Sandals, Couples tourism stalwarts honoured on Heroes Day

Paul Issa, deputy chairman of Couples Resorts and chairman of the Issa Trust Foundation, and Lyndsay Isaacs, Sandals Resorts’ regional public relations manager for the Ocho Rios region, were honoured by the St Ann Municipal Corporation at its Heroes Day ­ceremony on Monday in St Ann’s Bay.

Although better known for their involvement in tourism, the two were nonetheless recognised for their contributions in other areas – Issa for philanthropy and Isaacs for community service.

They, along with four other persons, were each presented with a plaque and a citation for their service.

Issa, who was not present to collect his award, was recognised for his work through the Issa Trust Foundation, which, over the years, has donated millions of dollars in support of the health and education sectors in St Ann, St Mary, and Westmoreland. Of note is the Air Supply fundraising concert held every two years at Couples Sans Souci to raise funds for paediatric wards at hospitals in the two ­neighbouring parishes.

“The Issa Trust Foundation has been committed to the sustainable development in healthcare since January 2005,” the citation noted in part.

Isaacs joined Sandals Resorts in 1986 in Montego Bay and moved to St Ann to work at Sandals Dunn’s River several years later. Since relocating to St Ann, “Mrs Isaacs has made tremendous impact in the parish through service,” the citation read in part, noting her involvement with the Sandals Foundation in implementing ­several social-assistance projects.

Isaacs is currently serving on four school boards, Seville Golden Pre-School, Boscobel Primary and Infant, Stewart Town Basic School, and Mico Care Centre.