October 23, 2009 – Kingston, Jamaica….[Nigel Coke/IAD]
Retired Adventist Superintendent of Police Mrs. Ionie Ramsay-Nelson was one of 105 persons recognized by the Government of Jamaica during the annual national honors and awards ceremony held on National Heroes Day. The event, presided over by His Excellency the Governor General, took place on Oct. 19, 2009 at Kings House, Kingston, Jamaica.
Mrs. Ramsay-Nelson received the Order of Distinction (OD), Officer Class, for dedicated service to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). This was her second national honor having received the Badge of Honor for Meritorious Service {BH (m)} in 2002 for dedicated service to the JCF.
“I was shocked,” said Mrs. Ramsay-Nelson. “I am happy that the Lord has blessed me despite human shortcomings. I have learned to be satisfied with what God has done for me. His timing is always perfect.”
“It is a well deserved honor,” said Pastor Derek Bignall, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in West Indies Union. “We are delighted to see that she has been given that recognition by her country, which she has served so long and well. She has been a fearless police officer and has served with dignity. She is also a sterling member of our church, one that leadership looks at with great respect and we are all very proud of her.”
Mrs. Ramsay-Nelson who has earned her right in history as Jamaica's first female motorcycle cop, joined the JCF at age 20 and served for 40 years, moving from the rank of Corporal to that of Superintendent. She retired in June as head of the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), the information arm of the police force.
She is an active member of the Washington Gardens Adventist Church in Kingston in the departments of Family Ministries and Community Services. Married for fifteen years, she is very involved in the building of communities through her personal social work program, which has borne fruit with the establishment of two basic schools; the Hope Basic School, Round Hill, and Chadron Infant Training Centre, Southfield, both in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.
Other Adventists were also honored on National Heroes' Day by the Government. The others included two teenage boys who received the Badge of Honor for Gallantry for saving the lives of two adults after their car plunged into the Rio Cobre River last year.
