The Jamaica Observer’s 25th anniversary celebrations continued in spectacular style, Tuesday last, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, with an awards dinner that feted the newspaper’s founders and long-serving members of staff, politicos, members of the diplomatic corps, industry titans, socialites and media moguls. The glitzy, Ann Marie Wyss—affair commenced with a red-carpet welcome and witnessed guests enjoying top-shelf liquor, the musical styling of violinist Dr Jessica Yap and a not-so-typical four-course dinner created by the award-winning culinary team of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

Vignettes told the story of how Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Ken Gordon, Delroy Lindsay and Dr George Phillip turned a shared vision into reality.

Karen Smith affectionately known as Jamaica’s songbird and backed by Desi Jones and his band presented a set so memorable — think: songs from every musical era locally and internationally — that a full 24 hours after the event remained the topic of conversation!

The Silver Anniversary celebrations afforded the opportunity to acknowledge 25 companies who have been advertising with the newspaper since its first publication on March 7, 1993, even as it honoured Observer Executive Editor — Publications Vernon Davidson and Display Sales Executive Beverley Clarke Johnson for 25 years of service.

The evening’s most impactful moment, however, came during the announcement of 25 scholarships to children of the staff of the Jamaica Observer, students of The University of the West Indies and the University of Technology, with the appreciative responses on behalf of the recipients by Cherries Wiles of UWI and Alicia Brown of UTech.

SO gives UTech student Alicia Brown the last words… “It is a known fact that with the Jamaica Observer Every Day Matters!

So, Mr Stewart, It is obvious by this grand gesture that our daily lives truly matter to you!

There can be no disputing that.

Cheers!