WESTERN BUREAU:

Male recipients dominated yesterday's annual Governor General Achievement Awards Ceremony for the county of Cornwall, walking away with eight of the 13 awards presented at the Melia Braco Village in Rio Bueno, Trelawny.

The eight men - Tahir Thompson, Stevon Sheriffe, Lackett Cuff, Nile Anderson, Dr Cliff Reynolds, Moses Chybar, Nicholas Rose, and Errol Campbell - were roundly applauded for the work they had done to earn such notable recognition. Their achievements represented a welcome departure from the 'black eye' men have been getting for negative issues.

"It is a remarkable omen that so many men from western Jamaica are being recognised even at a time when the men in the west are observed to have been involved in some kind of activities that are concerning to all Jamaicans," said Governor General Sir Patrick Allen in his keynote address. "Today, we are highlighting the glorious aspects of western Jamaica," Sir Patrick said.

"I want to thank you for choosing to be part of what is right with Jamaica through your conscious deeds of volunteerism. Being good is commendable, but it is useful only when it is combined with doing good [deeds]," added Sir Patrick.

In responding on behalf of the awardees, Nicholas Rose, one of two recipients from Trelawny, pledged that they would keep using their talents to improve Jamaica.

"We will continue to render our talents and labour to fix what's wrong with Jamaica, with the power of volunteerism," stated Rose. "We'll continue to share the desire for better in our communities and throughout Jamaica."

The full list of awardees:

- St James - Tahir Thompson and Gerline Nelson

- St Elizabeth - Deandre Sutherland, Stevon Sheriffe, and Lackett Cuff

- Westmoreland - Nile Anderson, Dr Cliff Reynolds, and Moses Chybar

- Hanover - Ashleigh Jacobs, Dr Tanika Patrice Curry, and Hermena Bucknor, JP

- Trelawny - Nicholas Rose and Errol Campbell