Dr Terri-Karelle Reid (right) with Alteria Bent, a student of the Salvation Army School for the Blind on the Braille machine.
In honour of Blind Awareness Month this October, Dr Terri-Karelle Reid, a media and communications practioner, is collaborating with the Digicel Foundation to launch a campaign aimed at enhancing the educational opportunities for blind and visually impaired students in Jamaica.
The campaign, titled “Follow the Trail, Invest in Braille,” focuses on addressing the critical shortage of Braille machines at the Salvation Army School for the Blind – Jamaica’s sole school for blind and visually impaired students. Presently, only 26 Braille machines are available to serve over 130 enrolled students.
Dr Reid stated, “While we as a society discuss the importance of literacy and numeracy, we often overlook entire communities with special needs that require specialized resources to achieve literacy. Every child, whether blind or otherwise, must have access to equitable education. We are committed to ensuring that no one gets left behind.”
Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, commenting on the partnership with Dr Reid said: “Every child has a fundamental right to quality education. We must uphold this right for our blind and visually impaired students as well. We aim to bridge the gap and empower these students with the tools they need to succeed.”
Together, Dr Reid and the Digicel Foundation hope to obtain funding from corporate Jamaica to purchase more Braille machines for the School for the Blind.
“Our goal is to provide 50 Braille machines to the school. Every donation, regardless of size, brings us closer to our objective. Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of these extraordinary young individuals,” said Daniels.
Students at the Jamaica-China Goodwill School in Trelawny.
The song He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, sung by The Hollies, played in my mind as we navigated the road to Morant Bay last Tuesday: “It’s a long, long road, from which there is no return, while we’re on the way to there, why not share?”
The road was not only long but also dangerous as there was no signage to tell us whether we were on a one-way or two-way section of the highway under construction. Some sections were as smooth as silk while others felt like a roller-coaster.
We were journeying to the Jamaica-China Goodwill Infant School in Morant Bay where Digicel Foundation created a Smart Room to stimulate the little ones with learning challenges and a colourful playground. The joy of the infants reciting “Love yourself and others will love you”, the enthusiasm of Early Childhood Commission (ECC) Chair Trisha Williams-Singh, and the dedication of the teachers remind us of “what is right with Jamaica”.
Our bittersweet journey reflect happenings in Jamaica over the past two weeks. At a political meeting there was the man with a chain around his neck being unlocked by Opposition Leader Mark Golding, supposedly to symbolise ‘liberation’ from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP); the optics enraged many.
We received the good news that the international rating agency Standard & Poor’s had moved Jamaica up from B+ to a BB- rating. Jamaica Observer senior reporter Josimar Scott quoted Keith Duncan, chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee on this positive development: “This ratings upgrade would also be driven by the institutional architecture with an independent central bank and the new independent fiscal commission which is being established along with the natural disaster risk mitigation strategies that have been put in place. This upgrade is a welcome development and should see Jamaica being able to negotiate better terms of financing of its debt and lower cost of capital for businesses.”
Further, taxpayers were relieved to hear from Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke that Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) has received an insurance payout of US$1 million which would pay their staff expenses as they wound up operations.
Resignation of Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert
But grey clouds gathered as we learnt that speaker of the House and Member of Parliament (MP) Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, in a report from the Integrity Commission, had failed to include a motor vehicle in her statutory declarations. There were calls for her resignation and she subsequently resigned as both speaker and MP, her letter noting: “I maintain to this day that the omission of the vehicle was a genuine oversight on my part. There would have been no allegations against my name had I included the vehicle in my declaration; therefore, I had no motive to have deliberately omitted it.”
Residents of the Trelawny Southern constituency, which Dalrymple-Philibert had served for 16 years, expressed deep disappointment in her resignation. Women who serve in various capacities can sympathise with the former speaker’s omission as they constantly juggle duties. In her letter she states, “As a woman maintaining a family and as a Member of Parliament, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and managing partner of a law firm, the toll that it has taken on me is immense.”
