The Economic Programme Oversight Committee’s (EPOC) role in monitoring Jamaica’s economic reform programme will continue beyond the end of the Precautionary Stand-By Arrangement (PSBA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in November 2019.

This was announced by Hon Dr Nigel Clarke, Minister of Finance and the Public Service at a press conference today, 22nd August.

He noted that the Committee will have a broader base to include Civil Society members, who this morning signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Jamaica for the extension of its monitoring role.

The Minister has appointed the current Co-Chair of EPOC, Keith Duncan, to be Chairman of the expanded Committee.

The Civil Society parties that were signatory to the agreement were:  Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, MSME Alliance, and Main Domestic Creditors comprising JMMB, Sagicor Jamaica, NCB and BNS.

Dr Clarke stated, “Today we are empowering EPOC to continue in its monitoring role until (the Government’s) policy commitments are operationalized.”

He referred to the agreement made with the IMF to maintain its office in Jamaica for another two years after the end of the PSBA, and stated: “These decisions are a demonstration of our commitment to maintaining a credible and sustainable macro-economic path, including a fiscal trajectory that is consistent with our fiscal responsibility law, long into the future that provides the foundation of economic opportunity for the current and future generations.”

Chairman Keith Duncan stated:  “We believe that it is extremely important that civil society has a voice in Jamaica’s economic programme; that we are plugged in, that we understand where we are in this programme, what our targets are, where we are going as a country as we move towards economic independence.”

He continued, “We’ve already seen the fruits of fiscal responsibility in relation to our ability to invest in capital expenditure, in infrastructure and this year, in national security apparatus.”

As Jamaica moves towards significantly reducing its debt by 2025/26, Duncan noted: “We can only imagine the kind of resources that would be freed up for wider Jamaica, for the investment in our people.”

-END-

Summer 2019 is proving to be exceptionally hot, but relief has come to students at the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. The Centre has received support from IGT Jamaica in the form of an air conditioning unit.

The Spanish Town location is one of four Women’s Centres across the island benefiting from an After School Advantage (ASA) Centre sponsored by IGT (formerly GTECH). The ASA Programme, which is IGT’s flagship philanthropic initiative, aims to provide easier daily access to information technology for children who would not otherwise be able to step onto the “digital highway.” The ASA Programme provides educational institutions, including non-profit organizations and schools, with computer resource centres tailored to provide access to students during the after-school hours. To date, IGT has established fourteen After School Advantage Centres in Jamaica.

Sheron Williams, Acting Centre Manager of the Spanish Town Centre, expressed heartfelt thanks on behalf of the senior management team of the WCJF and the local staff. “It is with distinct pleasure, unmatched joy, deep respect and overwhelming appreciation that I say thanks to IGT Jamaica for the outstanding contribution of an air conditioning unit for the computer lab,” she said.

“Spanish Town is generally hot, but with the installation of the unit, when school reopens for academic year 2019/20, our students will be elated to experience the effect of this precious gift from IGT,” she continued.

“Our ASA Centres are an investment in the future of young Jamaicans,” said General Manager of IGT in Jamaica, Debbie Green. “This includes not only their education and training, but also their wellbeing. Therefore, we are happy to make this contribution of an air conditioner to our valued partners in Spanish Town. We hope this will make the Centre’s everyday activities more pleasant and comfortable.”

The Acting Centre Manager added, “It has been a great pleasure partnering with IGT for the past five years. Their contribution has significantly assisted with the teaching and learning experience of information technology.”

The Spanish Town Centre, established in 1991, is one of eighteen sites where the work of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation is delivered, islandwide. The WCJF is a government agency mandated to provide adolescent mothers with continuing education during the period of their pregnancy.  After childbirth,

the young mothers are reintegrated into the formal school system to continue their education.

 

There was an air of great excitement among the young residents and staff at the Sunbeam Children’s Home in Bushy Park, St. Catherine, as IGT Jamaica proudly handed over a fully equipped computer lab on July 18, 2019.

The donation is the 14^th computer facility to be handed over in Jamaica, under IGT’s flagship After School Advantage (ASA) programme. The programme helps to close the gap that still exists between young people who can easily access modern information and computer technology and those that cannot. The after-school hours are critical learning periods for Jamaican students to accomplish their homework tasks and conduct online research.

“Our focus is on education – it is transformative,” said Desmond Whitley, Manager at Sunbeam Children’s Home. Noting that the home previously had no computers, he said that the ASA centre would be especially important for homework assignments. “We have a homework programme, but it is impossible to do without computers, especially for the boys taking the CSEC examinations,” Said Whitley.

As the 14th existing ASA centre, the home now has a fully functional computer lab consisting of six desktop computers and a printer.  IGT Jamaica’s General Manager Debbie Green said, “We are delighted to establish a centre here in the safe and nurturing environment that Sunbeam provides for the boys. This new ASA centre will give the students access to a new world of information and technology that will take them into a realm of unexplored possibilities for their future. At IGT Jamaica, we realize the importance of inclusiveness. It is critical for all our young people to be on board with the digital world of the future.”

Whitley said that the Home plans to integrate the computer lab into its Home School Programme, which provides education for around 20 students with learning challenges. “These boys study here during the day, while the other students are at school,” he pointed out. “Thus, the ASA centre will do double duty as a daytime learning site and will benefit all who live in our residential home.”

Sunbeam Children’s Home was founded in 1976 by Rev. Cedric Lue to provide care and nurture for young boys and to teach them Christian principles. It is a non-governmental organisation, part of the Sunbeam Association for Mission, and depends on support from missionaries, volunteers and donations from the public. Sunbeam currently provides a home for 65 boys, providing teaching along with Christian principles, while helping the boys to learn life and coping skills.

 

Two students from SOS Children’s Village in Stony Hill and Mustard Seed Communities have been serving seven-week paid internships at IGT. The two young men are beneficiaries of IGT’s After School Advantage (ASA) Programme, which provides digital learning opportunities for underserved young people at non-profit organizations and public institutions.

The two young men were among seventeen interns that have been taken on this summer by the technology giant. One of the young men was tasked with record keeping and data input in the company’s Finance and Accounting Department while the other worked with the Warehouse and Logistics Manager.

Global People Services Coordinator at IGT Jamaica, Kellye Barwise, expressed her appreciation for the interns. “We were happy to welcome these two young men. They were extremely helpful and made a great contribution, while gaining valuable work experience.” She noted that the interns submitted cover letters and resumés for review and were shortlisted as candidates.

The interns said they had obtained some in-depth experience and insights into the world of work during their employment.  The intern from the Mustard Seed Communities said he has been enjoying his work in the warehouse; checking documentation for goods going in and out and maintaining computers, printers and other machines. “I feel good about it,” he said. “It has been a very useful experience.” He is practical, creative and a budding inventor, who enjoys putting together small machines and gadgets.

The SOS Children’s Village intern said that the work has provided him with a much better understanding of his career goals. He would definitely recommend IGT as an excellent employer, he noted.  He has a particular love for Information Technology, which he is currently studying. “The experience has been very helpful,” he added. “I have learned what is expected of me in the workplace.” While he does not yet have a clear plan mapped out for his future, he declared, “I aspire to be somebody great!”

General Manager of IGT Jamaica Debbie Green said: “This was a great introduction for these ambitious young people to work in a corporate setting. As team members, they also interacted well with

their colleagues within our company structure. Positive social interaction, discipline and good work habits are all critical aspects of the experience, along with the pursuit of their particular interests in the workspace.

We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”