Rewards for nine

Pride Of Wilson Hill Folk And Community Group performing at the St John Constituency Council’s Awards Ceremony. (Ricardo Leacock)

Tue, January 17, 2012 - 12:02 AM

NINE LOYAL SONS AND DAUGHTERS of St John, along with two community organizations, were honoured last Saturday by the St John Constituency Council during its inaugural awards ceremony.

The Unsung Hero Award went to Anthony Beckles for his selfless contribution in various sporting groups within the community, while the Cornerstone Award was presented to Brenda Bartlett, retired supervisor of the Madame Ifill Day Nursery, for her contribution to the care of children in the parish.

Family and friends at the Messiah Wesleyan Holiness Worship Centre in Massiah Street, St John, looked on proudly as hockey player Akeem Rudder, footballer Bernard Howell and swimmer Marsha Watson each received the Sports Award and University of the West Indies student Dominique Pinder received the Education Award (For Overall Academic Achievement).

Among the other awardees were Wendy Antrobus, who received the Education Award in recognition of her sterling contribution to education; Pat Mottley, recipient of the Agriculture Award; and well-known artist and designer Omowale Stewart, who was honoured with the Arts And Culture Award in the specific area of Visual Arts.

Two groups – The Pride Of Wilson Hill Folk And Community Group and the St John District Emergency Organization – were given the Community Group Award.

In his address Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development Steve Blackett applauded the St John Constituency Council for keeping its “standards high and setting an example of excellence which can be emulated as best practice by other councils, even as they also have activities that can be emulated by you”.

Saying that constituency councils must be seen as agents of change in the community, St John MP Mara Thompson added that “the idea of establishing them was for the sole purpose of giving a group of persons in every constituency the medium through which to develop strategies for ensuring that opportunities for economic advancement are available to all Barbadians, including the members of lower-income families and communities”.

She encouraged the council to press ahead with its work despite the fact that “the amount of money currently allocated to the constituency councils [was] not a lot”.

“Put to good use,” she said, “I can see you making a meaningful contribution to the lives of members of this St John community.” (RL)

Honour roll:

Cornerstone Award – Brenda Bartlett

Education Award (For Overall Academic Achievement) – Dominique Pinder

Education Award – Wendy Antrobus

Agriculture Award – Pat Mottley

Arts And Culture Award (Visual Arts) – Omowale Stewart

Sports Awards (Hockey) – Akeem Rudder

Sports Award (Football) – Bernard Howell

Sports Award (Swimming) – Marsha Watson

Community Group Award – The Pride Of Wilson Hill Folk And Community Group

Community Group Award – St John District Emergency Organization