52 year old Reid, was born in Trinityville, St. Thomas, and attended the Excelsior High School in Kingston, before she became a front office trainee at the Half Moon hotel in Montego Bay in 1978.

Her previous job was a general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, but as the President’s Executive Residence and Chief usher, she will be responsible for executive residence activities, as well as operations on the executive residence grounds. Reid will liaise with the White House Historical Association, the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, the US Commission on Fine Arts and other entities to preserve the People’s House.

The Chief usher is said to be a ‘quaint’ title for a very demanding position. Reid will oversee day-to-day operations at the president’s home, a 132-room mansion with a staff of more than 90 people ranging from plumbers and electricians to butlers and cooks. She’ll cater to everyone from A-list guests at state dinners to throngs of kids at the annual Easter egg roll.

Kudos to this Jamaican go-getter.

Research conducted by Dr. Roye has resulted in the identification of numerous plant viruses, and has played an integral role in the development of strategies to control them.

Locally, her work has resulted in the identification of more than 24 viruses associated with plants such as red pea, broad bean, tomato, scotch bonnet pepper, cabbage and common weeds. Her research has been instrumental in facilitating the control of viruses in two crops by cultivation of resistant varieties of tomato and cabbage. This has enabled the local agriculture market to flourish, as these plant viruses can cause significant yield loss.

Dr. Roye’s research in viruses has expanded to humans, as she has now embarked on research in the detection of antiretroviral (ARV) drug resistance of HIV in Jamaican patients. The research serves to improve ARV treatment and outcome for HIV-affected individuals as well as the quality of life of HIV patients.

The year 2011 has been designated by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry as the International Year of Chemistry. As part of the celebrations, the event’s organisers invited one hundred promising young chemists from around the world to present their research at the Symposium themed ‘Integrated Solutions for Tomorrow’s World’. Miss Watson was one of only two young chemists from this region who were invited with full sponsorship (all airfare, accommodation, and conference expenses paid.) In her application, she described her investigations into two invasive citrus pests that have been found on the citrus plants in the region, the Citrus and Chequered Swallowtail Butterflies, the latter being a recent discovery. Her research has led to two recent patent applications for effective methods of control against both pest species, and which have the added benefit of also being environmentally friendly. Her research supervisor is Dr. Trevor Yee of the UWI Mona’s Natural Products Institute.

Dr. Dawson returned to Jamaica in 2008 to become a lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and a consultant at the University Hospital of the West Indies. She is currently pioneering the development of the physical medicine and rehabilitation in Jamaica and by extension, in the Caribbean.

She has already pioneered areas in rehabilitation medicine in Jamaica including new techniques in fluoroscopic interventional spine treatment and spasticity management with Botulinum Toxin and Phenol injection. She is the co-founder of the UWI Sports Medicine Clinic and one of the University examiners for the MSc in sports medicine for doctors and physiotherapists. She currently treats many professional athletics and was one of the doctors for the Jamaican team to the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, 2009.

She was educated at the University of the West Indies where she obtained an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in the double major biochemistry and zoology, after which she joined the Faculty of Medicine and obtained a medical degree. She later went to long island Jewish Medical Centre/Northshore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine where she completed a year in general surgery and three years residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Her leadership skills and clinical abilities lead her to the appointment of chief resident and to the top spot for a fellowship in interventional spine, musculoskeletal and sports medicine rehabilitation from the prestigious Northwestern University and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, which has over 100 applicants from the United States.

She has published in peer-reviewed medical journals and has spoken at several international medical meetings, including the National Medical Association annual meeting in Hawaii in 2007, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) annual Assembly in 2007 and 2008, the Medical Association of Jamaica since 2006, and the Caribbean Neurosciences Symposium since 2006. She is peer reviewer for the West Indies Medical Journal and the PM&R Journal, which is published by the AAPM&R.

Dr. Dawson, although accomplished, is well grounded, and attributes her success to hard work, great support from family and friends, but primarily blessings from above.

NERHA PRESS RELEASE:

Junior Resident, Dr. Fitzroy Hamilton of Annotto Bay Hospital has been the recipient of not one, but two Governor General Awards

Dr. Fitzroy Hamilton was first featured in the newspaper last year January with a sub-caption, “Buju Banton lookalike making strides in Annotto Bay”. He is thought of as a more handsome version of Buju Banton; nonetheless, this funny misnomer has stuck with him since high school at Kingston College.

