40 Teachers to Receive PM’s Medal of Appreciation

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, will award the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for service to education to 40 teachers, who have contributed more than 1,500 years of combined service to Jamaica’s development.

The ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 9 at Jamaica House starting at 5:00 p.m.

Instituted in 2005, the award is given to an educator, who has served for a minimum of 15 years; displayed exceptional service in the teaching profession; and has shown evidence of community involvement, innovation and creativity in service.

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen, will head the list of dignitaries at the function, to include the Minister of Education, the Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, who will address the awardees.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) band will provide fanfare and background music with performances by Vaz Preparatory School, Salvation Army School for the Blind Choir, and Kailla Kamila Grant of Lyssons Primary School in St. Thomas.

Radio personality, Andrew Lawrence, will guide the evening’s proceedings, while President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Clayton Hall, will give the closing remarks. Guests are asked to be seated by 4:30 p.m.

Recipients for this year’s award are: Diana Leoline Allen, Dr. Margaret Henrietta Bailey, Timothy Adolphus Bailey, Laurel Josephine Brent-Harris, Mistelle Corine Brown-West, Malleter Patricia Burton, Dr. Claudette Clarke, Precious V. Clarke, Dennis Valin Daley, Daslyn Downer, Merna Loy Farquharson-Hart, Hillary Dawn Foster, Lascelles Mark Gardner, Valda Fay Gayle, Vincent Lloyd Guthrie, Norma June Henry, Beverley Onamadge Henry-Isaacs, Beverly Rebecca Jobson Grant, and Dr. Beverley Icilda Johnson.

Also to be recognized are: Colonel Errol Vaughn Johnson, Hilory Pamela Kelly, Cyril Constantine Lebert, Constance Louise Lemoth-Graham, Joycinth Clover Malcolm, Leroy Ezekiel Marshall, Glascine Lynette McCormack Lazarus, Carlette Venice McKenzie, Lorna Eugenie Rampassard, Claude Rattray, Lydia Richards, Norma Elise Ricketts, Eugena Leadora Robinson, Devon Emanuel Ruddock, Lileth Ruth Sewell, Eann Edward Singh, Patrick Roy Smith, Joan Juliet Spencer-Ernandez, Aldith Hope Patricia Stephens, Minna Elizabeth Thompson, and Vernal Segismund Thompson.

Contact: Judith A. Hunter