Dr. Chandi Jayawardena (centre), president of the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA), poses with the plaque he received from Nancy McLean (left), resident manager of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Diane Girvan, secretary of HCIMA, looks on. -Janet Silvera photo
Janet Silvera, Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator
MALE AND female guests were deliberately seated alternately. The dress code specified black tie. The distinguished honouree represented a most prestigious organisation: Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA).
The occasion was the inaugural dinner and award ceremony to pay special tribute to Dr. Chandi Jayawardena, president of HCIMA. And, the Bustamante Suite at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston offered the perfect setting enhanced by musical accompaniment from the talented duet of Noel Peck and Ann Trout.
But the highlight of the evening was the guest of honour, Dr. Jayawardena, who came to Jamaica 10 years ago as one of thousands of cruise ship passengers. After his first trip, he returned a second time in the capacity of a spy, "to check out the two main New Kingston hotels, one of them the Wyndham Kingston (now the Hilton Kingston)," he confessed.
FULL OF SURPRISES
His third trip to the island saw him arriving as general manager of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
"Jamaica has always been the place that brings a lot of surprises to me," said the Sri Lanka-born, Guyanese-Jamaican tourism educational developer who now resides in Canada with his Jamaican wife and children.
"Since he touched my life, I have taken a leaf from his book and tried to help others like he has helped me," Eldon Bremner, Jamaica Pegasus' general manager, told the gathering.
Before receiving the plaque which bore the inscription, 'In recognition of your significant contribution to Jamaican hospitality and tourism education', the current chairman of HCIMA Jamaica chapter, general manager of the Point Village Negril, Howard Spittle, bestowed accolades on Dr. Jayawardena.
EXCELLENT CONTRIBUTION
Mr. Spittle spoke of the pivotal role that Dr. Jayawardena has played in directing the urgent need for educational improvement in the hospitality sector in Jamaica, particularly at the supervisory and management levels.
"The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Institute of Management has been established where accredited U.S. degrees are awarded after a course of work-based study that is project-based, and benefits both the employer and the employee, as a result of Chandi's involvement," said Mr. Spittle.
The JHTA now has a master's programme in place and last week Dr. Jayawardena met with Executive Director, Camille Needham, to initiate a bachelor's programme to commence in April 2005.
Also attending the affair were Carolle Guntley, Mary- Anne and Lance Parrish, Tony Hall, Dr. Hilton McDavid, Cecile Hyatt Reynolds, David and Dianne Girvan, Loraine Tait, Ibrahim Ajagunna, Arlene Garrick, Basil and Pamela Nelson and Michell Spittle. Nancy McLean, Pegasus' resident manager, was the master of ceremonies.
