Category: Jamaica

St Mary Tech excited after computer donation

DF.JPG

St Mary Technical High School suffered a devastating blow in June 2016, when its library was razed by a fire.

The school’s need was realised when staff members of Digicel nominated the school to be the beneficiary of a set of computers under the Digicel Foundation’s Get Gifted Campaign.

“You came to our rescue. We suffered a major fire which destroyed everything in our library last year; our books, computers, chairs and desks. This gift from Digicel Foundation is a dream come true because we have written so many letters to a number of corporate companies with no response,” said Glascine McCormack-Lazarus, principal of the school.

Sannejah Henderson, head boy, said, “I know these computers will be very useful as students have to be typing their school-based assessments and trying to carry out research with limited access to a computer or Internet. This is will have such a positive impact for all of us. We are really excited.”

SHARING A COMPUTER

Since the fire, students preparing to sit CSEC examinations in information technology and electronic document preparation and Management have had to share the use of one computer in the library if they did not have a personal computer at home.

Heather Moyston, board director of the foundation, last week led a team to St Mary Technical and surprised the school with the donation of four brand new desktop computers.

“This school has been serving the parish with distinction for over half a century. It is an honour for our team to partner with the staff and students of St Mary Technical High to build on their foundation of excellence,” she said.

Source: http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20170121/st-mary-tech-excited-after-computer-donation

JMMB Inspires With Judette Coward-Puglisi

jmmb-flair

JMMB is about envisioning love, and empowering women to be free and financially focused.

Last Wednesday evening, the team celebrated women with a night of Theatre, Inspiration and Revelation. The Ashe Company, dramatised the emotional struggles women face and then overcoming them with strength and grace. This ‘tasty appetiser’ gave way to the ‘savoury main course’ of the evening up close and personal with Trinidadian entrepreneur and blogger, Judette Coward-Puglisi.

Chief public relations, evangelist, principal consultant and managing director, Coward-Puglisi, thought she had it all. That was until one day, her life fell apart. Admitted to the hospital for exhaustion, she reflected on what her college professor once said, “Do you have the power to bring forth the hidden treasures buried deep inside of you? Because those hidden treasures are hoping you can say yes.”

That experience resulted in her leaving the life she once led behind, to start a new and exciting journey with her blog, Forward Forty.

Coward-Puglisi went about this by implementing four strategies to be successful having courage, fighting fear, getting rid of toxic behaviour and perseverance.

Speaking on courage, Coward-Puglisi says that tapping into that requires sweet succulent balance between finding your passion and understanding your purpose.

“When I walked away from my job to do a lifestyle blog, everyone thought I was having a midlife crisis. My yesterday was beautiful and I’m never going to knock it, but I wanted something different, something more. I wanted my tomorrow to be not just beautiful, but breathtaking,” she noted.

She notes that on the other side of fear lies your dream. She explained that the brain is designed to keep you safe, but the human spirit is designed to make you soar, so you’ve got to be willing to try. “It’s OK to jump, because here is what will happen. You can jump and fly, jump and land softly or jump and land hard. Whatever happens, women are resilient, we are built to get back up,” she added.

She added that fear and the fascination for really living make for enemies, bad lover even. Fear is needed for survival, but you don’t need fear to manifest your dreams, “Whenever fear appears, make it come along for the ride, but put fear on the back seat and tell it to shut up with the ‘Nos’, ‘Don’t s’ and ‘Stop’. If you let fear in you will never go anywhere interesting. You are in control.”

For toxic behaviour, such as procrastination, stubbornness and righteousness, as well as toxic people, even toxic weight she encouraged those present to shed those pounds and toxic attitudes.

She added that for perseverance, it is important for us, to never give up on our dreams but to work at it, “To go into the unknown is scary, but today, I wake up each morning with such joy, so find something you love that brings you joy and peace.”

Revelation came with a dessert of declarations from the newly inspired women who announced their plans to fulfil their dreams out loud.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com

JMMB focuses on ‘Her Wealth’

jmmb

Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) aims to cement its place as the financial partner of choice for women with its newest product offering, JMMB Her Wealth.

In launching what it describes as the first of its kind on the market, the investment institution has designed the financial solution with hopes of empowering women to realise their financial goals through investments, loans, savings and insurance.

The women-only event was held at the Spanish Court Hotel on Wednesday.

JMMB Her Wealth follows on two new unit trust products — the JMMB Bond Fund and JMMB Real Value Fund — launched by the institution in 2015 as it sought to increase market share.

“…whatever they are and wherever we are on our financial journey. We have included unique add-ons like maternity loan and handbag coverage, which is a part of the motor vehicle insurance coverage,” JMMB Country Manager Kisha Anderson told the audience, adding that the company has identified that women have unique needs and have a different relationship with money from men.

