…WPA co-founder singled out Several organisations and individuals were on Wednesday evening honoured and awarded for displaying exceptional performances throughout the year at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) annual dinner and awards presentation.This year,Cheap Jerseys Online, the Chamber expanded the categories in which recognition is given and facilitated the participation of its members and the wider public in nominating businesses for awards.There were nine categories in which awards were presented last evening — Young Business Achievement Award, The Chamber Award, Social Development Award, Public Service Award of Excellence, Customer Service Award, Volunteer of the Year Award, The GCCI President’s Award, the Business of the Year Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award.Raj Singh (left) receives the Business of the Year Award from Minister Manniram Prashad Among those present at the event were President of GCCI, Chandradat Chintamani; Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds; his wife, Yvonne Hinds; Canadian High Commissioner, Charles Court; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and former President of the GCCI, Manniram Prashad; Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony; Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr. Edwin Carrington; members of the Diplomatic Corp; members of the business community and many more.The awardees were not informed that they were winners until the actual event on Wednesday evening. The recipients were awarded plaques for winning in the various categories.The Young Business Achievement Award went to Trade Link, a company which was established in 2005 and for last two years has experienced progressive overall growth. As a result, it has expanded its operation and workforce. It is currently offering eight types of products.The panel was unable to break the tie and as such the Chamber Award was presented to Doris Lewis and to Retired Colonel Carl Morgan, in recognition of their leadership and vision given to the council of the chamber.Denmor Garment Manufacturers copped the Social Development Award. The company’s core value was described as promoting diversity within the workplace.According to the announcer, Junior Vice President of GCCI, Terry Holder, about one third of this company’s workforce is made up of single mothers; about 90 percent are school dropouts and about five percent of the employees are physically challenged.He added that as an exporter to the US market, the company is required to adhere to the procedures of international social compliance audit and the company has been identified to participate in business case studies in the areas of corporate social responsibility and by United Nations Development Programme for providing employment to the poor.Dr. Edwin Carrington (left) presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to Andaiye Public Service Award of Excellence was presented to the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) for its comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS in Guyana and for its collaboration with the public sector in the areas of prevention, care and support, reduction of stigma and discrimination.The Business of the Year Award was presented to the Raj Singh Group of Companies, which began operating in 1999 and expanded in 2007 with offices in Florida. It is part of a group of companies enjoying positive return of investment in profit at an increasing pace over the past years. With expansion and growth, the group has fully automated the Florida office and increased its workforce.Currently, the group offers a diverse range of insurance products.And one of the most prestigious, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Andaiye, a woman who has spent almost all of her life in the waged and unwaged public services of Guyana, mainly the latter.After working as an administrative assistant in training in several ministries, she decided to become a teacher and asked to be assigned to the newly established Charlestown Government Secondary School. After a few years she became Acting Head Teacher at the South Georgetown junior secondary.She was at the time a member of the Movement against Oppression, a factor that affected her position in the teaching service. Unable to find work in Guyana, she left the country for over six years, returning in late 1977 to help in the construction of a new movement headed by Dr. Water Rodney, the Working Peoples’ Alliance.She was a founding member and until the late 1980s, was coordinator, editor, international secretary and women’s secretary of the WPA, all voluntary posts.Over the last 30 years, Holder said, what Andaiye has done reflects her commitment to an understanding of international and national development which begins with the needs and interests of grass roots women.In her address, Andaiye said that she wants to use the meeting with the private sector as an opening to what she hoped would be a continued dialogue in the interest of the people with whom she is most involved – grass roots women across race in Guyana and the children they struggle to raise.National Hardware Guyana Limited received the GCCI President’s Award while the Customer Service Award went to Austin Book Store. The Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Howard Burke, who has been volunteering with GCCI for more than a year. |