Yahneake Sterling,
Staff Reporter
Charles Johnston (left), chairman of Jamaica Fruit and
Shipping Company, and Alexander Barclay Ewart stole the show at
the annual Carlton Alexander Awards held at the Jamaica Pegasus
hotel, Wednesday night. Both were awarded for outstanding achievement
in their respective professions, as well as for their contribution
to Jamaica College. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
IT WAS an evening filled with humour in the Montego Suite
of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, on Wednesday night,
as over 100 Jamaica College (JC) old boys gathered to honour two
outstanding Jamaicans.
Charles Johnston and Alexander Barclay Ewart were presented with
the Carlton Alexander Award for their outstanding con-tribution
to JC and for their achievements in their profession of choice.
The Carlton Alexander Award is presented annually to two outstanding
Jamaica College past students in memory of the late Mr. Alexander,
a former JC student and noted business leader.
SWIMMER, FOOTBALLER
Hailed for his vision and role in developing the shipping industry
in Jamaica, Mr. Johnston, chairman of Jamaica Fruit and Shipping
and Jamaica Producers Group, was described as an avid swimmer,
who also excelled at football. He was recognised for his pioneering
efforts to export Jamaican bananas to Costa Rica, the Dominican
Republic and Honduras.
Mr. Ewart, chairman of the Alkali Group of Companies, was saluted
as a true industrialist. Known for his role in the growth of Jamaica's
chemical industry, he was described as a focus-driven individual
who never shrunk from a challenge.
In his reply, the shipping giant Johnston, while expressing his
delight of having attended JC, noted that discipline played a
vital role in schools, especially all-boys institutions. "Jamaica
will be in further trouble if we do not restore discipline in
our schools," he emphasised. "I urge the old boys to bring back
boarding to JC ... bring back discipline, bring back the values
and bring back the school."
His suggestion was welcomed by his co-awardee, who declared that
the school's administration had an obligation to restore JC to
its former glory.
"I am disappointed in how JC is perceived today, we do not rank
in the top five choice for students who do the GSAT," he noted.
Mr. Ewart suggested that the JC Old Boys Association establish
a mentoring programme to teach soft social skills so as to familiarise
the students with the skills, requirement and confidence needed
to become successful in life.
