BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FIVE citizens have been recognised for their contribution to nation-building on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Independence of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
On National Heroes Day (Sept. 16), Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas announced the names of the five awardees for National Medal of Honour at the Wreath laying Ceremony at the Robert L. Bradshaw Memorial Park in St. Paul’s.
Brenda Boddie-John, Kenneth Martin, Gloria Mills, Hilda Byron and Robert Jeffers were bestowed with the Medal of Honour for various contributions to the society.
John has given sterling service to Lutron Liamuiga Limited located at the C.A. Paul Southwell Industrial Park in Basseterre and has held several positions at the manufacturing company spanning 26 years. She served as Office Manager, Personnel Coordinator, Production Manager, Engineering and Safety Manager, Logistics Manager, Human Resource Manager and eventually Plant Manager.
John rose to become a part of Lutron’s International Management Team as the Regional Human ResourceManager for Latin America and the Caribbean, while still performing her roles in St. Kitts. She was awarded for her contribution to Industry and Commerce.
Martin was awarded for his contributions to Agriculture and Community Service. He worked for decades in the Ministry of Agriculture, holding prominent positions such as Extension Officer and Director of Agriculture. He served for 33 years as Secretary to the Brimstone Hill Restoration Committee and was influential in restoring that entity into a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Martin also served as a founding Director of the Frigate Bay Development Corporation and through his visionary leadership the Corporation was instrumental in the development and transformation of the area.
Having taught for over 40 years, Gloria Mills has been active in implementing many school-based and national programmes for the development of our youth. Some of the programmes include Health and Family Life Workshops for Primary and Secondary School Teachers. She introduced a number of groups, including the ‘Friends and Fellows’ support group to assist orphaned children at the Sandy Point High School, Sandy Point Peer Counsellors and Mentorship Training and Sandy Point High School Youth Voices against HIV/AIDS among many other programmes to help young people. She was awarded for her contributions to Education.
Byron was awarded for her contributions to Entrepreneurship and Community Service. She has served the community for most of her life in the shop-keeping business and later on opening Excelsior Bar and Restaurant in 1979. She is an excellent chef and known for her tasty dishes.
Rising from the rank of Constable to Commissioner, Jeffers offered 41 years yeoman service to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force. Under his exceptional leadership, the Police Force in St. Kitts and Nevis had a strong foundation and met with many successes. He was awarded for his contributions to Law Enforcement.
