Impacting Jamaica

Counselling psychologist Kevin Bailey is urging men to always be open and willing to adjust to thrive.“Don’t make a bad situation worse…be ready to make changes,” he told a group of men at a recent virtual health and wellness summit. He told them too that “we must have a mission statement of our personal life”; and that there is need for good mental health to cope in certain situations. Mr. Bailey...

On National Heroes Day, October 17, 2022, Dr Amina Blackwood-Meeks will accept the conferment of the Order of Distinction, in the Rank of Officer, for her outstanding contribution to arts and culture. Dr Blackwood-Meeks is happy that she is being recognised for her stellar work, especially storytelling, that is world-renowned, especially in Africa. The highly acclaimed international storyteller ha...

With the impact of motor vehicle emissions on climate change becoming more obvious throughout the world, the switch to electric vehicles from traditional petrol-powered ones is set to accelerate in coming years. Jamaica’s electricity provider, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), is playing a critical role in this change. In this episode of the Impacting Jamaica podcast series, Dionne Nugent,...

The electricity bill is a source of angst and frustration for many Jamaicans as the cost of this indispensable commodity continues to soar. Efforts to keep electricity costs under control have been futile for many. But here on the Impacting Jamaica podcast Ruthlyn Johnson, Customer Service Manager for Area East at JPS, breaks down your light bill in simple terms - what aspects you can control, wha...

Jamaica is set to feel the impact from what is being described as its largest Social Transformation and Renewal initiative - Project STAR. Project STAR is an initiative of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) in partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force and a plethora of non-governmental and civil society organisations. The $2 billion, five-year project is community-led and is d...

The advent of big tech companies like Amazon and Google have significantly influenced consumer behaviour and expectations worldwide, including in Jamaica. COVID-19 pandemic has also reduced access to in-person interactions and hastened the transition to online services. Electricity provider JPS has been adjusting to its customers’ changing needs, by digitalizing its Customer Service, the introduct...

“Listen with your eyes and your heart” when dealing with suicidal persons; that’s the advice from Dr. Donovan Thomas, founder, and president of Choose Life International, a non-profit organisation that has been working with suicidal persons since 2008.Dr. Thomas, who is also the author of the book, ‘Confronting Suicide: Helping Teens at Risk’, also warns parents against comparing children; and off...

Rhenay Harris is excited that her life-long dream of building a library and literacy centre for children in her community of Pusey District, in Point Hill, St. Catherine, has been realised. The facility, funded from her own pockets, was built in memory of her grandparents, Lucille, and Bertram Pinnock, who played an integral role in her early childhood development. Harris joins Impacting Jamaica h...

Principal of Great Start Academy Sheron Bent is passionate about doing all she can to help students fulfil their greatest potential. Mrs. Bent has countless stories of how just a little dedication can shape a positive outcome for students who may be ‘lagging behind.’As we take on the summer holidays, she advises that the programmes should be well structured and focus on both the social and academi...

The ambition of children is unfathomable, but achieving those dreams is not something that can be done alone, they need help to get there. Burger King aspires to give their academic rocket ships the fuel they need to chase their dreams. This year, Burger King has committed to providing over 25 scholarships and book grants to high-achieving children and young adults across Jamaica. Joining us in th...

The VM Foundation is on a mission to help build Jamaica. Launched in May 2018, the Foundation aims to positively transform the lives of Jamaicans in the areas of leadership and nation building; youth empowerment; and health and family life. To date, the VM Foundation has impacted millions of lives and it continues to embrace charitable causes that are relevant to the betterment of Jamaica. The VM...

Stephen Hill has been there, done that. Now the boss of CIN TV, the number one television broadcaster of Caribbean-centric programmes in the New York tri-state area, is encouraging Jamaican businesses to recognize the value and aggressively take on the lucrative diaspora market as he has done. In this edition of Impacting Jamaica, with Host John Myers, Jr, Mr. Hill emphasises the benefits of tappi...

Marianne Sunshine is a writer, cultural commentator, and publicist. She is of Jamaican and Dominican heritage and has contributed to Black platforms, including The British Blacklist, Melan Magazine, and The Voice Newspaper. She began her career as an international publicist for Warner Music and Universal Music. Marianne is a leading voice in the Black British community and has also appeared on SKY...

