Howard Deers, a business man from Montego Bay, was honored with the Spirit of Independence award by the St. James Parish Council. Deers has been characterized as someone who has the “city at heart.” Coming from Railway Gardens, Deers has volunteered his services to St. James Parish and the city of Montego Bay for many years. He was recognized for his work with inner-city youth, and particularly for his contributions to the Jamaica Movement for the Advancement of Literacy (JAMAL), now known as the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL), the Arts and Culture Center of Montego Bay, and for his work as a Sports Coordinator for the Social Development Commission (SDC).