Nikolai Sherstnev presented awards to the laureates of the "Man of the Year of Vitebsk Region-2018" prize
– Annually, trying not to offend anyone, we choose the best of the best. This year, for the 10th time, we honor the laureates of the title "Person of the Year of the Vitebsk Region"; over the years, a thousand people have become laureates. These are our most worthy people, representatives of all spheres of society: respected production leaders, talented youth, outstanding athletes. It is symbolic that they receive awards at an event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the formation of the BSSR. This gives us an opportunity to once again remember those who stood at the origins, who created the history of our country, – emphasized Nikolai Sherstnev.
Based on the results of work for 2018, 50 people were recognized, including heads of large enterprises and ordinary workers, whose achievements and successes allowed them to join the cohort of those who are rightly called the pride and heritage of the Vitebsk Region.
At the stage of the "Vitebsk" Concert Hall, the award was received by Dmitry Dashchenok, an electric gas welder from "Naftan", who was recognized as the best among more than two hundred participants at the republican professional competition, and Leonid Alekseenko, a tractor driver-machinist of the "Zaozerie" production branch of OJSC "Vitebsk Meat Processing Plant" in the Lepel district, who was the first in the region to thresh a thousand tons of grain and achieved the highest threshing volume of 6346 tons based on the results of the harvest campaign.
– The title "Person of the Year of the Vitebsk Region" is the highest standard that must be maintained going forward. This is the result of many years of work, not only by me personally, but by our entire team. Together, we have managed to do a lot to strengthen the material and technical base of our institution, from purchasing furniture and a sewing machine to a bactericidal irradiator. All this has significantly improved the lives of our residents, – said the holder of the title "Person of the Year of the Vitebsk Region – 2018", **Lyudmila Shkurdina, head of the department of the Territorial Center for Social Services of the Population of the Dubrovensky District.**
Another laureate of this year, the General Director of the Production Republican Unitary Enterprise "Vitebskoblgaz", also agrees that the honorary title is the highest assessment and recognition of the merits not only of the leader but also of the entire enterprise and the team as a whole. Based on the results of 2010, Pyotr Petrovich had already become "Person of the Year of the Vitebsk Region", and in 2018 his merits in the social sphere were recognized. He is a leader who pays great attention to the comprehensive development of his employees.
– Culture is a very broad concept and is not limited to amateur art and creativity. We are talking about the culture of farming, and about creating conditions for people's work and rest, landscaping, the state of production facilities, working with the public, and the quality of service, – Pyotr Petrovich is confident.
The jubilee, thousandth "Person of the Year" was the head of the Vitebsk Regional Department of the Department of Protection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, Nikolai Tylets, who, in addition to the traditional diploma and badge, was presented with a special certificate and a commemorative souvenir by Nikolai Sherstnev.
– The honorary title "Person of the Year of Vitebsk Region" is a sign of high appreciation for the merits of a creator, dedicated to their work. What unites all of you is that you have been able to realize yourselves. Your talents benefit both society and the state. Through your labor, each of you confirms the truth: a person who has found their calling in life is capable of conquering the highest peaks. You are an example of how significant the reserves for development are, and with such a responsible attitude to work, it is possible to achieve large-scale breakthroughs, to solve ambitious and bold tasks, – emphasized the head of the region.
Congratulating those who are working for the benefit of their native Vitebsk Region today, Nikolai Nikolaevich noted that honest and conscientious labor, perseverance and skill, talent have formed the authority of a working person in all historical epochs: both during the formation of the republic and in the present.
The most important of the first industrial new buildings in the Vitebsk Region during the formation of the BSSR were the shoe factory in Vitebsk (now "Krasny Oktyabr"), the sewing factory "Znamya Industrializatsii", BelGRES in Orekhovsk near Orsha, the lime plant, which gave rise to the "Dolomit" enterprise, and the Vitebsk Machine-Tool Plant.
Belarusian national culture received a new impetus: literature, fine arts, theater. It was at that time that Vitebsk became a city of artists, thanks to the works of Yudel Pen, Marc Chagall, Kazimir Malevich, and the Vitebsk People's Art School, founded 100 years ago. The Vitebsk Musical College named after I. Sollertinsky, and the Regional Museum of Local Lore also celebrated their centennial anniversaries this year. Vitebsk Musical College named after I. Sollertinsky celebrated its 100th anniversary.
