National Irrigation Commission Honours Staff and Retirees

Approximately 100 employees and 12 retirees of the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) were recently honoured for their years of dedicated service to the Commission, at an awards luncheon held at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.
The event was part of a series of events to celebrate the agency’s 21st anniversary this year.
“I must congratulate the members of staff of the NIC, who are being recognized here today, for their collective outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the organization,” said General Manager for the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), Earl Jarrett, who was the guest speaker at the event.
“It is instructive to note that more than 100 persons representing approximately 60 per cent of your staff complement are being recognized for the role that they have played in helping the NIC to achieve its main goal, that of improving the nation’s irrigation system,” he stated.
The anniversary celebrations, which is being held under the theme: ‘Irrigation Making a Difference in Agriculture,’ should see a series of open days being held throughout the rest of the year up to September 15, 2008, to showcase the achievements and work of the Commission, as well as to recognize and thank customers for their support and cooperation over the past 21 years.
Commenting on the theme for the anniversary celebrations, Mr. Jarrett said that it is quite appropriate as the organization plays a pivotal role in maintaining the agricultural sector.
“By extension, it shows that you are an important player in ensuring that the critical component (water) is available to sustain vast tracks of farm lands in this sector,” he said, adding that the work of the NIC is indeed a critical factor in moving Jamaica forward.
He charged the NIC to go forward as nation builders and to continue to impact the lives of persons. “I therefore encourage you to continue at this time and to position the NIC to become the benchmark by which others can be evaluated,” he said.
The NIC is a government agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, and has a staff complement of 175.