Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC) hosted the 31st staging of the Company’s Long Service Awards Ceremony virtually on Thursday, July 9, 2020.

With social distance restrictions and concerns for safety, CUC redirected the award ceremony to an online venue using Microsoft Teams. The programme provided the opportunity for recipients to receive their deserved recognition from Company executives in a meaningful way. This year’s theme was “Service before Self”.

The recipients presented in the virtual session were greeted with words of inspiration and encouragement from Mr. Gregory Smith, former YMCA Cayman CEO and an inspirational speaker, who said, “The cost of being a great person isn’t about the money, but it’s about good habits and the choice to be great.”

The annual event recognised long serving employees who have been with the Company for a period of 20, 25, 30 and 40 years and the top five volunteers for 2019. The first Long Service Awards event commenced in 1989 where CUC thought it was important to highlight and reward dedicated, loyal and giving members of the CUC team after just 23 years of the Company being in existence.

In this year’s ceremony, 20 employees were recognised for their continued service at CUC, along with five employees highlighted for their work in the community. The prestigious volunteer awards – Project Diversity Award and Community Spirit Award – went to Mrs. Amaris Smith and Mrs. Namitha Abraham respectively.

This year’s most notable mention belonged to Mrs. Jennifer Elliott who has been a part of the CUC family since 1976, working in the Customer Services Department for the past 40 years. “I am proud and honoured to be a part of the CUC Team. It has been a phenomenal experience.CUC fosters a positive working environment that values all employees and encourages teamwork”, said Mrs. Elliott.

Mr. Richard Hew, CUC’s President & Chief Executive Officer, addressed the virtual gathering by saying, “The show must go on and we must never miss an opportunity to say thank you to our employees. It is the commitment to continuous improvement that correlates to continued success”.

The Company celebrated the achievements of the following employees: 20 Year recipients: Kary Blythe, Alta Forbes, Paul Donaldson, Dac Moore, Emily Pearson, Royce Phillips, Gueva Richards and Dana Smith. 25 Year recipients: Alfred Berry, David Bodden, Erik Dixon, Christopher Ebanks, Randy Mellaneo, Philip Parchment, Carlos Rivers and Shawn Myles. 30 Year recipients: Gene Eden, James Sherieff and David Watler. 40 Year recipient: Jennifer Elliott. Top 5 Volunteers of the Year: Amaris Smith, Namitha Abraham, Ken Gokool, Jack Abraham and Careen Craig.

CUC is committed to recognising and rewarding employees who are dedicated to the Company and the community.