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Marcus Garvey Award goes to Belafonte

By Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

HARRY BELAFONTE, internationally acclaimed singer/actor, received the prestigious Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Award amidst thunderous applause and a standing ovation at the second annual staging of the Jamerican Film and Music Festival over the weekend.

The event was held at the Wyndham Rose Hall Hotel, in Montego.

As Mr. Belafonte, 72, walked towards the stage, his wife Julie cheered along with members of the capacity audience.

Obviously touched by the gesture, the performer stared at the award as if it could inspire the right words to say in appreciation.

Then the silence was broken. "I would like to express my deep sense of appreciation for the honour that has been bestowed on me. I do not treat it casually. "I believe those of us who have been beneficiaries of the greatness that this nation has to offer should respond with support and a commitment to Jamaica's plans for growth and development," he said.

Dr. Belafonte, who is of Jamaican parentage, was born in Harlem, New York, USA. At the same function, he also received the Grand Marnier Audience Choice Award and a gold watch, featuring 24 diamonds, from the New York-based Wittnauer International. And Jamaica's own Audrey Reid, star of the movie Dance Hall Queen, received the award for Best Caribbean Actress, while Paul Campbell, best known for his role in the movie Third World Cop also received the Marcus Garvey Lifetime Award for Best Effort as a Caribbean actor.

Best Effort In Caribbean Film award went to actor Clement Virgo. Philadelphia-based Yvette Small won the Best Documentary Award, while the Larry Lewis-directed movie, Zion By Bus, was adjudged Best Sound Track.

The HBO Family Recognition Achievement Award went to five Jamaican and United States-based children, while the Most Popular Movie of the Festival went to Canadian directors and co-directors of the movie, Love Disease.

Actress Sheryl-Lee Ralph, conceptualiser of the film festival, was presented with a 16-diamond studded gold Wittnauer watch, while her artistic director, Eugene Haynes, was presented got a gold watch, with 14 diamonds from the same company.

The presentations were made by Wittnauer International's president Charles Watkins and vice-president Lawrence Crider.

Some persons had to stand throughout the five-hour long ceremony.

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