KINGSTON, Jamaica: Three civil servants were awarded for their service at the First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union Limited (FHC) Civil Servants of the Year Awards on Friday.

They are Jamaica Information Service Manager for Computer Services Andre Allen in the Management category; Statistical Institute of Jamaica Field Supervisor Barbara Riley-Williams in the Mid-Managerial category; and Health and Wellness Psychiatric Nursing Aide Jeron Bonsfeather in the Technical Support category.

The awards ceremony, held at the Terra Nova under the theme ‘Innovate, Elevate, Celebrate — Advancing a Nation’ capped off a five-month process.  There were over 400 nominations; 12 shortlisted and interviewed, which led to the announcement of the three winners of each category, as well as the People’s Choice Winner. The People’s Choice winner is Veronica Miller Richards, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Regional Health Records Administrator, who amassed over 11,ooo votes from a total of approximately 29,000 votes.

“Our public servants are true stalwarts, paving the way for a brighter tomorrow, one act of service at a time,” declared acting FHC CEO Quilston Harrison, in his remarks read by Michelle Tracey, FHC Assistant General Manager of Marketing, Communications and Member Experience. “Today especially through this occasion, it is most fitting as each task our civil servants take on, each challenge they overcome, fills that basket of progress that makes Jamaica stronger, kinder, and more resilient.”

Minister of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams; Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Public Service in the Office of the Cabinet Audrey Sewell; FHC Board Chairman Camelle Ricketts-Moore (read by FHC Board Treasurer Nickiesha Walsh); Jamaica Civil Service Association President Techa Clarke-Griffiths (read by Second Senior VP Kelvin Thomas); and keynote speaker and Managing Director of  Select N’ Start Jeffrey Azan also made presentations.

Hosted in partnership among FHC, Ministry of Finance and Government of Jamaica Civil Service Week Committee, the ceremony kicked off the observance of Civil Service Week between November 17 and 23.

“Public sector workers are the cornerstones of any vision of transformation and nation-building. You are the innovators to develop solutions, the leaders to inspire action and the workers to implement change,” Sewell said. “As such, to achieve the shared goal of a transformed public service and a better Jamaica it requires the continued demonstration of creativity, innovation and the collective efforts of public sector workers, trade unions to represent the workers and the citizens to advance the vision of building a brighter and better Jamaica.”

Years of Excellent Service

Bonsfeather was awarded in the Technical Support category due to his continual upliftment of others through his role at the South East Regional Health Authority, Community Mental Health Services Department. He provides service across Kingston, St. Andrew, and St. Catherine where he works hard to advocate for the destigmatisation of mental health within these communities. Bonfeather also serves as First Vice-President of the Psychiatric Nursing Aide Association for the past three consecutive years.

Riley-Williams has over 42 years in Government service, entirely at the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). The rural St Catherine native has devoted her service to fostering strong relationships within her team while cultivating a cohesive and productive work atmosphere. Her success at leadership is also shown during her tenure as a field supervisor at STATIN as well as the former president of the Rotary Club of May Pen. There she led numerous outreach programmes impacting local schools, hospitals, and communities in Clarendon. Under her leadership, the club garnered unprecedented recognition, including the prestigious Super Club of the Year award and the District Governor’s Award for “Making a Difference” by serving humanity.

Allen has served the JIS for 13 years, managing the primary information and communication technology infrastructure of this state media agency. His leadership of the team of skilled information technology specialists who maintain the information and communication technology systems across various JIS divisions and regional offices is unparalleled. During the COVID-19 pandemic, bolstered communication transparency between the government and the citizens by instrumental work in establishing the government’s web-streaming platform that included the Post Cabinet and other Press Briefings. He was also the co-chairman for the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System at JIS for the 2023/24 period and spearheaded several transformative projects, including the redesign of the JIS and the launch of the FactCheckJA website.

In the response from the winners, Allen said: “It is humbling and inspiring to be gathered not just as individuals but as representatives of the collective effort and spirit of the public service. Even on our own we may feel small and ordinary but together through our dedication, creativity and teamwork, we can contribute to something greater and create a flood of progress.”