Recipients of this year's Governor-General Achievement Awards pose with Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke (centre), after a luncheon and pinning ceremony at Kings House yesterday. The 14, one from each parish, were recognised for dedicated and outstanding service to their communities. - Norman Grindley ACCOLADES WERE plenty yesterday as the 14 recipients of this year's Governor-General's Achievement Awards were hosted by Sir Howard and Lady Cooke in a grand pinning ceremony in the ballroom at Kings House.
The pinning ceremony is the climax of the awards which have been presented yearly since 1992 to an outstanding individual in each of the 14 parishes. Prior to yesterday's function the recipients were honoured at regional ceremonies for their continued commitment to community development despite their humble beginnings.
The 14 were feted and serenaded with sweet music by Touch of Elegance and then presented with their commemorative pins bearing the logo of the awards scheme by Lady Cooke.
"This must be a joyful moment for all of us," Sir Howard told the gathering. "We should rejoice that we can identify a people worthy of merit," he said, addressing the awardees.
"You demonstrated that you knew what service was and decided to help the society at large by giving it," he said.
The awardee for Kingston, Alfred Duncan, agreed. "Today, more than ever, the country needs men and women who are prepared to be our brothers' keepers, to show the poor that all is not lost," he said in his response on behalf of the recipients.
"We want to be proud of our country, mass migration is not the solution, let's work together to make Jamaica land we love a reality."
He assured those present that the awardees were committed to living up to the expectations of the awards committee, and that they would do what they could to make Jamaica a better place, primarily by instilling in young people the importance of education.
"Many of our children have made the mistake of not making the best use of their educational opportunities," he said, "now they are losers and have to pay the price for lost opportunity and the country has to suffer for it. Our parents made the sacrifice for us, we have to do the same for our children, our awardees are aware of this, so we need them to encourage persons not to give up especially in the inner-city communities."
Recognised for outstanding stewardship were Wesley Mc-Adam, St. Elizabeth; Willet Golding-James, Trelawny; Darius Holt, Hanover; Euphemia Williams, Westmoreland; George Simpson, St. James; Daniel Campbell, Clarendon; Hilbert Glenn, St. Catherine; Tatyana Armstrong, Manchester; Allan Mitchell, St. Mary; Theda Scott, St. Ann; Florine White, St. Thomas; Vincent Holgate, Portland; Alfred Duncan, Kingston; and Winston Smith, St. Andrew.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the sponsors -- The Gleaner Company, Victoria Mutual Building Society, Jamaica National Building Society, the Building Societies Association of Jamaica as well as family members and Custodes.
