At left, chairman of the National Housing Trust (NHT), Kingsley Thomas, beams with pride after being named 'Man of the Year' at the 25th annual Gleaner Honour Awards Luncheon held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel yesterday.
RIGHT: A section of the new Highway 2000 in St. Catherine yesterday. Thomas has called Highway 2000 his most challenging and rewarding project.
- Ian Allen photos
Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
HAILED FOR his outstanding level of patriotism, his remarkable commitment to nation building and his innovative approach to project management, Kingsley George Thomas was yesterday named the Man of the Year 2004 by The Gleaner Company.
Mr. Thomas, head of the Development Bank of Jamaica and chairman of the National Housing Trust (NHT), received the prestigious award at the 25th annual Gleaner Honour Awards Luncheon, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.
"I am certainly honoured and humbled by the selection. I feel particularly blessed to be among a group of Jamaicans whom the nation recognises (and) has given of their best in sport, education, technology and public service," said Mr. Thomas.
AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
He was named the 2004 Man of the Year for his commitment to nation building as well as his innovative approach to project management, evidenced by the Highway 2000 and Emancipation Park projects, both of which he spearheaded. Mr. Thomas also walked away with the Gleaner Honour Award for Public Service.
Other winners of honour awards at yesterday's function were Olympian Veronica Campbell for Sport, Missionaries of the Poor for Voluntary Service, the National Gallery of Jamaica for Arts and Culture, Walkerswood Caribbean Foods Ltd. for Business, the Scientific Research Council (SRC) for Science and Technology and Ian McKnight and the Jamaica AIDS Support for Health and Wellness.
Merit Awards were presented to the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica for Science and Technology and Alphanso Cunningham and the Jamaica Women's 2004 Olympic 100m relay team for Sport.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL HAILED
Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke presented the awards to the recipients. The Gleaner yesterday hailed Sir Howard for his continuous support to the Gleaner Honour Awards programme. Said Editor-in-Chief Garfield Grandison: "We have come to know a man who is convinced of the inherent goodness of his people, who possesses a fierce pride in our heritage, who is gracious enough to accept praise but humble enough to recognise and encourage greatness or its potential in others. Sir Howard is 'a man of the people'."
