Jamaica Gleaner

‘THIS IS INDEED OUR TIME’

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LADIES AND gentlemen, it is with tremendous pride, yet great humility, that I acknowledg­e your invitation to take my place among the other 23 Jamaican champions of their industries, who have made an indelible imprint on our nation.

Your recognitio­n honours me, to be sure, but, more important, it challenges me to strive even harder to become my greater self, and to be the change that I wish to see, and I thank you for that in particular.

Thank you all for sharing this special evening with Heidi and me.

I thank the PSOJ for this honour, and I dedicate tonight to my family, Mom and Dad ... and to the over 1,200 members of the ‘National family’ whose commitment and hard work make giving back possible.

I also dedicate this night to two powerful mentors: Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon of the Mustard Seed Communitie­s and Sister Benedict Chung of the Laws Street Trade Training Centre – both of whom have been outstandin­g role models, exemplifyi­ng service above self in all their life’s work.

And I thank our loyal customers who Sharing a light-hearted moment are (from left) PSOJ President Paul Scott; 2016 Private Sector Hall of Fame inductee Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickso­n; and immediate Past President of the PSOJ William Mahfood.

for almost 65 years have trusted us with their family’s diet.

Charles Dickens might well have been describing our little island when he penned these words:

Jamaica encapsulat­es this enigma ... a brand like no other, world-class athletes, an alluring tourism product, renowned scholars, medical pioneers, yet perpetuall­y not quite there yet.

ALERT MODE

For far too long, indeed as long as I can remember, we have been in alert mode. We have been poised and ready at the starting block with

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 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D PHOTOS ??
CONTRIBUTE­D PHOTOS
 ??  ?? Proud parents of the honouree look on in admiration of their son’s accomplish­ment.
Proud parents of the honouree look on in admiration of their son’s accomplish­ment.
 ??  ?? 2015 Hall of Famer Earl Jarrett (right) greets the 2016 Hall of Famer Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickso­n (centre), while PSOJ President Paul Scott looks on.
2015 Hall of Famer Earl Jarrett (right) greets the 2016 Hall of Famer Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickso­n (centre), while PSOJ President Paul Scott looks on.

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