The Gleaner's 'Man of the Year 2003', the Hon. Noel Hylton (right), with his award at the Gleaner Honour Awards Luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, yesterday. With him is Oliver Clarke, the newspaper's chairman and managing director. - Ricardo Makyn / Staff Photographer

THE HON. Noel Hylton, president and chief executive officer of the Port Authority of Jamaica, yesterday won The Gleaner's top honour award when he was named 'Man of the Year' during the 24th Annual Gleaner Honour Awards luncheon.

He also took home the Gleaner Honour Award for business for his "superb work in transforming the nation's ports and for his outstanding leadership qualities."

"... It is an honour being named among this group of outstanding individuals whose work in areas such as science and technology, public service and education deserves our warmest commendation," said Mr. Hylton.

"Jamaica can only be thankful to The Gleaner, as a leader in media, for having chosen to reflect on not merely the newsmakers of 2003, but persons whose achievements contribute to national development," added Mr. Hylton.

OTHER NATION-BUILDERS

But although pleased to be so honoured, Mr. Hylton reminded fellow awardees that while reflecting on their achievement, "It is appropriate to remember there are many others in our country working steadily and quietly and making valuable contributions to our nation." During yesterday's luncheon, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, and attended by Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke, 18 persons were given Honour Awards or Merit Awards for their great achievements and outstanding contributions to the development of Jamaica.

Kingsley Thomas, chairman of the National Housing Trust (NHT) and the National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited (NROCC). He was honoured for public service, especially in his "unique approaches to project management evidenced by the Emancipation Park and Highway 2000 projects."

Ceramist Cecil Baugh, who received the Honour Award for arts and culture; businessman Sameer Younis, who was recognised for voluntary service; Professor Inshenkumba Kahwa, for science and technology; Dr. Peter Figueroa, for his contribution to health in "creating increased public awareness on health issues, including HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections."

Reggae artiste Sean Paul Henriques was honoured for entertainment while Molly Rhone and the officials who organised the 2003 World Netball Championships and the local netball team won the award in the sport category.

In keeping with The Gleaner's plans to focus on education during 2004, six students were honoured, including Ardenne High's Trudy McLeary, local Spelling Bee Champion and Scripps Howard third-place finisher, and Campion College student 11-year-old Sean Ashley, the GSAT all-island top performer, who became the youngest recipient of the prestigious award.

The other awardees in education were Glen McLean, ranked regionally for the best performance in the technical/vocational subjects in the 2003 CXC/Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examinations; Dionne Brown, GCE A'Level General Paper, the top student worldwide; Ainka Brown, University of the West Indies (UWI) valedictorian and First Class honours student in Chemistry and O'neil Simpson, the 2003 winner of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) essay competition.

Merit awards went to international supermodel, Nadine Willis; Kay Osborne, the woman who helped to highlight the abuse faced by state wards in several children's homes and places of safety; the Jamaica Junior Theatre Company and the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AmCham).

The Gleaner also presented a special award to RBTT Financial Holdings, the first recipient of the GiltEdge Golden Awards. An annual product of the Mona School of Business and the newspaper, the GiltEdge magazine serves as an objective guide to investors in assessing the performance of companies listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The award was accepted by the company's deputy managing director, Joe DaSilva.

Published Tuesday, January 09, 2004