Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer
Governor-General Achievement Awardees from Cornwall pose with Sir Howard Cooke (third left) at the Invercauld Great House, Black River, St. Elizabeth, on Wednesday. From left are: David Gardner, Beryl McLean, Wilfred Nembhard, Lincoln James and Cosmond Keith Jackson. - PHOTO BY HERBERT MCKENIS
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE FIVE 2005 Governor-General's Achievement Award winners for Cornwall were honoured on Wednesday at a ceremony held in St. Elizabeth.
During the awards presentation ceremony, held at the Grand Invercauld Great House and Hotel in Black River, Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke commended the awardees on their achievements.
"When you get such an award, you are identified with people who have done great in this country," he said.
The five recipients are: David Gardner of Hanover, Wilfred Nembhard of St. Elizabeth, Lincoln James of St. James, Cosmond Jackson of Westmoreland and Beryl McLean of Trelawny.
The awards, which are being staged for the 14th year, identify one person from each of Jamaica's 14 parishes, who "from modest social and economic circumstances uplifted themselves and shown substantial social and economic upward improvement."
During the function on Wednes-day, Sir Howard took the opportunity to stress the positive attributes of the nation, though lamenting the attitudes of some members of the political leadership.
"It is fashionable to denigrate our leaders and say 'nutting naa gwaan and everything is bad here'," he said. "When I see the attitude of some MPs, sometimes I sit down and wonder if party politics has reached a point where we have to look at it again."
However, he added: "Don't let the media carry you astray saying that we (Jamaicans) are the wickedest people in the world. Because we have some of the greatest preachers, teachers and intellectuals."
Sir Howard also came out in defence of Jamaica's education system.
"Those people who are saying that 'education is gone to the dogs', if this is true, why do I go to the University and sit down and see the Chancellor presenting thousands of first degrees, hundreds of second degrees and sometimes double doctorates?" he questioned.
The Governor-General maintained that "there is a remarkable creative genius and good in our people."
