Bounty Killer ‘overwhelmed’ by hometown honour

“I’m overwhelmed and grateful.”
Those were among the first words from dancehall icon Rodney ‘Bounty Killer’ Price after receiving the Key to the City of Kingston and witnessing Wenchman Road officially renamed Rodney Price Drive in his honour on Tuesday.
The Key to the City of Kingston is the highest civic honour bestowed by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC). The usually stern-faced deejay smiled broadly as he accepted the honours from Mayor of Kingston Councillor Andrew Swaby and the KSAMC before a cheering crowd at the Seaview Gardens Primary School.
Not even the intensity of the summer heat could keep residents away as members of the community turned out to celebrate one of their own. Dressed in a white short-sleeved button-down shirt, Price seemed the most prepared for the weather as members of parliament, councillors and community leaders in business attire wilted under the blazing sun.
Addressing the gathering, the entertainer said he was happy to be enjoying the fruits of his hard work. 
“They say a king never gets honour in his own land… but look at me now! This is more than just a ceremony; this is a celebration of my troubles, trials, triumph and greatness. This must be a template for all the young folks in Seaview Garden, to show that your dreams matter, but they don’t just come true; you have to create them. You dream big, and then you work hard with conviction. So I want to thank my mother and my father for bringing me into this world and thank the Almighty Father who took me through this colourful journey,” he said.
He added: “I’m overwhelmed and grateful for this moment, and words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for this. I remember the first time I saw my name on a record label. Every artiste can tell you what that does to your psyche when you look down, and you see your name. All when you nuh sell one copy, you just waa see you name. It made you feel like you are a real artiste.”
The presentation included the reading of the resolution, the display of the gazette, and the handing over of the citation and the Key to the City of Kingston, all of which were met with thunderous applause and cheers from residents.
In making the presentations, Swaby said people often make assumptions about what someone can achieve based on where they come from. 
“But an address does not determine one’s personal potential. What Bounty Killer’s life demonstrates in the clearest possible terms is that potential exists in every community. Talent, discipline, and determination can emerge from anywhere,” he said. 
“For our young people especially, we must continue to reinforce this message: where you start does not limit where you land. But for that potential to be realised, we must create the conditions that allow talent to grow. We must build an environment where creativity is recognised, supported, and allowed to become a source of value.”