ST ANN CHAPTER RECOGNIZES TOP ACHIEVERS AS CALL MADE FOR MORE TRAINING
Minister with responsibility for water Matthew Samuda has hailed administrative professionals as the bulwarks behind the performance of firms and establishments contributing to national growth.
Mr Samuda says he could conceive of AI playing a far more important role in the workplace but he could not envisage them taking over from the administrative professionals.
(Odette Adams Smith making a presentation to Matthew Samuda following his speech)
He was speaking at the luncheon of the St Ann Chapter of the Jamaica Association of Administrative Professionals (JAAP) at Cardiff Hotel & Spa, Runaway Bay, St Ann on Wednesday, April 24.
Administrative professionals include secretaries, admin assistants, HR personnel, office managers and supervisors. The JAAP and its various chapters are celebrating the week under the theme ‘Administrative Professionals Making Change Happen.’
“The coordinating and organizing role of [administrative professionals] is often understated,” Mr Samuda said. He called on the professionals to continue placing a high value on training and efficiency. “If we do not upskill in a constantly changing world weare going to be left behind,” he said.
OUT OF HER SHELL
(St Ann Boss of The Year, and runner-up All-Island Boss of the Year Dennis Morgan, receiving trophy from President of the StAnn Chapter of Administrative Professionals Paulett Henry Lynch)
At the luncheon, top awardees for the parish were honoured. The St Ann Administrative Professional of the Year is Sanieta Gayle Henry administrator at the St Ann Justice Centre. She has also been selected as All Island Administrative Professional of the Year 2024-25.
(Administrative Professional of the Year for St Ann and All Island Administrative Professional of the Year Sanieta Gayle Henry stands with one of the many trophies and prizes she received at the luncheon.)
Dennis Morgan is Boss of the Year for St Ann. Mr Morgan, CEO at the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital has been selected as runner up All Island Boss of the Year.
Bringing greeting at the function were Custos Norma Walters and Deputy Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Cardell Wickham.
Last year’s all-Island Administrative Professional for the year (2023-24) Yanvanie Martin, from St Ann, said he had enjoyed his reign and learned a great deal.
Boss of the year for St Ann 2023-24 Loraine Fross expressed similar sentiments about the worth of the organization and the competition. She said the competition allowed her to come out of her “shell” and she grew in important ways. “It was a wonderful year,” she said.
The President of the St Ann Chapter is Paulett Henry Lynch.
Chair of the Administrative Professionals’ Week, for St Ann, is Marilyn Wisdom Banjo who presented the Code of Ethics at the luncheon.
Pauline Haughton was master of ceremonies.