Greg Christie’s faux pas
Greg Christie
Then along came the attack in the car park of the Integrity Commission’s offices in which a director of corruption was shot (mercifully, no serious injury) and robbed.
There was general outrage when in response to a reporter’s request for a comment Greg Christie said, “Ask the Government that.” This foot-in-mouth moment was caught on camera and as it went viral calls came in from the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP), the National Integrity Action (NIA), G2K, and others for Christie’s resignation.
I found the comment by former Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) President Howard Mitchell to be compassionate, as he said he observed the stress in Christie’s expression and suggested that he take leave of absence and get counselling. He concluded his remarks by saying it may be best for Christie to offer his resignation. I have known Greg Christie for years as a brilliant attorney-at-law and outstanding professional. I am disappointed in his statement, which is unworthy of a gentleman of his calibre.
Both Dalrymple-Philibert and Christie acted out of turn. However, let this not erase the positive contributions they have made to this country.
ROM YARD PREMIERE
Congratulations to the brilliant David Heron on the grand premiere of the television series From Yard at Palace Cineplex last Monday. Heron took a courageous leap from marketing in the financial world in the 90s to follow his dream, becoming an acclaimed playwright and an off-Broadway actor in New York.
Now his journaling of his experiences as a young migrant to the US has evolved into his autobiography Yardie and the riveting series described as “one Jamaican man’s quest to find his personal and professional destiny on the rough streets of New York City”.
Proceeds of the premiere went to Bam Moms Club, towards prenatal guidance for underprivileged expectant mothers.
Farewell, R Danny Williams
R Danny Williams
This column has sung many praises to the magnificent R Danny Williams. When I remarked on social media that he helped to fund-raise for the first Rebel Salute’, readers were amazed at how far this great Jamaican stretched his hand.
It was a learning experience to sit at his feet as he chaired the fund-raising committee of the Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies. His focus and positivity raised the funds in record time. His beloved Jamaica College also benefited from his unwavering support.
His service in the private and public sector is unmatched and we are grateful that he lived to see the former Life of Jamaica building, now Sagicor, named in his honour, and to write his autobiography, instructing his people on the joy of servant leadership. Our deepest sympathy to his dear wife, Shirley, family members, and close friends. May his great soul rest in peace.
Our family star
Lowell F D Smith
We said a sad goodbye to our cousin Lowell F D Smith who we regarded as our family star. First, he put Unity Primary School in Westmoreland on the map when he was a close runner-up in the National Spelling Bee and the he won a Government Scholarship to St George’s College.
At St George’s, Lowell excelled in both academia and extracurricular activities. Not only did he consistently finish at the top of his class, but he became leader of the scout troop, the Debating Society, the Drama Club, and was editor-in-chief of the school’s yearbook The Lance.
Lowell met his beautiful wife, Lana, in law school at The University of the West Indies. He became a widely respected attorney-at-law, lauded by Gordon Robinson as a mentor. Lowell was an advisor to our company sharing witticisms, even as he did laser-like examinations of contracts.
During Lowell’s long illness, Lana devoted herself to caring for her beloved husband. Their faith and constant worship inspired our family. Our love and sympathy to Lana, their children, and extended family. May Lowell’s soul rest in peace.
Mohamed Majeed (second right), managing director of Caribbean operations for Marubeni Power International, shares words of encouragement with UWI electrical engineering students and Marubeni scholarship recipients Daniel McGregor (left) and Rochelle Stephen during the scholarship presentation ceremony at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus on September 27, 2023. Also present is Damian Obiglio, senior vice-president, Marubeni Power International.
FIVE students pursuing engineering degrees at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus received a funding boost in their journey courtesy of scholarships totalling US$20,000 provided by Marubeni Power International in collaboration with The UWI Development and Endowment Fund (UWIDEF).
The students, Brianna Smith, Daniel McGregor, Martin McDonald, Dwight Simpson, and top performer Rochelle Stephen, were presented with their scholarship cheques during a brief ceremony at the Principal’s Council Room on September 27.
