QUARTERLY REVIEW www.kingshouse.gov.jm January 2016 The Year in Review Vol. 1 No. 1 ● News ● Reviews ● Features ● Highlights His Excellency’s 2016 Message time. Unfortunately, we will have incidences of crime, violence, road deaths and corruption in 2016, but through the aggre- gate efforts of each one of us, we will be able to move our country out of the clutches of poverty, debt and social ma- laise. WHAT’S There are some values that will be useful to us and which we INSIDE? will have to strive ardently to indelibly incorporate in our Governor-General culture and work ethic. These core values include: The Judicial The Most Honourable respect for others and their property, Bench Sir Patrick Linton Allen forgiveness, cooperation, honesty, love and care ON, GCMG, CD, KSt.J integrity Diary Entry a sense of responsibility The dawning of a new year is al- emphasis on quality ways a good time to review the past discipline, and a sense of team work GG in the Com- and draw on the lessons learnt, to munity 2016 will be a very active year for us in Jamaica with a num- chart the way forward. ber of local and international events which will attract our King’s House This New Year, no doubt, will attention and involvement. We will have the opportunity to Projects demonstrate that we are able to rise to any occasion and sur- come with its opportunities and challenges but from the outset we mount challenges with a positive attitude. Movements in can choose to pursue a path that the Offices of the One of these challenges that we must confront is the persis- Custodes will improve our social interaction and conduct, personally and nation- tent abuse of our women, children and youth. Too often we ally. stand aside and lament in despair, the worsening conditions GGPE Overview and even criticize individuals who are trying to help. It is so We can continue to build diligently on the things we do well: bankrupt to criticize when we can make a difference and be involved in the neighborhoods and communities of this na- King’s House Our international relationships Staff Candids tion. are good and should be main- tained; We can utilize our skills and professional expertise to mentor A Word to the Achievements in sports, aca- Wise and help individuals, who need healing. We have vast exper- demia, and some other areas tise in our social workers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, are commendable; Ins ’n Outs @ counselors, Justices of the Peace, pastors, among others, King’s House Many positive things are hap- from which our young people can benefit. pening through the efforts and achievements of our people; Upcoming Give to them your skills in mentoring, for the long haul; help Events We should continue to accen- them rise above their present circumstances. You may be tuate the right things about Ja- surprised and satisfied as you ‘step up’ from ‘token giving’ maica even as we show very to touch lives; and see how many broken persons you have strongly our disapproval of the mended. In these ways we are using what is right in Jamaica destructive elements that to fix what is wrong with us. emerge among us from time to Continues on page 10 Office of the Governor– General Jamaica @KingsHouse_GG I Believe Initiative @ibija The Governor-General’s Secretary’s Message I am very pleased to extend a warm welcome and best wishes to all members of staff for 2016. I hope that this year brings you good health, success and fulfilment. 2016, as any new year brings with it, hope for a new beginning. This is a year to be successful and for all our efforts and hard work to pay off. Regardless of our achievement and despite our failures in 2015, this year represents a chance of a lifetime to start all over again. It was Winston Churchill who once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts”. Mrs. Dionne Tracey Daniel We did very well last year, and I wish to thank you all on behalf of Their Excellencies for your Governor– General’s dedication, hard work and your proven commitment to excellence. Without you our Secretary achievements for 2015 would not have been realized. (CEO) In carrying out our mandate, “to support the Governor- General in the constitutional, legislative, ceremonial and Continues on page 10 His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen (centre right) encour- ages members of the Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE) programme to work assiduously to His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen alights sail boat, achieve their fullest potential in early January 2016. Full-a-style before it takes on the high seas in the inaugural Round Jamaica Yacht Race on January 22. His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen delivers the keynote address at the annual Coun- cil of Community Colleges of Jamaica Conference 2016. His Excellency Sir Patrick Allen (centre) looks on the symbolic demonstration of National Unity between His Excellency, Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen and Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller and Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica His Excellency, Mr. Mas- Continues on Leader of Opposition Mr. Andrew Holness at the anori Nakano inspect one of the six new ambulances hand- page 4 National Leadership Prayer Breakfast held at the -over to St. John, Jamaica by the Japanese Government. Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on January 21, 2016. 2 Justice Dennis Morrison Sworn in as President of the Court of Appeal The first official order of business for The Governor- General in the new year was the installation of the Hon. Justice Dennis Morrison Q.C., as president of the Court of Appeal. This took place in a Swearing-In Cer- emony at King’s House, on Monday January 4, 2016. Consistent with the requirements of the post, Sir Patrick Allen also conferred the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the nation’s fifth highest honour on Mr. Justice Morrison. “We have confidence in you since you are eminently Governor-General The Most. Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (right) confers the Order qualified by virtue of experience, exposure and erudi- of Jamaica on the President of the Court of Appeal Hon. Mr. Justice Dennis Morrison. tion,” His Excellency commented of Mr. Justice Morri- son in his introductory remarks. A range of other dignitaries including representatives from the The Governor-General shared that Justice Morrison Government, Parliament and the legal fraternity attended the may be one of the few if not the only Rhodes Scholar ceremony. to be elevated to the position of President of the Court of Appeal. Hon. Mr. Justice Dennis Morrison acted as President of the Court of Appeal from August 2015 when Justice Seymour He further stated that, “If the way you function on the Panton went on pre-retirement leave. Rhode Scholarship Selection Committee is anything to go by, and your nuanced contribution there, then I can safely say to this audience, that the Court of Appeal will be guided by safe hands.” Governor-General Urges Newly Appointed Judges to Maintain High Standards His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen at the swearing-in of the seven new Judges to the High Court, on Tuesday (January 5, 2015), urged them to maintain their usually high standards of trans- parency, integrity and accountability within the Judiciary and to the people of Jamaica. The Governor-General also encouraged them to be motivated by the awesome responsibility given them to help preserve the fabric of law and order to safeguard Jamaica’s democracy. “Your appointment is not a signal of arrival or victory but rather a stimulant to intensify your devotion to the continuous building of ter-In- Chambers, Ms. Carloyn Tie; Justices Chester Stamp and our judicial system,” Sir Patrick Allen reminded the Judges. Lorna Shelly-Williams; Chief Justice, the Hon. Zalia McCalla; President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dennis Morrison; Jus- Sir Patrick Allen concluded his remarks by emphasizing to the tices Vinette Graham Allen and Sonia Judges the importance of believing in themselves in their line of Bertram Linton; Master- In- Chambers, Rose Marie Harris and Justice Dale Palmer. duty. Governor-General the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen (5th left) with: (from left) Mas- Continues on page 17 3 Their Excellencies’ hospital tour came back in full swing after a two year hiatus. In December 2015, the tour re-commenced at the Bustamante Hospital, moved on to the Port Maria Hospital, then Sir John Golding rehabilitation Centre and culminated at the National Chest Hospital. See the highlights. Bustamante Hospital for Children Port Maria Hospital Tuesday, December 8, 2015 Thursday December 10, 2015 Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre National Chest Hospital December 17, 2015 December 17, 2015 4 THEIR EXCELLENCIES 40th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Love was definitely in the air and it filled the packed Instead of gifts, Their Excellencies requested that guests contrib- King's House Ballroom on Sunday evening, July 19 as ute to a scholarship fund which will enable a worthy student at Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen the University of Technology to pursue a course of study in Sci- celebrated forty years of marriage with a Musical Re- ence, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. cital featuring performances by tenor Rory Baugh and Violinist Paulette Bellamy, along with Sopranos Lori "I must tell you that we were blown over when the concept of Burnett and Ana Strachan, accompanied by Livingston this evening was brought to our attention," His Excellency Burnett, Pianist. said. "Because of our natural disposition to be private and coy about things of this nature, our first reaction was that we were Compere Fae Ellington guided the programme as the undeserving of this focus and really wanted to.” The couple said performers delighted Their Excellencies and their fami- they conceded when they realized that a bright student will be ly and friends with renditions such as ‘Because God sharing in their experience.