Dr. Hamilton joined Annotto Bay Hospital August 2009 as a Medical Officer. His story began in Seaview Gardens, where he was no stranger to violence and the emotional and psychological impact it causes. From there, through sheer determination, diligence and perseverance he applied for and earned a scholarship to study in Cuba. In 2006, Dr. Hamilton graduated, with honours from the Medical Sciences University of Gramna, eastern Cuba, and was twice named Jamaican Student of the Year.

He was offered a post-graduate scholarship in Cuba to study in any specialty, but chose to return home instead. He has been quoted, saying that he has been enjoying his time at Annotto Bay Hospital, working with a warm, friendly and professional staff.

In September 2010, Dr. Hamilton was presented with the Governor General Youth Award for excellence in the category of Young Adult for the parish of Kingston. The following month he was recognized at the “Pinning Ceremony” at Kings House as the National Honouree for the County of Surrey where he was presented with his honourary pin.

Most recently, he was instrumental in the triage of the 22 crash victims from Brandon Hill who were routed to Annotto Bay Hospital. He was personally congratulated, along with the entire hospital team, by the Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, who had visited the hospital on the evening of the crash, on their professionalism and expertise with which they treated the victims.

Seaview Gardens claims him as their own, but Annotto Bay Hospital is his home away from home and they are so very proud of him. On Sunday January 9th, Dr. Fitzroy Hamilton will be featured on Ian Boyne’s Profile for Part 2 of his interview from Sunday January 2nd.

It appears Gary was destined to follow in Mr. Spaulding’s footsteps, as except for three years of his working life, Lester Spaulding has always been his boss – first at RJR, then at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), and then again at RJR.

“I have always maintained a very good working relationship with the Chairman. We share a mutural respect and I owe great deal of my success in broadcasting to him because he is a very good teacher. Both of us share a passion for RJR in particular and for broadcasting in general”.

If anyone knows the challenges faced by the RJR Communications Group in the competitive media landscape, it is Group that faced tough economic times in 2008, in the early period of the global economic.

However, because of his grooming at the CBU and the CMC, Gary was primed to take the tough decisions. While working to take the tough decisions. While working in the Caribbean, he was a pioneer on many fronts. He was the Project Manager for the first live television coverage of the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, among many other accolades.

Allen is a unique character in that he began as a journalist back in 1987 (a freelance reporter at the Gleaner) and later became the boss of Jamaica’s largest media entity, thus giving him perspicacious insight into the dynamics and practices of a media operation, not to mention a certain empathy with those that drive the business.

Allen’s path to success has been likened to that of Jeff Immelt who succeeded the great Jack Welch at the American powerhouse General Electric (GE), leaving his own mark on a corporate leviathan. Allen too is carving his image into his company and may have already displaced the shadow cast by Spaulding.

The Gary Allen story is not complete, and undoubtedly there’s still a lot to be told. Listen out for more from him and the media conglomerate – RJR – that he guides.

As research officer in the 1960s, Keats Hall made a significant impact in the forest Department, particularly on nursery production, planting techniques, wood utilization and the genetics of Blue Mahoe. During his nine years as Conservator of Forests, he played a lead role in the implementation of UNDP/FAO and USAID forestry projects and in formulating the IBRD/CDC project that established the Forest Industries Development Company (FIDCO) in 1978. After serving two years as FIDCO’s Managing Director, he joined FAO to head up a forestry project in Brazil. There he spent three years, followed by eight years as forestry advisor in Mozambique and in Sierra Leone. On retiring from FAO in 1992, he returned to Jamaica and assisted the Forestry Department through a number of consultancies, while serving on several Boards, including the National Land Divestment Commission, national Wildlife Commission, NRCA Appeals Tribunal and the National Integrated Watershed management Council.

In 2003, he co-founded the Forest Conservancy as a non-profit, non-government organization, and developed a strategy to encourage plantation forestry as an option for utilizing Jamaica’s idle lands. The organization introduced tissue-culture Teak plants to private growers and provided technical advice to the Government of Grenada, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Hope Gardens, Jamaica Producers Group, Yallahs and Reckford Watersheds, Union District and Munroe College. These initiatives have awakened interest in the commercial potential of elite timber plantations, as well as the possibilities for agro-forestry and bio-fuel production, and are reflected in his parting proposal for establishment of an arboretum at King’s House.

Keats hall’s contribution to Jamaica has been invaluable and he will be greatly missed by family members and his many colleagues, friends and acquaintances for his selfless and stimulating insight, foresight, vision and willing assistance at all times.

