St. Elizabeth Honours Local Heroes

Five distinguished residents of St. Elizabeth were honoured for outstanding service to their community and parish at the annual Heritage Flag Raising Ceremony and Awards held at Independence Park in Black River on National Heroes Day, October 21.

They are Justice of the Peace (JP) Venis Granville-Cohen, who received the award for Long and Outstanding Contribution to Parish Development; JPs Valery Sleugh-Forsythe and Shereace Senior, who were honoured with the Outstanding Service Recognition Award; while JP Clinton Jones and community leader Patricia Scarlett-Forrester, received the Outstanding Community Development Award.

Ms. Senior told JIS News that she “did not see this coming” as her work is driven by a genuine desire to help rather than seek recognition.

“I’m not working for accolades. I just do what I do out of the goodness of my heart and wanting to help. That’s just me,” she said.

“So, it’s a good thing to be awarded. It tells you that other persons are looking on at what you’re doing and being appreciative of whatever you’re doing”, she added.

Ms. Senior, who has been deeply involved in community work in the Siloah area, is the president of the Thornton Community Club and works at the Siloah Primary School.

She extended her gratitude to the Custos of St. Elizabeth, Hon. Beryl Hope Rochester, for the nomination.

Mr. Jones also expressed pleasure at the recognition, which he said, was unexpected.

He outlined that throughout the years he has volunteered his service across various St. Elizabeth communities, including Windsor, Siloah, Aberdeen, and Thornton.

“As a JP, I have given service in the form of cash and kind so, I’m more than happy about today,” he said.

Chairman of the Civic and Community Affairs Committee at the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Councillor Dr. Karl Whyte, commended the award recipients for their selfless dedication to their communities.

“You are living heroes. You are presenting and continuing to sow seeds of volunteerism right across this parish. Your service, your sacrifice, have been recognised, and we honour you this morning, and we say thank you for your service,” Dr. Whyte said.

Mayor of Black River and Chairman of the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Councillor Richard Solomon, read the National Heroes Day message from Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, which underscored the importance of honouring Jamaica’s heroes while building a future of opportunity and equity.

The Prime Minister’s message called on all Jamaicans to carry forward the legacy of these men and women while working towards a peaceful, productive, and prosperous Jamaica where every citizen can live with pride and dignity.

The ceremony, which was organised by the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), featured the traditional flag-raising to mark National Heroes Day.

It was attended by local dignitaries, family members of the honourees and well-wishers.