Georgetown: “Citizens’ contribution to society, their participation in national development and their personal accomplishments are central to a country’s progress,” said President David Granger, as he addressed the Investiture 2019 Ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) earlier on Friday.
This year, 77 outstanding Guyanese were conferred with National Awards.
The Constitution of the Orders of Guyana established the National Honours System, which recognises and respects citizens whose selfless service made measurable impacts in the country.
“The awards embody our nation’s values… they are tangible tokens of the respect which a grateful nation can bestow on its worthy citizens,” President Granger told the awardees.
The Head of State emphasised that the National Awards should never be “disregarded or disparaged through arbitrary or capricious conferment or through neglect”.
He added that the awards have been restored to their proper place of prominence in our nation’s order of business, as they are conferred annually since 2015, and will continue to be.
During brief remarks, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards encouraged the awardees that as they receive the symbols, the insignias of investiture, that they rededicate their energies “towards the health, happiness and prosperity of Guyana.”
Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards in her remarks, also emphasised the importance of National Awards and applauded the awardees.
According to Justice Cummings-Edwards, “it is important for citizens to be recognised and rewarded for their hard work…national awards provide a medium for this national recognition of the remarkable contribution of our citizens.”
Shameza Baksh who received the Medal of Service said it was an honour to receive an award. Baksh, who has been teaching Islamic studies for two decades, said it is rewarding for being recognised for any hard work.
“I believe that being recognised by God is important but this too is an honour and I am grateful and thankful,” she said.
Former Deputy Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education, Genevieve Whyte –Nedd was also honoured to be conferred with the Golden Arrow of Achievement.
Whyte-Nedd said she had many good years during her tenure with the public service and it was definitely good to be rewarded for all the hard work.
Guyana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Frederick Hamley Case, headed the list of the 77 distinguished persons. He was bestowed with the Cacique Crown of Honour.
Charles John Ethelwood Fung-A-Fat, SC; Ambassador David Thomas Allan Hales; Ambassador Sheik Riyad David Insanally; Ambassador Halim Majeed; and Monsignor Terrence Montrose have also been awarded the Cacique Crown of Honour.
Meanwhile, 36 distinguished Guyanese were awarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement. The list includes: Vincent Luther Alexander, O’Donna Frances Allsopp, Lorene Evadney Pamela Baird, Ruth Benjamin-Huntley, Calvin Benn, Leslie Thomas Black, William Andrew Boyle, Negla Helena Brandis, Paul Andrew Carto, Rudolph Othneil Cummings and Phillip Nessie Bryan Da Silva.
Patrick Reginald Anthony Farnum, Egbert Harold Field, Nicholas Fredericks, Malcolm Jacob Jawaharlal Harripaul, Vincent Patrick Henry, Dickson Augustus Hooper, Leon Rayon Johnson, Kalam Azad Juman-Yassin, Patrice Desireé Ann La Fleur, Carl Chetwyn Lashley, Derrick Fitzpatrick Lawrence, Lawrence Hilary London, Julia Anne Mansell, Suresh Narine, Christopher Anthony Nascimento, Lurlene Anita Nestor, Maxine Patricia Parris-Aaron, Rajendra Persaud, Eric McLauren Phillips, Sandra Kumarie Shivdat, Professor Gomathinayagam Subramanian, Morris Wilson, Whyte-Nedd, Garfield Ian Colin Wiltshire and William Henry Woolford were also presented with the Golden Arrow of Achievement.
For their yeoman’s service to society, 31 Guyanese have been awarded the Medal of Service. They include: Baksh, Tarramattie Persaud Barker, Roxanne Marilyn Barratt, Rosemary Nicola Benjamin-Noble, Donna Annastatia Bowman, John Randolph Massiah Critchlow, Jean Marionetta Dorsett, Hilbert Gardiner Foster, Gloria Dawn Garraway, Lawrence Llewlyn Griffith, Soyinka Ameygo Grogan, Claudette Anne Patricia Heyliger-Thomas, Suresh Jagmohan, Parmeshwar Jagmohan, Ian Jardine, Bibi Fazeela Khan and Nizam Kassim.
Gordon Hubert Kingston, Kumar Lalbachan, Peter George Lewis, Nazrudeen Mohamed, Terrence Anthony Poole, Leslie Chrispen Ramalho, Harripersaud Ramsewack, Petal Elizabeth Ridley, Gail Patricia Robinson, Ramkarran Roopchan, James Rotry Sampson, Komal Singh, Zohora Singh and Fitzroy Egerton Younge, also formed part of the list of awardees for the Golden Arrow of Achievement.
The single Military Service Medal was presented to Lieutenant-Colonel Courtney Arthur Byrne.
Meanwhile, three Disciplined Services Medals were presented to Deputy Commissioner Lyndon Lancelot Alves, Assistant Commissioner Paul Handel Anthony Langevine and Divisional Officer Compton Anthony Sparman.
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