Impacting Jamaica

The power of reduce waste, fraud and corruption in the public sector lies in the hands of Jamaicans, according to passionate civil society advocate for better public governance, Jeanette Calder. For the last several years, has been vocal on governance issues, in particular those relating to procurement, corruption and public sector reform. Jeanette is also the founder of JAMP – Jamaica Accountabil...

Since the start of 2021, registered art therapist, Lesli-Ann Belnavis Elliott has seen an increase in the number of clients calling for mental health support. This, she believes, means more Jamaicans are crying out for help as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact people’s lives. Lesli-Ann, who is also a photographer, has conducted creative arts-based clinical assessments and art therapy sessi...

Where does one find York Street in Jamaica? Ask Elaine Coleman and Elaine Chen. They will tell you: About three and a half miles from the town of Linstead, St Catherine. They are executive members of the York Street Past Students Association, New York chapter. The past students have fenced the school, paved the walkway; built a library and a computer lab, among several other projects. Their missio...

Employees at the Jamaica Customs Agency went into their pockets and came up with funds to purchase 61 tablets for students at two schools close to their offices.“It was done without hesitation,” declared Tameka Goulbourne, Director of Internal Affairs and chairperson of the customs agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee. The tablets went to the Farm Primary and Infant School in Green P...

Levi Roots is an award-winning musician, broadcaster and entrepreneur, whose grandmother taught him how to cook in Jamaica. He is the founder of the Reggae Reggae Sauce. He appeared on BBC2’s Dragons Den in 2007 and won an investment on the TV show. Within a few weeks, his sauce was on supermarket shelves. His sauce was an instant hit with the British public and at one point Reggae Reggae Sauce wa...

Standing at the head of Jamaica Impact Inc. (Jampact) Tassie Scarlett has seen the importance of giving back to the efforts of early education. But a funny thing has happened with the state of the world today. Rather than suffer through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jampact has found that the diaspora, understanding the plight that faces Jamaica’s youth, has been even more generous. Scarle...

No one is turned away at the Good Shepherd Medical Centre in Montego Bay, Jamaica, thanks to the kind support and donations from US-based charitable organization, Partners of Good Shepherd, founded by Joy Dufour in 2013.Dufour, through support from her friends and her church in the US, has been supporting education and health care efforts in Jamaica with joy and compassion over the years.“Probably...

Members of the Friends of Port Maria, New York Chapter, have spent the past 25 years, building partnerships for a brighter tomorrow for not just students at the Port Maria Primary & Infant Schools but several communities in the parish of St. Mary. They remain focused on the mission and a vision to create an environment where enhanced education and healthcare opportunities are more available. F...

This is the story of a real Rastafarian who will never give up. Mikal Asher, a member of the musically acclaimed Morgan family and the prolific Twelve Tribes of Israel group, has travelled a long, sometimes difficult road. From a teenager in the church, to owning his sound system in the West African country of Ghana, to an aviation and commercial pilot and an entrepreneur, Asher has triumphed. He...

For the directors and members of the New Day School Alumni Association, New York Chapter, their mantra “Helping Students Help Themselves”, is more than words, evidenced by the many acts of kindness and benevolence that stretches beyond the confines of the school in St. Andrew, Jamaica. The focus is on amplifying the learning experience of the students at the school. Evelyn Godden, the president; J...

Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited is playing a huge role in helping to keep Jamaica clean, safe and informed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company started by primarily providing janitorial, building and ground maintenance services to health care institutions; but, because of its proven record of performance, starting at the prestigious Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital of...

Andrew Morris, a Jamaican-born US-based businessman, was inadvertently added to a primary school WhatsApp ‘classroom’ in Jamaica. He was so impressed with the diligence, participation, and commitment of the students and teacher that he decided to, not only stay in the group, but also to provide a treat for the students who hadn’t seen each other for an entire term. Interestingly, Morris would late...

High-performing 12-year-old triplets Tomoya, Dennis and Denrique Barrett are determined to excel at academics and repay their mother, Tamara, for her unwavering support in ensuring they have a good education. Mrs. Barrett has been the driving force behind the trio’s top performance in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams at their former school, Mountainside Primary in St Elizabeth. The exceptional...