In these times, many people are exploring how to make their money work for them. Plus, markets are showing a distinct shift towards counting many more millennial investors among their ranks. And investors are getting younger these days. In Jamaica alone, for example, millennial investors ages 25 to 40 has jumped significantly, according to available data. Keisha Bailey is an investment educator an...

Malta is the drink of choice that fuels energy for everyone. They are committed to giving back to caregivers; and supporting children-based initiatives such as the hosting of annual back-to-school events, the sponsorship of sporting activities in addition to supporting teams involving students. Melissa-Kim Johnson, Malta Brand Manager, and Cavell Robinson, Assistant Malta Brand Manager, join Impac...

The Barita Foundation was formed out of Rita Humphries Lewin’s passion to serve Jamaica’s children, especially in early childhood education. They foundation has emerged as an expanded form of the Barita Education Foundation, and its mission today is to contribute to national development goals. It is therefore supporting partnerships in education, youth development, entrepreneurship; and health and...

Many across the length and breadth of Jamaica, know actress and comedian Kathy 'Tandedeh' Grant as just that. What many don’t know, is her passion for education. All jokes aside, the trained drama teacher wants to see young people thrive and wants to see a day when Jamaica takes its culture so seriously, that a visual and performing arts high school for children who are so inclined becomes...

In his 40-year career in the public service, Joe Halstead, a leader in the business and recreational sectors of the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario who is now retired, says he has never taken on a role which did not provide him with satisfaction. Some, he says, may define that as being successful. He served as Commissioner, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, City of Toronto (19...

As the education sector in Jamaica rebounds from the paralyzing effects of the global health crisis, members of the Cornwall College Old Boys’ Association are ready and willing to offer much-needed help and support to the present cohort. Their bold rescue plan includes a robust mentoring initiative, bursaries to needy students and improvements to the e-learning platform. President Barry Harvey; Tr...

The advertisements are everywhere; luring Jamaicans to buy a ticket to their dreams. Legalised gambling is big business with huge amounts of money being won – and lost – daily. Children are not immune from the attraction of gambling, and some are betting from an early age, mostly on unregulated games in schools and communities. Some children lie, steal and fight to maintain the habit. On this Impa...

Blackie, East Indian, Number 11, Bombay and of course Julie are just some of the types of mangoes we know and love in Jamaica. But no doubt about it, many Jamaicans love Julie. Interestingly, they are also quite enamoured by another ‘Julie Mango.’ Nicknamed by her father, Julie Mango is a popular social media influencer whose videos depict everyday aspects of Jamaican life with brilliance, accurac...

Guided by the mission of the Morant Bay High School (MBHS) Alumni Association, (to develop the leaders of tomorrow by preparing all students to meet the high academic, technical, civic and workforce challenges of the twenty first century), past students in the global space, along with faculty members and parents, are making a difference. They have supported a computer lab, launched a scholarship p...

Health and wellness take the spotlight today with fitness expert Shani McGraham-Shirley as Impacting Jamaica celebrates its first anniversary. Shani, chatting at a virtual wellness summit earlier this month, declared that when it comes to taking control of your wellness, “half the battle is what we eat”. She added: “I feel moderation is key; and if we eat the correct portions and sizes that our bo...

The VM Group is committed to working for the benefit of all its members, declared CEO of VM Pension Management Limited, Mr. Conroy Rose.“We thrive on helping people to achieve financial wellbeing,” he emphasised. “We are driven by the need to serve our members…and that is the fundamental driving force that VM is driven by.”Looking at the pension situation in Jamaica, Mr. Rose noted that less than...

Sadiki Harris, a child of Jamaican parents, is now a man fighting to keep his black community healthy through the organization, Black Thrive. His journey has brought up powerful questions, like ‘what is the black man?’ and ‘where does the idea of what a black man is come from?’. As he speaks to Impacting Jamaica’s Sinai Fleary, his work with Black Thrive and mental health takes an ever-so-slight d...