Initiatives of Successive GGs

Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, February 14, 2022

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

Soon, we hope, the position of Governor General will give way to President of the Republic of Jamaica. I hear there is much grinding of teeth about changing out all our Police and Soldier’s buttons and various seals; I hope that is just a joke. Yes, we want to have distinguished citizens still serving as Presidents, because we have to give credit to our current and former Governors General for being exemplary leaders and for creating excellent affirmation programmes.

It was the late Sir Howard Cooke who started the Governor-General’s Awards of Achievement (GGAA) 30 years ago, honouring unsung heroes doing valiant work in their respective parishes. His successor, Sir Kenneth Hall, in 2006, expanded the Governor General’s Achievement Awards to include young standouts in education and volunteerism. In 2011 our current Governor General Sir Patrick Allen launched the “I Believe Initiative”, inspiring strong values in Jamaican youths islandwide, and in 2014 he brought the two projects together under the Governor-General’s Programme for Excellence (GGPE).

Congratulations to the National Coordinators for these programmes, Henri Hendricks, Roy Dickson and Larkin Hall of blessed memory; Hugh Morris, Major (ret’d) Effiom Whyte, Sonja Simms and the current Coordinator Abrahim Simmonds. May the programmes remain to enhance our Republic.