The Gleaner honours outstanding Jamaicans

Anastasia Cunningham, Senior Gleaner Writer

IN THE second of three category luncheons leading up to the grand gala affair in November, three recipients were awarded in The Gleaner's 2011 Honour Awards for their outstanding contribution to health and wellness, business, and science and technology at the newspaper's North Street offices yesterday.

For his role in the development of Jamaican geological research, Professor Simon Mitchell was honoured in the area of science and technology.

"I'm very pleased and honoured to receive this award. I think these awards are very important because they help us demonstrate the good things that are going on in Jamaica, and that is a very important thing for the future. This is rewarding an area, geological sciences, that we really don't hear enough about," stated Mitchell.

The Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) earned the honour in the Health and Wellness category for its positive impact on the delivery of health services to Jamaica.

Godfrey Boyd, chief executive officer of KPH and Victoria Jubilee Hospital, expressed his gratitude, especially in light of the negativity that often cloud the health sector.

"We are indeed greatly, greatly appreciative of this award, especially because you are rewarding us for having chosen to serve our Jamaican population. This award means a lot to us because many times there is a lot of negativity being said about the health industry, but today being awarded in this category is a motivating factor for my staff and myself," Boyd said.

Stimulating new business activity

Proving that even in challenging times tourist attractions can create jobs and generate millions of dollars in earnings, the 10-year-old Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios, St Ann, was the business recipient for its role in stimulating new business activity.

Stafford Burrowes, chief executive officer and managing director of Dolphin Cove, and wife, Marilyn, director of marketing, were on hand to accept the award.

"It is a pleasure and an honour to be here. (However,) the real people who deserve the recognition are the staff we have back in Ocho Rios, a fabulous group of young Jamaicans," Burrowes declared.

He shared that the secret to their success was their overwhelming care for what they were doing. He added that they are looking forward to continue expanding and creating more jobs with the hope that Jamaica would continue to grow.

For the past 32 years, The Gleaner's Honour Awards has been recognising the initiative, accomplishment and courage of individuals or organisations that have contributed significantly to improving Jamaica's quality of life, whether in arts and culture, public service, sports, education, science and technology, health and wellness, entertainment, voluntary service, or business. The Man of the Year is selected from these awardees during the gala luncheon.

Full Caption

The Gleaner Honour awardees (from left): Professor Simon Mitchell, Science and Technology recipient; Kingston Public Hospital representatives Godfrey Boyd, chief executive officer, and Littleton Shirley, chairman, Health and Wellness recipient; Marilyn Burrowes and her husband, Stafford, of Dolphin Cove, Business recipient. Standing at the back are Christopher Barnes (left), managing director of The Gleaner Company, and Professor Gerald Lalor of the selection committee at The Gleaner Honour Awards luncheon at The Gleaner Company, central Kingston, yesterday.