A toast to 'Monty' - Noranda honours 115 for long service

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

Roydel 'Monty' Stewart, maintenance superintendent at Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners (NJBP), was the toast at the company's long-service award recently when he was given a special award for 45 years of service to the bauxite industry.

Stewart was, in fact, one of 115 employees that NJBP honoured for service to the industry that amounts to an amazing 1,495 years.

Stewart joined what was then Kaiser Jamaica Bauxite Company in 1968 and was there when the company transitioned to St Ann Bauxite Jamaica Limited and eventually to the current NJBP.

Delroy Dell, operations manager at NJBP, expressed delight at the wealth of experience that the company possesses.

"As I look across this room, I see a wealth of experience that other companies would die for," he said in addressing the gathering at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

"We have some 1,495 years of invaluable experience to celebrate. We have a team that has demonstrated loyalty, perseverance, and dedication in getting the right results for Noranda by doing the right things the right way."

Dell said despite the past year being a difficult one for the company in terms of declining prices and financial challenges, management was encouraged by the resilience that employees showed as the company sought to remain on track.

"So, tonight's celebration is not merely the summation of 1,495 years of collective service. Rather, it is recognition of years of hard work, partnerships, trials, and triumphs and the building of a team that is second to none in our industry," Dell said.

"We can be proud of Noranda. Indeed, as someone has said, it is a pleasure to work at Noranda. And even as we reflect on our successes, we view the achievements as platforms for building a future that is guided by our mission, our values, and our goals."

Dell told the long-service awardees that their performance, which comprised hard work and continued reliability, was encouraging for the company and gave rise to the belief that NJBP would be around for many more years.