His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen presented the prestigious Governor-General’s Achievement Award on thirteen outstanding individuals from the county of Middlesex. The ceremony, the first of three presentation ceremonies to be held at the county level, took place at the St. Mary Parish Church Hall on Thursday, July 25.
During his address, Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen told the recipients that he has faith that “each of you here today will remain steadfast and transmit the message of selflessness, good neighbourliness, honesty, perseverance and commitment to excellence at all times”. He noted that if more Jamaicans believed in themselves and exercised their God-given potential to become part of the solution 
to the problems facing the country, Jamaica would be closer to achieving the desired transformation.
The thirteen awardees – Kristopher Brown, Leopold Maye, Dominique Reid, Rev. Sadekie Lyttle-Forbes, Rev. Beryl Salmon, Alisha Dyer, Kasan Martin-Troupe, Shane Ashmeade, Dr. Dwayne Young, Emma Moncrieffe- James, Lasania Corsbie, Gregory Williams and Paul Williams – are the first recipients of the GGAA since its merger with the Governor-General’s ‘I Believe Initiative’ to form the Governor-General’s Programme For Excellence.
In addressing the new changes, The Governor-General noted that the conditions 
under which the programme operated in 1991, are not the same as those of the 21st Century. In order to have the awards programme corresponding with the changing times, Sir Patrick said that the guidelines would have to be revisited and revised, if necessary. “No organization can be vibrant and effective if it remains at the same level, year after year”, said Sir Patrick Allen.
He shared with the audience that “we have not lived until we too have contributed to improving our country. Let us serve so that others may enjoy the same or even better opportunities than we were afforded.” Sir Patrick thanked the National Committee for seeing to another successful GGAA Awards Ceremony, as well as the corporate sponsors namely: Jamaica National Building Society, Victoria Mutual 
Building Society, Scotia Jamaica Building Society, The Gleaner Company and the Jamaica Broilers Group Limited, for their support.
In responding on behalf of the recipients, Mr. Gregory Williams said that they (the recipients) owed a debt of gratitude to The Governor-General for the awards programme. He reassured the audience of their commitment to be part of the journey to make Jamaica a country of which they would all be proud.
“Yes, we are confident that we are indeed part of what is right with Jamaica”, concluded Mr. Williams.