recognised for their service to the Island yesterday as 50 long-time employees of the Health and Social Services Ministry were given awards for their work.

"Many of the problems that face Bermudians today are faced by you everyday,'' Independent Senator Norma Astwood said before the awards were presented at Number One Shed in Hamilton.

"You are the defenders of the Island's morality, the financial backers-up of those who cannot support themselves, the protectors of the public from harm and hurt.'' Of the 50 long-service awards recipients, 13 had provided 10 years of service, 11 had 15 years, 15 had 20 years, five had 25 years, four had 30 years and two had 35 years.

Mrs. Elizabeth Card, a 30-year award recipient, was also given the Human Relations Award by Acting Health and Social Services Minister the Hon.

Clarence Terceira.

Dr. Terceira was filling in for the Hon. Quinton Edness, who is vacationing in Australia.

The recipients, who represented five Health and Social Services departments, have a collective total of 910 years of service at the Ministry.

"You set the stage for the appropriate socialisation of people from birth to death,'' said Sen. Astwood, the event's guest speaker.

"I also realise that you have had to tolerate the many different administrative styles and personnel changes at the Ministry.'' Health and Social Services has undergone some major departmental changes in recent years in an effort to better meet Bermudians' social and health care needs.

Sen. Astwood, a former official at the Ministry, said yesterday that it had chosen well to have its employees work as individual members of a team instead of giving in "to mediocrity as followers of a single overworked chief''.

JOBS WELL DONE -- Recipients of yesterday's Health and Social Services long-service employment awards included (from left to right) 35-year employee Mrs. Moira Cann, Human Relations Award winner Mrs. Elizabeth Card and 35-year employee Miss Diana Simons.