St Ann farmer gets special award
Published:Wednesday | October 17, 2018 | 12:00 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
ST ANN'S BAY, St Ann:
A humble, mild-mannered farmer who, for several years, has donated produce from his small farm in Brown's Town, St Ann, to the St Ann Infirmary, was among seven people receiving special awards on National Heroes Day in the parish.
Williams, who was awarded in the area of Community Service, has been packing bags of food produce from his small farm in Brown's Town, boarding a bus that's heading to Ocho Rios and disembarking at Priory, where the infirmary is.
He had spent several years working in the construction industry with his uncles before they passed, after which he started farming, over a decade ago. On any given day, he can be seen in his hometown pushing his handcart laden with foodstuff from his farm - yam, sweet potato, pumpkin, corn and peas - seeking buyers.
One day he had occasion to visit the infirmary and, according to him, he realised they needed help.
With only food to give, Williams, a dedicated Christian who attends the Brown's Town Baptist Church, decided that was exactly what he would do.
"When I went to the infirmary, I saw the need," Williams told The Gleaner after receiving his award at the ceremony, held next to the statue of National Hero Marcus Garvey, on the grounds of the St Ann Parish Library.
"But what I'm doing, I can't do it by myself. It's just because of God, just God because we cannot do nothing without him. Plus, as a Christian that is my desire, the Lord's way. It's a few years well I've been doing that, but true the lady come pon mi sudden, I tell her two years...,"
Williams was happy for the recognition and thanked the St Ann Municipal Corporation for the award.
Other awardees on the evening were Roy Cunningham in the area of entrepreneurship; Beverley Skervin-Cannigan (Education), Iris Marie Russell (Education), Clive Brown (Sports and Community Development), Neville McConnell (Disaster Preparedness) and Rev Michael Campbell for Religion Community Service.
The awardees were each presented with a plaque and a citation.