Minister Neita-Headley Hails Long Serving Staff at SDF

Minister with responsibility for Sport, Hon. Natalie Neita-Headley, has commended long serving staff of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) for their contribution to national development.

She was delivering the keynote address at the SDF’s 20th anniversary and long service awards luncheon on May 21, at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston. Ten members of staff, who have served the entity for more than a decade, were recognised.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson, who attended the function, presented certificates and gift items to the honourees.

In commending the awardees, Mrs. Neita-Headley said not only have they done exemplary work, but they have served with “passion and excellence”.

“Today, I can say that we are not just presenting to these recipients, who have served long, awards for their long service, but they have served with passion and excellence,” she said.

Minister Neita-Headley said the awards being presented is proof that the SDF, which was formed in 1995 to contribute to development through sport, is doing something right.

“The list of recipients for the SDF long service awards today, indicate to me that this organisation would have given to its employees, sufficient substance to work with, sufficient room to grow and enough place to participate,” the Minister said.

“I congratulate, on behalf of the Prime Minister, and the people and the Government of Jamaica, the awardees today. I commend the management and the board of the SDF, and I thank you on behalf of everyone, who enjoys an improved sporting landscape as a result of the SDF work,” Minister Neita-Headley added.

In her remarks on behalf of the awardees, Financial Controller at the SDF, Charmaine Hanson, who has served for 18 years, said the entity has become “home away from home” for many of the staff.

Ms. Hanson said the time spent at the SDF is best described as “unique and priceless.”

“Each of us, in our own way, believed and adapted to the mandate of the organisation, that of developing a nation through sports,” Ms. Hanson said.

The recipients of long service awards were: Donald McNaughton and Andrew Pearson, 19 years; Joy Davis, Ewan Fowler, Marion Russell, and Charmaine Hanson, 18 years; Corinne Clarke, 16 years; Delores Thomas, 15 years; Milton Scott, 12 years; Andrea Williams, 11 years.