The event that temporarily halted the intensive development of the country and the region was the Great Patriotic War. Vitebsk region resisted the aggressor from the first to the last shot. A third of the entire Belarusian partisan movement operated within the region. Underground fighters provided immense assistance to the partisans.
The offensive operation "Bagration," which initiated the liberation from the occupiers, became a model of military art. The feats of 148 natives were recognized with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The names of our best natives are forever etched in history: Pyotr Masherov, Minay Shmyrev, Lev Dovator, Sergey Gritsevets, Alexander Gorovets, Konstantin Zaslonov, Alexey Danukalov, Vera Kholuzhaya, Zinaida Tusnolobova-Marchenko, Zinaida Portnova.
– In the post-war years, what the war had destroyed was restored bit by bit, – emphasized Nikolay Nikolaevich, adding that the chronicle of labor in Vitebsk region cannot be imagined without the famous collective farm leaders, link leaders, and field brigadiers: Oleg Volodko, Meyer Katz, Evgeny Kimstach, Maxim Klimyonok, Vasily Kudin, Ernest Leshnevsky.
Workers of industry and construction multiplied the glory of their native land: Alexander Ovechkin, Mikhail Titov, Maria Anibraeva, and many others. Outstanding figures of arts, including a constellation of talented authors, our natives – Petrus Brovka, Vasil Bykov, Vladimir Korotkevich – made a huge contribution to the life of the state and society. Nikolay Sherstnev also recalled the outstanding managers of Vitebsk region – Vladimir Lobank, Sergey Kabyak, Petr Rubis, Ivan Shibeiko, Sergey Shabashov, Alexander Aksenov, Vladimir Grigoryev, Alexander Atyasov.
– Vitebsk region remembers those who stood at the origins and today confidently looks into the future. Every year, the investment attractiveness of our region is growing due to the reconstruction and technical re-equipment of enterprises, the production of new products, and the implementation of modern technologies. Among the large-scale projects implemented are the reconstruction of the hydrotreating unit at Naftan, the modernization of the fur factory in Vitebsk, the construction of a workshop at the Glubokoye Condensed Milk Plant, and the first phase of the Bremіno-Orsha logistics complex. In the Tolochin district, an enterprise for the production of Danish bacon pork has been commissioned using funds from foreign investors. This year, it is planned to direct
2 billion 200 million rubles of investments to the economic development of the region. Priority will be given to projects for the commissioning of new technological complexes at Naftan, a white tinplate plant in Miory, the second phase of the Modern-Expo plant for the production of commercial and refrigeration equipment, the construction of the third phase of the flax mill, large livestock complexes, and industrial facilities, – said the head of the region.
He also added that stimulating business development, which contributes to people's employment and budget revenue, remains in focus.
Positive changes are also evident in the social sphere of Vitebsk region – last year, 20 healthcare facilities were commissioned. The construction of the central district hospital in Miory and the reconstruction of the therapeutic building of the Semashko city hospital in Orsha, which are equipped with modern medical equipment, have been completed. In the near future, a new polyclinic in the Yug-7 microdistrict in Vitebsk will receive its first patients.
New sports and recreation complexes have appeared in Verkhnedvinsk and Liozno. The construction of the Trampoline Jumping Center has been completed in Vitebsk. The northern region of the country is also well represented in the international sports arena – we are proud of our athletes: Irina Krivko from Senno, who won a gold medal as part of the women's biathlon relay team at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Korea, and Svetlana Sakonenko from Novopolotsk, a three-time champion of the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games in cross-country skiing.
In the Year of the Small Motherland, following the example of the agro-town of Kopys, the urban-type settlements of Bolbasovo in the Orsha district and Yezershchye in the Gorodok district have begun to be transformed. Begoml in the Dokshitsy district and Bogushevsk in the Senno district will be the focus.
At the same time, Nikolay Sherstnev emphasized that these settlements should not be territories of contrasts, order must be established everywhere, and not only by the efforts of local authorities. Residents themselves should join this work, not only for themselves but also for the sake of the younger generation. Holders of the honorary title "Person of the Year of the Vitebsk Region" are an example of such an attitude towards work.
– My dear compatriots, it is a pleasure to congratulate and express words of gratitude to the best among you. You are the elite of our society, may there be more such people. Thanks to you, the Vitebsk region is becoming better, through your successes, our region is affirmed in the country, and respect for all residents of the Vitebsk region is growing, – Nikolay Sherstnev concluded.