NORANDA RECEIVES CORPORATE AWARD AT HOMECOMING BANQUET
Efforts to honour Garvey continue
The St. Ann Homecoming and Heritage Foundation has awarded two individuals and a company for invaluable contribution to the growth and development of the parish and the country in general.
The awards were presented to Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners which received the Corporate Award; Herbert Thompson, the individual community award and Irwine Clare Snr for outstanding contribution to Jamaica.
The awards were presented Saturday night during a glittering banquet held at Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios where there was plenty of laughter, food and entertainment. People from St Ann who reside outside Jamaica were also in attendance.
President of Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners, Pansy Johnson, accepted the award of behalf of the company. Noranda was praised for offering direct employment to over 500 workers, 300 contractors and for contributing some $80-M annually to the country’s economy.
Mrs Johnson later told the North Coast Times that she was elated to have received the award on behalf of the hardworking team at Noranda Jamaica. She said the award speaks volume to company’s contribution to the parish and country.
“It is good to be appreciated, we do the things that we do because we like doing it, but really it is an extra credit to us and to our employees to have been recognized, so I really appreciate the award,” she told the Times shortly after accepting the award.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Herbert Thompson who has led the St. Ann Homecoming and Heritage Foundation as chairman in previous years. Mr. Thompson is an educator who has worked locally and in New York where he spent many years.
Mr. Thompson was also lauded by the Foundation for the extensive work he has been doing in parish particularly through ‘Children of our Village’ a programme he initiated at St. Ann’s Bay Primary. Through the programme students who are struggling academically or with disciplinary issues are mentored by members of the foundation.
“I am most humbled by it, I didn’t expect it. Nothing I have done about this has anything to do with rewards. It is just about filling a need wherever I see where I can help,” he said.
Irwine Clare said he was also elated to be recognized by the parish he grew up in and where he attended school before he migrated to the US. Mr. Clare is one of the leading members in the Jamaican Diaspora in North East USA. As founder and CEO of Team Jamaica Bickle Inc, Mr. Clare and his team has been responsible for feeding Jamaican Athletes who compete annually at the Penn Relays in the US.
He has also contributed significantly towards various aspects of the country’s development through his involvement in the Diaspora.
“It’s exhilarating to be honoured by your parish. I feel very special about St. Ann, I have never forgotten where I am from and to be recognized by St. Ann, the parish that is home to Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Bob Marley, I am just in a different world,” he said. “What it will do is reinforce my commitment to serve this parish and by extension Jamaica,”.
Earlier in the function, Mr. Clare who gave the keynote address said Jamaicans in the Diaspora were very committed to helping Jamaica and he encouraged members of the group to move towards forming valuable partnership with the Diaspora.
The function was also used to celebrate the life and work of national hero Marcus Garvey whose birthday will be celebrated on Sunday, August 17. The playing of the UNIA anthem was a symbolic part of the banquet.
Chairman of the Homecoming and Heritage Foundation Lance Neita said that in recognition of Marcus Garvey this year the group will be moving to have the St. Ann Parish Council name a section of the parish capital, Marcus Garvey Square.
He said an anniversary church service to celebrate Garvey’s birth will be held at the St. Ann’s Bay Baptist church on Sunday. Additionally, Mr. Neita said the foundation will continue to work with the Jamaica National Heritage Trust to have a replica of Garvey’s house built at Seville Heritage Park also in St. Ann’s Bay.
The foundation also presented a special award to former custos of the parish and chairman of the homecoming and heritage foundation, Radcliffe Walters. Entertainment was provided by the Beat Band. Mr. Clare and other members of the Diaspora also presented a projector, television and laptop to the foundation for the Marcus Garvey Resource Room located at the parish library.
