The western chapters of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) on Monday conferred over awards on residents of this region for outstanding services in their various fields of endeavour.

These receiving awards included professionals who made sterling contributions in the fields of Education, Community Service, Religion, Culture and Midwifery.

Seven get Sam Sharpe Award in Montego Bay…

In Montego Bay the JCDC in collaboration with the St James Parish Council conferred 7 Sam Sharpe awards on:

n Deputy Superintendent of Police Paul Stanton for national security;

n Doreen Bernard for community service;

n Reverend Evelyn Robinson for journalism;

n Rubell Peterkin for Community Service;

n Jennifer Williams for agriculture;

n Delroy Service for Sports and

n Vincent Lloyd Bishop for education.

Stanton, who is in charge of Administration in St James was born in St Mary. An ordained elder and youth director at his church, he was lauded for exemplary service to the parish since 1981. It was noted at the ceremony that Stanton’s life is guided by the quote “You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”

Doreen Bernard was lauded for her calm unassuming nature and genuine love for the youth and elderly as well as her many roles which included vice-chair of the Irwin High School; Ambassador with the Jamaica Tourist Board’s “Meet the People Programme”.

The Reverend Evelyn Robinson, publisher of Holiday Jamaica and the Jamaica Tourist Guide was born in St Elizabeth. However she has been living in Montego Bay for the past 40 years. On Monday she was lauded for her role in the establishment of the Western Mirror community newspaper which she served as its first General Manager.

She also served as Company Secretary/Director for Western Publishers Limited, the newspaper’s publisher. Prior to that, it was noted, she kept the Beacon, Montego Bay’s first community newspaper afloat between 1979 and 1980 so that staffers whose skills were confined to the print media wouldn’t be out of a job.

Rubell Peterkin, affection-ately known as ‘Mama Dood’ was lauded for the informal child care facility which has been operating on Barracks road for the past 18 years. The facility has served many children whose parents simply abandoned them. Additionally, Mama Dood who is also called Miss Mama was lauded for caring for street people through the preparation of meals and a place to stay. The mother of five, Peterkin, who was born in the Lottery district of St James on December 10, 1936 started life as a fashion designer, earning her living as a dressmaker. Agriculturalist Jennifer Williams was lauded for her role in establishing the Flower Hill Bammy facility which has existed since 1984, as well as the integral role she played in the development of the Maroon Pride Banana Chips Factory in Maroon Town, St James. Her contribution to the empowerment of rural women through training in Home Economic and the establishment of home gardens to supplement the nutritional needs of farm families was also noted.

Entrepreneur Delroy Service who operates the Time and Patience bakery on Railway Lane in Montego Bay, was lauded for his keen interest over the past twenty years in the development of youth through on-the-job-training for inner-city residents. Described as an ardent lover of sports Service was also credited for sponsoring several football competitions in the parish.

Vincent Lloyd Bishop, who was described as a multi-talented educator with a definite knack for the stage was awarded for his 35 years of service to education.

Currently employed to the Barracks Road Primary school where he serves as a resource to teachers across the parish, Bishop, who also volunteers with the Jamaica Aids Support as a testing and counselling officer was noted for his impact in the art of teaching.

Four get awards in Westmoreland…

In Westmoreland awards went to:

n USA national, Reverend Margaret Fowler for Community Development;

n Flossie Beharie for her work in education;

n Reverend Lorrel Garwood religion and

n Joan Grant for culture

Over two dozen awards conferred in Trelawny, Hanover and St Bess…

In Trelawny parish awards went to Laurel Barnett, Rosita Belford, Sylvia Jumpp, Stephanie Roper, Stobbs and Mareiana Warren for education; Norma Lewis for midwifery and Elwes Scott for Community Service.

Mayor Colin Gager’s awardees were Beryl Brown, Nevada Jarrett, Gloria Mclean and Dorothy Murray for education; Burchell Brown, Asburga Harwood and Vance Smith for Community Service and Patsi Grenion for Midwifery.

Awards also went to the parents and guardians of Trelawny’s Olympic champions.

In Lucea four persons were honoured, namely Linford Samuels for sports; Ransford Barnes for agriculture;

Aston Hamilton for community service and Constable Patrick Thomas.

Deputy mayor of Black River Shirley Myers, was one of three persons to receive a gold medal and plaque during Monday’s civic ceremony at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS). Myers who was honoured for politics and local government has served as councillor for the Southfield Division for the past 21 years.

Meanwhile, the other two top honourees were Maudlin Sylvia Roach, who was honoured for outstanding services in the field of education and community service and Glenister Henry, who was awarded posthumously for outstanding contribution to agriculture.

The other awardees who received plaques were:

n Monica Spooner-Bent social service and education;

n Ezekiel AR Crawford for education and community service;

n Eldemire A Smith for sports;

n Whitney Nighyota Smith and Jermaine Porter, youth achievers; and

n Hall Anthony Ellis, posthumously awarded for literature and theatre.

– Additional reporting by Pat Roxborough-Wright, Mark Cummings and Horace Hines