The health care system in Jamaica recently received a significant boost to ramp up its COVID-19 response, thanks to the generosity of Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) and its committed donors. The donation, valued at over J$20 million, included personal protective equipment (PPE), 50 critical care monitors, 240 new fire-resistant hospital mattresses, and patient monitor trolleys. This generous donation was made possible by the dedication of various organizations and individuals who participated in the true spirit of giving for a common purpose.

Diane Pollard of the Issa Trust Foundation found a supplier who had 50 critical care monitors available for purchase.  She then reached out to Wendy Hart of The American Friends of Jamaica and Michele Chalifour of Friends of Food For The Poor to assist in securing the funding for the purchase.

Working rapidly to secure the necessary funds, the foundations reached out to members of various communities and especially FFP Inc. to help with funding and shipping. With amazing speed, the commitments rolled in, including an incredibly generous gift by the family and friends of Gordon Sharp and Roy Lankester of Jamaica Bags Ltd. to secure 8 units for May Pen Hospital’s new Isolation Unit.

FFP Jamaica was instrumental in coordinating the efforts locally. The items, which were distributed during the last week of May into the first week of June, were handed over to the regional health authorities islandwide, and other institutions, for further distribution to hospitals, clinics and areas where the need exists.

“The collaborative effort of this donation is proof that, together, we can accomplish so much as we continue to serve and give back,” stated Kivette Silvera, director of FFPJ.

In response to the urgent need for hospital improvements for COVID readiness, Samantha Mahfood from FFP Canada agreed to donate US$25,000 for 100 brand new hospital mattresses. Fiona Godfrey and Young at Art, with the funds raised by their 2020 Art Calendar, also donated the equivalent of US$25,000 for brand new hospital mattresses and Omar Azan from Boss Furniture contributed JA$1 million worth of new mattresses.

FFP sent a generous shipment of PPEs for COVID-19 readiness. PPEs and other hospital equipment are currently in high demand and the hospitals are happy to have received these donations.

“It is very important that we have the required gear in stock to protect our staff, especially our frontline workers, who are our highest priority at this time.  In that regard, I just want to say a big thank you to Food For The Poor and all the other donors for these well needed items.  They will benefit all our major hospitals in terms of ensuring that our members of staff do have the needed protective gear as they deliver health care to our nation,” said Maureen Golding, Regional Director, South East Regional Health Authority.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Dr. Michelle Ann Richards of the Bustamante Hospital for Children.  She said, “At this time, when the entire world is being affected by COVID-19, the unselfish, caring and compassionate outreach by our donors to help others, in partnership Food For The Poor, is remarkable.  The donations of PPE, gowns, surgical and N95 masks is an invaluable contribution to the work of the health care team and will allow us to safely manage our patients. The donation of spacers, for use in children with respiratory conditions, will help us to reduce the risk of spread through aerosolization which would have occurred with the use of nebulizers. The donation of the critical care monitors has already been put to use as the need was immediate. Thank you all and God bless you!”

Chairman of Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Eric Clarke, is also happy at the collaboration.   “I am pleased to see the donors coming together to make this possible. Alone, they could have only done a fraction of this and so many institutions would not have benefited. I am extremely grateful for the much-needed donations received by WRHA and pleased that other institutions across the Island also benefited.”

Thankful for all the donors’ assistance, Kivette Silvera concluded, “we take pleasure in partnering with our donors and salute the efforts of all those who came together to make this contribution to Jamaica’s health care system possible. Food For The Poor, without our committed donors, cannot fulfill the requests of those in need, whether institutions or individuals.  I give honor to all the donors who partnered with us and support the mandate of our charity to uplift the materially poor,” Silvera concluded.

While the country tries to recuperate from the economic damage caused by COVID-19, some Jamaicans are still feeling its adverse effects. These vulnerable individuals are sometimes unable to get the most basic necessary items. Understanding this dilemma, Colgate-Palmolive, through their distributors Kirk-FP Limited, has donated personal hygiene products valued at $1.84 million to Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) for distribution to those in need.

The donated items include Colgate^®toothbrushes, Colgate^® Total Toothpaste, Fabuloso® Liquid Cleaners, Speed Stick^®Deodorants, Palmolive^® Bath Soap and as well as travel size of Colgate^®Regular Toothpaste.

“We have been in Jamaica for almost 90 years and during this time Jamaican have been so passionate and supportive of our brands,” said Kirk Reid, Customer Development Manager, Colgate-Palmolive. “Currently, we are at a juncture where Jamaica is facing a significant crisis with COVID-19, and we felt as a company (both locally and regionally) that we had to do something to give back to our Jamaican society. That is why we have chosen to partner with Food For the Poor to distribute these items which consist of products that a lot of Jamaicans know, use and trust. Therefore, for those facing significant challenges we want them to have something to smile about in spite of the issues.”

