Kingston; November 20, 2012 – The Rotary Club of St. Andrew North has honoured outgoing Contractor General, Greg Christie, with its 2012 Vocational Service Award, for his outstanding service to the country as its fourth Contractor General.

The award was announced at the Club’s weekly meeting last night during which a framed Citation was presented to the Contractor General in which he was lauded for his transformational leadership of the Office of the Contractor General (OCG). The Contractor General will demit office on November 30, after seven (7) years in office.

In presenting the Award to the Contractor General, Club President, Greg Hughsam, noted that the Rotary Vocational Service Award is presented to an individual who has been recognized as having earned a distinctive record of excellence and high achievement in his or her chosen vocation, which has rebounded to the advancement of that vocation and to the benefit of the nation as a whole.

The full text of the Citation that was presented to the Contractor General, and which was read by Rotarian Sonia Gill, Attorney and Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP, reads as follows:

ROTARY CLUB OF ST. ANDREW NORTH’S

2012 Vocational Service Award

CITATION TO GREG CHRISTIE

“Great leaders leave indelible footprints in the passage of time, often spanning generations. Regardless of when and where they walk, these men and women leave their marks which reveal their spirit, courage and their direction for others to follow.

According to commentaries on the subject, Great Leadership is often characterised as leading from the front, taking it to another level, leading by example and so on… through vision, perception and a determination to facilitate positive outcomes for nations and their peoples.  One such person is Greg Christie.

If being learned and possessed of a brilliant mind are two critical characteristics of great leadership, then Greg Christie’s scholarship and intellectual capacities are impeccable.

An outstanding scholar throughout the many levels of his educational pursuits, he has achieved “top-of-the-class” qualifications in, among other disciplines, Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Legal Studies; Business Executive Development; Advanced Training and Development in Anti-corruption; Good-Governance Best Practices and Operational Strategies.

If being an accomplished professional is another measure of great leadership, then Mr. Christie’s achievements are unparalleled.

His career spans Academia as a Lecturer, Tutor and Examiner; practising Attorney-at-Law (qualified to practice Law in all Commonwealth Caribbean Jurisdictions); highly respected Legal Consultant; pioneer Entrepreneur; Senior Corporate Executive; United States Certified ISO 9002 International Quality Systems Lead Auditor and, since 2005, Jamaica’s fourth Contractor General.

If diligence, fixity-of-purpose, uncompromising integrity, values-focused and a results-driven orientation are crucial elements of dynamic and progressive leadership, then he has added greater value with his hallmark-blend of fierce determination, granite-grit and strength of conviction.

The approach to his position as Contractor General over the past seven years, has won him widespread notoriety and public acclaim  from all stakeholders in the governance process. His, is a readily recognized name that commands attention, sparks emotion, provokes debate, impels action and inspires respect and admiration… even “grudgingly” from the aggrieved party. The issues he leads us to contend with often spark fiery contention, but the social awareness, knowledge-building and stakeholder participation in the governance process always enlighten and empower.

Mr. Christie’s honest-way-of-thinking, his forthrightness and seeming audacity in challenging, advocating and upholding only the highest principles, sound values and ethics in defence of good governance, have caused the profile and character of the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) to be raised in stature as a distinctive and highly visible “best in class”, organization.

Supported by the powerful pillars of an elite cadre of professionals, dispassionate in their discharge of the OCG’s statutory mandate, Mr. Christie’s seven-year leadership of that organization has been an exceptional and celebrated exemplar of the impact of transformative leadership on good governance. The force of Greg Christie’s strength of character on the OCG’s remarkable restructure –  in the face of enormous difficulties and innumerable challenges – compels homage and due regard, moreso as the organization was ranked as the public’s premier choice of most respected organizations in the country’s anti-corruption and law-enforcement institutional framework. In recognition and appreciation for his vigilance, unswerving advocacy and uncompromising insistence on probity, adherence and accountability to the rule of law by Public Officers, Greg Christie has won for himself, National, Regional and International recognition and/or Awards.

Great leaders like Greg Christie, understand, cultivate and demonstrate the key leadership principle of “servanthood” – that “it’s not about me”.  In fact,  they serve a “higher authority” and must respond to a “higher ideal” – one  that exists to serve the greater societal good and is impervious to the lure of personal ambition and vain-glorious rewards. These great men and women build into the very fabric of their being, the resilience and capacity to be unshakeable and unbreakable in the pursuit of their vision, guided by the wisdom and the humility to know and trust that when their vision is realised, all can confidently join in and  say we did it!

Mr. Christie’s legacy will live on. He has shown how a lad, born on July 6, 1955, the second of five (5) children, to parents who taught their children, by training and by example, with love, support, direction, guidance and encouragement, to pursue excellence and live a life of significance, can make his way through life, pursuing and achieving great successes, but maintaining his balance – a  balance sustained by his deep spirituality, devotion to family and service to community, most notably as a Rotarian.

As his term as Contractor General comes to an end November, 2012,  we recognise Mr. Christie as a man of great courage, indomitable will, formidable advocacy, legendary exploits. He fought a hard battle for the entrenchment of a good governance ethos in the public service. He fought hard for the cause of the Office of the Contractor General to evolve into a strong, meaningful and sustainable institution. He made a real difference. . . and that in itself is the embodiment of true leadership.

The Rotary Club of St. Andrew North is pleased to honour Greg Christie for his outstanding leadership to the public service and his fearless approach to carrying out his tasks in the interest of the nation.”