Eleven persons from the County of Surrey were presented with the Governor General’s Achievement Awards (GGAA), for outstanding contributions to their communities, Tuesday (September 28).
Those honoured were: Shauna Ebanks and Hugh Perry, Portland; Ramone McPherson, Simone Absalom and Dr. James Peart, St. Andrew; Owayne Hamilton, Nataine Burton and Patricia Pringle-Baker, St. Thomas; and Michelle Gordon, Fitzroy Hamilton and Rion Hall, Kingston.
The presentations were made by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, at the Governor-General’s Achievement Awards Ceremony at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston. He congratulated the awardees and praised them for their selflessness, despite their struggles and circumstances.
“We officially celebrate the achievements of 11 of our nation’s sons and daughters from the County of Surrey who, despite their varying backgrounds and circumstances, demonstrated that they have the qualities that make them deserving of recommendation for the Governor General’s Achievement Award,” he explained.
He said the awardees have dedicated their lives to becoming worthwhile, productive individuals, not only for self actualisation, but for service to their community.
“It is very important, especially at this time, when there are increasing difficulties in carrying out community work because of the economic challenges and apathy toward volunteerism, that we publicly honour those committed persons, who genuinely care and do something about it,” he noted.
The Governor General said a common theme in the lives of the recipients was that, despite the disadvantages, they believed in themselves and worked hard to achieve their goals.
“Although many faced daunting prospects, they persevered and, in faith, stretched forth with all their might, to embrace the opportunities which were presented,” he stated.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Mr. Hall thanked the Awards Committee for the honour, and gave an assurance that they would continue to contribute to community development.
The awardees are from various fields, including doctors, teachers, students, nurses, shop keepers and social workers.
The Governor General’s Achievement Award programme has been conducted annually, under the patronage of the Office of the Governor General since 1991. It identifies persons from each parish, from modest economic and social circumstances who share a common desire to improve their lives and those of others around them, and are actively involved in community service.