-Contributed
Enjoying a light moment at the Jamaica Employers' Federation's (JEF) Evening of Excellence are (from left) Jackie Coke-Lloyd, executive director of the JEF; Audrey Hinchcliffe, president of the JEF; Donavan Hunter, chairman, Industrial Disputes Tribunal; Derrick Kellier, Labour Minister; Trevor Graham, Industrial Disputes Tribunal representative, and Leonara Rudea, Mexican Ambassador to Jamaica. The event was held at the Little Theatre, in St. Andrew, last Tuesday.

The Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF) staged its annual Employers' Evening of Excellence, last Tuesday night, at the Little Theatre in St. Andrew.

This brought to a climax the month-long National Employers' Month celebrations, honouring extraordinary employees and their excellent workplace performance; employers and their contribution to the nation's economy; their leadership and the instilling of values in employees.

Some of the special awards presented were Top Organisations in Enterprise-Based Training, including Aluminium Partners, Comtech Ltd., FirstCaribbean International Bank, Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Limited, Sampars Cash and Carry Ltd., St. Elizabeth Co-Op Credit Union Ltd., Sugar Company of Ja. (Westmoreland) and Toyota Jamaica Limited.

Three young companies received awards for making a positive contribution to the business landscape. They were Access Financial Services, Boy O Boy Ltd. and Chrysalis Communications. Four companies received the JEF Company Membership Award for being outstanding supporters of the JEF'S objectives and activities. They are Cable and Wireless, National Commercial Bank, COK Co-operative Credit Union and GraceKennedy.

JEF Presidential Award

The JEF Presidential Award for Excellence was given to Barry Robinson of HR Solutions for his contribution to human resource development in Jamaica. The Registrar General's Department received the Public Sector Leadership Award for its role as a public sector entity and the support given to small and medium-sized enterprises. Individual members of the Jamaica Employers' Federation were given meritorious awards for their services to the organisation. They are Gregory Reid of Zaidie, Reid & Co., Jacqueline Irons of J. Wray & Nephew, and Dr. Claudette Cooke of Jamaica Broilers. Ralston Hyman of Real Business on Power 106FM received the Media Award for developing public awareness and providing relevant and important information to the wider society. The JEF Ambassador Award was received by Sonia Marsh of COK.

"We honour the efforts of the dedicated individuals who have stood out because of their attention to duty. Some of them may well be gifted, but most of them are people of average ability who have an above average approach to duty, said Audrey Hinchcliffe, president of JEF and CEO of Manpower and Maintenance Services.

The gala event brought out for the evening the German Ambassador Volker Schlegel, Mexican Ambassador Leonara Rudea, Brazilian Ambassador Cezar Amaral, Minister of Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier, and Maria Jones, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education.