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Senate Pays Tribute to Young Mother Who Returned Cash

By: , May 19, 2019

The Key Point:

Members of the Senate, on Friday (May 17), paid tribute to Ackaisha Green, the young mother who returned a large sum of cash she found in an automated teller machine (ATM) in downtown Kingston recently.
Senate Pays Tribute to Young Mother Who Returned Cash
Photo: Donald De La Haye
Ackaisha Green (second left) is presented with a gift basket by Acting Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, Valrie Curtis (centre); and Orderly, Chaddi Donaldson (second right), shortly before the sitting of the Senate on Friday (May 17). Ms. Green was being recognised for her honesty in returning a large sum of cash she found in an automated teller machine (ATM) in downtown Kingston recently. Looking on are Leader of Government Business, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith; and Leader of Opposition Business, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley.
Senate Pays Tribute to Young Mother Who Returned Cash
Photo: Donald De La Haye
President of the Senate, Tom Tavares-Finson (fourth left), along with other members of the Senate, with Ackaisha Green (second left), and her mother, Yvonne Jones (second right), shortly before the sitting of the Senate on Friday (May 17). Ms. Green was being recognised by the Senate for her honesty in returning a large sum of cash she found in an automated teller machine (ATM) in downtown Kingston recently. From left are Leader of Government Business, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith; Leader of Opposition Business, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley; and Acting Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, Valrie Curtis.

The Facts

  •  “Her house had just burnt down…; she’d lost everything. She had to borrow $200 from her mother that morning, and that temptation to have a bag of money in front of you, it ought to have been that there was a conflict,” she said.
  • “Miss Green, you are an inspiration… . Your action and your decision is the pathway to having all of your dreams realised. Jamaica is behind you,” she added.

The Full Story

Members of the Senate, on Friday (May 17), paid tribute to Ackaisha Green, the young mother who returned a large sum of cash she found in an automated teller machine (ATM) in downtown Kingston recently.

President of the Senate, Tom Tavares-Finson, who had invited Ms. Green to the Upper House, met with her before the morning’s proceedings began.

Leader of Government Business, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith; and Leader of Opposition Business, Senator Donna Scott-Mottley, presented Ms. Green and her mother, Yvonne Jones, with gift baskets courtesy of GraceKennedy.

At the start of the session, the Senators rose to show their approval of Ms. Green’s actions, while thumping their desks.

With this latest gesture, the Senate has joined in the outpouring of commendations and other kind gestures from Corporate Jamaica and other individuals to the 24-year-old mother of two.

In her remarks, Senator Johnson Smith praised Ms. Green for “doing the right thing” when she thought no one was looking.

“We want to thank you for the inspiration that you are for a lot of young people, who look for direction in their lives… . We thank you for making the right choice; for demonstrating that honesty pays,” she said.

Senator Johnson Smith noted that without realising it, Ms. Green has stimulated conversation across Jamaica about the importance of honesty.

For her part, Senator Scott-Mottley said the story of Ms. Green “touched our hearts”.

She said that despite Ms. Green’s circumstances, she did the right thing.

“Her house had just burnt down…; she’d lost everything. She had to borrow $200 from her mother that morning, and that temptation to have a bag of money in front of you, it ought to have been that there was a conflict,” she said.

“How many people can do the right thing under difficult circumstances?” she questioned.

The Senator said she was almost sorry that “such a big deal” was being made out of what Ms. Green did, as it should be the norm, “but it’s probably your actions now that will inspire other young people to recognise they have a choice and the best choice is always to do the right thing”.

“Miss Green, you are an inspiration… . Your action and your decision is the pathway to having all of your dreams realised. Jamaica is behind you,” she added.

Last Updated: May 24, 2019

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