Addressing the gathering, Managing director of Caribbean operations for Marubeni Power International Mohamed Majeed praised the exceptional quality displayed by the five recipients, highlighting the proven benefits of higher education in enabling individuals to increase their earning power.
Marubeni, he said, was pleased to enable the students to take their rightful place as problem-solvers of the future. “We commend your accomplishments thus far and anticipate the impact you will undoubtedly have as you progress both academically and in your future careers,” he said.
His Excellency Yasuhiro Atsumi, Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, in his address, said all Japan stood in support of the development efforts of the Jamaican Government and people for continued progress. In praising Marubeni for its generosity in funding the scholarships, the ambassador noted several previous occasions in which the company had given generously to support education, most notably in donating tablet computers to enable virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ambassador Atsumi said he looked forward to many more acts of support for Jamaica’s development both on the part of Marubeni as well as the Government of Japan.
Representing the Ministry of Education, National Mathematics Co-ordinator Dr Tamika Benjamin spoke to the growing importance of engineering and other STEM subjects in the modern development model. In congratulating the recipients, she likewise encouraged them to become problem-solvers on the national level and expressed the hope that their performance would in turn encourage greater participation in STEM education.
Reynold Scott, board director of UWIDEF, also urged the students to continue to do their very best, adding that programmes such the scholarship presentation are at the heart of the fund’s function.
Responding on behalf of the quintet, Rochelle Stephen reiterated the “life-changing” nature of the scholarship, adding that she was unable to fully express the importance of being able to continue on their respective educational journeys. She pledged to heed the call for continued excellence and bring honour to the institution, to their families and the nation.
UWIDEF Project Officer Francine Warren-Kidd, who presided over the ceremony, thanked Marubeni and all the partners involved in bringing the scholarship presentation to fruition. The ceremony, she said, marked not the end of the collaboration, but a new beginning.
Marubeni, in seeking to contribute to the development of Jamaica, has been supporting worthy initiatives in a number of areas, education being primary among them.
Marubeni says old power plants to be replaced by renewables
Executives from JPS shareholder Marubeni commit to replacing its aging power plants with renewable energy plants in the next two years. The Marubeni executives made the commitment in a recent meeting with Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Marubeni Power International has now confirmed that renewables have been chosen to replace old fossil fuel-fired power plants at Rockfort and Hunt’s Bay in Kingston. The company made the revelation about the choice after making the commitment to the Government to align the company with the objective of having 50 per cent of power generated in Jamaica coming from renewable sources by 2030, during a recent visit.
The two power plants are expected to be shutdown starting in the next two years, and the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), based on its licence, has the right to replace generating capacity it already owns and will be spending US$500 million to replace those plants with renewable energy. It will be looking to develop projects which together will replace 171 megawatt entirely with solar and wind energy.
“In the next two years or less, some of the plants are going to be shutting down and have to be replaced, and the replacement the Government indicates to us has to be renewables,” Damian Obiglio, senior vice-president, Marubeni Power International and chairman of JPS, told the Jamaica Observer in an interview Tuesday. He added that the investment will also include battery storage to ensure power remains available when the sun is not shining or when the wind dies down.
The confirmation comes long after it was first indicated that the JPS would be replacing the old power plants with renewable energy. Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s energy minister, earlier this year told the parliamentary committee reviewing the Electricity Act that renewables would be the replacement power source, but a check with the JPS then revealed that the issue was not finalised as yet.
Marubeni says it will be working with its partners to spend US$500 million to replace 171MW of fossil fuel-generated electricity with solar and wind solutions in the next two to three years.
“JPS is in the final stages with the Government about how much battery, wind and solar power,” Obiglio added in the interview with the Business Observer. He said it is expected that 60 per cent of the investment, or US$300 million, will be spent on batteries to store power for future use. Of the US$200 million left to build the farms, he said US$160 million will go to solar farms while the other US$40 million will be invested in wind energy solutions.