He graduated from the University of Manchester, England with the degree of BA Commerce, with distinction. He also qualified as a chartered accountant. He was a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.

Roy Collister was made a Jamaican citizen in 1965. Friends have described Roy as being a very special friend; loyal, dependable, hospitable, ever gracious and utterly sincere.

Always by his side, smiling and bright, supportive and astute was Sylvia, mother of his two beloved sons – Keith and Paul. They keenly supervised their sons’ education and their upbringing, their confidence and excellent manners, their ambition and their accomplishments.

Both sons made their father extremely proud. Paul and his lovely wife, Natalia, gave Roy two beautiful grandchildren and they both made their grandfather extremely happy and proud. Keith will be getting married shortly to his beautiful fiancée, Carole. Roy was reportedly delighted with this union, and very pleased to know that both his sons are successful in business and in their personal lives.

The great love that Roy had for his wife, children and grandchildren was clearly shown in the pain and suffering that he endured night and day, year after year, just to stay alive to be with them as long as was humanly possible. As we say in Jamaica, ‘nuff respeck’ to Roy.

The quantity, but in particular the quantity of his service to Jamaica was a testimony to his commitment to his adopted country. Hon. Roy Collister used, and was invited to use his acumen, business capacity and vision in the development of a list of superb Jamaican enterprises.

He served T. Geddes Grant Ltd. for 32 years, and built that company into a fantastic organisation. He retired as chairman and CEO of the Caribbean-wide Geddes Grant Group of Companies – a conglomerate comprising over 40 companies with operations in most of the CARICOM states.

Over the years, he served as Director of:

• Courts Ja. Ltd.

• Mussons Ja. Ltd.

• West Indies Development Company Ltd. – a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

• Pan Jamaican Investment Trust Ltd.

• First Jamaica Investment Company Ltd.

• West Indies Alliance Insurance Company Ltd.

• Amalgamated Distributors Ltd.

He also served as a trustee of the Washington-based Caribbean Latin American Action Organisation and the US-based International Executive Service Corporation.

For many years, Roy was extremely active in the financial services field and served as:

• A founding director of Trafalgar Development Bank, now Pan Caribbean Financial Services Ltd.

• A founding director of Pan Caribbean Merchant Bank Ltd.

• Chairman of Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Jamaica Ltd.

• A director of Royal Bank Jamaica Ltd., which later became Mutual Security Bank Ltd.

• A director of the Republic Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.

• A director of the Insurance Company of Jamaica.

• A director of Employee Benefits Administrator Ltd. – an associate company of Life of Jamaica.

• A director of First Global Stock Brokers Ltd. – a subsidiary of Grace Kennedy & Co. Ltd.

• He also served as a member of the Council of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.

Roy Collister was a past president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, a past president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and a past president of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce.

His public service was most outstanding. He served as a director of the University of the West Indies Development and Endowment Fund and was the chairman of the fund’s financial committee.

He also served as chairman of the Jamaican Government Tax Reform Committee which was the predecessor of the Matalon Committee, which was responsible for major reforms of Jamaica’s personal and corporate tax systems which were implemented in the 1980s as well as for the design of the general consumption tax.

He also served as chairman of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute and chairman of the Jamaica Bauxite Trading Company.

Roy Collister was a director of the Government Trade Board, the Jamaica National Investment Promotions Ltd., the Jamaican Export Credit Insurance Corporation and the Export Development Bank, both subsidiaries of the Bank of Jamaica.

He also served as a member of:

• The Government’s Divestment Committee

• The Government Hotel Divestment Committee

• The working group of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on CARICOM affairs, appointed by CARICOM to deal with economic convergence criteria and the development of CARICOM capital markets including a Caribbean Stock Exchange.

• The Industry Advisory Council on International Business Services, appointed by the then minister of Industry and Tourism.

Hon. Roy Collister was also a member of the Caribbean Law Institute’s Advisory Committee. He participated in the drafting of a model CARICOM Insolvency Bill – a joint project of the University of the West Indies Faculty of Law and the Florida State University College of Law.

He accompanied successive prime ministers to Washington to lobby Congress and the US Executive for the easing of trade restrictions on CARICOM exports. To further this easing of trade restrictions, he also worked with the Miami-based Caribbean Latin American Action Organisation of which he was a trustee.

Roy had always been heavily involved in the stock exchange and the securities industry. If he himself were to be listed as a stock, some say that he would be blue chip and oversubscribed. Listed as one of his assets if he was to issue a prospectus on his IPO would be the word ‘FRIENDSHIP’.

