Special Olympians at Golden Age Home Honoured
By: , August 7, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Melroy Sterling
State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Luther Buchanan (right), looks on as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Colette Roberts-Risden (left) presents resident of the Golden Age Home and Special Olympian, Alton Carter (centre), with a gift basket during a special Home-Coming and Pre-Independence celebration, held at the Golden Age Home, in Kingston, on August 4. The ceremony was held to honour the Special Olympians who represented Jamaica at the recent Special Olympics World Summer Games in the United States.The Facts
- Heading the list of those at the function were Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Luther Buchanan; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Colette Roberts-Risden; Chairman of the Golden Age Home, Mr. Errol Greene, and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Andrew Swaby.
- The celebratory activities included a concert that was organized for the residents of the home, who also participated in the festivities by performing cultural items.
The Full Story
Special Olympians of the Golden Age Home, who copped three gold medals for Jamaica at the recent Special Olympics World Summer Games in the United States, were honoured at a Home-Coming and Pre-Independence celebration ceremony at the home, on August 4.
Heading the list of those at the function were Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Luther Buchanan; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Colette Roberts-Risden; Chairman of the Golden Age Home, Mr. Errol Greene, and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Andrew Swaby.
In his address, Mr. Buchanan praised the athletes for their outstanding performances.
“We are grateful for precious moments like these, when we can bask in success and glory,” the State Minister said.
He commended the staff of the Golden Age Home for their “labour of love,” caring for the residents of the home.
“We wish you great success in future ventures and interventions for senior citizens and vulnerable Jamaican residents of this home,” the State Minister said.
Mr. Buchannan called on the private sector to provide more support for the home.
“I am urgently appealing to corporate Jamaica and the broad body of philanthropic Jamaican citizens to consider helping this great institution to continue meeting its financial obligations and needs,” he said.
The Special Olympians, Alton Carter and Vincent Evans, represented Jamaica in the ball sport, Bocce, in the single, double and team events.
Mr. Carter copped the gold medal in the team event and bronze in the double, while Mr. Evans walked away with gold medals in the team and double events and secured the silver medal in the single event.
The celebratory activities included a concert that was organized for the residents of the home, who also participated in the festivities by performing cultural items.
The concert also featured renowned former festival song winner, Eric Donaldson, who entertained the residents with festival song favourites, ‘Cherry Oh Baby’ and ‘This is the Land of My Birth’.