After a three-year hiatus, the Old Boys volunteers were happy to be once again hosting their premier event on the calendar. All the background work had been done and it was now showtime! There was a little anxiety as there were still rumblings of a pandemic, Mother’s Day was the following day and it had rained all day. However, with true Fortis spirit, the expectation was that it would be a great event.

The catering staff had everything in place as was expected. Both DJ’s, Prentice and Baby Q were prepped and ready. Program director, Mr. Barry Burke-Green, and Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Bob DeSouza, were also in the house. Entertainer Glen Samuels was raring to go. We were ready!

Close to the starting time, guests started arriving in their ones, twos and in small groups and were directed to their tables which were already laden with snacks. People who had not seen each other for a period, greeted each other warmly and mingled in small groups, catching up on old times. The cocktail hour offering was sumptuously laid out in the center of the room and people ate with the soothing music of Prentice in the air. A continuously running video slide of past Kinston College and KCOBAUSA  events, provided an entertaining and informative backdrop.

The main event got underway around 10pm with Bob DeSouza welcoming all the guests and thanking them for making the effort for coming out to support a great cause. He then turned over the rostrum to Mr. Barry Burke-Green who led the crowd in singing two rousing and memorable renditions of both the USA and Jamaican national anthems. Director, Mr. Norman Scott conducted the invocation and led the gathering in prayer. Mr. Christopher Benjamin brought well wishes from the Consul General of Jamaica. President of the Union of Jamaican Alumni Association (UJAA), Lesleyann Samuels, also had a message for the occasion.  President Dwayne Montaque message was concise even while acknowledging all the stakeholders.  He reminded those in the audience that the association was celebrating its 40th year of serving Kingston College and thanked the honorees and attendees for making the effort to commemorate the occasion.

The principal’s message was given via a video clip as he was not in attendance. He commended the association for its yeoman service to the school. Principal Myrie said that he had an excellent working relationship with the association’s previous president, Perry Bloomfield and expected nothing less with the new president and administration.

While the dinner was being served, the award section of the program started with a video presentation to the renowned UK, Radio Personality, Mr. Everal “Bobo El Numero Uno” Cranston who could not make it to the event. He was profuse in his joy to be honored by his alma mater and to be part of a group of stellar honorees. Mr. Dennis Pottinger, a classmate of Bobo when they first entered KC, accepted the plaque on behalf of Mr. Cranston. Dennis pointed out that Bobo told him that the award meant so much to him, that he insisted on Dennis being dressed in the manner he did; fully representing the purple and white of Kingston College.

The other distinguished alumni awards went to Mr. Clive “Lele” Bariffe, Mr. Charles Headlam, Dr. Noel Constantine Gray, Sr., Dr. Ronald Gray (posthumously) and the awards were presented by Dr. Hugh Parker of Jamaica Smiles, Secretary Winston Henry, former Director, Brian Morrison and Director, Dr. Clinton Daley. The alumni awardees all gave short speeches expressing their heartfelt gratitude for being honored. Charles Headlam was especially touched when he recollected his days at KC and those who had helped him along the way.

Mrs. Sheree Palmer, the esteemed founder and principal of Cambria Center for the gifted child, was presented the Community Service Award by Director Alton Brown. Mrs. Palmer was graceful in accepting the award and thank the association for recognizing the work she has been doing over the years.

The MC, then turned over the microphone to keynote speaker, Mr. Winston Stewart, who himself was a previous president of the association. Stewie, as he is affectionately known, provided a genesis of the organization, the people who were instrumental in forming it and kept it going and the goals. He highlighted the many successes and collaborations the association had brought about and the number of other things on the agenda left to do. There was a sense that he could have said more but it was time to dance!

Mr. Brian Morrison read his poem, “Passing the Baton” which implore those in attendance, not to drop the baton which had been handed off to us by the honorees and other stalwarts associated with making Kingston College the revered institution that it is.

At around midnight, Mr. Glenn Samuels (formerly of Fab 5) took centerstage and regaled the crowd with some well-known Jamaican reggae favorites. He gave a lively performance which segued neatly into the DJ’S. They took over and kept the crowding jigging until the lights were turned on a little after 2am on Mother’s Day! Prentice closed out the night’s music and was in his usual form of anticipating what the crowd wanted.

On behalf of KCOBAUSA INC. I am hereby expressing a heartfelt appreciation & gratitude to our event honorees, attendees, members, partners, sponsors, advertisers, and volunteers for making KCOBA USA, Inc.’s 2022 Annual Reunion & Awards Gala the great success that it was. Pictures of the events may be found at the following link: https://kcobausa.org/reunion-awards-dinner/?_gallery=gg-40-2306

KCOBA USA Annual Reunion & Awards Gala 2022

A special recognition to the following: 

 Our event hosting partner Antun’s

• Consulate General of Jamaica - New York
• The Union of Jamaica Alumni Association USA, Inc. (UJAA) and fellow UJAA member Organizations in attendance.
• The Jamaica Nurses Association of New York
• Alltime Printing
• VP Records
• Prestige Management
• McCall’s-Bronxwood Funeral Home
• The Facey Realty

It is due to your generous support & trust that we can conduct our ongoing mission work while also celebrating 40 Years as a charitable Organization!!

We will do this again next year!

Sincerely

Winston Henry.
Secretary.