The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) recognised staff and stakeholders at its 10th Anniversary Banquet and Awards Ceremony which was held on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.
This event culminated a yearlong series of celebratory activities, as the Commission celebrated its 10th Anniversary on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. Throughout the year, JADCO hosted several commemorative activities under the theme, “Keeping Sport Clean, Forging Better Partnerships.”
Speaking at the 10th Anniversary Banquet and Awards Ceremony, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange said, “I am pleased with the efforts of the Commission to rebrand its image. The theme of these celebrations is, ‘Keeping Sport Clean, Forging Better Partnerships’ and JACDO has been making a concerted effort to forge those partnerships that will assist them in achieving JADCO’s mandate as well as build greater awareness to promote the ethics and spirit of sport in Jamaica.”
Also speaking at the event, Keynote Speaker, Dr. Akshai Mansingh, Dean, Faculty of Sport, University of the West Indies (UWI) said, “There is no shame in forging partnerships. As a region we must build capacity through partnerships rather than trying to reinvent the wheel and these partnerships should be made with external and internal partners.”
Chairman of JADCO, Alexander Williams said, “We have had a successful year and tonight we are happy to close the curtains on our yearlong celebrations by honouring our staff and stakeholders for their contribution to the Commission. Without the effort of the management and staff of JADCO and all our stakeholders the Commission would not be where it is today.”
JADCO’s Executive Director, June Spence-Jarrett said, “The Commission decided to end the celebrations with a bang. As a result, tonight we are hosting this event to recognise the Commission’s outstanding employees, supportive Board of Directors, clubs, federations and associations. Presenting the awards is a way of encouraging high standards of work, promoting good conduct, boosting staff morale and fostering partnerships. This evening’s proceedings will set the precedence for years to come as the JADCO team continues to strive for excellence.”
Among the awardees were Tajae Smith, Sample Collection and Testing Manager who received the award for Employee of the Year and Dawn Henry, Executive Secretary who received the Executive Director’s Award for Excellence. Long service awards and other special awards were also presented to employees and members of the board. Representatives of the federations and associations were also recognised.
Sample Collection and Testing Manager, Tajae Smith recipient of the Employee of the Year Award said, “Receiving the Employee of the Year Award is a true accomplishment. I am excited that I was awarded such a prestigious title and it just shows that hard work really does pay off.”
Executive Secretary, Dawn Henry, recipient of the Executive Director’s Award for Excellence said, “It is a great feeling to receive one of the most prestigious awards for the night. I will continue to excel and strive to improve each day.”
JADCO was formally established in 2008 to execute the national anti-doping programme in accordance with the standards stipulated by the international governing body, the World Anti-Doping Agency. JADCO’s mission is to foster a dope free environment in Jamaica that promotes the ethics and spirit of sport through education, testing, advocacy and coordination of an effective anti-doping programme in Jamaica.
