‘It never dawned on me until afterward’

WESTERN BUREAU:

Montego Bay-based reggae artiste Hezron Clarke never expected to be publicly honoured on Independence Day for his musical contributions to St James and the wider Jamaica.

Clarke, who was awarded for his contributions to art and culture in St James, was one of 12 awardees to receive the 2026 Spirit of Independence Award during this year’s Independence Day Flag Raising and Civic Ceremony in Montego Bay. Another five awardees received the Mayor’s Special Award for their contributions to nation-building within St James during the event, which was held under the theme ‘United in Celebrating Resilience’.

“At first, when I heard I would be awarded, I did not even believe it, and it never dawned on me until afterward. It was the kind of situation where you have been working for so long, and you see so many others getting awarded, to the point where I said I’m just going to work till my time comes,” 50-year-old Clarke admitted.

“I never even fully looked at the invitation properly, but then after a while, I sent the invitation around, and people start saying, ‘Yo, a big, big thing this, y’know.’ Then my mother called and said she was going to fly down for it,” Clarke added.

The artiste, who hails from Reading in St James, recalled that he was inspired to write his iconic Save the Children after a conversation with broadcaster Jennifer ‘Jenny Jenny’ Small about the abuses that some children in Jamaica experience, often at the hands of their own family members.

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

“At one time, I had a publicist that was doing some work with me in Kingston, ‘Jenny Jenny,’ and she was a strong advocate for children. She was telling me the things that go on with the kids when you see them in the street and at the stoplight – if you could go through their journey, you’ll see the abuse that they have suffered by loved ones who are supposed to be parents and protectors. That was what inspired the song,” said Clarke.

“I didn’t even expect it to have so much of an impact because when I write songs, I write it from my heart, and I write because it’s burning inside. But surprisingly, and rightfully so, it took on life, big time, and if you tune in to TVJ every morning, you hear that song,” Clarke continued. “It’s going to other places now because they are using it in Canada, and an organisation in Africa is using it.”

Clarke, who has recorded music in Jamaica for 18 years and whose other hits include Natural Woman, Smile Today, and Man on a Mission, said he plans to do a musical tour in Africa later this year, beginning September 1.

“I will be going back to Africa because of that song, Save the Children, and I will be performing in Ghana on September 5. The work is now surfacing, so I give thanks for that,” said Clarke.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com

2026 Spirit of

Independence Awardees

n Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, captain of the Sunshine Girls netball team, for contributing to Sports

n Jacinth Carey, netball coach for Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, for contributing to Sports

n Paulette Reid, office attendant at the Jamaica Information Service, for contributing to Media

n Hezron Clarke, reggae artiste, for contributing to Art and Culture

n Hudson Smith, operator of Fair Deal Hardware and Supplies Ltd, for contributing to Industry and Commerce

n Betty Ann Brown, human resources professional, for contributing to Tourism

n Tamika Williams, operator of Ahh … Ras Natango Gallery and Garden, for contributing to Tourism

n Karston ‘Kisko’ Walker, football and life coach, for contributing to Community Service

n Coleen Lawson-Taylor, Kiwanis Club member and Red Cross leader, for contributing to Community Service

n Marvetta Stewart-Richards, librarian, for contributing to Education

n Marcia Trout-Gordon, educator at Catadupa Primary School, for contributing to Education

n Delapenha’s Funeral Home, for contributing to Industry and Commerce

Mayor’s Special Award recipients

n Allan Ottey, football coach, for contributing to Sports

n Bruce Gaynor, sports administrator, for contributing to Sports

n Monica McIntyre, retired principal and pioneering member at the HEART/NSTA Trust, for contributing to Education

n Patricia Miller-Ward, customer service officer at the National Identification and Registration Authority, for contributing to Community Service

n Andrea Kerr-Finakin, president of the Rose Heights Community Development Committee, for contributing to Community Service