He was a man of integrity,

He was a man of humility,

He was a man of dignity,

He was a man of dedication,

He was a man of loyalty,

He was a man of family,

He was a man of God,

He was a friend.

Roy Collister passed away on April 11, 2010 after a long illness. He was 75 years old.

A former student of Vaz Preparatory School in Kingston, Jabari, who now attends Campion College, attained the highest GSAT scores in Science, as well as Composition and language Arts.

Described as a consistent all-rounder, his accomplishments include being the KFC Quiz Captain of the Year, first speaker of Vaz’s debate team, in addition to being captain of the chess team.

While at Vaz, he won nine awards at the school’s prize-giving ceremony, having emerged the top performer in every category.

Prudence Dyer, Jabari’s grade six teacher, says it came as little surprise when he was awarded Scotiabank’s prize for the top GSAT boy performer as he was consistently at the top of the class.

A student who does not settle for mediocrity, Jabari remembers when he placed second in fourth grade; a period which he said was a ‘wake-up’ call for him to improve his performance. He has not looked back since.

He describes his teachers’ GSAT preparation classes over the years as being far much harder than the actual exam itself, acknowledging if it hadn’t been for that hard work, he would not have excelled as expected.

Jabari says he was encouraged to attend Campion College because of its high standards and excellent CXC passes.

He has found it a great school since he began attending there last September. He rates math, history and science as his favourite subjects, adding that the work at his new school is quite challenging.

Although he can be extremely competitive at academics, Jabari sees himself as an average person who simply makes the best use of his abilities. He is also an avid swimmer and lawn tennis player.

While he reads a lot, he modestly admits that he does not study “very often” during the week, although playing chess makes him a better thinker.

At home, he can often be found playing chess on his computer with online opponents, preferring instead to leave the television to his sisters.

Heather Hastings says her son, who delights in provoking his two sisters, is also a tough drillmaster when they have school tests, frequently reminding them they cannot afford to disgrace the family name.

Jabari’s form teacher, Rayan McIntosh, who also teaches him math, describes him as “a very bright, curious student and problem solver who is not afraid to ask teachers what he could have done better to improve his work.”

Occasionally, he will challenge her over a math problem during class, which she welcomes, as it opens the minds of his classmates to other possibilities in solving problems.

A firm believer in maintaining a balance between academics and sports, Jabari has some sound advice for students.

“Don’t value sports over schoolwork, because if you get injured, it can affect your entire career. And if you value books over sports, don’t overstress it. Try to maintain a mix.”

The quiet, reserved 13-year-old student, who now attends Campion College, achieved the highest GSAT scores for Mathematics and Social Studies, at the same time scoring full marks for Composition.

A keen geography student who’s also a member of he school’s science club, Alanna says she chose to attend Campion because of the high academic standards associated with that institution.

Lorna James-Dobson, who is Alanna’s form and geography teacher at Campion, describes the quiet, oft-spoken student as a friendly, disciplined and extremely hard worker who is consistently a top performer.

“She always strives for excellence and always provides neat work. A few times, she’ll make careless mistakes, but don’t even think about that. She’s an ‘A’ student,” said James-Dobson.

This is clearly supported in Alanna’s results in the school’s end-of-term examinations last year, in which she scored straight A’s in at least six subjects.

Ava Campbell, Alanna’s former sixth-grade teacher at St. Peter and Paul, recalls her past student as being extremely focused when completing class assignments.

“When you give her the work, she starts right away and finishes very quickly, usually in a matter of minutes. She’s not going to get anything wrong as she’s always scoring perfect marks.”

Alanna reserves time each day during the week to study, as well as review class notes in preparation for school the next day. However, she usually takes a break from the books on weekends, particularly Saturdays, which are usually reserved for dance classes.

Although her parents assist with homework from time to time, Alanna is extremely independent when it comes to researching her assignments, which she does at the school library, as well as on the internet.

Veronica Duncan-Taylor, Alanna’s mother says her daughter, who is extremely creative with her hands, particularly in art and crochet, also possesses superb organizational skills.

“Usually, when I ask her what help I can give, she’ll look straight at me and say, ‘Mommy I’m fine. I know what to do.’ I am confident knowing that her success rests with her as well as her teachers.”

One of Alanna’s goals is to own and operate her own company someday, although right now she’s not sure exactly what type of business.

For students who are seeking the formula for success, Alanna advises that they keep focused as well as study hard so they can achieve great things.