Barbara Blake Hannah, author, filmmaker and cultural consultant, is full of joy today. However, it has not always been a happy time for her. She has travelled through many challenges, including face-to-face with racism and homelessness. She is beaming today. Highly respected, she has lectured around the world about Jamaican history and culture. Young Blake Hannah left Jamaica for London, England i...

Amari Gutzmore is an 18-year-old high achiever from East London in the United Kingdom. Based on his outstanding academic results, Gutzmore is heading to one of the best universities in the UK – the prestigious London School of Economics that has produced at least 32 world leaders and 14 Nobel Prize winners. Gutzmore, whose grandparents are Jamaicans, studied economics, politics and mathematics at...

Math Whiz Shinnell Williams' favourite person is CARI-MED’s Glen Christian because he has a heart for giving back to community. Like Christian, Shinnell hails from Brandon Hill, Clarendon, and has also been playing her part to empower her community of origin. The 25-year-old, who is enrolled as a final-year student at Mico University College, believes she is gifted in mathematics. Upon receivi...

Growing up was a struggle for her. Moving from place to place to live. No money for food. Hungry at school. Kadian Palmer-Asemota dropped out of a high school in fourth form, in Clarendon, Jamaica, and went to work as a bartender. However, the struggle continued. At 23, she became a wife and moved to St Elizabeth to live with her husband who later migrated to the United States. She remained in Jam...

St Mary born Leo Gilling continues to do outstanding work on behalf of Jamaica across diaspora communities. He has a packed schedule (including his personal work) each day, as he is committed to continuously giving back to the land of his birth. Today he chairs the growing Jamaica Diaspora Taskforce Action Network, mobilizing Jamaicans for Jamaica. The group is one of the largest in the diaspora,...

The Phillip and Christine Gore Family Foundation is making a difference in Jamaica, one community at a time. Now it is Rose Town and they have tried different things to give the community’s youth a fighting chance at escaping the ravages of poverty. Their latest project, an internship programme that seeks to train youth in the multi-faceted business of construction, where the Foundation has its ex...

Meet a physician who has successfully treated over 300 COVID-19 patients. He hasn’t lost one yet. Dr. Roger Hunter is an internationally accomplished consultant neurosurgeon and consultant spinal surgeon, who has been passionately caring for the sick in Jamaica for years. He is controversial in Jamaica and some do not support or believe his positions in relation to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Dr...

How do people really change for the better? In this edition of Impact Jamaica, Shelly-Ann Harris chats with noted counselling psychologist Andre Allen Casey to learn how people can really overcome personal and interpersonal challenges and effect lasting change, which is key to how we can have stronger families, communities and a better Jamaica even in these times of great uncertainty. Andre Allen...

Sandra Brown-Pinnock is an award-winning entrepreneur, founder and director of Primal Beauty, an Afro Caribbean hair and business. She has established herself as an industry leader and innovator. Her company sells hair and beauty products; and they are the manufacturers too. Additionally, she is the first woman to bring lace front wigs into the UK and credited for its expansion in the UK. Brown-Pi...

Teachers have always been a beacon of hope for children in Jamaica, says noted veteran educator, Esther Tyson, a former Vice Principal and Principal of a few notable schools in Jamaica and a sought-after education consultant. Mrs. Tyson also believes children need more play time away from tablets and other devices in order to do well academically. She is also encouraging parents to find other ways...

He told then British Prime Minister Tony Blair, ‘no thank you’, for the second highest ranking Order of the British Empire award. The Order of the British Empire (OBE) was offered to Benjamin Zephaniah for his work in literature. He felt, however, that was a “safe ticket” as his work in defence of human rights was completely ignored. Born in Birmingham, England, to Caribbean parents who came from...

Benjamin Zephaniah is an award-winning poet, novelist, playwright, musician and television and radio presenter. He is currently the Professor of Poetry and Creative Writing at Brunel University, Uxbridge, England. Zephaniah is a proud Rastafarian and has been at the forefront campaigning against social injustice in the UK.His work has seen him named as one of Britain’s best-loved poets and writers...