FOURTEEN JAMAICANS were honoured at yesterday's pinning ceremony for the 2003 recipients of the Governor-General's Achievement Awards at Kings House, St. Andrew.
The awardees, one from each parish, were praised for their triumph over social and economic circumstances and their contributions to their communities.
Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke welcomed the gathering and said that Jamaica was not a poor nation "as we only need to look at the beautiful grass outside, the beautiful sunshine and the people to see the wealth we possess." He also applauded the recipients on their achievements.
The ceremony proceeded quite smoothly with awardees being pinned after preliminaries and lunch were done. Each awardee was accompanied by the Custos of their parish as they were pinned by Lady Cooke.
The recipients were Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Councillor Delford Morgan from Westmoreland. Hanover's awardee was Marva Trenfield and Nella Perrier was the awardee from St. James.
Enid Hendricks was awarded from St. Elizabeth; Glester Rowe from Trelawny, Gladys Hyatt, St. Catherine; James McLaughlin, Manchester; Unes McLean, St. Mary; Carlton Mullings, St. Ann; Lilieth Dennis, Clarendon; Dr. Claude Packer, Kingston; Sylvia McKenzie, Portland; Millicient Moodie, St. Thomas; and Altamont Pinnock from St. Andrew.
Lester Smalling received the Governor-General's honorary plaque for distinguished years of service in St. Catherine. Mr. Smalling was a part of the Parish Committee since its inception and has functioned in various roles on the committee.
Carlton Mullings, one of the awardees who replied on the behalf of the recipients, expressed their gratitude and joy on receiving the awards. "We accept our award with humility and thankfulness, pledging to continue to do what we have been doing, perhaps with more vigour, thus making ourselves always worthy of these honours you bestowed upon us," he said.
