BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOR the fourth consecutive year since its establishment, management of the tri-party Royal Group of Companies has recognised its staff members who had excelled in the performance of their duties as well as promoted team work and inspired excellence in their colleagues.
This year, the Group of Companies - Royal Beach Casino, Royal Beach Development and the Royal Utilities - had honoured 20 employees at its annual Staff Awards and Dinner held in the St. Kitts Marriott Ballroom on Monday evening (Dec. 7).
The event, hosted by Finance Operations Manager Jawole Davis, kicked off at approximately 7:30 p.m. with the attendees (all bedecked in fashionable all-white) each being given a beautifully designed mask, a small gift and served cocktails in the reception area before entering the ballroom, where they enjoyed a sumptuous buffet dinner, followed by members of various departments demonstrating their ability as masquerade dancers and the portrayal of their understanding of Infamus’s ‘Love St. Kitts’ in choreography.
Obviously, one could have sensed the high degree of camaraderie that exists among the staff members and management as they were seen interacting and heard commenting when members of the various departments were on show, which were all pre-video recorded with the exception of those whose who modelled that night.
Shortly after the showcasing of talents and before awarding the successful employees, the feature address was given by President of the Royal Group of Companies Ugo Gagliardi who, on behalf of the owners and senior management, thanked the organising committee in making the event a success and also other staff members for their dedication and service.
Gagliardi extended salutations and greetings from the owners of the Group of Companies to the employees and invited guests, noting that they could not have been present at the event as intended due to the tragic loss of life of a member of their extended family.
“I also want to take a moment to not forget this year…as much as it is a year of celebration we came through a tremendous amount this year. We have grown, we have learned, we have prospered, we handled every adversity and we conquered every challenge,” he said.
The President also took the opportunity to reflect on two individuals, whom he claimed were of importance to the Group of Companies.
“I also want to remember two people; one who most of you knew, loved and admired for his presence and his spirit…our dear departed friend Mr. Hastings. Most of you who may not have known Mr. De Zen’s son, James, who tragically and sadly passed away this summer. So as we celebrate, and we have every reason to celebrate and every reason to be together and make this a spirituous event, I think we should always remember those who are no longer here.”
Gagliardi also spoke to the closer ties that have developed within the tri-party entity and commended the employees for making it possible.
“This RBC, the Development Company and the Utilities Company have come closer and closer together this year. There is a spirit of cooperation, there is a sense of purpose and all of this is brought together by each and every one of you. The efforts of an organisation can only be judged by the commitment of the people that work in it. And the faces that I see in this room and those who are not here have shown that they believe in what we are trying to do, they see the future, they see the purpose and they purport to put in their contribution.”
The following are those individuals in the upper and middle management levels who earned the annual award for their individual yeoman service:
• Jawole Davis - Manager of the Year;
• Nereissa Clarke - Assistant Manager of the year;
• Uriel James - Royal Utilities Supervisor of the Year;
• John Sullivan - Royal Beach Development Supervisor of the Year; and
• Carol Berkeley – Royal Beach Casino (Security).
The Employees of the Year for the various Departments are as follow:
• Collette Williams – Cage & Coin;
• Sherline Evans - Environmental;
• Versaille Patrick – Finance;
• Clarissa Bridgewater – Food & Beverage;
• Kercha Sealy-Fahie – Human Resources;
• Nathan Etienne – Information Technology;
• Trarissa Gumbs – Marketing/Player Development;
• Charles Buchanan – Slots;
• Dexter Gumbs – Security;
• Kaye Buchanan – Table Games;
• Henness Farrell - Transportation;
• Alexis Francis – Angelus Security;
• Harlon Durant – Construction;
• Ramnauth Sewcharran – Automotive; and
• Royston Collins – Royal Utilities.
From among the 15 Employees of the Year, Trarissa Gumbs was adjudged the Best.
The winners were judged on the following criteria: Dedication; Commitment, Embracing the Vision and Direction of the Royal Group of Companies; Role Model for Fellow Employees; Demonstration of Strong Team Spirit; and Performance.
In addition to receiving their reward for the coveted titles, some of them were also recipients of other cash incentives.
Following the awards ceremony, many employees were lucky winners of certain games played that evening, similar to those within the Casino, and earned themselves cash prizes.
The well-attended event concluded with a dance. However, following the jollification, employees of the tri-party Royal Group of Companies awoke the next morning to the sad news of the passing of one of the awardees.
He is Royston Collins, the brother of the Federation’s sprint icon Kim Collins, who was reportedly the victim of a hit-and-run while on his way home from the event.