“These are different investments from the other renewable investments the Government is seeking. This is the JPS just replacing existing capacity which is about to come off line with renewables,” Obiglio stressed. He said the Government indicates that it would prefer the battery farm to be somewhere in the Corporate Area where demand is greatest, either on Spanish Town Road or at its old plant at Hunt’s Bay.
“In the case of renewables, the Government have indicated a strong preference for the farms to be in the eastern end of Jamaica — the St Thomas area and the Portland area — while some of the plants may be set up in Clarendon.”
The company added that it is awaiting further directives and stand ready to cooperate as soon as the plans are agreed upon.
Just recently, executives from Marubeni Corporation and Marubeni Power International visited Jamaica in demonstration of their ongoing commitment to the country and to being an investment partner in the nation’s growth.
In the island for a one-day visit were Satoru Harada, Chief operating officer, Power Division of Marubeni Corporation and Yukio Konishi, senior vice-president, Marubeni Power International.
They paid a courtesy visit on Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the prime minister’s office, where Harada spoke to the significance of Marubeni’s investment in Jamaica and pledged to continue to partner with the Government in supporting economic growth through efficient and sustainable energy generation.
Marubeni, a major shareholder in JPS, also has interests in the 194-MW capacity power plant operated by South Jamaica Power Company, located in St Catherine.
Currently, JPS has two major investors: Marubeni Corporation and Korea East-West Power, and each holds 40 per cent of shares in JPS. The Government of Jamaica, through the Development Bank of Jamaica, holds the remaining 19.9 per cent while the remaining less than 1 per cent is held by private shareholders.
Digicel Foundation Chair, Jean Lowrie-Chin, speaks during the handover ceremony for an inclusive classroom at the Jamaica China Goodwill Infant School in St. Thomas on Tuesday (September 19). The facility’s construction stemmed from a partnership between the Foundation and the Early Childhood Commission (ECC).
Students with mild to moderate physical and intellectual disabilities at the Jamaica China Goodwill Infant School in St. Thomas now have an inclusive classroom to further support their educational journey.
‘The facility, which was handed over by the Digicel Foundation on Tuesday (September 19), stemmed from a partnership with the Early Childhood Commission (ECC).
Speaking at the handover ceremony at the school, Foundation Chair, Jean Lowrie-Chin, informed that the room will cater to children aged three to six.
“Within the classroom, you will find a state-of-the-art sensory room, which includes panel mats, sensory lights, fibre-optic bean bags, a fibre-optic curtain kit, LED strip lights and noise-cancelling earphones,” she detailed.
Additionally, Mrs. Lowrie-Chin disclosed that the existing bathroom for the students has been retrofitted, a raft has been constructed, and a “bright and fun” outdoor play area has been renovated.
“The purpose of the classroom is at the heart of everything we do at the Digicel Foundation to promote inclusiveness. It means that no one is left behind; it means togetherness, including the little ones with special needs who need to feel loved and secure in their school environment,” the Chair said.
For her part, ECC Chair, Trisha Williams-Singh, applauded the Digicel Foundation for having “changed the landscape in Jamaica for special needs”.
“The Early Childhood Commission would like to thank you so much, and we encourage you to not only do more but I use this platform to ask other corporate Jamaica [stakeholders] to come on board,” she said.
Chair, Early Childhood Commission (ECC), Trisha Williams-Singh, speaks during the handover of an inclusive classroom at the Jamaica China Goodwill Infant School in St. Thomas on Tuesday (September 19). The facility stemmed from a partnership between the Digicel Foundation and the ECC.
Acting Regional Director (Region 2) at the Ministry of Education and Youth, Yashieka Blackwood-Grant, speaking on behalf of Acting Permanent Secretary, Maureen Dwyer, similarly hailed the Digicel Foundation for “rising to the occasion, especially when special education needs are in the conversation”.
