GOJ AWARDS TOP CIVIL SERVANTS OF THE YEAR
Kingston, Jamaica: Friday, November 18:
THREE OUTSTANDING public servants were awarded the prestigious title of Civil Servant of the Year during an awards ceremony hosted by the Government of Jamaica in partnership with First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union Limited (FHC) at the Terra Nova All-suite Hotel in Kingston on Friday, November 18.
Lennox Wallace, chief public health inspector (acting parish manager), copped the Civil Servant of the Year Award in the Managerial Category, while Oliver Morris, customer service officer, came out on top in the Midmanagerial Category, and Simone Turton, health records technician, in the Technical Support Category.
The winner of the inaugural People’s Choice Award, with 35.9 per cent of the 1,597 votes across the public service, is Sophia Moulton, director, ceremonials, operation and staff administration in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Hon Marsha Smith, minister of state in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, congratulated the awardees and urged them to continue delivering service excellence.
“A true patriot is what I see when I look at the hard work, dedication and passion in which you execute your various duties as public servants. From the managerial to the technical level, you are the wheel that keeps the daily operations of this country turning, and for that Jamaica owes you a great debt,” she said.
During the ceremony, Leodis Douglas, chairman of the board of directors, FHC, said, “This celebration is not only an opportunity to commend your success, but also to recognise the civil service as a critical body, one that affects the lives of all Jamaicans and undertake actions that keep the wheels of our government turning to generate stability and to drive change.”
Meanwhile, Wallace says he is elated that he won Civil Servant of the Year in the Managerial Category. “I am indeed humbled to have won this award, and I also want to congratulate the other nominees. Management is like a relay when you take up the baton, run as hard and as fast to complete the task at hand.”
Each awardee received a plaque, a citation and a cash prize of $200,000, along with a $150,000 allocation for a joint community project, courtesy of FHC.
This awards ceremony marked the 18th year since its implementation in 2004 and was geared at highlighting the worth and work of outstanding civil servants who have given excellent service to central government, and the country as a whole.
This year, Civil Service Week is being celebrated during the week of November 20-26.
Among the week’s activities is a church service, a Vintage Display Opening on a Public Forum, and a Jamaica Civil Service Long Service Awards Ceremony. Also among the activities are a Domino Knockout Session and a Vintage Night After-work Lyme.
The week’s activities will culminate on Saturday, November 26, with an islandwide church service across all chapters.