13 Persons from Middlesex Get Governor-General’s Achievement Award

Thirteen persons from the county of Middlesex have been bestowed with the 2014 Governor-General’s Achievement Award (GGAA) in recognition of their selfless contributions to the upliftment of their communities.

The recipients, from the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, St. Ann, St. Catherine, and St. Mary, were presented with their awards by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, during a ceremony held on July 24, at the St. Mary Parish Church Hall in Port Maria.

The awardees are: Lasania Crosbie, Gregory Williams and Paul Williams from St. Mary; Kristopher Brown and Leopold Maye from Clarendon: Dominique Reid, Rev. Sadekie Lyttle-Forbes and Pastor Beryl Salmon from Manchester; Alisha Dyer and Kasan Martin-Troupe from St. Catherine; and Shane Ashmeade, Dr. Dwayne Young, and Emma Moncrieffe-James from St. Ann.

The Governor-General, praised the recipients for voluntarily using their skills, abilities and resources, to make a difference in their spheres of influence.

“It is our expectation and that of your community members that you will continue to be engaged in activities that will help to better the life and the lot of this nation – especially through your involvement with the youth,” he said.

He further urged recipients to become “I Believe” Ambassadors in reference to the I Believe Initiative (IBI), which he launched in 2011 to motivate and inspire young people to believe in themselves and to also give service to their country.

“I need you to diffuse the positive messages that youth have the God-given potential to achieve their dreams and contribute to improving the welfare of their families and building a better Jamaica,” he said.

“I have faith that each of you will remain steadfast and transmit the message of selflessness, good neighbourliness, honesty, perseverance and commitment to excellence at all times,” he added.

The GGAA began in 1991 under the leadership of then Governor-General, the late Sir Howard Cooke to recognize Jamaicans 35 years and older, who had achieved greatly despite difficult and challenging socio-economic circumstances, and are making substantial contribution to the nation, but were not recipients of National Honours and Awards.

This programme was expanded by Governor-General Sir Kenneth Hall in 2006 to include youth ages 18 to 35 for excellence in academia and voluntary service, as well as individuals in the Diaspora who were making significant contribution to Jamaica and in their host country.

In February 2014, the GGAA and the ‘I Believe Initiative’ were merged to create the Governor-General’s Programme For Excellence (GGPE).

The Governor-General explained that both the GGAA and IBI will keep their distinct identities, but they join in promoting and recognizing volunteerism and excellence among the youth.

“Two immediate indications of this are the theme of the GGAA ceremonies this year  (“There is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right with Jamaica”), and the requirement that all awardees should have done voluntary service in the areas of family, youth and education and these are the three pillars for IBI activities,” he said.