Resort receives community awards

Lydia Richards, right, PALS training manager, presents an award to Horace Peterkin, general manager, Sandals Montego Bay. Marcia Bowen, the resort's public relations manager, looks on. - Contributed

PALS JAMAICA Limited and Flankers Primary and Junior High Schools recently honoured Sandals Montego Bay for its contribution to community involvement.

In a special ceremony, Lydia Richards, training manager of PALS Jamaica Limited, presented the resort's general manager, Horace Peterkin, with an award for the resort's efforts in promoting peace. Earlier this year, the resort staged a successful essay competition to coincide with Peace Day.

The competition was held as a part of the resort's community thrust to complement the efforts of the PALS Programme, a seven-year-old non-profit organisation, which aims to bring peace education to Jamaican students via conflict resolution training in schools.

Over 60 students from 13 schools in St. James, Trelawny, Westmoreland, Hanover and St. Elizabeth entered the competition, which had two categories. The students wrote on the following topics: "The part I can play in promoting peace" and "The importance of peace to Jamaica's tourism industry".

Grade five student at Montego Bay Preparatory, Oshane Keddo, and fourth form student at Cornwall College, Valence Alfred Jordan, emerged winners of the competition.

Flankers Primary and Junior High School presented the resort with an appreciation plaque for support to the school over a number of years. According to principal, Hugh B. Miller, who made the presentation to the resort, "Sandals Montego Bay is the epitome of a community-friendly company and has never failed to support this school or the community."

Just recently, the resort sponsored the institution's sports day, and the school's end of year teachers' dinner. On Teacher's Day, the resort hosted the teachers for lunch. Other projects undertaken by the resort for the school include an environmental awareness programme and since 1997, the resort has also been paying the salary of the school's physical education teacher.

According to Mr. Peterkin, it is heartening to be recognised for community efforts. He revealed that the resort is also involved in community programmes, in areas such as sports, agriculture, education and health. Specific programmes include work with the senior citizens in St. James, the Blossom Gardens Children's Home, Whitehouse Community, the Aids Hospice and CUMI.

"Our philosophy is that we are wedded to our community. As exemplary corporate citizens, we take this commitment to the community seriously. "We do believe in embracing every tenet of the community in which we operate, the general manager concluded.

Back to Entertainment