“We commit, every time we receive a gift, to taking the best care of it because we receive it as an investment. We know that there are countless children who must benefit from this investment, and so… this investment is going to bring returns for years to come,” Mrs. Blackwood-Grant said.
This is the second inclusive classroom to be established under the ECC’s Jamaica 60 Legacy Project.
The first was established at the Bethabara Infant School in Manchester.
Digicel Foundation Chair, Jean Lowrie-Chin (left), and Chair, Early Childhood Commission (ECC), Trisha Williams-Singh (second left), enjoy play time with students at the Jamaica China Goodwill Infant School in St. Thomas, Amanda McKay (third left) and Travon Shaw, inside a new inclusive classroom at the institution. The space was handed over on Tuesday (September 19).
Beach clean-ups are one of the ways we can positively impact the environment.
Dear Editor,
Our natural environment is facing unprecedented threats. Phenomena such as climate change, deforestation, and pollution threaten the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystems.
More than ever the importance of environmental sustainability cannot be overstated. It is our moral responsibility to protect and preserve our fragile ecosystems. While large-scale initiatives and policy changes are vital, it’s essential to recognise that everyday actions can collectively create significant change.
Here are a few ways we can each play our part in ending environmental neglect:
*Reduce, reuse, recycle: Reducing, reusing, and recycling can be one of the most effective ways we can save natural resources, protect the environment, and save money. One way to reduce is to reuse. Instead of using plastic bags, bring reusable bags when shopping or packing food. Recently, the Digicel Foundation, under its environmental campaign called Good Energy, Clean Environment, revamped its staff initiative to collect and recycle plastic bottles. You too can reduce plastic and waste by improving recycling habits at home, school, and work.
*Conserve energy: There are small habits in our daily lives that can help to conserve energy. These acts include turning off lights, appliances, and electronics when not in use.
Earlier this year, the Government began the phasing out of the importation, export, manufacture, distribution, and sale or purchase of incandescent light bulbs. Jamaicans will soon have to switch to light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The switch to more energy-efficient bulbs can significantly lower electricity consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
*Beach clean-ups: Digicel Foundation’s annual beach clean-ups on International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day, which will be celebrated on September 16 this year, are not just about removing debris from shorelines, they are symbolic acts of care for our oceans and a reminder of the urgent need to reduce our plastic consumption. These clean-ups educate volunteers to reduce single-use plastics, promote responsible waste disposal, and raise awareness about the devastating impacts of pollution on marine ecosystems. Persons can visit the Jamaica Environment Trust’s (JET) website to learn how they can participate in ICC Day.
*Educate yourself and others: I cannot stress enough the importance of staying informed about environmental issues, sharing your knowledge with friends and family, encouraging conversations about sustainability, and advocating for informed decisions.
Simple, everyday actions can create a more sustainable world. Ultimately, these actions will not only improve the environment but also inspire others to join in the effort, leading to a brighter and greener future for all.
Miguel “Steppa” Williams
Director of strategic planning and community development
Ali McNab (left), representing the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Entertainment, and Sport, and band camp instructor Jeffrey Brown (right) pose with Le-anna Smith and Ethan Clayton, two of the students who participated in this year’s edition of Food For the Poor Jamaica’s Band Camp programme at the organisation’s head office in St Catherine.
Food For the Poor Jamaica’s recent band camp project, which provides musical instruction for children age six through 16 on a variety of instruments was yet another success in engaging children for the summer holidays.
Attendees got the opportunity to be exposed to professional guidance and teaching on the various musical instruments and stylings on offer.
The children, and their parents, expression appreciation as talents were unearth and horizons expanded.
The intention is that programme will continue to be an annual event serving the community.
At the end of the programme a graduation exercise was held to recognise the achievements of attendees in tribute to the hard work they had put in towards developing competence.
See share scenes:
Drumming student Chozen Bailey (right) poses with his mother and brother after the recent graduation exercise for the band camp music training programme which concluded at Food For the Poor headquarters. Some 60 youngsters, aged six through 16 years, learned to perform on various instruments.
