15 from Middlesex Receive Governor-General Awards

Fifteen residents of the county of Middlesex have been presented with Governor-General’s awards in recognition of their contribution to the development of their parishes.
The Governor-General’s Achievement Awards was presented to five persons, who have emerged from humble beginnings to assume leadership roles in their communities, while 10 young people received the Governor-General’s Youth Awards for Excellence, in recognition of their voluntary service.
At a function held recently at the Runaway Bay HEART Hotel in St. Ann, Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Professor Kenneth O. Hall, presented plaques to the 15 Jamaicans in recognition of their invaluable contribution to society and for their outstanding achievements.
“I wish to congratulate all the awardees and especially those who are receiving today, but also past awardees, who have dedicated themselves and have impacted their communities throughout this country,” he said.
The Governor-General noted that the awards scheme has played a pivotal role in recognizing and encouraging the spirit of volunteerism and excellence in the country. “I am confident that this vision of excellence will be achieved as we bring together Jamaicans of all generations to use their range of skills and talents to build Jamaica, land we love,” he stated.
The Governor-General further paid tribute to his predecessor, “who launched this programme and nurtured it so I am able not only to share in it, but really to revel in its success”.
The awardees are: Edith May Thomas, an educator from the parish of Clarendon; Rev. Owen Gordon, a Justice of the Peace and social worker from Manchester; Calvin Powell, founder of Zion Roots of St. Catherine; Jeffrey McKitty from St. Mary, who is general manager of Beaches Boscobel; and Pixley Irons, a Justice of the Peace and businessman from St. Ann.
The 10 young awardees comprise: Clayton McCalla and Renee Miller from Clarendon; Angelique Davidson and Bryan Wallace from Manchester; Shannon Gobourne and Kirk Abrahams from St. Catherine; Shakera Blake and Ryan Bryan from St. Mary and Jennifer Brown-Cunningham and Cieanna Thasa Smith from St. Ann.Mr. Irons, in his remarks, expressed gratitude for the national recognition and pledged to “continue to play our part as good citizens of Jamaica and will be true to ourselves, our fellowmen and our Lord”.
Meanwhile, Cieanna told JIS News that she was very proud to be one of the recipients. She encouraged other young persons across the island to hold fast to their dreams and work very hard in order to succeed in life.
“I must say that without confidence, you are twice defeated in the race of life. It is not easy when you are on the road to success, there will always be disappointments that you will face, but you have to keep your objectives and your goals in mind in order to achieve,” she said.
The award programme is sponsored by the Gleaner Company Limited, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), First Caribbean International Building Society and Scotia Jamaica Building Society.