‘Humbling’ honour

Several of this year’s 141 recipients of national honours and awards yesterday expressed surprise and gratitude at having been recognised by the nation.

Newly minted member of the Order of Jamaica (OJ) Keith Duncan was effusive in his belief in his homeland as he expressed his appreciation for receiving the nation’s

fourth-highest honour.

Duncan, who is one of three individuals appointed to the OJ by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, on the advice of Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and effective yesterday, received the honour for his exceptional service in the field of finance, business and social development.

“To be awarded this great honour is extremely gratifying. I believe in Jamaica, and I believe we really can become, and are on our way to Jamaica being the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business,” he said.

Duncan, who over the past decade has played a key role in the monitoring and management of both the economic and social development of Jamaica, said he is always motivated to be a part of the solution to advance the best interests of the island.

The JMMB Group CEO, former chairman of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee and co-creator of social development initiative Project STAR, said Jamaica is on a good path and, come what may, the country must continue to put in the work to drive inclusive economic growth.

“So, let’s not ease up and allow our path to be derailed under any circumstances,” he added. “We have to build a stable and resilient macroeconomic foundation and make investments in national security, from which we are seeing great results in reduced crime levels that we should be able to sustain and continue to reduce.”

Duncan noted that “we have a powerful brand; an industrious, creative and resilient people; and once we continue the efforts in education, healthcare, skills development, we are unstoppable as a country”.

Also receiving membership in the OJ were Dr Marlene Street Forrest, managing director of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), who was awarded for exceptional service in the field of capital market development, and Desmond McKenzie, veteran politician and minister of local government and community development, who was recognised for his contribution to the public service in the area of local government and community development and representational politics.

Street Forrest told The Gleaner that she was glad she was sitting down when the call came in.

“At first I thought it was a prank call, but when I was told where the call was coming from, I knew that it was not a prank,” she said, as she recalled the moment she was informed.

“I am very humbled to be so honoured. I have worked hard for the betterment of Jamaica and the people, but did not do so for any honour. I will continue to work for the good of Jamaica on whichever platform I am on. I will work to make sure Jamaicans succeed,” she told The Gleaner.

Street-Forrest, who has led the JSE since 2002, first as general manager and then as managing director, was to slated to retire last December but has remained at the helm during the search for a suitable replacement.

During her tenure, the JSE was in 2015 and 2018 designated the best-performing stock market in the world.

Yesterday, Street Forrest thanked her team, family and friends for the support they have given her, pointing out that she could not have achieved all she did without their support.

Describing it as a “very high honour”, Street Forrest said the level of emotion she felt when she got the call was very difficult to describe.

Efforts to reach McKenzie were unsuccessful up to later yesterday afternoon.

In the meantime, businessman William Mahfood, the chairman of Wisynco, also described being made a member of the Order of Distinction (rank of Commander) (CD), as a humbling experience.

“The work that I do, I do not for this outcome, but it is good to be recognised for your efforts. I accept the award more on behalf of the staff of the various organisations of which I am a part, because it is through their efforts that we have achieved the successes,” he said.

Mahfood, who is also a former president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, received the award for his contribution to business development in the manufacturing and distribution sector of Jamaica.

He said that when he got the call, he was “a little bit shock but pleasantly surprised”.

Mahfood follows in the footsteps of his father, Joseph Mahfood, who was also honoured for his outstanding contributions to the development of Jamaica.

“I am honoured to be included amongst such esteemed Jamaicans, both past and present, who have received national honours and awards,” he told The Gleaner.

He said the award reflects the efforts not only of himself, but of the entire team on whom he depends.

Dr Orville Taylor, who shares hosting duties with fellow new member of the CD, Emily Crooks, on RJR’s radio talk show programme Hotline, told The Gleaner, “This award is humbling and I am extremely grateful.”

Taylor, a University of the West Indies lecturer and industrial relations specialist, was honoured in recognition of his public service and advocacy in education and labour relations specialisation.

“I am very proud of my work in the various areas. A few years ago, an external reviewer said of my work, ‘His work on Jamaican and Caribbean labour studies needs to be considered as a particularly worthwhile field of expertise and scholarly involvement for an eminent institution such as The University of the West Indies’,” he said.

“Scholars must do relevant work and get their hands dirty in the field.”

Bindley Sangster, who received membership in the Order of Distinction (rank of Officer) for his contribution to public service, told The Gleaner that it was an amazing shock.

“It was totally unexpected,” he said of being awarded the honour.

Sangster told The Gleaner that when the call came in, he was wondering why someone would be calling at that hour.

“However, when I ascertain that the call was genuine and where it was coming from, I had the call put on speaker so my wife could hear,” he told The Gleaner.

According to Sangster, it is humbling to be among people who have been received national honours and awards, saying that the award is very much appreciated.

“It has not really sunk in as yet, but I have been reflecting on the course of my life to see what has led to this. I do what appears before me, and when I have completed one task I move on to the other. I will continue to do whatever I can to continue to lift up the people of Jamaica and the society,” he told The Gleaner.

He said he never would have believed that he would be among those on the list of national honours and awards.

“It is, nevertheless, a wonderful feeling to know that your country sees and recognises your contribution,” he said.

editorial@gleanerjm.com