Sir Howard Cooke delivered a very passionate speech at the Governor-General's Achievement Awards Ceremony. He was delighted to be a part of the execution, which was an inspiration for him.

Published Thursday, October 27, 1994

GG challenges media houses

GOVERNOR General Sir Howard Cooke has challenged the news media to expose more of the praiseworthy, civic-minded activities taking place on the island.

Sir Howard issued that challenge when he spoke at the Governor-General's Achievement Awards Ceremony for the 1994 winners, in the county of Surrey, held yesterday at the Crystal Springs resort near Buff Bay, Portland.

He praised the media for its diligence in highlighting the truth concerning issues of national interest but he argued that there ought to be an improved effort to highlight some of the “the great things” that are happening in the country.

In this regard, Sir Howard pointed out that there has been “a social revolution” taking place in the country as ordinary people are increasingly finding it possible to achieve a creditable level of upward socio-economic mobility amidst huge obstacles.

Turning to the fact that he had presented national awards two Mondays ago (on National Heroes' Day), he acknowledged that the Governor-General’s Achievement Awards (GGAA), of which he is a patron, holds a dear place in his heart. Whenever he attends the GGAA ceremonies, he stressed: “I can’t help but feel emotionally lifted every time I come to this function.”

Those receiving awards were: Eric Daniels of Kingston; Millicent Williams of St Thomas, Kenneth Bryan of Portland and Clinton McGann of St Andrew.

The award is sponsored by the Building Societies Association of Jamaica (BSAJ) and The Gleaner Company.

Persons receiving the award are expected to:

•            Have shown upward social or economic movement.

•            Have made a worthwhile contribution to the development of a community or group in their parish.

•            Have started from modest economic or social circumstances.

•            Be a resident of Jamaica but not necessarily a national.

•            Have not received a national honour before or the Governor-General's Achievement Award.

•            Be identified by the GGAA Parish Committee from nominations from the public or the committee members.

Each parish winner from the county was presented by the respective custodes, The Hon Noel Williams of Portland; Isaac Matalon of St Thomas; Rev The Hon Carmen Stewart of St Andrew; Rev The Hon Canon Weeville Gordon of Kingston.

The sponsors were represented by Oliver Clarke, chairman/managing director of The Gleaner Company, and Karl Wright, president of the Victoria Mutual Building Society, who on this occasion spoke on the behalf of the BSAJ.

Both men lauded the awardees, whose lives, they said, were worthy of emulation. The awards scheme, they said, has been performing a useful function in highlighting exemplary citizens and thus would continue to receive their sponsorship.

The function was chaired by Roy Dickson, secretary to the Governor-General Awards scheme. Musical selections were rendered by Neidine Lamount, a student at the Jamaica School of Music. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of Henn Hendriks, who died earlier this month.  Hendricks was the national coordinator of the awards scheme for the period 1991-92.

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