FFPJ has ramped up their activities since Jamaica confirmed its first COVID-19 case in March to serve the nation’s most vulnerable and those directly affected by COVID-19. With the help of various partners and sponsors, they have been able to assist all the communities that were quarantined while carrying out their day-to-day operations of providing food products and other necessary items to those in need. As they seek more assistance, Food For the Poor Jamaica is delighted and thankful to Colgate-Palmolive for joining in this fight against COVID-19.

Kivette Silvera, FFPJ Director observed, “Maintaining proper hygiene is of paramount importance, especially during this pandemic, so this donation from Colgate-Palmolive, through their distributors, Kirk-FP Limited, will be quite beneficial to our recipients. We thank Colgate-Palmolive for choosing our charity and for their continued contribution to the people of Jamaica.”

Jamaica continues to face a range of ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 virus. The education sector is one of the critical areas where children are most negatively affected, and in particular, those most at risk. IGT Jamaica is playing its part in assisting educators and parents, who are working hard to develop creative ways to communicate with students and to continue their education through technology.

After School Advantage (ASA) Centres, which are fully equipped computer labs donated by IGT Jamaica, are enhancing online learning for students at this difficult time. A number of IGT ASA computer labs in residential homes for children offer a range of e-learning options available, filling the gaps while schools remain closed.

One of these Centres is at the SOS Children’s Village in Stony Hill, founded in 1984. Acting Manager of the children’s home Hilary Nembhard agreed that the ASA computer lab has “added a lot of substance” to the learning experience of their students. With the current school closures, Nembhard said, they try to ensure that all students benefit. Online learning activities and assignments, such as quizzes, educational games, and practice sheets at different levels are printed from the ASA computer lab for students to work on.

“We have printed past papers that are available online, for those students who are preparing for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams scheduled to begin in July. They are using the ASA resources and they understand the opportunity that has been afforded to them,” Nembhard pointed out.

“The children are very much impacted by school closures. However, at the ASA computer lab they are able to log on to online platforms such as Edmodo, a collaborative educational online networking tool, and EduFocal, which offers online practice exams, to access additional educational support,”

“I currently have youngsters who use the computer lab for making corrections to their school-based assessments (SBAs) to submit to their respective teachers,” Nembhard continued.

At the Jerusalem! home operated by Mustard Seed Communities, Centre Manager Suzette Dixon stressed that the students “enjoy being in the space.” Since the home’s 172 residents (“from babies to age 51”) are especially vulnerable with a number of underlying conditions, it is important for them to learn more about COVID-19 and how to protect themselves, she added. The “COVID learning sessions” are an additional educational component for both students and caregivers at the ASA computer lab.

Those students at high school, primary, and basic school level who would normally attend school outside or at the Jerusalem! school total around 94 children. According to Dixon, they look forward to attending classes at the ASA computer lab, where teachers are on site. Dressed in their school uniform, students follow a school schedule, including regular breaks and outside activities. Dixon noted that one student with behavioral problems now “lights up” when it is his turn to attend the ASA computer lab.

General Manager of IGT Jamaica Debbie Green is delighted that ASA computer centres are providing this vital resource for the children. “IGT Jamaica’s goal is to provide access to computers for at-risk children who are left behind in today’s increasingly digital society because they do not have the means to access computers at home. In these challenging times we are all recognizing, more than ever, the increasingly valuable role of technology in education and in the overall development of our young people.”

“Whether it is the increased use and range of virtual learning platforms due to COVID-19, or developing a range of online skills, there is no doubt that the ASA computer centres are making a positive impact on Jamaica’s young people, by providing them with an opportunity for continuous learning,” concluded IGT Jamaica’s Debbie Green. She extended her best wishes for the safety of caregivers and students at all the organizations IGT partners with through its ASA programme during this time, urging them to adopt routines that will encourage them to stay healthy.

For these vulnerable children, “the ASA computer centre helps them to release tension and anxiety” in these challenging times, added Dixon at Jerusalem!

She expressed her appreciation to IGT Jamaica for the ASA computer centre. “We now have Gratitude Friday,” she said, when the students, teachers and staff enjoy ice cream and cake. “We are truly thankful!”

IGT Jamaica has been the online lottery technology provider to Supreme Ventures Limited since 2001. All IGT After School Advantage locations are supported by upgrades and maintenance.

Understanding the effects faced by many since the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamaica Flour Mills, through its parent company Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), has partnered with Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica by donating $2.9 million to assist with purchasing food items for distribution to vulnerable persons.

The donation was made on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at a handing over ceremony held at the charity’s headquarters in Ellerslie Pen, St. Catherine and comes at a time when there is an increased demand for assistance.

