The awardees pose for a photo after Portmore, Municipal Council Heroes Day ceremony at Portmore Pines Plaza on Monday. - Anthony Minott photos

The Portmore Municipal Council honoured community members and organisations that in their own way developed and/or enhanced the municipality's brand during a Heroes Day ceremony at Portmore Pines Plaza on Monday.

The West Indies Home Contractors (WIHCON) was awarded for their development of Portmore. Over the years, WIHCON built some 16 housing projects, with a total of some 26,000 houses, providing affordable accommodation for an estimated 110,000 persons all across Portmore.

The Portmore Metropolitan Cricket League, through its president, Charles Simpson, was also honoured while Bridgeport High's Shantal Hamilton received the Mayor's award for academic achievements.

Special award

Bridgeport High school received a special award. The high school, with the only six-form programme in the municipality with over 2,000 students and 100 members of staff, has given sterling contribution to Portmore in education, sports and the performing arts. Bridgeport twice won the Manning Cup, and also have titles in the Walker Cup and Olivier Shield.

West Indies and Jamaican cricketer Wavell Hinds, who was unavoidably absent, was recognised for his service to sports. Portmore historian Kennedy Reid, Power of Faith Ministries International and the Portmore Chorale were also recognised.

Portmore politicians George Lee, who is serving as Portmore mayor for the second time, and former MP for South East St Catherine, Dr Paul Robertson, and Fitz Jackson, MP for South St Catherine, were also given awards for their service. Fitz Jackson is the longest-serving MP in Portmore.

Meanwhile, during the ceremony, a number of schools and organisations, paid tribute to our national heroes, while the reigning Mini Miss Teen Portmore, Titannia MycKo, did a traditional Jamaican dialect.