Gleaner honours five others for outstanding national contribution
Published:Thursday | January 18, 2018 | 12:00 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
Boys' Town Community Intervention Programme's chief executive officer Trevor Spence said that Jamaica does not need another crime plan. What it needs is a holistic community-development plan.
"Jamaica was ahead of most countries on the focus of youth development in the 1940's. Boys' Town believes, as an example of a national project, that Jamaica does not need another crime strategy. What we need is a community-development strategy that includes youths getting an opportunity," Spencer said at yesterday's RJRGLEANER Honour Awards luncheon at the company's North Street, Kingston, office.
Boys' Town, he contended, is still Jamaica's "best-kept secret", but by being honoured by the multimedia house, it will help to get the message out.
AWARDEES
Yesterday, Boys' Town was among five persons and entities that were honoured for their outstanding contribution to Jamaica. The others were Miss Jamaica Universe Davina Bennett, the Electricity Sector Enterprise Team (ESET), RISE Life Management Services, and the National Library of Jamaica.
Boys' Town earned the award in the category of voluntary service for continuing the 78-year-old legacy of its founder, Father Hugh Sherlock.
The National Library copped the award in the category of arts and culture. It is home to a treasure trove of vital information of national importance in the form of films, print, sounds, manuscripts, and maps. It is also home to a rich collection of valued works of culture icon Dr Louise Bennett Coverley, the Rex Nettleford Collection, the Anthony Winkler collection, and a digital rendition of the opening of the Porus railway station. Chief Executive Officer Beverley Lashley accepted on behalf of the institution.
Volunteer organisation RISE Life won the special award in the voluntary service category. Executive Director Sonita Abrahams and her team were presented with the plaque.
ESET won the award in the category of science and technology for its work to diversify sources of fuel for electricity and to replace obsolete capacity available to the national grid. Chairman Professor Alvin Wint was on hand to accept the honour.
The Davina Bennett Foundation for the Deaf copped the special award in the category of arts and culture.
From the list of awardees in the nine categories, one will be named awardee of the year at the RJRGLEANER Gala celebration to be held on February 13.