Grennell accepts safety award in Panama - André Anderson, Thomas Issa also recognised

Sheldon Williams, Gleaner Writer

The Mona Road, St Andrew-based Grennell's Driving School has received the 2013 FIA Americas Award for Safety Mobility in Jamaica. On January 18, head of the school, Alphanso Grennell, travelled to Panama City for the FIA's awards ceremony, where he was presented with the award.

Two other Jamaicans were honoured at the function. They are motorsport champions André Anderson (circuit racing) and Thomas Issa (for go-karting).

BITTERSWEET FEELING

It was not all joy for Grennell, who said it was a bittersweet feeling. "I think it's really a mixed feeling to be recognised by an international body like FIA, that has done a lot for the Americas. But sometimes you do so much for your country and you don't get the recognition. However, the nomination for this award came from a local body, the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club," Grennell said.

Regardless, Grennell is honoured to receive the award, especially when he considers those who have won before him. "This award is very prestigious. The person who won last year is Mr Earl Jarrett of JNBS.This was an award for the Americas. We are talking about Brazil, Panama and Guatemala, and so on, and they felt that what I did was significant enough for me to be recognised," he said.

Grennell's Driving School was awarded in the Driver Education, Driver Safety, Workshops and Seminars categories. "They look at things like the Safety Expos and Road Safety 5Ks (which the school puts on)," Grennell told Automotives.

Grennell said the physical award depicts the road safety theme. "It has a gold safety belt, and then you have a map of the Americas with the words 'road safety' in the middle," he said.

With this boost, Grennell said his priority for 2014 remains sensitising Jamaicans to road safety, in order to prevent tragedies like the one that claimed his brother's life years ago. "I lost a brother in a motor vehicle crash and my parents never recovered. So if I can help at least one Jamaican to prevent them from going through that, I will be very pleased to make a difference ," he said.