Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (left), is pinned by Girls Guide Brigadier, Chanelle Mitchell (centre), during the launch of the organisation’s month of celebratory activities for March, and tag drive, at King’s House. Sharing the occasion are (from 2nd left): Chief Executive Officer, GraceKennedy Financial Services Limited, Courtney Campbell; Lady Allen; Brigadier, Devonte McCarthy; and Girls’ Brigade National President, Olga McDonald.
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has praised the Girls Brigade movement for its work in fostering and molding its members into young women who contribute to national development.
Speaking at the launch of the organisation’s month-long activities for March and its fund raising tag drive at King’s House, on February 21, the Governor-General said the Girls Brigade is recognised globally as one of the foremost institutions offering guidance and sound moral values that guide girls on the path to becoming young ladies.
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (right), converses with Chief Executive Officer, GraceKennedy Financial Services Limited, Courtney Campbell, following the launch of the Girls Brigade’s annual tag drive and month-long celebratory activities to be held in March, at King’s House.
“The organisation has been very keen and has maintained emphasis on the development of spiritual, physical, and educational values, and these values define the Girls Brigade. These values are also aimed at enriching lives that will eventually build the pillars of the nation. We can therefore celebrate the knowledge that thousands of our young women have been the beneficiaries of the fine principles of this organisation,” he said.
Alluding to the organisation’s theme for its month-long activities: ‘Together, We Can’, the Governor-General said it is particularly significant and relevant at this period in Jamaica’s social development, as the nation often appears buffeted by “seemingly negative, never ending challenges and setbacks.”
“What we need to do is not to become disheartened or discouraged, but to see how we can fit our processes within the context of the times that we live in,” he urged.
Citing the ‘I Believe’ campaign initiated on his appointment, the Governor-General said that through the initiative, Lady Allen and himself, and the staff at King’s House had committed to support the nation’s youth organisations, and to assist them to execute their mandates.
“We can help them to function efficiently and effectively in their service and training of young people. This is very critical because, if we do not continue passing on the heritage, then after a time, the line will break, and we would have lost our people and the source and essence of our nation,” he said.
The Governor-General urged the young women to position themselves to assume leadership roles within the Brigade.
“Commit yourselves to the ongoing life and longevity of the Girls Brigade. This is an opportunity for us to recognise the eminent achievements of those in our nation who have passed through the Girls Brigade, and believe that with the right values and attitude, we can accomplish what we will,” he said.
In her remarks, Custos of St. Andrew, Hon. Marigold Harding, said the Girls Brigade helps to “create spiritual lives for its members and lay the foundation for healthy development.”
Chief Executive Officer, GraceKennedy Financial Group, Courtney Campbell, who launched the tag drive, pointed out that the traits of honesty, integrity and trust, which have characterised the institution’s parent body, GraceKennedy, over its 89-year existence, are fully embraced and promoted through the activities of the Girls Guide and many other uniformed groups.
“We have always been particularly impressed by the work of the Girls Brigade in building a better society and (the) work that has been done in promoting spiritual, educational and social values,” he said.
Mr. Campbell presented a $25,000 donation from his company to launch the tag drive.