At an appreciation luncheon, which honoured advertising agencies and their clients, The Gleaner's chairman and managing director, Oliver Clarke, presented the top award to Andrew Rousseau, managing director of CGR Communications, and chairman, Anthony Gambrill.

"It's quite a pleasure to be here," said Mr. Gambrill, whose company won an award for the second highest volume in 2002.

This year, the second place award went to 2002's top awardee, Dunlop Corbin Com-munications. Gurney Beckford, chairman and CEO, accepted the award on the company's behalf.

"We feel honoured to have received an award. Our clients trust us with their budget and business to make wise media buying decisions on their behalf. We congratulate the other winners," Mr. Beckford said, following the luncheon, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston. OGM Integrated Communications Ltd., which received last year's award for the agency achieving the highest growth performance in 2002, was third place winner for 2003.

"This award that we have received (shows) you have entrusted us with your money and we have spent it wisely," said a delighted Oral McCook, OGM's managing director.

Advertising and Marketing was named most co-operative and compliant agency and Waterworks won an award for best growth performance.

During the luncheon, Mr. Clarke said he hoped advertisers got good value from the company's services and indicated they will get better value in 2004.

Garfield Grandison, The Gleaner's Editor-in-Chief, also spoke on the company's successes in 2003, among them, the creation of the GiltEdge magazine. A product of the Mona School of Business and The Gleaner, the GiltEdge magazine serves as an objective guide to investors in assessing the performance of companies listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.

EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION

Mr. Grandison spoke about The Gleaner's plans for 2004, including its focus on education.

"We believe that the school system is graduating too many people who are not ready for the world of work and they are not ready for higher education," Mr. Grandison said.

Stressing the focus was not an attack on Government, school administration or teachers, Mr. Grandison said it was aimed at highlighting education triumphs, examining problems and finding solutions to issues such as falling literacy levels.

"What is really required is a national commitment, a national determination and a national willingness to work towards improving the education system in Jamaica because there are no valid reasons why Jamaica cannot transform schools to make literacy possible for all students," he said, to applause.

The Gleaner's advertising and marketing manager Yvonne Senior also commended other advertisers who did business with the newspaper.

"... Each one of you is blessed by having leadership at the highest levels of professionalism and staff that is committed, tireless and dedicated to the excellence of your clients. So, although we, as is traditional, give special recognition to the agencies that place the highest volumes of sales in the year just ended, you are all truly top performers in our industry, and, therefore, our top winners also."

Published Tuesday, February 10, 2004