The Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon Sir Patrick Allen, listens as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Mrs. Donna-Marie Rowe (far left) explains a poster depicting Jamaican Dollars and Cents for the benefit of students of Vaz Preparatory School, Kingston, who were on a tour of King’s House while the JIS staged an exhibition there as part of its Heritage Week activities. Also in the picture is Grade 4 Supervisor at Vaz Prep, Mrs. Suzette Bennett (centre). The tour took place Wednesday (October 14).
His Excellency extended the invitation following a brief viewing of a Heritage display mounted by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) at King’s House.
“I’m giving an invitation to the students and parents to attend the National Honours and Awards ceremony and, while you are watching, dream of the day when you will be receiving yours,” the Governor-General said.
“You have your dreams and hopes.and I know somebody here is thinking that they will one day be the Governor-General of Jamaica,” he told the 51 students of Vaz Prep who were touring King’s House as part of their Heritage Week activities, and visited the JIS exhibition.
The students from the prestigious east Kingston prep school were also encouraged to study, work hard and believe that they can be whatever they want to be.
“Believe in it and it will happen,” the Governor-General assured them.
The items exhibited included poster boards of the national heroes and publications highlighting aspects of Jamaica’s heritage, such as our food and dance.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the JIS, Donna-Marie Rowe, who escorted the Governor-General and the students on the tour of the exhibits, expressed her delight in being a part of the Heritage Week celebrations at King’s House.
“The JIS is very pleased to have participated in the tour this morning, with the Governor General and the students from Vaz Prep. We play a very critical role in raising the national consciousness of all Jamaicans here and abroad, and this exhibition of our heroes is part of our activities for Heritage Week,” she explained.
The CEO added that the JIS will continue to showcase Jamaica’s heritage and culture through its publications, as well as visit more schools across the island between this week and next week.
The teachers and students of Vaz Prep were presented with gifts by the agency during the tour of the exhibition. The gifts included posters of national heroes, Jamaican currency and national symbols, as well as Jamaican flags, all printed by the JIS.
Speaking with JIS News, Grade 4 Supervisor at Vaz Prep, Suzette Bennett, gushed that the exhibition was dynamic and appealing.
“I found the display quite interesting and picturesque. It’s much better than the ones in the past. It gave a lot of information and it was very child friendly. I got information I didn’t know before, so I too learnt something,” she said.
She also pointed out that the donation will come in handy for the school’s Heritage celebrations on Friday (October 16). Heritage Week is being celebrated this week under the theme “Believe in Jamaica, Embracing our Heritage.” The National Honours and Awards Ceremony takes place at King’s House on Monday, National Heroes Day.