On Friday, Jones Communications Network honoured outstanding Bahamian members of society during its Civil Society and Person of the Year Award, at Melia Beach Resort.
Six individuals were recognized as outstanding contributing citizens at the formal awards luncheon on Friday.
Prime Minister Perry Christie won the top award, being named the Person of the Year for 2015.
JCN said the prime minister was chosen due to his political will to implement value added tax.
Accepting the award, Mr. Christie applauded JCN for its valuable contribution to media.
“Let me begin by thanking all of you who are here this afternoon for your presence in support of this effort that Wendall Jones and Jones Communications Network continue to make. It is a very significant effort. One that is deserving of support because in every country, efforts to incentivize the performance of our citizens by showing people who have been determined to have achieved the distinction in their profession is an endeavor that goes to the root of good citizenship and innovation and creativity because it serves to say to young people you can obviously be like that person being honoured,” said Mr. Chrisite
Also receiving a top award as person of the year was Central Bank Governor, John Rolle, who according to JCN was chosen because of his ability as financial secretary, to ensure the smooth implementation and execution of VAT.
Among the other awardees were FML Group of Companies CEO, Craig Flowers, who won Businessman of the year, world renowned athlete, Shaunae Miller, for her world record breaking performances and Gina Knowles and Lia Head of HeadKnowles Foundation, for their unselfish efforts to assist victims of Hurricane Joaquin.
JCN, Chief Executive Officer, Wendall Jones, in his remarks, said the awardees all went beyond the call of duty in their efforts.
“Visionaries could shape the future, and as much as kings were anointed by God in days of old, visionairees were visited by God. They hear the messaged personally before appearing in public or working to announce what God wanted them to do. We have come here today to celebrate vision, hard work and excellence as they are epitomized in today’s honourees,” expressed Mr. Jones.
Mr. Jones urged Bahamians in general, to set high standards in delivery of their roles in life, not allowing the existing challenges to be a hindrance.
“We are at a critical juncture in our society where we need more than ever before to inspire Bahamians to be visionaries and strive for excellence in everything they do. We are at that juncture where indiscipline and mediocrity seem to be the order of the day; and when new social structures are developing to challenge our citizens,” he said.
“The Prime Minister and his team were determined, driven and focused on the goal to improve the fiscal affairs of our country; and despite the purveyors of doom and gloom, they remained steadfast in achieving the goal to improve the fiscal health of our nation. It took courage to step away from the crowd, to follow a course that was different and challenging,”
The Rt. Hon Perry Christie, Prime Minister accepts The Person of the Year Award for 2015 from CEO of Jones Communications, Wendall Jones
