GG scheme hails Sir Kenneth
Published: Thursday | March 26, 2009
A solid tradition of excellence: Former governor general, Sir Kenneth Hall (fourth left), joins his successor, Dr Patrick Allen (second left), at a luncheon yesterday at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel to recognise the contribution of the Governor General's Achievement Awards scheme. Others (from left) are: Richard Powell, group president and CEO of the Victoria Mutual Building Society; Lady Hall; Her Excellency Patricia Allen; Earl Jarrett, general manager, the Jamaica National Building Society; Christopher Barnes, deputy managing director, The Gleaner Company Limited; and Hugh Morris, coordinator of the GGAA scheme. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
The sponsors of the Governor General's Achievement Awards (GGAA) scheme yesterday hailed Sir Kenneth Hall for his support of the programme and welcomed Dr Patrick Allen, who has pledged his commitment to the initiative.
Sir Kenneth heaped praise on the private sector sponsors for their funding of what he termed a programme "with a public purpose". He argued that "this is a model that has a significant contribution to make to the nation's development".
The GGAA scheme recognises persons from humble beginnings who have made major contributions to parish development but have not been honoured nationally. The awards, given annually since 1991, are presented at a series of county events attended by the governor general and sponsor representatives.
The former governor general pointed out that those who had received awards over the years had made "a lifetime of commitment at the local level". Sir Kenneth emphasised that the GGAA was one way of sending a signal that "work at the local level is critical to nation building".
Youth element added
It was Sir Kenneth who added a youth element to the awards scheme; and yesterday at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel luncheon he argued that young people needed to be nurtured and encouraged, emphasising that those who achieved excellence deserved to be to rewarded.
Dr Allen endorsed the programme and congratulated the sponsors for their funding which, he said, could help to inspire the nation. The governor general also restated his 'I believe' mantra, arguing that this could be applied at every level in Jamaica.
The sponsors of the GGAA scheme are the Victoria Mutual Building Society, represented yesterday by CEO Richard Powell; the Jamaica National Building Society, represented by General Manager Earl Jarrett; FirstCaribbean International Building Society, represented by Managing Director Lenworth Tracey; Scotia Jamaica Building Society, represented by Vice-President and General Manager Gladstone Whitelocke; and The Gleaner Company Ltd, represented by Deputy Managing Director Christopher Barnes.