“As your financial partner we want to support you by providing financial expertise and education to give you greater access to critical services so that you can be empowered to make the best financial decisions for yourselves, your families and those who depend on you,” she continued.

According to Anderson, the financial institution, which made $2.03 billion in net profit in the six-month period ended September 30, 2016, expects the introduction of JMMB Her Wealth to expand the company’s client base while deepening its relationship with clients.

Currently, the gender split of JMMB’s client base stands at 59 per cent, in favour of women.

“Research indicates that women represent a huge potential market opportunity for growth across many industries, including finance where there are gaps perceived in the way financial institutions cater to women and their unique needs,” said Anderson.

JMMB Her Wealth will also feature a rewards programme for services utilised by women in their daily lives, including medical care, beauty, auto and home and garden services. JMMB will be partnering with companies from the service industries to offer discounts between five and 20 per cent.

As a part of its aim to facilitate financial empowerment for women, JMMB Group will also be hosting quarterly financial education sessions which are expected to provide women with guidance and knowledge of important financial matters.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/JMMB-focuses-on–Her-Wealth-_87057

Food For The Poor assists family, elderly with houses

ffp-house

A Portland family and an elderly man are the latest beneficiaries of houses from philanthropic organisation Food For The Poor (FFP) after their plight was highlighted by the Jamaica Observer North East in 2015.

The family of four, which includes a wheelchair-bound man, was desperately in need of a house to get out of the crammed space they shared in the back room of a relative’s house in Waybridge, Portland, for years.

Observer North & East reported in 2015 that Jacqueline Thompson, her two daughters and her physically challenged son all shared a single bed in a room which an aunt allowed them to stay in, after they had been living in the garage for some time.

At the time, Thompson stressed that she needed help to get back on her feet.

“I am feeling happy about getting my house. I thank God as I can’t leave him out,” she said.

Thompson also thanked justice of the peace and pastor of the Church of God in Christ at Long Road, Roy Titus, who tried desperately to get assistance for the family. He described their situation as “dire,” then.

She also thanked the Ministry of Housing for the land space, Food For The Poor for the house, the Observer for highlighting her need, and the parish council and the National Insurance Scheme for their assistance.

“I am a happy person now. It was a long and horrible wait; I cried sometimes. The children are very happy, especially my son Okeno,” Thompson shared.

The house, which is located at Darlingford Housing Scheme in Manchioneal in the parish, was handed over last October. Thompson said FFP has also pledged to donate furniture.

A visually impaired elderly man was also the beneficiary of a house from FFP.

Urnal Taylor lived in a dirt-floor, one-bedroom house in Boston in the parish for years, before FFP read of his plight in the

Observer and presented him with the keys for a new house.

“This house is beautiful as much as mi can’t see it. I am comfortable and mi have space. Thanks to all the people who helped me, and the gentleman here, Pastor Titus. The blessings on his shoulders can’t come off. Welcome; welcome,” he said with a broad grin on his face.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/regional/Food-For-The-Poor-assists-family–elderly-with-housesObserver-North-and-East-article-spurs-action——-_87286

Cocktails With… Judette Coward Puglisi

cocktails-with

To introduce their latest financial package solution, notably JMMB Her Wealth, last Wednesday at the Spanish Court Worthington securities broker and dealer Jamaica Money Market Brokers tapped Mango Media Caribbean Managing Director Judette Coward Puglisi to deliver the keynote address. Wearing her country’s most celebrated designer, Meiling, the Trinbagonian media, communications & public relations specialist encouraged prospective JMMB Her Wealth investors at the launch event to secure their futures, while sharing gems from her own life reserves.

What is your favourite beverage?

Hot chocolate. How else to discover why I am the way I am except at the bottom of a cup? When I’m done, it’s usually time for deep thinking.

Is the election of hotel & real-estate tycoon Donald Trump a triumph for social media fame or a cautionary tale?

It’s a reality circus mixed with large doses of a global horror story thrown in for bad measure.

Is the boosting of a country’s economy the right get-out-jail-free card?

Only if it is accompanied by the increased productivity of its people.

What personality archetypes must make up a team that can best support what you do?

The Loyalist: will work with you without question over a weekend.

The Thinker: is solution-oriented will make any entrepreneur feel less alone.

The Connector: will open doors, so crucial to success.

The Clone: because you always need someone who is just like you.

The Debater: because challenge is a good thing; it prevents group think.

Are tough life lessons crucial to growth?

This presupposes that lessons must be tough in order to learn or grow; if that was true, prisons would not have repeat offenders. A tough or easy lesson is often irrelevant; growth is about an individual’s willingness to do so.

What’s the one book you’ve always wanted to read but have never gotten around to?

