Businessman didn’t anticipate National Award for brave act

As the country gears up to honour more than 100 Jamaicans on National Heroes Day, one individual slated for an award has recalled his surprise at the Independence Day revelation that he would be recognised for his bravery under life and death circumstances last year.

Dwight Moore, gas station owner and operator, is one of the recipients of this year’s Badge of Honour for
Gallantry, for his bravery and heroism in saving the life of a policeman who was under attack on August 19, 2020.

Our Today spoke with the small business owner last week as he went about a regular day, unchanged by his status as a national honouree.

Moore shared that, unfortunately, in the course of operating a gas station in the Cross Roads area, coming face to face with criminal activity is a common occurrence. Business owners and operators, especially, are more susceptible than most to this type of activity.

“The good, the bad and the ugly traverse the gas station,” Moore shared.

On the day in question, he recalled that two customers were conversing when they were approached by a gunman.

The two customers happened to be policemen dressed in casual attire and acting in their private capacities.

The encounter escalated into a chase between the gunman and one of the policemen.

Seeing the ordeal, and with his experience as a member of the Jamaica Rifle Association for more than 20 years, Moore did not hesitate to intervene, taking control of the gunman’s firearm and saving the policeman’s life.

After this unpleasant experience, Moore did not anticipate receiving an award for his action as it wasn’t the first time he had got involved in looking out for his fellow man.

“I have been involved in a number of situations to rescue persons, so it was not unusual to me,” said the newly commissioned justice of the peace whose parents have also been recipients of National Honours.

So, surprised by the award, Moore acknowledged it was something he would cherish.

“This puts me in a special category of persons who the government sees as worthy to get an award,” he told Our Today.

Individuals in various strata of the society have also reached out to commend him on seeing his name among the list of awardees that was published on August 6.

“This makes me feel very valued and appreciated,” he said.

It is a sentiment that is sure to be shared by the other 142 recipients of national honours and awards, especially the other individual who has been acknowledged for a singular act of bravery.

That person is Kyme Matthew Duncan, who has been recognised with the Badge of Honour for Gallantry for his bravery in rescuing his elderly and physically impaired neighbour from a burning building on March 6 this year.

The 59th annual National Honours and Awards Ceremony is set to take place tomorrow, starting at 9 am.

Topping the list of recipients is Professor Donald Harris, the father of United States Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been recognised with membership in the Order of Merit for his contribution to national development.

Long before being known as the vice president’s father, Harris carved out a career as a respected economist and is professor emeritus at Stanford University. He has served Jamaica at various times as an economic policy consultant to the Government and as economic adviser to successive prime ministers.

Full list of National Honours and Awards recipients