Impacting Jamaica

Professor Denise Eldemire Shearer has continued to show an immense propensity for hard work on behalf the elderly. She feels that many of those in their golden years still have important contributions to make to the society. On this World Senior Citizens Day – Saturday, August 21, 2021 – the Jamaican society should celebrate its seniors and at the same time examine challenges facing this group; an...

The Guardsman Group is transforming security and other services in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region. The Group is stepping up the game by using the latest in technology to serve its wide customer base. Corporate social responsibility is also a top agenda item for the Group, according to its General Manager for Sales, Marketing and Customer Service, Ms Roxan Wais-Shirley. The focus is on the...

Paul Barnett is involved in organizing almost every 'welcome' or 'thank you' event that is held for Jamaican diplomats starting or ending their tenure in Canada. His hospitality is steeped in the examples set by his parents who, on many occasions, had the founders of Ardenne High School, Reverend George and Nellie Olson, at their home as guests. As a child, he listened to their con...

The outstanding performance by track and field athletes at the recently concluded Olympic Games is the latest demonstration of the indomitable spirit of the Jamaican people, according to Leighton Beckles, communication officer at Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ).Beckles says this can-do spirit, as well as our ability to "tun our hand and mek fashion" has been a hallmark of Jamaicans in var...

The ability of the people of Jamaica to distinguish themselves in various endeavours is the most significant achievement for the island nation since gaining Independence in 1962, according to Simone Murdock, Corporate Services and Client Experience Manager at Kingston Wharves Limited. Noting that she lived overseas for 10 years, Murdock says the personality of the Jamaican people attracts others,...

Senior civil servant Andrew Wynter cites being, a “powerhouse” in Track and Field, as one of Jamaica’s most significant achievements since gaining Independence in 1962.He attributes this accomplishment largely to the contribution of the GC Foster College of Physical Education that has produced a cadre of high-calibre coaches who are integrated into the school system. In addition, other tertiary in...

Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) head Marlene Street Forrest scores the nation high for its ability to maintain a stable democracy since gaining Independence in 1962. She says this political stability has set the stage for socio-economic growth, continuity, and relations with the international community.“It really is to me the bedrock of how our country continues to grow and develop,” Street Forrest t...

Have boys been victims of a flawed transition to independence in Jamaica? Is that why there are more women doing well in country's education system? Anthropologist and Senior University of the West Indies lecturer Dr. Herbert Gayle has a powerful view. He has high marks for Jamaica’s advancement in education since the attainment of Independence. He highlights the achievements of women in this...

Diaspora representative and local entrepreneur Dr. Karren Dunkley applauds successive administrations for the “tremendous accomplishment” in infrastructural development, as evidenced by the road network, since the island nation gained Independence in 1962.Pointing to the building of the interstate highway system in the United States, Dr. Dunkley says this accomplishment will facilitate economic gr...

President and CEO of Scotiabank Jamaica Ms. Audrey Tugwell Henry rates the “maturity and depth of the Jamaican financial sector and market” as one of the most significant achievements of the small island nation since gaining Independence in 1962. She highlights the country’s good mix of financial institutions in the form of local, regional and international commercial banks, building societies, cr...

Internet entrepreneur Gordon Swaby believes Jamaica’s most significant accomplishment since Independence is the improvement in life expectancy of the population, which has moved from about 50 years old to above 70.“I think for a country that is not wealthy we have done extremely well. We have benefitted from our people living longer,” Swaby tells Impacting Jamaica host Byron Buckley. Swaby, who is...

Archbishop Howard Gregory is proud of the strong democratic tradition that Jamaica has developed since gaining political Independence in 1962. He points to the regularity of the nation changing governments by the ballot and not subterfuge. With the high level of maturity of Jamaica’s electoral system, its election officials have served abroad in professional capacities and as observers, Archbishop...

Industrialist Richard Pandohie celebrates the fact that, since gaining Independence, Jamaica has expanded as a global brand and huge influencer, both culturally and in the terms of the positions Jamaicans hold internationally. He points out that the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, is of Jamaican descent.“One of my disappointments is that we have not even begun to scr...

The Spanish-Jamaican Foundation (SJF), founded in 2006, is a collaborative effort of a number of Spanish companies with current investments in Jamaica. The main objective is to strengthen the friendship between Spain and Jamaica. The foundation stages and supports educational, cultural, and community development initiatives with the support for the teaching and learning of Spanish being one of its...

Long before Simone Thomas, president of the Merl Grove High School Past Students’ Association, Canada Chapter, became involved in the organization, she knew that she wanted to give back to her alma mater. She believes that others contributed to her education and therefore she is required to do the same for students at the institution. Having been a member of the association since 2009, and its pre...

The National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation spends millions each year on individuals and projects across Jamaica. It is strong on supporting education at every level and has supported hundreds since 2003, the year the foundation was formalised by Jamaica’s largest commercial bank. Additionally, it promotes and encourages knowledge and appreciation of Jamaica's culture in all aspects. The fou...

CIBC First Caribbean International Bank has been a supporter of various philanthropic efforts to aid education, healthcare and individuals. These include supporting frontline healthcare workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rehabilitating schools and supporting projects that assist with educating students. In this edition of Impacting Jamaica with host John Myers Jr., Managing Director Nig...

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...

Telecommunications giant – Digicel – is transforming communities and organizations, while at the same time helping to improve people’s lives across Jamaica. It is doing this through the Digicel Foundation. The telecoms company is increasing access to special needs communities to improve quality of life; expanding access to education through technology; supporting and empowering survivors of domest...

Rainford ‘Perry’ Bloomfield is not your average past student and not because he breathes ‘purple. He is the president of the Kingston College Old Boys’ Association-USA; and given the task of leading those brave souls in their quest to help with the new dynamism, that is changing the delivery of secondary education in Jamaica. In this episode of Impacting Jamaica with host Aubrey Campbell, Presiden...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GraceKennedy Group Don Wehby has emphasised that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector has a central role to play in Jamaica’s economic rebuilding process. He told the Senate that the sector is “a key driver for economic growth”, noting that typically, MSMEs account for more than 90 per cent of all firms, 60 per cent of employment; and 40 to 60 p...

Donette Chin-Loy Chang is a communications leader and prolific philanthropist. Together with her late husband, G. Raymond Chang, chancellor emeritus of Ryerson University, she has made transformational investments in the areas of education, health, social justice and the environment. Chin-Loy Chang, who recently received an honorary doctorate – Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa – from Ryerson, is also...

Junior Rowe is the embodiment of passion for community. As Principal of Riverton Early Childhood, an educational initiative funded by the St. Patrick’s Foundation, Mr. Rowe has been serving the community for several decades and has been a beacon of hope, help and inspiration for children and parents in the Riverton community and the surrounding areas. Mr. Rowe shares stories of success, giving bac...

Jamaica’s Government stewardship of the economy during the worst pandemic in 100 years has been hailed by highly respected businessman Don Wehby. He also saluted Jamaicans in the diaspora for their exceptional role in helping to rebuild the country. Speaking in the Senate, he said, “The Government has managed the country well through this pandemic and I have confidence that they will continue to l...

Coming off a successful year of fundraising in 2019, last year was supposed to be a ‘breeze’ for members of the St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Alumni Association. The COVID-19 pandemic had other plans, forcing the cancellation of seven events, including the association’s twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations.“Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, we continue to do well. This...