New Year’s Honours

Judith Stephanie Jones-Morgan (Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George)

Judith Jones-Morgan is humbled by her inclusion in this year’s Queen’s Honour’s List. She told SEARCHLIGHT that she feels greatly honoured to have been awarded for the work that she has done as this country’s Attorney General.{{more}}

Morgan received the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (C.M.G) for her contribution to the administration of justice and the development of law in the country.

In the publication ‘Celebrating 10 years of excellence in office’, Morgan singled out her selection to serve as this country’s Attorney General, recognition by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for cooperation in law enforcement matters and her involvement co-chairing the twelfth Commonwealth Law Ministers meeting which was held back in 2002 as some of her greatest achievements.

This year will be Morgan’s twentieth year since entering the public service, 10 of which she has served in the capacity of attorney general.

But while she thanks the Government and people of St Vincent and the Grenadines for the support she has received throughout the years, Morgan contended that she is extremely grateful to God and to the many persons who have been praying for her and her family.

“That has been tremendous support also,” she said.

Morgan added that she was grateful also to the support from her colleagues and members of staff throughout her tenure as AG, saying that while she is happy for the award, it is not to highlight her work alone, but to be shared by all.

Nicole Jacintha Bonadie-Baker (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).

Bonadie-Baker, who the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, received her award for her outstanding contribution to Education and Community Services. She could not be reached by SEARCHLIGHT for comment.

Pompey has been awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E) for his outstanding contribution to national security and the public service.

His contribution to society started back in 1977 as a teacher, before going on to join the public service in 1988.

While in the public service, he was eventually promoted to serve in the capacity of Director of Training.

“As a former teacher, I took great pride in organizing and ensuring all categories of public servants were exposed to some level of training,” he said, adding that he particularly enjoyed his time in that position.

He was eventually appointed Permanent Secretary for National Security and the Public Service in October 2004, where he says he has achieved a lot despite the many challenges that come with the job.

Among his greatest achievements thus far, according to Pompey, have been the expansion of the cadet force, the ‘Pan against Crime’ initiative, which he said has not only revived pan in the country, but has an anti-crime message attached, and the upgrading of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.

He said that he intends to continue to be a dedicated public servant and listed a number of future projects, which he says he would like to see come on stream within the first few months of 2012. These projects include the relocation of inmates of Her Majesty’s Prisons to the new facility at Belle Isle and the subsequent construction of the female wing at the site and the enhancement of the Coast Guard fleet and construction of the base in Canouan.

His roots are in Canouan, having obtained his early education on that Grenadine island before moving to the mainland at age 7.

Pompey said that he was grateful to God, his parents, wife Miriam, and Lucy Miguel, affectionately known as ‘Tanty Lucy’, who was responsible for his upbrining.

“I am also very much appreciative of the public servants who supported me throughout the years,” he said.

Herman Louis Belmar (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)

Teacher, environmentalist, politician, historian, community activist – just some of the many positions that Herman Belmar has served in during the 40 plus years that he has devoted to serving his community.

He was included in this year’s Honours list, receiving the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E) for his contribution to education and the environment, especially in the Grenadines.

“It has taken me by surprise, yet I still welcome the inclusion to the list,” Belmar said.

“I see it as an honour. Not something I have in mind or ever dreamt of, but I guess somebody somewhere has been looking at the work I have been doing over the last 40 plus years of my life in the country,” he continued.

Belmar said that he has been involved in education in his native Bequia from as early as he can remember.

He began instructing students at the kindergarten level before going on to Teachers’College, where he trained as a teacher and then worked at both the primary and secondary levels.

He was appointed principal of the Bequia Anglican High School before returning to the classroom as a teacher specializing in vocational studies.

“That experience gave me the opportunity to work with young people across St Vincent and the Grenadines,” an experience he said he enjoyed.

He ventured into environmental work and education, not because he said he went to school to study environmental science, but because he was a practical person, and he said that he enjoyed interfacing with nature.

“I’ve been working with the real world, exposing youths and people in particular to what life is like in the real world,” Belmar said.

All this while being in the forefront of communal activities; that is until his entry into politics, which he contends is an elevation of the work that he had already been doing.

July this year will make it 41 years, and according to Belmar he still has some years to go.

“I’m still in the prime of my youth. I still have a few years to go and will continue to serve my country,” he said.

Dwight Derrick Lewis (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)

Dwight Lewis, Commander of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cadet Force, said that he is “deeply delighted” to know that his contribution has finally been recognized.

“I have worked hard in the cadet and youth movement generally throughout the country and also in disaster preparedness,” Lewis explained.

His involvement in the local cadet movement spans 36 years, 20 of which he has served as commander, and he says that he has been through a number of natural disasters, including the 1979 eruption of La Soufriere volcano.

He was formerly recognized for his contribution to the Cadet Force and disaster preparedness, having been included in this year’s Queen’s New Year’s Honours list, receiving the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E).

But despite his work in disaster preparedness, Lewis says that he is particularly proud of the work that he has done in expanding the cadet force throughout the country.

The numbers have now moved from just over 100 to close to 1,000 he said.

Youths from rural areas are now getting involved in the movement, something that was unheard of in the past he explained.

Additionally, there are now units in Georgetown, Barrouallie and Bequia, and one additional unit in Kingstown.

“So the expansion programme to me is the major highlight of my cadet experience,” he said.

Looking into the future, Lewis said that he was looking forward to the construction of a headquarters for the cadets, one of the major projects he would like to see completed before he retires.

And with this, he noted that his achievement was not a sole accomplishment, as there were a number of other persons who also worked hard over the years to assist in the development of the movement.

“It’s an organization with a number of persons involved and their support provides encouragement.”

“I just provide the leadership and other persons provide the support mechanisms and I want to thank those persons who have assisted me,” Lewis said.

Murray Seyon Hadaway (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)

Murray Hadaway says that he is taking his award for his contribution to business and community service as “no big deal.”

Instead he said that he is satisfied that he has been able to do a good job and has made a significant contribution to his country.

Hadaway was awarded the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honour’s List for 2012.

“It was mentioned to me, but I didn’t take it for anything serious,” a modest Hadaway explained.

“It was really surprising when I heard it on the radio,” he continued.

He accepts the award, saying that he has done his fair share of work for the benefit of the society.

His story began years ago when he operated businesses in Kingstown before getting out and going into farming.

Having enough of the farming life, Hadaway said that he pursued studies and went into refrigeration, a skill he uses today at his job at S.G. DeFreitas and Company Limited.

The Harmony Hall resident said that he cannot recall any major highlight in the years that he has served his country.

“You just do your service to your country, there is no chip on my shoulder really,” he said.