OCHO RIOS, St Ann – Custos of St Ann R O Walters has urged the government to grant tax breaks for volunteers as a way of acknowledging the important role they play nation-building.

“I don’t think that we recognise people for the work that they’ve been doing voluntarily. I think the government also needs to get in on the act and pay more attention. I hope it reach the stage where tax relief or tax rebate will be given to approved volunteerism,” the custos told the Observer at last Thursday’s Volunteer Award Ceremony for St Ann.

Walters said that developed countries such as the United States, Canada and England thrive on work of volunteers, where an estimated 80 per cent of the population was involved in volunteerism.

Government alone, Walters said, cannot do the work that is necessary to move the nation forward, and said he hoped that more people would “join the bandwagon and come on the volunteer train”.

Meanwhile, St Ann business woman and member of the Kiwanis Club of Brown’s Town, Beverley Riley, was named St Ann Parish Volunteer of the Year 2005 at a civic ceremony at the St Ann’s Bay Anglican Church Hall.

“I am so surprised. I am happy, I am so happy,” Riley, a justice of the peace, told the Observer after receiving her award.

Fifteen other persons from service clubs in the parish were also awarded for their volunteerism.

The citation to Riley, read by Herbert E Murdock, described her as a “tireless and unwavering in her dedication to the welfare of humanity. a parish volunteer par excellence”.

Riley, a charter member of the Kiwanis Club has been with that organisation for 10 years and has consistently assisted in community activities.

“I’ve been working with the St Christopher’s School for the Deaf and schools in general. I like to give my time to the youth, the children of tomorrow. In the Brown’s Town Primary School, they have the breakfast programme, I help. I try to raise funds for the feeding programme for the breakfasts,” Riley said.

Riley has had a kind streak from her school days in Kingston, where she was a girls guide.

“I used to watch children less fortunate than I am and I always want to help; most of the times I give, I always like to share with others, that is one of my main reasons,” she said.

After the declaration in 2001 that December 5 would be International Day for Volunteers, then Governor General Sir Howard Cooke asked custodes from the parishes to establish a committee to oversee the selection process to determine a top volunteer.

This year, the St Ann Committee, chaired by Custos Walters, asked the service clubs to recommend a person from their club, from which a parish winner was chosen.

Riley was presented with a plaque as the top volunteer, while the other 15 persons were presented with certificates.

In addition to Riley, the other volunteers recognised were: Hyacinth Archer, Marjorie Robinson, Zelpha Rowe, Gwendolyn Small, Beverline Stone, Madeline Whitter, Cynthia Graham, Josephine Rose, Pauline Rumble, Beryl Spence, Vana Taylor, Anthony Beckford, Jermaine White, Isaac Samuel Gordon and Earl Watson.

– gilchristc@jamaicaobserver.com