The Gladys van Dal-McKenzie Award
Is an award that recognizes the extraordinary contribution of organizations and companies to the environment by maintaining an ecofriendly policy. The award also serves an educational purpose, for we can all learn from the recipients of this prestigious award what each one of us can do to protect the environment – not only our immediate surroundings, but also the environment of our dushi Kòrsou, our beautiful Caribbean region and the global environment – so that we as well as future generations may continue to enjoy and reap the economic benefits of our nature and natural resources in a responsible manner. As we all know, the late Mrs. Gladys van Dal-McKenzie was very passionate about protecting the environment; she played a very prominent role and lead by example. It is therefore only fitting that her legacy is honored in the Environmental Week through an award that bears her name. The very first award was presented on the birthday of this amazing lady: the 18th of October.
Join us October 18, 2019 to honor an amazing person
Click on the invitation to view larger size or download
The award process: How it came to be
Selikor wanted to celebrate this year’s Environmental week in a unique, special and sustainable way. The idea of an award with the following aims came up:
- To recognize and reward environmental best practices
- To promote environmental protection, conservation and enhancement
- To encourage recycling; responsible waste management; built heritage; biodiversity; habitat creation; land stewardship; heritage; culture; prevention of litter & pollution; and environmental enhancement & awareness
- To improve environmental performance
- To encourage the efficient use of resources
- To support the broader goals of sustainable development specifically the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The award had to have a distinctive name and its own personality. The name of Selikor’s late ‘godmother’ immediately popped into our heads. The award was named after this amazing woman, Gladys van Dal Mc-Kenzie, for her lifelong passion for the environment.
To select the recipients of this first award. the first Award Committee defined some first time criteria. The defined criteria for this first award had to have a more symbolic connotation. After the criteria were defined, each member of the committee submitted their nominees. The list of nominees was reviewed and scrutinized resulting in a short list. The committee made mystery visits and conducted on-site interviews of the shortlisted nominees to judge them and select the winners. Selikor’s management endorsed the winners, which will be announced later this evening.
Award trophy: Significance of the design
After choosing the perfect name for the award, the challenge was to then create a unique design for the award trophy. Since Gladys van Dal Mc-Kenzie was also known as ‘the Queen of Trees’, the Award Committee researched different local trees which would most accurately characterize Selikor’s ‘godmother’. After careful thought and deliberation, the Kibrahacha tree was chosen.
Kibrahacha means ‘ax breaker’ and it is believed that the tree got its name due to the fact that its wood is almost unbreakable. Trying to chop it with an ax could actually result in breaking the ax. Gladys was a very strong-minded woman with firm convictions and opinions. She was not easily influenced by others.
The Kibrahacha’s blossoms are yellow, golden. The flowers’ color is so vibrant that is practically impossible not to notice them when you pass by a Kibrahacha tree. Even when the tree loses its flowers, it leaves behind an awe-inspiring golden layer on the ground. Gladys was like Queen Elizabeth II, she always dressed in vivid colors. Gladys was a vibrant woman; bright and full of personality; someone you never forget.
In the dry season, the Kibrahacha has no leaves, only the beginning flower buds on the ends of its twigs. But as soon as it starts to rain, the tree flowers very quickly and is soon in full blossom. Gladys was not the kind of person who pursued glory. All the community projects she was involved in, came straight from the heart and she never expected anything in return. Nonetheless, she gave her all to help those in need.
The Kibrahacha’s fallen flowers provide for continued life as they become food for ants, birds, bees, wasps and more. Similarly, Gladys was an environmental leader that focused mainly on future generations.
Mrs. Gladys van Dal-McKenzie (1929-2018) Biography
Mrs. Gladys van Dal-Mackenzie was born in Curaçao on 18 October 1929. Her father was British and her mother was from Curaçao. She was going to study to become a midwife, until a twist of fate lead Gladys to become the first woman in Curaçao to manage a gasoline station and the first woman employer to sign a collective labor agreement. By 1969, Gladys was running a gasoline station and a car wash full time, while being married with 3 children and expecting her 4th child. Gladys believed in providing quality service. Her exceptional work ethic was characterized by long working hours, respect, order and discipline.
Gladys was honored with the Dutch Royal distinction Ridder in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau for her social work during her lifetime, such as care for senior citizens and persons with emotional disabilities, youth matters and sense of community. She was chairman of Fundashon Kòrsou Limpi i Bunita, Council for Environment and the supervisory board of Landsloterij (national lottery) and godmother of Selikor NV and Capriles Kliniek. Gladys also pioneered a fund to support social, educational and cultural projects (Sentro di Desaroyo pa Antia) with the assistance of the Dutch government. In 1979, the Year of the Child, she spoke on the development of children and the youth upon invitation of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, with whom she shared a special bond. Gladys had extensive knowledge of and love for trees and initiated the national Tree Planting Day. She was called the Queen of Trees. Each year during the environmental week, she would plant several trees all over the island together with volunteers ranging from government officials to school children.
Her motto was: bo ta kere den dje, laga nos ban pe (you believe in it, let us go for it)
Gladys is dearly missed since her passing on February 2, 2018 and is survived by her children and grandchildren among others.
Gladys van Dal-Mackenzie – a true environmentalist and an inspirational and exceptional Yu di Kòrsou.