With schools being closed and children eating more meals at home, Food for the Poor believes the donation came at the right time.  “Imagine having a child at home and usually they would go to school and get a meal to eat. You are now having to feed them up to four times for the day. So right now, this partnership with the Jamaica Flour Mills is timely, awesome and appreciated,” stated Food For The Poor’s director Kivette Silvera.

Managing Director of Jamaica Flour Mills, Derrick Nembhard also commented on the donation: “Jamaica Flour Mills is always proud to be associated with Food For The Poor because of the work they do in Jamaica. We are happy that we can make a small donation; in some respects, this is small compared to the needs of our people. We hope it will go a long way in helping to prepare food packages that will be distributed under FFP’s COVID-19 relief program.”

Mr. Nembhard is also appealing to other companies to help in any way they can. “To the other companies where you can help, do so. You may not be able to financially contribute but whatever you can do, if it is to even put some packages together or in any other way you can, then do it.”

The demand for Hampden Estate rum products has steadily increased over the past ten years, rising to an almost 50 percent increase in confirmed orders for 2020 over 2019 sales. In response to this unsurpassed demand, Managing Director Andrew Hussey has disclosed that the distillery is now being expanded to boost production.

“The estate, when acquired in 2009 by Everglades Farms Limited was producing only 140,000 LAA (liters of absolute alcohol),” noted Hussey. “This has increased significantly over the past decade with the volume of confirmed orders for 2020 being 1,300,000 LAA.”

A year after the acquisition, Hampden released its first ever bottled rum, Rum Fire, which has received much acclaim, particularly for its popularity among the world’s best bartenders. Later, in 2018 through a joint venture with French and Italian global distribution partners, La Maison & Velier, Hampden created its premium brand, ‘Hampden Estate Single Rum’, tropical aged rums distributed worldwide and lauded by rum connoisseurs around the world, with over 40,000 bottles being sold in Europe and the U.K. alone in the first quarter of distribution.

More recently, it has launched its ‘Great House’ rum which was originally intended to be sold locally in the distillery gift shop but which, due to worldwide demand, is now being produced for the international market.

Hampden also produces unaged rum which is used in the food, liquor, and perfume industries.

The diversification of products and increased demand have resulted in significant expansion of the Hampden Estate distillery with the following being accomplished:

• A new aging warehouse, with the additional capacity of 8000 barrels has been constructed. It features a state-of-the-art fire detection and suppression system
• Two new 5,000-gallon copper pot stills were acquired, one of which is already in use while the other will be activated by the end of May, with a projected 45 percent increase in output.
• New fermentation vessels are being built to meet the upgraded distillation capacity.
• Increased capacity for the handling of the rum waste “dunder” is also being expanded.  The dunder is reprocessed in the Hampden fermentation formula and is also used as a supplement fertilizer on the cane field, a feature that adds to the uniqueness of Hampden rum.

• A small preowned crushing mill that has the capacity to crush ten tons per hour was also reinstated on the distillery compound in April thus reducing transportation and cane production cost.
• To improve the operational efficiency of the boiler and reduce the distillery’s environmental footprint, Hampden Estate through a partnership with New Fortress Energy will be converting to LNG and discontinuing the use of Bunker C oil.
• To continue its mission to make the distillery more environmentally friendly, a new 200KW Microturbine is also being installed. This will provide 97% of all electrical power for the distillery once completed and will help to reduce the distillery’s carbon footprint by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 663 tons of CO2e or 14% annually compared to business as usual.

“These new changes will meet Hampden distillery’s needs for the coming years,” said Hussey, “even as we ensure that the facility is energy efficient and our highly acclaimed products keep up with increasing demand.”

On its Q3 FY20 earnings call on 25 February 2020, Digicel announced that it had entered into a joint venture agreement. Today Digicel provided further details on this agreement.

Digicel has entered into a network sharing joint venture with Iliad, which allows the French operator to access Digicel’s Radio Access Network capabilities in the French West Indies.

The agreement sees Digicel monetizing its significant network assets across five countries in the French West Indies region – Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, St. Martin and St. Barth – while Iliad benefits from a solution to launch its mobile services.

The two companies will share future operational investments with an ambition of building one of the most extensive networks in the French West Indies by increasing the number of sites and providing further fiber connectivity for improved coverage and speed. The agreement is subject to the required regulatory approvals.

Commenting on the agreement, Digicel Group CEO, Jean-Yves Charlier, said; “As we continue our journey towards becoming a digital operator, we recognize that sharing infrastructure in a multi-operator marketplace provides the foundation to offer better network services to our customers, whilst reducing the cost structure.”

He continues; “A joint venture of this nature is a first for Digicel and allows us to accelerate our digital ambitions. We are delighted to be partnering with a world-class telecom operator in Iliad and to be sharing a common vision of jointly building one of the most extensive networks across the French West Indies.”