The 20th Anniversary Celebrations of Hands Across Jamaica for Righteousness culminated in a luminous banquet at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel on Saturday night (October 31, 2015), where Governor-General and Patron, Sir Patrick Allen was the keynote speaker.
In his address His Excellency commended the positive principles at the centre of the value system Hands has been seeking to instill in the nations youths, and emphasized the importance of youth to nation building.
“You have stayed the course and steadfastly stuck to your Christian values to the benefit of our young Jamaicans, the future leaders and nation builders of this country,” The Governor-General commented.
His Excellency further referred to the Hands projects as a developmental training ground for future leaders and commended Hands Executive Chairman, Evangelist Rattray for his unwavering commitment to the organization over the years.
In closing The Governor-General encouraged Jamaicans to join “hand and heart” to support righteousness not just in Kingston and St. Andrew but across the nation, and appealed to Jamaican companies and individuals to support the Hands Across Jamaica initiative which he believes is brilliant for alleviating some of the societal ills.
Friends of Hands in attendance at the banquet included Dr. Las Newman, President of the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology and Ms. Joyce Stone, Deputy Commissioner of Correctional Service and Members of the Advisory Board such as Dr. Patricia Holness and Dr. Haldane Johnson.
Earlier in October, Hands’ Sponsor-a-Child Programme aimed at providing financial and other social support for children in inner-city communities to benefit from an education was launched at King’s House under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency the Governor-General.
Hands 20th Anniversary celebrations began in December 2014 with events to include a Special Anniversary Breakfast where Chief Justice Mrs. Zaila McCalla was the keynote speaker and persons from across the Judicial, Business and Education Sectors and the Church were in attendance.