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Irwine Clare, the chair of Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB), was honoured for his leadership of the organization and its volunteers at the TJB village at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 29, 2023, the last day of the competition.

Clare Recognized for 29 Years of Service

Consul General of Jamaica New York, Alsion Wilson, presented Clare with an award and citation in recognition of his 29 years of service as TJB’s chair and his strong advocacy for and contribution to the development of Jamaica’s athletes from high school through college and into the future. Under Clare’s leadership, TJB established an initiative to provide automatic defibrillators to schools to enhance the health and safety of young athletes in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean. The award represented the admiration and gratitude of the Consulate General of Jamaica New York to Clare and his team of volunteers who have had a major influence on many athletes and their families, effecting improvements in their lives. During his tenure, the organization has received many awards and proclamations during his 29-year tenure as chair.

Read: Jamaican Irwine Clare, Receives AMCHAM Award

A Proud Son of St. Ann 

Clare was born in Bamboo, St. Ann, Jamaica, and attended York Castle High School. He was the first student council leader to serve after Jamaica’s former Prime Minister Michael Manley launched a movement to create student councils throughout the country. At the age of 16, he was appointed to the National Discipline Committee of Jamaica’s Ministry of Education. He also attended a number of leadership conventions in Cuba and Jamaica, and when he migrated to the United States, was a founding member of the Union of Jamaican Alumni Association.

His Mother Inspired Life of Service

Clare credits his mother with inspiring him to public service as she belonged to the Jamaica Agricultural Society, the 4H Club, and her church. She built the foundational school and library in Bamboo and succeeded in bringing telephone service to the community. She emphasized the importance of service and education in her son, and he honored her influence by continuing to follow a path of service after he came to the US.

Gives Thanks for Consul General’s Recognition

In an interview with Caribbean Life, Clare noted that recognizing his achievements with TJB was a testament to the core group of volunteers who have contributed toward his vision of helping athletes. He added that those at TJB take pride in their brand and their partners as they continue to focus on the welfare of Jamaican athletes who continue to astound the public with their achievements in track and field around the world.  Clare, who is the managing director of Caribbean Immigrant Services, Inc. based in Jamaica, Queens, New York, expressed his gratitude for the award and promised to continue to “play his part” in finding opportunities for young Jamaicans through sports.

 Team Jamaica Bickle Supports Caribbean Athletes Abroad

Team Jamaica Bickle is the leader in providing support services to athletes from the Caribbean, especially those from Jamaica, who participate in the yearly Penn Relays Carnival held at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The organization was established in 1994 with the motto, “Our Athletes, Our Ambassadors.” Its services apply to a delegation of some 650 students and coaches from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana, and Grenada. It has extended its services to students and coaches from Belize, the Bahamas, Barbados, and the US Virgin Islands over its years in operation. TJB provides meals, physical therapy, mentorship, medical service, ground transportation, and subsidized hotel and airfare. It was the first organization to become a participating sponsor of the Penn Relays in 1999 and thus the first foreign flag flown at the Penn Relays was a Jamaican flag.

Photo – Official Facebook Page for Team Jamaica Bickle

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The Fort Lauderdale Marriott North was certainly the place to be on Friday May 5th (Cinco de Mayo), as the hosting venue to celebrate the musical legacy and achievements of Spice, ‘Queen of the Dancehall’.  Dubbed  ‘Spice up the Vision’, this special occasion was well attended with a festive atmosphere.   What’s more, there were a number of government officials from various South Florida cities in attendance, including the City of Tamarac’s Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton (who is the youngest and first-ever black vice mayor of Tamarac), Commissioner Morey Wright; Miramar City Commissioners Alexandra P. Davis, Maxwell Chambers, Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne; City of Westpark Commissioners Joy Smith, Dr. Katrina Touchstone; Mayor John H. Taylor, Jr. of Opa-locka; and Lauderhill City Commissioner, Ray Martin.

A Red Carpet Welcome

Spice making her grand red carpet entrance  – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Red Carpet Entrance – Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Red Carpet Entrance, City of Miramar Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis – Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Red Carpet Entrance, City of Miramar Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne – Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Red Carpet Entrance, City of Miramar Commissioner Maxwell Chambers and Julie Mango – Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

MC duties for the evening were handled by Julie Mango with DJ Fergie on the wheels of steel for tune jugglin’.  A special musical performance was also given by Costa Rican violinist, Steven Avi.

Julie Mango – Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Violinist Steven Avi – Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Violinist Steven Avi – Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Spice Has Had an Illustrious Career in Music Spanning Well Over a Decade

Born under the name, Grace Hamilton, Spice is widely recognized as one of the most prominent and accomplished Jamaican dancehall artists in the world.  These days, Spice is not only a dancehall recording artist, singer, songwriter, but also an established business woman and entrepreneur.  With her career kicking off in the early 2000s, Spice really made her mark with her smash hit collab alongside dancehall juggernaut Vybz Kartel aka ‘World Boss’ with their racy single—‘Romping Shop’.   The duo later followed up with ‘Conjugal Visit’ which has garnered over 100 million views on YouTube.  And not only is Spice known for her lyrical dexterity and epic on stage performances—especially at the Annual Reggae Sumfest festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica—but also her creativity where her outfits are concerned.

In 2018, Spice was featured as a cast member of VH1’s reality TV series, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta in its seventh season as a follow up to her guest star appearance on the show in season six.  And so it was only fitting to see her former cast members and good friends, Erica Mena and Rasheeda in attendance to celebrate the ceremonious evening alongside Spice.

Erica Mena – Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Rasheeda and Erica Mena – Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Awards Ceremony Segment

Spice was born in the hard-scrabble, gritty city of Spanish Town, St. Catherine and was raised in Braeton, Portmore.  She lost her father when she was only nine years old.  During her ‘Key to the Region’ acceptance speech, Spice spoke very highly of her late dad, while touting her mother’s strength and endurance in raising her, her siblings and guiding them through their many stretches of hard times.

Spice making her ‘Key to the Region’ acceptance speech in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Spice as a child was an avid church goer and often lead the choir as a singer.  She had aspirations of becoming an accountant, but later decided on a career path in music and enrolled at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston to further that pursuit.  During that time and thereafter, Spice made her foray into the dancehall music genre as a deejay on local stage shows.  And as they say, the rest is history.

City of Tamarac Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton – Awards Ceremony Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Awards Ceremony – Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Bashment Time:  Spice Took the Stage to Get the Party Started

In taking to the stage and then joining the crowd on the dance floor, Spice capped off the wonderful evening doing what she does best.  A special thanks to all who made this marvelous event possible, especially City of Tamarac’s Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton, who was a primary sponsor and event organizer.  And last but not least, congrats to Spice for all she has contributed to Jamaican music and culture with her remarkable career achievements and accomplishments both on and off the stage.

Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Honoring Spice in South Florida – (Marriott Hotel North, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Photos –  Nick Ford

The post Spice, ‘Queen of the Dancehall’, Honoured in Red Carpet Affair, Awarded Key to South Florida Region appeared first on Jamaicans.com.