NO good deed goes unrewarded, and local recording artist Ras Mykkal can attest to that by being the recipient of the coveted Adlev's Entertainment Productions Entertainer of the Year Award.

Known for his dub poetry, which touches on socio-political issues, Mykkal was pleased about being the recipient of such a prestigious award. "It's good to be recognised for your work and I'm too far in to back out."

Adlev Entertainment Productions was formed in 1991 and now is known as Adlev Entertainment which was formed last year. The latest metamorphosis was Adlev becoming a registered charity. During the 2002 awards ceremony which was held at the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel, the cream of the crop of the entertainment industry was on hand either to receive an award, or to lend support to this annual event.

Awardees are selected annually based on their contribution to the enrichment of entertainment.

Velda Ming, daughter of the late Hubert Smith, Sr., compiled a list of the wealth of local talent and people are selected from different categories, with the winner walking away with an award as a sign of recognition for his/her tireless efforts in the industry.

As a registered charity, one of Adlev's goals was to secure an entertainment centre for local entertainers where they can teach, learn and perform.

Veteran entertainer June Caisey stressed the importance of such a facility: "Once we have a facility the entertainers will be able to have a classy show that will cater to a mature audience and they will have somewhere to go to see a really upscale performance."

Last year's ceremony recognised 15 recipients for the Crystal Award and five who received awards posthumously. Comedian Bootsy was rewarded for being the Outstanding Entertainer of the Year.

This year 12 individuals were nominated for nine recipients for the Crystal Award, two awardees were recognised posthumously and the bespectacled fiery dub poet Ras Mykkal walked away with the Outstanding Artist Award.

Proceeds from the past and present award ceremonies have gone to help fund the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital with the purchase of an MRI machine. Proceeds have also gone to the Hubert Smith, Sr. Music fund, which will be used to help a student to further his/her musical education.

Ras Mykkal's musical education is from the school of hard knocks, but he continues to practise what he preaches as he continually adds material to his third album.

His debut album, Ras Mykkal, Bermuda's First Governor, quickly earned him the reputation of being controversial and his material came under the hammer of censorship.

Mykkal continues to raise the social consciousness of the populace through his music and summed up the experience by saying: "I say what people think, but are afraid to speak."