File photos
Left to right:Kingsley Thomas, Derick Latibeaudiere, Daisy Coke, Douglas Orane, and Horace Clarke.Glenda Anderson, Staff Reporter
With customary excitement and vibrant colour, Jamaica will, tomorrow, National Heroes Day 2002, honour those of its sons and daughters who have made it proud.
One hundred and twenty nine 'heroes' from different stations in life will cross the lush grounds of Kings House to accept awards from Governor-General, Sir Howard Cooke, in what is expected to be a rich display of history.
Among those to be honoured this year are former Member of Parliament, Horace Clarke, for outstanding service in Government; Central Bank Governor, Derick Latibeaudiere, for significant contribution to Finance, and Kingsley Thomas, to be honoured for distinguished service to national development projects. They will receive appointments as Members of the Order of Jamaica.
One of only two females to be honoured in this group, Daisy Coke, actuary and former chairman of the Public Services Commission, admits to being surprised yet thrilled by this her second national award.
"Quite honestly I was really taken aback. I am enjoying it although I never really saw myself in the O.J. class," she said.
She credits her father with her success.
"Conventional wisdom was for him to have given up on my university education as I was the only girl in a family of eight children so it was a big effort to launch my university career ... but my father did it. He is the one who is really very happy.
The other female is Dr. Phyllis Mcpherson-Russell, honoured for outstanding service to Education.
For his part Central Bank governor, Derick Latibeaudiere willingly shares the honour with his staff.
"It feels good, it really does over and above everything else because it reflects on the institution. This represents a tremendous honour for myself and the bank," he told The Sunday Gleaner Friday.
For outstanding contribution to Banking, Scotia Bank Jamaica manager William Clarke will receive the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander.
Other appointments include that of Senator Douglas Orane, Member of Parliament, Karl Samuda, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Education, Professor Aggrey Brown and Journalist Eric 'Tony' Abrahams. They are to be appointed as members of the Order of Distinction, in the rank of Commander.
Academic, Professor Aggrey Brown said that the honour was doubly special coming as it did as a "shot out of the blue".
"I am flattered, and honoured especially as it's really doing something I enjoy. All the more pleasure that it's unexpected."
Guard of honour for the event will be provided by the First Battalion of The Jamaica Regiment, while the National Chorale of Jamaica, directed by Winston Ewart will entertain the gathering. Orator for the evening will be Merrick Needham O.J.
The ceremony is open to the public and guests are expected to be seated by 8:30 a.m.
There is to be no videotaping or taking of photographs in the ceremonial and seating area.
In his Heroes Day message Prime Minister P.J. Patterson said each of our heroes had a vision of better human conditions and did withdraw when difficulties seemed overwhelming. "The nation owes them all an immense debt of gratitude for the example they set of remainung true to the causes they espoused."
