Five Jamaicans from the county of Middlesex were the recipients of The Governor-General’s Achievement Awards at a presentation ceremony held
on July 25, 2013 at the Golf View Hotel in Manchester: Mr. Clifford Freemantle of St Ann, Mr. Adrian Isaac Genus of St. Catherine, Mrs. Lorine Mae Metcalf-Cousins of Clarendon, Mrs. Winnifred Gopaulsingh-Mair of St. Mary and Sister Una O’Connor of Manchester.
The citations, which were read by orator Mrs. Norma Brown-Bell, spoke to the invaluable contribution of each awardee to the development of their communities, despite having to overcome their own personal challenges.
In his address, Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen noted that these recipients were “unsung heroes…men and women of humble beginnings who overcame challenges of one sort or another to become successful, helpful and respectable citizens in their communities”. He saluted them for having improved the lives of countless individuals through voluntary actions.
Sir Patrick said that the “Men and women to whom we pay tribute this afternoon, took up the unspoken challenge to fix some of what is wrong in their community. They refused to join the ranks of those who complained about the problems, but could never see themselves as part of the solution.”
Middlesex’s four Honourable Custodes as well as the representative of the fifth Custos, who was overseas, were in attendance at the ceremony.
Similar functions will be held in the counties of Surrey and Cornwall later this year.