Governor-General’s Achievement Diaspora Awards

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

Do you know someone from Jamaica who has made a positive and successful impact here in Canada but still gives back to the community in their homeland, or has been a mentor to the Jamaican community right here?

If so, then that person should be nominated because the nominations are now open for the 2019 Governor-General’s Achievement Awards (GGAA) for members of the Diaspora.

The nomination process was opened on Friday, March 1^st, 2019, and will close at midnight Friday, April 5^th, 2019.  The Governor-General’s Achievement Awards scheme was established in1991.

The program was started under the patronage of then Governor-General the Most Honourable Sir Howard Cooke and with the financial support of the business community and other religious organizations in Jamaica.

In 2007, under the initiative of then Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Honourable Professor Kenneth O. Hall, the Governor-General’s Youth Award of Excellence was established to recognize and promote youth excellence in Jamaica.

In 2008, the Diaspora Award was bought into play to recognise individuals who gave above and beyond service within their diaspora community or those who helped a community in Jamaica.

The program continues to be recognized as one of the most prestigious and prosperous and the diaspora nominees are from countries like the UK, the U.S, and Canada, but prior to 2015 only one person was awarded per country and in 2015 the age category was introduced.

Last year’s GGAA Diaspora Award recipients from Canada were Ms. Donika Jones and Superintendent of Education in the Toronto District School Board in Canada, Bishop Glenroy Duffus.

Candidates for this award fall under two categories, under 35 years and 35 years and over and in each of the two categories, there are qualifying guidelines. Here are those for nominees over 35.

Volunteerism: Demonstrated active and significant service in his/her community towards an enhanced quality of life for its people and for the betterment of Jamaica (must be verifiable). Voluntary activities that have had a positive effect on a significant number of persons in his/her community.

Family values: Expressed and demonstrated the ability to promote good family values.

Leadership and drive: Has demonstrated the capacity for leadership and the ability to motivate others. Demonstrated a commitment to and capacity for accomplishments that require drive and sustained effort. Also has an inclination for innovation.

Social issues awareness: Ability to articulate issue(s) involving current affairs including a perspective on how to tackle them.

If you are under 35 your qualifying points are as follows.

An interest in inclination for innovation.

Strong family values: Expressed and demonstrated the ability to promote good family values.

Leadership and the ability to motivate others: The demonstrated capacity for leadership and the ability to motivate others. Demonstrated commitment to and capacity for accomplishment that requires drive and sustained effort.

Volunteerism: Active and significant service in his/her community towards an enhanced quality of life for its people and the betterment of Jamaica (must be verifiable).

Social issues awareness: Ability to articulate issue(s) involving current affairs including a perspective on how to tackle them.

Toronto Caribbean Newspaper spoke with Mrs. Nicole M. Johnson, who is the Jamaican Consul here in Toronto about the impact of the GGAA award.

When asked what it means to her Johnson said, “I think it helps to fulfil as a part of our pledge advancing the welfare of the whole human race, I think it says thank you for all of your efforts but simultaneously it is a call to action so that people can be reminded that there are many people in various pockets of our community who require assistance.”

The Toronto Caribbean Newspaper also spoke with Ms. Sonja Simms, a representative and administrator from the Public Relations Unit at Kings House in Jamaica. Simms said, “It’s an award that captures the heart and spirit of the Jamaican, it’s an award that really recognized those unsung heroes and heroines who are making a significant contribution to nation building whether they are in the diaspora making it towards the Jamaican community there or in their homeland.”

For more information on the GGAA Diaspora please contact the Jamaican Consulate.