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Digicel Chairman and Founder, Denis O’Brien, last week was presented with the American Friends of Jamaica Humanitarian Award.

The award comes in recognition of Mr. O’Brien’s commitment to moving communities forward in a positive way and was presented to him at a glittering gala dinner at Capitale in New York.

The event was hosted by the President of the AFJ, Ambassador the Honourable Sue Cobb and was also attended by a host of dignitaries including the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honourable Andrew Holness; Her Excellency Ms Audrey Marks, Jamaican Ambassador to the US; Her Excellency the Honorable Pamela Bridgewater, US Ambassador to Jamaica; the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism; and the Honourable Daryl Vaz, Minister with Special Responsibility in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Along with the hundreds of guests who were in attendance – there were also video tributes to the American Friends of Jamaica and to Denis O’Brien from HRH the Prince of Wales, the Patron of the AFJ – and from President William Jefferson Clinton with live entertainment provided by reggae sensations, Third World.

In accepting the honour, Mr. O’Brien said; “It’s always been my view that if you do business in a country and make money there – then you should also be reinvesting some of that money in positive community development. As such, at Digicel, giving back to our communities is at the very heart of our business ethos.

“All of what we have achieved would not have been possible without the welcome of the Jamaican people and the way in which they have continued to support us. The American Friends of Jamaica is to be commended on its focus on and dedication to improving the lives of Jamaicans.

“Thank you to them and thank you to the American Friends of Jamaica for this wonderful award – I am truly honoured to accept it.”