Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce received a heartfelt tribute from her home community on Sunday as a street in Waterhouse, St Andrew, where she grew up, was officially renamed in her honour.
The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) held a renaming ceremony to change the name of Ashoka Road to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Drive, recognizing the decorated athlete’s enduring legacy and contributions to sport and national pride.
But the celebration wasn’t without a hiccup. The newly unveiled street sign misspelled her surname as “Fraser-Price”—an error that quickly drew attention and prompted an immediate response from city officials.
Despite the blunder, Fraser-Pryce, a multiple Olympic and World Champion, said she was overwhelmed by the honour and remains committed to inspiring the youth in the same neighbourhood that shaped her. Just months ago, she was also awarded the keys to the city by Kingston’s Mayor Andrew Swaby.
The KSAMC swiftly issued a public apology, with CEO Robert Hill addressing the error during the ceremony.
“The correct sign will be placed there in less than 12 hours’ time,” Hill assured attendees. “Rest assured that that will be done. It does—and even you, Shelly-Ann, yourself have said—it does not take away from the meaning, sincerity, and the celebration, and the importance of what today is. But these things sometimes do happen, and I apologise sincerely and wholeheartedly for any inconvenience or any misunderstanding that may have ensued from this error.”
Mayor Swaby also echoed the apology in a post-event interview with the Jamaica Observer, saying:
“The CEO has indicated before that he apologised and took responsibility for it. I wholeheartedly apologise to Shelly-Ann, to her sponsors, her family, and her community for that. Words can’t explain it. We are really sorry… By tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock, we are assured that it will be treated correctly.”
Fraser-Pryce’s career has not only made her a household name in athletics but also a powerful symbol of resilience and hope for many in Jamaica and around the world. The renaming of the road in her honour—despite the brief mix-up—cements her legacy in the very community where her journey began.
