ICAJ Hosts successful 40th Anniversary Awards Banquet

ICAJ Hosts successful 40th Anniversary Awards Banquet The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica (ICAJ) hosted a successful 40th Anniversary Awards Banquet under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency, the Most Honourable Sir Howard Cooke, ON, GCMG, GCVO, CD, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on December 9, 2005.

Despite the threat of industrial action by the staff of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, which resulted in undue delays during Dinner, the event was a success attracting approximately 500 guests.

Guests included Honourable Syringa Marshall-Burnett, CD, President of the Senate and her husband Jasper Burnett, Past President of the ICAJ; Senator Professor Trevor Munroe and his wife, Ingrid W. Munroe; Senator Norman Grant, ICAJ Member; Mr. Eric Crawford, President of the Public Accountancy Board and Past President of the ICAJ; Mr. Garth Kiddoe, President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean and Past President of the ICAJ and Mrs. Vinette Keene, Acting Director General, Tax Administration Directorate. Also in attendance were, Angela Lee Loy, President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago; Anthony Atkinson, President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Eastern Caribbean and Brian Robinson, President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados. ICAJ President, Leighton McKnight and Miss Prunella Vassell, ICAJ Vice-President greeted guests on arrival.

Keynote speaker was Dr. Ian Ball, Chief Executive of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). He commended the ICAJ for setting high standards through the strengthening of its continuing professional educational requirements and its adoption of international standards.

Dr. Ball expressed gratitude on behalf of IFAC to the ICAJ for providing a case study on its implementation of IFRS locally for inclusion in IFAC's new guidance for the benefit of other IFAC member bodies.

"The guidance is currently being distributed to all member bodies and to organisations and individuals working to develop the accountancy profession," he stated.

Among the major highlights of the event was a tribute to Founding Fathers of the ICAJ for their vision and their invaluable role in the establishment of the local accountancy body at a time when there was no single body to articulate the views of the profession. Their efforts led to the establishment of the Institute of Chartered Accountancy of Jamaica, the regulatory body for Chartered Accountants in Jamaica, on January 18, 1965.

Those present at the dinner who were honoured included, Jack D. Ashenheim, Denis P. Goldson, Edgar C. Jones, Alvin R. McClure, Philmore H. Ogle, E. Carroll Thorburn and Randolph Williams.

Forty years later, through their vision and lobbying efforts, the ICAJ has grown and is now recognised as one of the most organised professional bodies in the region.

Master of Ceremonies Fae Ellington guided the evening's proceedings in a most efficient manner. Jon Williams and Friends provided the right blend of musical entertainment during the event and internationally acclaimed reggae performer, Marcia Griffiths, gave a magnificent performance closing the curtain on a successful event.



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