The National Insurance and Social Security Service honoured long serving and outstanding members of staff at its annual GEM Awards, held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
The ceremony celebrated excellence, dedication, leadership, teamwork and continuous learning across the organisation. Awards were presented in the following categories:
Diamond Award – Employee Excellence
Employee of the Year
Ms. Rosemary Rayside
Insurance Officer IV, Benefits Division
Topaz Award – Performance
Supervisor of the Month – October 2025
Ms. Renee Waterman
Insurance Officer II, Benefits Division
Supervisor of the Year
Ms. Renee Waterman
Insurance Officer II, Benefits Division
Employee of the Month – July 2025
Mr. Zico Haynes
Insurance Officer III, Benefits Division
Employee of the Month – October 2025
Ms. Rosemary Rayside
Insurance Officer IV, Benefits Division
CEO’s Appreciation Award
External VIP Guests and Awardees
- The Most Hon. Mr. Justice Leslie Francis Haynes, SC., Chief Justice of Barbados
- Hon. Colin E. Jordan, M.P., Minister of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector
- Mr. Colin ‘Tony’ Walcott, Chairman, People Development Committee
- Dr. Karen Best, Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector
NIS Staff
- Ms. Frances Fontinelle-Walcott, Chief Operations Officer
- Mr. Wayne Giles, Chief Internal Auditor
- Mr. David Archer, Senior Manager, People Development Division
- Mrs. Joelle St. John, Principal Legal Officer
- Mr. Grell Griffith, Senior Data Analysis / Application Support Officer
- Mr. Junior Browne, Property Manager
- Ms. Tamekia Skeete, People Development Officer
- The Self-Employed Unit
Emerald Award – Long Service
10 Years
- Ms. Olivia Marshall
- Ms. Ranato Hazell
- Ms. Nikita Boyce
- Mr. Michand Willins
- Mr. Christopher Cox
- Mrs. Harriett Depradine
- Mr. Sean Butcher
15 Years
- Ms. Carol-Ann Welch
- Ms. Tamekia Skeete
- Mr. David Byer
- Ms. Michelle Maitland
- Ms. Jacqueline Sobers
- Ms. Shamika Depeiza
- Ms. Joy-Ann Gilkes
- Ms. Suzette Smith
- Ms. Betty-Ann Callender
20 Years
- Mrs. Coreen Lewis-Griffith
- Ms. Lana Bynoe
- Ms. Rosemary Rayside
- Ms. Natalie Beckles
- Mr. Nicholas Reid
- Ms. Jacqueline Chandler
- Ms. Fay Agard
- Ms. Joy-Ann Johnson
- Mr. Cecil Payne
25 Years
- Ms. Natasha Walton
- Ms. Christabelle James
- Ms. Andrea Alleyne
30 Years
- Mrs. Leisa Wood
- Mr. Carlos Hall
- Mr. Ian Riley
35 Years
- Mr. Christopher Beckles
- Mr. Kevin Harris
- Mrs. Heather Hurdle-Marshall
- Mrs. Angela Griffith
40 Years
- Ms. Sherry Padmore
- Ms. Heather Millar
- Ms. Glenice Yearwood
- Mr. Nigel Morris
- Ms. Debbie Greenidge
- Mrs. Carol-Ann Smith
45 Years
- Mr. Neville Evelyn
Insurance Officer I (Benefits)
Mr. Neville Evelyn is acknowledged for his sterling contribution to the National Insurance and Social Security Service over an exceptional 45 years of dedicated service.
Mr. Evelyn has served with distinction in several roles, including many years as an Inspector within the Compliance Division, before his promotion to Insurance Officer I in the Benefits Division. Having joined the NIS on October 13, 1980, his dedication, institutional knowledge and unwavering commitment have made a lasting and meaningful impact on the organisation.
His career stands as a testament to professionalism, loyalty and service excellence.
Opal Award – Continuous Learning
Academic Achiever of the Year
Ms. Nadie Farmer
Accounts Officer I, Accounts Division
Master’s Degree in Financial Management, awarded with Merit
Onyx Award – Team Spirit
Division Team of the Month – May 2025
Registration Division
Division Team of the Year
Registration Division
House of the Year Award
Pink House
Creativity and Innovation Award
Division Team Award
People Development Division
Congratulations to our GEMS!
