PAN 2024 parish winner dedicates win to late husband

When her name was announced as first-place winner for St James at the PAN 2024 Workshop, Sharon Senior could hardly contain her emotions.

As she hugged her daughter Tashwayne, Senior fought to hold back the tears. While receiving the symbolic cheque for $50,000 she almost broke down. A pan chicken vendor who does her business on the Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, next to the craft market in Montego Bay, Senior is grateful to have made it to the grand final of PAN 2024, but explained that her reaction was due to a lost loved one.

"My husband [Dwayne Senior] entered some years ago and he didn't win. He was a bit disappointed at the time, and I always tried to cheer him up and told him to try entering again, but he didn't. He passed away three years ago and before he died, he said I should try and enter the competition. Oh my God, God is so good, and now I have won. It's amazing," Senior said as she held her daughter's hand.

A certified housekeeper, Senior worked within the RIU hotel chain before venturing into the pan chicken business full-time.

"I was helping my husband for years in his pan chicken business and when he died, I decided to carry on the business, so I left my job, and I have been doing this. This is my bread and butter, this is what pays my bills, this is what sends my daughter to high school. [In] September she is going to college, and I am so proud of her. I am proud of both of us, because she helped me out today as my assistant," Senior disclosed.

She added, "I dedicate our win to my deceased husband. We came out here and we did our best. With the help of God, we did it. Once thing I have learnt from this experience here today, I learnt about properly running a business while taking into consideration health practices and how to treat your customers. Customer service is key, once you are dealing with people."

Senior is among 30 finalists who will compete at the grand final of PAN 2024, which takes place on August 25 at the Independence Park in Black River, St Elizabeth. The winner at the grand final will receive cash prizes by CB Chicken and a year's supply of chicken, bread from National Baking Company, ketchup and prizes from JN Money, Red Stripe Beer, among other PAN partners.