The Noranda community council of Discovery Bay held their 2014 ‘Excellence Awards’ on Thursday October, 23 at the Port Rhoades Sports Club, Discovery Bay, St Ann.
Eighteen (18) people were awarded for outstanding contribution to community development in the Discovery Bay area and beyond its borders. Chairman of the Noranda community council, Kent Skyers gave the welcome and opening remarks at the ceremony after which a brief devotional exercise was done by Olga Cunningham. Vice president and general manager of Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners, Antione Lidell gave his greetings and congratulatory message to the awardees. “First of all it is my pleasure to congratulate the members of the community who are receiving the Noranda Community Excellence Awards. Your records of outstanding service are being recognized and Noranda and the Discovery Bay community are grateful for the contribution you have made and the key role that you all have played.” Lidell said.
The community council plays a vital role in helping to establish and maintain mutual understanding, trust and support between Noranda and its neighboring communities.
Mr Lidell also said that the ground work has been laid out by former president of Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners, Pansy Johnson and that he will do his utmost best to maintain the perspective of social responsibility and community relations.
Lance Neita, secretary of the Noranda community council did the introduction of the guest speaker, Norma Walters, Custos of St Ann. She said “ Today the Noranda Community Council honors 18 distinguished citizens of Discovery Bay for their dedicated service to community development.”
The awardees came in different categories such as education, medicine, agriculture, religion, law and order, seniority sports, commerce, transportation, fisheries, and the bauxite industry. Mrs Walters also said that it was good to see a community organization made up of representatives of districts in and around Discovery Bay, working as partners with an organization that has 500 direct workers, 300 indirect contractor workers and pumping some US $80 Million annually into Jamaica’s economy.
The eighteen awardees that were presented with plaques were: Louise Palmer J.P; education, Neville Wallace J.P. ; education, Vincent Barrett; transport, Richard Garel; health, Joyce Dawson; Dr. Fiona Henry-Pinnock and Inspector Levi Powell; law and order, Lindsay Williams and , Lindergen Forbes; youth and community development, Lloyd Folkes; sports, Pastor Horace Rose; religion, Pastor Stanley Benbow and, Fitzroy Pryce; contribution to business, Rudolph O’Neil Stokes; fishing and agriculture, Cassandra Stewart; seniority award, Anna James, and Ethlyn Redway and Pansy Johnson; for most significant contribution to the bauxite industry, to community support and leadership.
