On De­cem­ber 4, the Des­per­a­does El­ders Or­gan­i­sa­tion held its third an­nu­al awards cer­e­mo­ny at the Wit­co Des­per­a­does Pan The­atre atop Laven­tille Hill. The pur­pose of the cer­e­mo­ny was to ho­n­our the pi­o­neers of the leg­endary steel or­ches­tra who have aid­ed in the el­e­va­tion of the Des­per­a­does' name.

Among the awardees were Li­onel Reid, Alan Collins, Den­nis "Tash" Ash, Elias "Peu­geot" Phillip, Ald­win Vic­tor, Al­li­son "Al" Roberts, Al­roy Charles, Elmer Dick­er­son, and Eu­line Cor­ri­g­an-Moore. For­mer bassist Frank "Crawl" Find­lay was ho­n­oured posthu­mous­ly and his award was ac­cept­ed by his son, Mar­cus Find­lay.

Among the in­vit­ed guests were the Tokyo El­ders and the event was co-host­ed by Vic­tor Cop­land and Samuel "Ja Ja" Alexan­der. The Des­per­a­does yard is ex­pect­ed to be busy again on Sat­ur­day when the band holds its an­nu­al chil­dren's Christ­mas treat, from 1 pm.