News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. July 25, 2023: Jamaican-born Grammy-winning singer, Shaggy and Jamaican American Emmy-Award winning actress, Jamaican Sheryl Lee Ralph, are among the top honorees for the 2023 New York Jamaica Independence Gala this August.

Shaggy, seen here performing on stage at PNE Amphitheatre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, will be honored at the NY Jamaica Gala on August 19th. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images)

Orville “Shaggy” Burrell will receive the Jamaica Independence Award for being an International Cultural Icon in Reggae Music and Philanthropy while Lee Ralph, OJ, will be presented with the Jamaica Independence Award for her outstanding contribution to Film and Television.

Jamaicaā€™s Consul General to NY, Alsion Wilson, announced the stellar lineup of 2023 honorees and said ā€œhave displayed unwavering commitment, remarkable talent, and unparalleled contributions in their respective fields.ā€

The other honorees are:

Assistant Chief of the NYPD Police Ruel Stephenson, who will be presented with the Jamaica Independence Award for Leadership in Law and Enforcement and Community Development;

Stephen Facey, Chairman of the Pan Jamaica Group, who will be presented with the Jamaica Independence Award for Business Leadership and the Development of Jamaica;

Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton, a highly respected dermatologist and successful entrepreneur, who will be honored with the Jamaica Independence Award for Woman of Excellence in Medicine and Business;

Marc Jerome, the president of Monroe College, who will be recognized for Education Excellence and the Development of Jamaica and,

Marlon Lindsay, the dynamic CEO of 21 Cent Ed, who will be receiving the Jamaica Independence Award for Leadership in STEM Education and Entrepreneurship.

Set to take place at the prestigious New York Hilton Midtown on Saturday, August 19th, starting at 6:30 pm, the gala promises an evening of excellence.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, ON, will deliver the 61 Independence Message, spotlighting on the theme “Proud and Strong.”

Tickets for the Jamaica Independence Gala can be purchased through Eventbrite or the event’s official website at jamaicaindependencegalany.com.

The Jamaica Independence Gala is an annual event held in New York, celebrating Jamaica’s rich culture and heritage. Hosted by the Consulate General of Jamaica, New York in partnership with the Jamaicaā€™s Promise Foundation, the gala aims to bring together Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica to recognize the nation’s independence while supporting various charitable causes in Jamaica. The 2023 gala will serve as a platform to support these charitable causes, focusing on uplifting the nation and its people.