MONTEGO BAY (JIS) — Fourteen Jamaicans from the county of Middlesex were presented with the Governor-General’s Achievement Awards (GGAA) for outstanding accomplishment and contribution to community building.
Those honoured were: Ruth Brown and Mavis Williams from St. Ann; Pardella Brown, Avril Hines and Stephen Chung, St. Mary; Delano Mighty, Ava Whyte, and Rudolph Green, St. Catherine; Renae Williams, Stellavit Ingram, and Albert Palmer, Clarendon; Mark Green, Lanisia Rhoden, and Astley Smith from Manchester.
Deputy Governor-General, Hon. Steadman Fuller, who made the presentations at a function held at the Riu Hotel in Mammee Bay, St. Ann, said the recipients, who serve their communities as justices of the peace, teachers, students, and volunteers, exemplify the best of Jamaica.
He stated that through their personal accomplishments and work at the parish level, the adult and youth awardees have contributed to the country’s development.
The Deputy Governor-General expressed gratitude to the corporate sponsors for their invaluable contributions over the years and for demonstrating their firm commitment to the GGAA programme.
General Manager of FirstCaribbean International Bank, Velmore Lawrence, in congratulating the awardees on behalf of the sponsors, said they now join a select group of 355 persons, “whom over the years, have had a common desire to improve not only their lives but to ensure that their children enjoy a better standard of living”.
She also commended the co-ordinators of the GGAA programme and pledged the continued support of the various sponsoring bodies.
Instituted in 1991, the GGAA recognises one adult, over the age of 35, from each parish, who, from modest economic and social circumstances, has demonstrated upward mobility and is actively involved in community service; two young persons in the age cohorts 25 to 35 and 18 to 25, from each parish, for their academic achievement, community service involvement, and leadership skills.
Major sponsors of the programme are the Gleaner Company Limited, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), Scotia Jamaica, Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) and First Caribbean.