Sunday, May 3, 2015

GG Praises Champion Jamaican Household Workers

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen gives a firm handshake to Gilroy Graham (left), General Manager, Grace Foods & Services Company,  during a courtesy call paid by the 2014 Grace-Kennedy Heather Little-White Household Workers Awards winners, senior GraceKennedy representatives and members of the competition's adjudication panel on April 30. Looking on, from right, are: Elaine Duncan, first place winner, Mervelyn Brown, second place winner and  Edward McGowan, third place winner of the Awards. Nominations for this year's competition will close on May 15. The GraceKennedy Group introduced the  Household Worker of the Year Award in 2014, to recognize the contribution of  Jamaica's finest household workers, as well as to honour the memory of Heather Little-White, the late Jamaican food and nutrition specialist who championed the upliftment of Jamaican household workers throughout her lifetime.

Kingston, Jamaica, May 1 – There were lots of smiles, and a feeling of warmth and  emotion as Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen, met with the  top three 2014 GraceKennedy/Heather Little-White Household Workers during a courtesy call at King's House on Thursday, April 30.

The 2014 awardees, Elaine Duncan, Mervelyn Brown and Edward McGowan, themselves delighted to meet His Excellency, were accompanied by senior representatives from GraceKennedy along with members of the adjudication panel from last year and those joining the panel for this year's initiative.

Sir Patrick had high praise for both the Household Workers Awards initiative, as well as the awardees with whom he spoke. He told the awardees that all Jamaica celebrated and valued them, stating that that he too wanted to tell them how much they are appreciated, "from the very bottom of my heart".

While commending GraceKennedy, Sir Patrick said that the Household Worker initiative showed that at the end of the day, "we are all one Jamaica, and everyone plays an equally important part." 

The courtesy call follows the launch of the 2015 awards on April 10.  The public is being asked to nominate their household worker for the awards this year. Nominations not exceeding 200 words can be sent by May 15 to the email address gracekennedy@gkco.com or be dropped off at or mailed to the GraceKennedy head office in downtown Kingston at 73 Harbour Street. A top ten will be selected by judges, with a top three chosen from that short list. 

The GraceKennedy Heather Little-White Household Worker Award was inaugurated in 2014, with the aim to honour some of Jamaica's finest, though largely unrecognized, workers.  It also serves to honour the memory of the late Jamaican food and nutrition specialist Heather Little-White who championed the training of household workers throughout her lifetime, in large part during her time as a GraceKennedy employee, and later, consultant.

This year's winners will be announced on May 29. Awardees will receive cash prizes  of $250,000, $150,000, and $100,000 for first, second and third place winners respectively, along with gift vouchers from Hi-Lo Food Stores and an account with $25,000 at First Global Bank.

Contact: Simone Clarke-Cooper, Group Chief Corporate Communication Manager
Tel: (876) 932-3174 (office)

Tashna-Toya Edwards
Account Executive
PROComm Limited
Tel (876) 926-6740

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