Quion Barrett is Westmoreland’s Kiwanis of the Year
QUION Barrett was dubbed Westmoreland’s Kiwanis of the Year at the club’s fifth annual installation and awards ceremony last week.
The ceremony – which was addressed by guest speaker Leighton McKnight, a chartered accountant – saw visiting Kiwanians from Hanover/Lucea, Upper Trelawny, Liguanea, Santa Cruz, Providence and Montego Freeport witnessing the installation of the 2009-2010 executive by Lieutenant Governor Corris Samuels of Santa Cruz.
The new executive comprises:
. President Cheryl Foster;
. President-Elect Marcia Belto-Dixon;
. Vice-President Maurine Stone-Barrett;
. Immediate Past President Gladstone Clarke;
. Secretary Julet Kasantaroeno;
. Treasurer Henry Graham and Directors Sophia Daniels, Distinguished President Peter Scott, Patricia Palmer, Quion Barrett, and Sergeant-at-arms Dwight Lawrence.
Barrett, who is in his second year at the club, served last year as Director of Community Services that undertook the upgrading of three ECIs, a park and the town’s infirmary.
In a spirited, highly appreciated address McKnight – the immediate past lieutenant governor of division 23 East – challenged his fellow clubbites to “live up to the six objects of Kiwanis, founded in 1915”.
“Let us start making it every day as there are many small things we can do to make Jamaica better,” he said, adding, “lack of a university degree is no deterrent to success as Jesus was born in a manger to teach us humility.”
Quoting freely from popular songs of yesteryear (Heptones’ Book of Rules, Bob Andy’s I was born a man, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie’s We are the world, Bob Marley’s We Jah people can make it work and the Reggae Boyz Anthem Rise Up), McKnight encouraged his audience to “rise and take Jamaica”.
Referring to the ultimate sacrifice made by National Heroes Paul Bogle and Sam Sharpe and others, McKnight said “Let’s not take it for granted, do what you can…”
In reply, President Foster noted the high standard set by her forerunners, “all for whom served with distinction”, and stated her priority project as “going into schools to uplift the literacy rate”.
