Three receive Vocational Service Awards

THREE persons were presented the coveted Rotary of Barbados South’s Vocational Service Awards on Wednesday night at the Accra Beach Hotel.

They were: Captain of the West Indies cricket team Jason Holder; Chairman of the St. James Central District Emergency Organisation Selwyn Brooks; and a very shocked past president of the Rotary of Barbados South and district governor designate Sonya Alleyne, who had no idea that she was being awarded.

Director of Service Projects Mike Forde explained that the annual awards are presented to persons who have achieved high levels of excellence in their vocations. “They must have exemplified outstanding professional achievement, rendered outstanding service to the community while maintaining extremely high ethically standards.”

An appreciative West Indies cricket captain was awarded for his outstanding leadership and accomplishment in the recent Test match and One Day International against England.

Delivering brief remarks, the 27 year old captain while thanking Rotary for the honour, said it has been a long road. “Given the post of West Indies captain at the young age of 23, I probably didn’t understand what it meant at that time. To think back on the journey that I’ve had so far it is quite interesting for me in the fact that I’ve been faced with so many trials and tribulations.”

He also used the opportunity to thank his team-mates, loved ones and the fans for their support, and also acknowledged the tongue lashing that the West Indies side receives when they don’t perform well. He mused,“Sometimes we as players don’t understand why when we do well you don’t praise enough, but this [award] is just a prime example of people showing appreciation for what we have done.”

Holder also recalled nursing a shoulder injury not so long ago and going to England for treatment. “I remember running on the treadmill and one of the things I wanted to do was score a Test century in front of the home crowd in Barbados.”

He noted that shortly thereafter he was able to do that and more. “It shows that the hard work does pay off and I always say you can dare to dream.”

Brooks, Chairman of the St. James Central DEO, was awarded for his commitment to disaster mitigation and work to address to severe flooding on the west coast.
He pointed out however that he could not do it alone, thanking his wife Cynthia and the other team members who worked together to offer assistance wherever
possible.

“There was a lot of information there that was just lying on the desk. I took the opportunity to do the necessary research and was instrumental
in getting the private sector and government sector to meet, and to investigate and use the information that went before.” The rest, he said, is history.

Brooks lamented that volunteerism is still not readily accepted by many Barbadians, adding that there must be a temperament and spirit to serve.

“I think my achievements and what I get out of it is the expressions on the faces of people who I may have been able to assist and they have been able to benefit from my services,” he said.
(JH)