Danville Walker, Director of Elections, shows off his Gleaner 'Man of the Year' trophy at the Knutsford Court Hotel in St. Andrew, yesterday. - Norman Grindley /Staff Photographer DANVILLE WALKER, the Director of Elections, was yesterday named The Gleaner's 'Man of the Year' for 2002.
He received the top Gleaner Honour Award for his work in improving the electoral process which resulted in the cleanest and most peaceful election in the country's modern history last October.
"I feel somewhat unworthy of this honour but I accept it and promise to work even harder in the future so as not to let you down," said Mr. Walker at the Gleaner Honour Awards ceremony at the Knutsford Court Hotel in St. Andrew.
Responding on behalf of the 2002 recipients, Mr. Walker noted: "When I look around this room and among the honourees, the feeling I have is that I am surrounded by service and leadership."
In its 24th year, the Gleaner Honour Awards yesterday paid tribute to several organisations and individuals who had committed themselves to first class service to the country. Dubbed "the most special day on The Gleaner calendar" by managing director, Oliver Clarke, the awards recognise organisations and individuals who have contributed to maintaining and improving the quality of life of Jamaicans.
From dozens of nominations that came from readers, an independent selection committee chose the Man of the Year from seven persons in the Honour Award categories, four Merit Award recipients and one Special Award recipient.
This year, The Gleaner Spe-cial Award went to entertainer Byron Lee "for undying commitment to music in Jamaica" as he and the Dragonaires have enjoyed one of the longest careers in Jamaican music.
The Gleaner Honour Award for business went to the Hendrickson family Gary, Lori-Ann, Kevin and Cathy for their contribution to expansion within the tourism and baking industries; to Ruby Martin, for voluntary service for her humanitarian efforts and her advocacy of the Ward Theatre; to Dr. David Boxer, art historian, for his contribution to the development of the arts in Jamaica; to Usain Bolt, for outstanding performance in athletics in 2002, including his World Junior Games performance; in the category of science and technology to Mitko Vutchkov, for his achievements in mitigating childhood lead poisoning in Kintyre, St. Andrew; for entertainment, to Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley, who was awarded a Grammy in 2002; and to Danville Walker, for his contribution to an improved electoral process and a well-run general election 2002.
The four Merit Awards went to the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC) and the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) for public service and for a job well done during and after the October general election; to Bishop Herro Blair, also for public service, who won tremendous national approval during 2002 for his work as Political Ombudsman, as well as head of the Peace Management Initiative; for sports, to the organisers of the 2002 IAAF World Junior Games at the National Stadium for bringing off successfully, the biggest sporting event to be hosted by Jamaica; and also for sports, to Brigitte Foster, national sprint hurdler, who ended the year number one in the Caribbean and the world's number two ranked 100m hurdler behind the American Gail Devers.
"All of us honourees are, I'm sure, a bit surprised at this fuss," said Mr. Walker, who responded on behalf of the awardees. "While going about our work, we never thought about any awards or recognition of this nature, but rather just getting the job done."
He added: "When I look at the awardees I feel that I'm surrounded by service and leadership. In the very near future, Jamaica will need this from almost every citizen in the country. There's a lot that's right about Jamaica and most of us have experienced some of the best that Jamaica has to offer. We're all working to make it a better place to live, where our children will want to raise their children in and be proud of us for what we have accomplished," he said. "We have to find the courage. I know that there are so many who have worked tirelessly for the country, day in and day out; let us continue to serve."
Each year, The Gleaner recognises and awards the initiative, accomplishment and courage of individuals or organisations that have contributed significantly by word or deed to improving Jamaica's quality of life at any time during the previous year, or is likely to bring about such a change in the immediate future.
