Quantcast
Channel: Jamaica Observer
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 9214

Those who served well during 2015, or not...

$
0
0
Dear Editor,

It is probably not too early to start making recommendations in respect of those deserving of awards or recognition of those who have excelled in areas of public life in 2015. In addition, it is particularly timely as Journalism Week was celebrated last week in Jamaica.

It was very difficult to find one political leader that has been outstanding during 2015, exception for Dr Peter Phillips. I had a similar problem with the church.

Of course, there were many strong contenders for the outstanding failures as leaders during 2015. They, of course, know who they are, but the exceptional candidates in that category must go to, and this is not in any particular order: Dr Fenton Ferguson, Everald Warmington, Andrew Holness and Damion Crawford.

The prime minister did not qualify for consideration in this category, being absent or missing in action for the entire period under review.

The prime minister did not qualify for consideration in this category, being absent or missing in action for the entire period under review.

I had to look to the media (the Fourth Estate) to come up with outstanding performers affecting our lives. It was difficult to select the most outstanding, but I think that Cliff Hughes as by and far dominated by his balance, moral courage, passion and his ability to empathise. He has had to straddle the big, gaping gaps left in performance of the role as a political watchdog by the absence of an effective Opposition and leadership of the church on matters relating to conscience or humanity. What a giant of a man! He has been able to capture the pain, fear, frustrations, and hope of Jamaicans of every class and communicate in an effective and meaningful manner. It must not be lost on us that he not only runs quite a radio station, but hosts a radio programme on another.

Other notable or outstanding media personalities have been Emily Shields and Abka Fitz-Henley. Shields is sheer brilliance, charming and a delight to listen to. Her laughter sooths all cares and skillfully gets answers to questions from the most defensive of callers. Fitz-Henley's investigative nature is a gift that Jamaica so badly needed. He is obviously a fearless young man that serves his profession well and will not be forgotten for his tremendous work.

In the print media the outstanding columnists have been Peter Espeut of The Gleaner and Observer's Garfield Higgins and Dr Grace Virtue.

I am quite sure that others will have their own selections, but what cannot be in any doubt is that journalism is alive and well in Jamaica and our media served Jamaica exceptionally well during 2015.

Colonel Allan Douglas

Kingston 10

Those who served well during 2015, or not...

-->

Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 9214

Trending Articles