G-G Commends Country’s Leaders

Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has expressed appreciation to the country’s leaders for their dedicated service, and encouraged them not be daunted by skepticism and public opinion.

These leaders, he said, include persons from the public and private sectors, the church, judiciary, security forces, the media, medical and educational institutions, the family, among others.

“I want to express my appreciation to all our leaders, who toil to give direction, to model and mentor, to hold the fort even when they feel like giving in.  When your work is not recognised or affirmed, you continue to press against the surging tides, to keep the fence from being breached, identify the gaps and weak areas, and strengthen what remains,” Sir Patrick said.

He was bringing greeting at the 36^th National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB), held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston this morning (January 21).

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, was among the leaders in attendance.

This year’s event, organised by the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee through sponsorship from the Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), was held under the theme: ‘Righteousness Exalts the Nation’.

President of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist, Pastor Glen O. Samuels delivered the main address.

The Governor-General said the theme is a reminder to leaders that they are to be a moral compass for the nation.

He noted that as leaders, “foremost in our minds and in our action, must be the imperative that we are the vanguards in nation building. National growth is not only evident in economic indices, but in the values we inculcate and transmit and the attitudes we display.”

Chief Executive Officer and President of VMBS, Richard Powell, said his institution fully endorses and support the annual event, aimed at fostering greater unity in the nation, particularly among leadership at all levels.

He said a nation’s success and prosperity are contingent on government, business and civic leaders working together to promote good governance, social responsibility, fairness compassion and justice.

Offerings collected at this year’s staging of the NLPB will go towards a project to enhance the living conditions of the elderly housed at the Eira Schader Home for the Aged in Trench Town, Kingston.

During the prayer breakfast, the Governor-General, Prime Minister and other leaders representing the public and private sectors participated in a symbolic ceremony of unity and peace, by the lighting of candles and affirming a pledge to keep the unity of the nation.

The event was also used to endorse the initiatives of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), and an appeal was made for Jamaicans to be careful on the nation’s roadways. This is light of the high number of road fatalities in 2015, which have continued into the New Year.

The annual breakfast takes place on the third Thursday of January.