Papa San hold his Sashi Award up high as he makes an impromptu performance. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer MICROPHONE PROBLEMS caused a late start to the Sashi Awards dinner on Wednesday night. In fact, microphone problems were the order of the night, as they occurred on several occasions.
The awards dinner is a fund-raising event put on by LOY Entertainment, the promoters of Sashi, annually and is held to reward persons who have done well in their respective fields. This year, it was held at the Grand Lido San Souci in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.
The function did not start at 7:00 p.m. as was previously announced and when it did at minutes to 10, MC for the evening, Jerry D, explained that the late start was due to technical problems. The technical problems soon became apparent when his microphone chipped out during his explanation.
In-between trying to speak around this problem, Jerry D managed to explain the reason for the gathering, which he said was to raise funds for the Exchange All-Age School in Ocho Rios.
To ensure that each member of the audience gave to the worthy cause, he instructed that envelopes be passed out.
The patrons were then asked to put money in the envelopes.
Before this however, MC Jerry D decided to make the occasion slightly different by promising a $1,000 to the first person who brought five envelopes to the front of the stage. No one could and he reduced the number to three envelopes, but broadened the requirements.
Instead of five envelopes, the first patron now had to carry a companion. Not only that; when the couple reached the stage, Jerry D threw in the extra condition that the couple had to kiss for 10 seconds.
The couple's action drew laughter from the audience, as they desperately tried to kiss for the 10-second duration.
Sonia Tracy, guidance counsellor for the Exchange All-Age School was then called on to explain why the institution was in need of charity. The counsellor, who pointed out that her talent was to offer advice, said the school needed the money to help with the skills training centre for students in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades.
She too was affected by microphone problems.
The other highlight of the night was the awarding of entertainer Papa San, businessmen Andrew 'Andy' Chin and Kumaindru Dadlani and swimmer Barrington Roper for excellence in their respective fields.
San, it was said, was the first Jamaican to hit the Billboard's Gospel and Reggae album charts simultaneously. He also has 10 number ones to his credit, as well as two singles on the Billboard charts.
Chin and Dadlani were awarded for their charity work in St. Ann, while Roper was recognised for his excellence in swimming.
