2016 CARIBBEAN HALL OF FAME

This year’s music industry inductees – Donovan Germain, Robert Livingston, Gussie Clarke, Tony Gregory,
Junor Reid and I-Octane, the visual and performing arts inductees –Barrington Watson, Webster Campbell, Winston Ewart, Volier Johnson, the culture inductees- The Most Hon. Edward Seaga, Gina Hargitay, Gaverly McGowan and Arnold Bertram and sport icons inductees- Deon Hemmings, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Elaine Thompson, Omar McLeod, Kirani James, Winston Griffiths, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Alphonso Cunningham, Molly Rhone, Marva Bernard, Stephen Francis and Glen Mills.

This prestigious red carpet event was a memorable one, with a team of ushers, who are students of the
Caribbean Maritime Institute, were clad in white sailor suits, they escort the inductees, guests and performers to their seats and on off the stage. To top off the event, they had an exquisite menu of top shelve alcohol brands, delectable hors d’oeuvre and an after party. The evening’s entertainment lineup was magnificent, with backing band-Tower, performing of African dance from the City Dancers, gospel artists Kevin Downswell and Karen “ Sista Sasha” Chin, Jamaica’s First Lady of Jazz- Myrna Hague, Tony Gregory, former of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, who was an inductee, Reggae/Dancehall artists, Half Pint, Bugle, Gem Myers, French Dancehall artist Charly B, Canadian Pop artist Delon OM feature Canadian Dancehall artist Trinity Chris.

The attendees were a mixture of top governments diplomats, sports icon, visual arts and music industry
key players. The Caribbean Hall Of Fame was founded in 1989 by Garnet Reid, a Jamaican who saw the need for highlighting and recognizing Caribbean natives who are talented and excelled with excellence in their field, which supports the development and contribute to the region global recognition. Stated Reid,”
come 2017, the Caribbean Hall Of Fame will be bigger and better.

Commentary

Vision Newspaper Canada was very much present at the 13th staging of the Caribbean Hall of Fame Awards. It was an impressive line up of artistes who performed, and witnessed by a respectable number persons, including members of the diplomatic community, government officials and other dignitaries. Among those attending were Mr. David Fritton, British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Her Excellency Cecilia Jaber, Ambassador of Mexico in Jamaica, Yuri Peshkov, Programme Specialist for Culture Cluster office for the Caribbean,UNESCO, , Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Culture Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, Education Minister, Jamaica, Carla Seaga, wife and daughter Annabelle, of Edward Seaga, Hon. Dr. Patricia Dunwell, Custos Rotolorium of St.Andrew, Jamaica, to name a few.

Edward Seaga

The Most Honourable Edward Phillip George Seaga was inducted with a lifetime Heritage Award for his invaluable contribution to Culture in Jamaica for about five decades. Mr. Seaga, a former PM is an iconic figure in the Caribbean. He is the last surviving member of the drafters of the Jamaican Constitution. One of the founding fathers of the Jamaican nation.

It was a glittering affair that was held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Friday 25, 2016.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie, SIC was there and filed this report for Vision Newspaper Canada.