AWARDS
Jones Awarded for Exemplary Tourism Service
by Camille Russell
Sylvia Jones Housekeeping Supervisor The UWI, Cave Hill Campus
W hen Slyvia Jones started her career in housekeeping, she considered it to be another opportunity to follow her life’s mantra of “ service to others ” . Now over 20 years later, she has been recognised not only by those she works with but by the Government of Barbados for her contribution to the island’s hospitality and tourism industry. The housekeeper of the Frank Worrell Hall of Residence at The UWI, Cave Hill Campus was one of five women awarded the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc’s (BTMI’s) 2023 Woman in Tourism Award for her contribution to the growth of the tourism industry over the years. The other awardees were: Angela Garraway, Carmeta Burrowes, Shontelle Edwards and Janice Clarke. From the time Jones began her service to the university as a housekeeper in 1997,
she has always striven to make resident students feel at home, often befriending and encouraging them to excel at their studies. Such an attitude accords with Campus Principal Professor Clive Landis’ s often espoused belief that international students are de facto long-stay visitors.
She also shared that she feels a sense of pride whenever the residents inform her about how their studies are going: “Not only do I like to make the students feel at home but it’s important to me to encourage them to do well. I feel really proud of them and for them when I hear about their accomplishments.”
I know how hard it can be for young people to leave the familiarity of their homes and move to a foreign country, especially for the new students. That is why I always make it a point to make them feel as comfortable as possible, so that even though they are in a different country, they still feel a sense of home,” Jones said.
CHILL NEWS 102
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