‘We salute you’

There were lots of smiles and a feeling of warmth as Governor General Sir Patrick Allen met with the top three finishers in the 2014 GraceKennedy/Heather Little-White Household Workers competition during a courtesy call at King's House last Thursday.

The 2014 awardees, Elaine Duncan, Mervelyn Brown and Edward McGowan, were themselves delighted to meet the governor general and 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 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 followed 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 gracekennedy@gkco.com or be dropped off at or mailed to the GraceKennedy head office at 73 Harbour Street in downtown Kingston.

Our ambition

A top 10 will be selected by judges, with a top three chosen from that shortlist.

The GraceKennedy Heather Little-White Household Worker Award was inaugurated in 2014, with the aim to honour some of Jamaica's finest, though largely unrecognised, 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 as consultant.

This year's winners will be announced on May 29. Awardees will receive cash prises 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