We Should All Be Feminists by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a book-length essay. If you have ever watched her

TED Talk you would know why this is at the top of my list. Plus, I am a lipstick-wearing feminist.

Do long hours guarantee success?

No, they don’t, and believe me, I learned that lesson late in the game! I think focused work without interruption makes for a better, more meaningful type of success with limited opportunities for burnout.

How can an entrepreneur identify when he or she has outgrown hustlin’?

When your quotation is accepted without question or negotiation. The hustlin’ stops and the innovation can begin.

What is the one office process you continue to enjoy, no matter your hierarchical rank?

Don’t laugh, but mopping the front entrance. I think because it’s the first point of entry to our building and for me it means “you are welcome”.

Are emotions and figures the only ingredients necessary for a successful communications exchange?

Shared stories and conversation are the common coins of communion.

If you had to choose: speed at the expense of details or vice-versa?

Details. Because speed does not mean a thing if inaccuracy is allowed to run around like a Pokemon gamer.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/Cocktails-With—-Judette-Coward-Puglisi_87061

Women Dominate JMMB Client Base

jmmb-1

JMMB Group has launched a suite of products designed especially for women in response to a trend observed over the years where a greater number of its clients are female.

Its client base is currently 59 per cent female, according to JMMB country manager for Jamaica Kisha Anderson at the unveiling of a new product, JMMB Her Wealth, at an event in New Kingston.

Under the new offerings, women will be able to access insurance, investments, loans and savings accounts, the company said, “from a financial institution that has sought to customise some of its financial solutions to empower women to achieve their financial goals”, JMMB said in a statement.

By tailoring products for women, JMMB said it positions the company to attract even more business from the demographic.

“Research indicates that women represent a huge potential market opportunity for growth across many industries, including finance where there are gaps perceived in the way financial institutions cater to women and their unique needs,” Anderson said in the company release.

PROFIT NOT MAIN OBJECTIVE

Speaking with Financial Gleaner at the launch, Anderson said that while JMMB anticipates a wide take-up of the new products, profit was not the primary objective.

“As we were thinking about this campaign, we weren’t necessarily thinking about a dollar figure. The objective of the campaign is us being intentional about reaching out to women,” she said.

“If you think about our revenues and profit, it’s a near 60/40 split in terms of the revenue we make from women,” said the JMMB Jamaica head.

JMMB Her Wealth will also feature a rewards programme for services typically utilised by women. The company has partnered with merchants who offer medical care, beauty, auto, and home and garden services to provide five to 20 per cent discounts, among others benefits for women.

To design JMMB Her Wealth, Anderson said focus groups and surveys were conducted over a 12- to 18-month period.

“Before we started the study, we had several focus groups where we asked the women about their needs and expectations of a financial house. We found out what their dreams are so we could figure out how we will help them towards those things,” she said.

“You find that women don’t generally trust themselves when it comes to financial products, so improving their financial literacy is something that we want to focus on.”

JMMB says it will be hosting quarterly financial education sessions aimed at women.

tameka.gordon@gleanerjm.com

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20170120/women-dominate-jmmb-client-base

My Desire Is To Serve!

dane-richardson

To bring about the kinds of changes that will help people live healthier and more productive lives, volunteer organisations listen and learn to identify pressing problems that get too little attention.

This is why community service is important. Volunteerism teaches compassion and understanding, and has emerged through a process of identifying what is needed to assist people and where the greatest impact can be achieved.

Dane Richardson, now at the helm of Digicel Foundation, an organisation that has invested $3 billion in communities islandwide, is no stranger to volunteerism. Although earlier in his life he began a trajectory in pursuit of medicine, Richardson always felt there was something missing but could not immediately identify what it was.

It was while teaching at the Portmore Community College that he began connecting the dots towards his true calling, while pushing for solutions to assist students who needed remedial work.

“There were students at that level, but they could not read. Then I realised that the school itself had broader issues, where students were matriculating but not transitioning. This is where I was thrust into programme management and administration and I started designing programmes and meeting with different key stakeholders while trying to solve these issues,” Richardson said.

Having carved out a definitive career goal, Richardson joined the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life as programme development and grants manager. The Jamaica AIDS Support for Life is one of the leading health-care agencies in Latin America and the Caribbean, addressing the socio-economic challenges facing, and advocating for, Jamaicans living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, STIs, and intimate-partner violence.

According to Richardson, his experience at Jamaica AIDS Support for Life assisted him in understanding and acknowledging the capacity each person has to develop their true potential.

“I realised there is a lot more that can be done here in Jamaica. I was thrust more deeply into dealing with social issues and working with persons dealing with other issues who are less fortunate than us,” Richardson said.

