the St Ann Municipal Corporation (SAMC), in St Ann’s Bay on Monday, October 19, 2026.
Seven of the nine were from a variety of fields of endeavour, and two were special awards for service to the Corporation.
Those honoured and their areas of service were: Rev George Sittol, Religion; Dr Darien Henry, Media and Communications; Joy Roberts, Tourism; Dr Huntley Brown, Philanthropy; Patricia Pottinger Bailey, Community Service; Patricia Gardener, Education; Phillip Benjamin, Disaster Response.
(Awardees with plaques and citations are joined by Custos Joseph Issa, standing 4th from left, and SAMC councillors in this photo)
Receiving the special awards were the current longest-serving political representative in the SAMC, Councillor Sydney Stewart, who has also served as Deputy Mayor and Mayor of St Ann’s Bay; and SAMC Human Resource Officer, Hilary DaCosta, for her services to the Civic Affairs Committee.
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(Co-host of the event Clement Reid giving a helping hand to Amarie Smith of Columbus Prep School)
Dozens of people, including supporters of the awardees, attended the civic ceremony at Lawrence Park, at the statue of Jamaica’s First National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey, St Ann’s Bay.
(SSP Carlos Russell, on dais at left, about to take the salute from the JCF, one of the uniformed groups at the event)
It got underway following the inspection of a parade of uniformed groups by Custos Joseph Issa;  Head of St Ann police, Senior Superintendent Carlos Russell, and Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis.
Pastor Paul Norman did the invocation, which was followed by a welcome given by Mayor Belnavis. The Mayor said Jamaica’s heroes should be celebrated, and he included among them members of the security forces who lost their lives in the line of duty. He condemned those people who used social media to criticize and denigrate members of the security forces.
Custos Issa brought greetings.
The civic function also saw brief citations being read to the National Heroes whose photographs were displayed on easels near the platform. A floral tribute was laid at each Hero’s photograph.
(The National Heroes were remembered too)
Myesha Broadie, Public Relations and Communications Officer at the SAMC, and Clement Reid, radio announcer, chaired the programme. Brandon Young, Amanda Marsh and United Yorkies delivered items of entertainment.
Chair of the Civic Affairs Committee, Councillor Geneva Gordon Bailey, gave the vote of thanks.
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