First Heritage Co-Operative Credit Union Limited (FHC) and the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service have partnered to award three civil servants the FHC’s 18th ‘Civil Servants of the Year’ award.

The recipients included: Simone Turton, acting customer care officer at the University Hospital of the West Indies; Oliver Morris, customer service officer at the Ministry of Justice and Lennox Wallace, parish manager at St James Public Health Services.

Turton was honoured for her contribution in the Technical Support category, while Morris was recognised in the Middle Management category and Wallace for the Management category.

The ceremony took place on Friday (November 18), where each awardee received J$200,000, a plaque and a citation to declare their contributions.

“The entire FHC family takes great pleasure in celebrating our outstanding civil servants today; and we are highly appreciative of the ongoing partnership which allows us to continue to recognize our civil servants in this special way,” stated FHC CEO Roxann Linton. 

An inaugural ‘People’s Choice’ award was also given to Sophia Moulton, the director of ceremonies, operations and staff administration in the Office of the Prime Minister, Chancery & Protocol Unit. 

FHC further donated an additional $150,000 towards a community project of choice, which will be executed by the three awardees.

State Minister Marsha Smith was also in attendance, as a representative from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service.

“A true patriot is what I see when I look at the hard work, dedication and passion with which you [civil servants] have executed your various duties as public servants,” said Smith.

She added that this is one of the greatest achievements that a civil servant can receive, because it shows that they served their country with loyalty and integrity.

Awardees grateful

An ecstatic Wallace also spoke on behalf of his fellow recipients, expressing his gratitude.

“We have worked hard having none of this [the awards] in mind, what we did is just work. I stand here feeling proud of myself and my own achievements and that of my colleagues,” said Wallace.

He added that he along with his fellow recipients serve as a testament “to those coming behind us to continue doing more good, hard work”.