“There are persons who are facing real and significant challenges in our country, and my eyes were opened to the fact that many Jamaicans are looking for someone who can be their voice and looking out for their best interest. I was able to take stock of my own life and do things to help others, not just myself,” Richardson said.

GIVING BACK

With the Digicel Foundation built on the premise of giving back, Richardson joined the organisation in 2013 as programme manager with primary responsibility for education. In 2015, he was promoted to head of programmes and a year later, he was again promoted to director of operations.

As programme manager for education, Richardson intensified the efforts of the organisation to empower teachers to improve the literacy and numeracy levels among students in primary schools, through the use of information communications technology (ICT).

“Digicel Foundation works in three areas – education, special needs, and community development. We cannot solve all the problems, however, we can galvanise support from other partners and, most important, the Government to ensure sustainability. At the end of the day, Jamaicans are the ones that will benefit,” Richardson said.

“We have had many achievements across the island over our 12-year history. At this juncture, we intend to look back at what has worked, what has not worked and build going forward; and really look at what is relevant to make the foundation stronger,” he added.

The Digicel Jamaica Foundation is a non-profit organisation that utilises funds on a charitable basis and remains a vested partner in the social development of communities by increasing access for the special-needs community to improve their quality of lives, by expanding access to education through technology, by supporting and empowering survivors of domestic violence, and by fostering a spirit of self-reliance through sustainable enterprise within communities.

“My aspiration has always been to head an organisation and to put in the machinery to effect change. Every aspect of what will transpire is team work, and we will work together as a team to effect necessary changes in the lives of Jamaicans,” Richardson said.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170120/my-desire-serve

Children Demand Urgent Attention, Says Samuels

gleaner-nlpb-jan-19

Women and children will, for the first time, be the focus of the 37th National Leadership Prayer Breakfast, which takes place at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew on Thursday, according to the Reverend Dr Stevenson Samuels, chair of the committee that plans this annual event.

“For the first time this year, we have also felt the need to include prayers for children. We feel that these are vulnerable groups with regards to crime and violence plaguing our society. Children demand urgent attention,” he declared.

Samuels bemoaned that children were abused by adults and also experienced high levels of poverty, neglect by parents, little moral and spiritual training, in addition to insufficient access to other things.

His comments came yesterday at the Church of the Open Bible Church in St Andrew.

Chief Justice Zaila McCalla, Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Rocky Meade, Courtney Campbell, president and chief executive officer of the Victoria Mutual Group, along with members of the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee, were among the special guests of the church.

Samuels used the occasion to remind the congregation that allegations of impropriety against members of the clergy were symptomatic of a wider societal rot.

“The recent alleged sexual abuse case against the pastor, in addition to other similar allegations reported in the media, is an indication that this scourge is present in all sectors of our society,” he added.

christopher.serju@gleanerjm.com

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20170116/children-demand-urgent-attention-says-samuels

Shaw enters the Rainforest

rainforests-tilapia-fish-up-to-standard

Finance Minister Audley Shaw and a team from his ministry and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) yesterday toured Rainforest Seafoods’ 30,000 square-foot processing plant at Slipe Road in Kingston, where they received a first-hand look at the operations of the Caribbean’s largest supplier of premium quality seafood.

The team included minister of state Rudyard Spencer, PSOJ President PB Scott, and PSOJ Chief Executive Officer Dennis Chung.

The state-of-the-art, climate-controlled processing plant is HACCP-certified and has the capability of producing value-added products to include breading, battering, brining, cooking, pickling, portioning and smoking.

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) is a food-safety system that helps food business operators look at how they handle food. The system utilises procedures to make sure the food produced is safe to eat.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Shaw-enters-the-Rainforest_86524

ministers-shaw-and-spencer-tour-rainforest-seafoods

Jamaica’s 2017 National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Launched

nlpb-observer

Courtney Campbell (left), president and CEO Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) Group, engages in an animated discussion with (from second left) Claudette Pious, executive director Children First; Viviene Bailey Hay, chief corporate affairs and communications at VMBS Group; and Rev Dr Stevenson Samuels, chairman National Leadership Prayer Breakfast. Occasion was yesterday’s launch of the annual Prayer Breakfast at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.

Campbell, in his sponsor’s remarks, said people should not underestimate the importance of praying for our leaders and praying with them.

“The reality is, leadership can be a stressful responsibility and it can be a difficult and lonely journey,” Campbell said. “It can only redound to our benefit when all leaders are able to unite in prayer, recognising that there is a natural partnership that needs to be fostered for the common good.”

The prayer breakfast, now in its 37th year, is scheduled for January 19. It is being held under the theme ‘God-empowered intervention for transformation — Praying for our leaders, praying with our leaders’.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Prayer-Breakfast_86445