THE EIGHT Annual Caribbean Hall of Fame Awards for Excellence will be held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston on Friday, September 12 starting at 6 p.m.
The annual awards are staged by the Caribbean Development for the Arts and Culture Foundation in association with the 30th anniversay celebrations of CARICOM.
According to executive director of the Foundation, Garnett Reid, this year eight of the awards will go to Eastern Caribbean nations, while the other 17 will go to Jamaicans.
The over 200 nominees for the awards were chosen by persons connected with the Institute of Jamaica, the Little Theatre Movement, the print and electronic media, the Jamaica Federation of Musicians and Insport. The selection committee had been meeting for the past year to make their selections.
Patron of the Awards is His Excellency, Sir Howard Cooke, who will be presented with the gift of a painting by Jamaican artists Alexander Cooper and Barrington Watson at the function.
"These awards are in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by those in the region who have achieved excellence in arts and culture," said Mr. Reid. "I advise young Jamaicans to take their cue from these people who have made tremendous contributions over the years."
He said that the function will be a " red carpet, champagne affair." Presenters will be Michael Anthony Cuffe and Norma Brown-Bell. Entertainment will be provided by Fab Five, Inc., Abijah, Gem Myers, A.J. Brown and debuntant groups the Inc and Tinny.
Recipients over the years have included Courtney Walsh, Professor Rex Nettleford, Sir Philip Sherlock, Leonie Forbes, Jimmy Cliff, David Boxer, Lord Kitchener, Byron Lee, Barbara Gloudon, Charles Hyatt, Freddie McGregor, Trevor Rhone, Dr. A.D. Scott, Oliver Samuels, Sonny Bradshaw, Monty Alexander, Peter Abrahams, Carl Bradshaw, Father Holung, Jamaica Library Service, Jamaica Musical Theatre and Sandals Resorts International.
Chairman of the Foundation is Clover Thompson, while the selection committee is headed by Dr. Ruttie Mitchell and also includes Weston Haughton, Merline Daley, Hyacinth Bennett, Oliver Samuels and Greta Robinson.