Finance minister, Dr Nigel Clarke (left); CEO of Bluefields Villas, Debbie Moncure (centre) and Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett cut the ribbon to officially mark the opening of four new suites at the villas. (Photos: Kimberley Peddie).
BLUEFIELDS, Westmoreland — Bluefields Bay Villas has raised the bar in luxury accommodations, adding four new suites to the property, a move the tourism minister says will take marketing to another dimension.
The all-inclusive collection of six villas nestled on Jamaica’s south coast has now grown to 27 suites. The new one-bedroom suites each have a private veranda and access to a shared infinity edge pool that overlooks the ocean.
The target is the higher end of the market.
“We have been pushing an up-market, high-dollar tourism in Jamaica and we’re continuing to do so. We are hoping that this first expansion is just one of the many phases in what we are hoping to do here in Bluefields,” said Managing Director Houston Moncure.
He was speaking with the JamaicaObserver at the official opening of the suites on Sunday. Guests included minister of finance, Dr Nigel Clarke; Minster of tourism, Edmund Bartlett; US ambassador to Jamaica, Nick Perry; Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks; and senior strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright.
Bluefields Bay Villas CEO Debbie Moncure and her husband Braxton said their son Houston was the conceptualiser of the suites.
“Houston came up with [the] concept and so he went to the architect — otherwise known as me — and we developed the suites,” she said with a chuckle.
Debbie, who was born in New York and holds a BA in Art History from Tufts University and a Masters of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, moved to Washington, DC, immediately upon finishing her graduate studies. She met her husband Braxton in DC and they began coming to Jamaica together in the late 1970s. They were married in Bluefields in 1983. The couple celebrated their 40-year anniversary during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new suites.
Speaking at the ceremony, the tourism minister lauded the Moncures for their contribution to the industry.
“Tourists have come and they have really become a part of Bluefields. When you come to this area people talk about it and I get messages, I get calls — some are wonderful calls Houston, and some are about the development and the joy it brings,” Bartlett said.
“The addition of this innovation is going to mean a lot more to us than you. No other country has the hosting capacity that we have. For all the pain and suffering that tourism offers to this country, we are the only industry that has grown every quarter for the last 35 years,” he boasted.
Bartlett added that growth has spiralled over the years.
“In the last nine quarters the growth has been spectacular, absolutely phenomenal but that growth has happened now because of people like Houston who have come up with ideas and have brought innovations and have enabled more people to come to us. What you are doing is going to enable me to take marketing to another dimension,” the minister said.
Houston stressed that the Villa supports the local community.
“We believe our model of tourism is really good for Jamaica,” he said.
Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke (left); Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett (second left), and senior strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright (third left) tour the newly opened suites at Bluefields Bay Villas. They are joined by villa operators, Braxton (third right), Debbie (second right) and Houston Moncure.Bluefields Bay Villas CEO Braxton Moncure walks to one of the newly added suites.A bathtub on the private veranda overlooking the ocean is one of the features of the new suites at Bluefields Bay Villas.
Shane Munroe (left), CEO, MBJ Airports Ltd, receives the prestigious World Travel Award (WTA) from Graham Cooke, founder of World Travel Awards. Sangster International was again named the Caribbean’s Leading Airport at the WTA event hosted at Sandals Grande St Lucian, St Lucia last Saturday.
Sangster International Airport (SIA), operated by MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ), has again been name the Caribbean’s Leading Airport at the World Travel Awards (WTA) hosted at Sandals Grande St Lucian, St Lucia, last Saturday.
SIA emerged as the winner from a pool of 13 Caribbean competitors nominated for the prestigious award. The accolade was first bestowed on SIA in 2005, again in 2009 and each year to date.
“We are honoured to be named the Caribbean’s Leading Airport for the 15th consecutive year. This award is a testament to the dedication and tireless efforts of our entire airport team, and spans all agencies and team members who work diligently to ensure consistently high standards and service excellence. We remain steadfast in our efforts to transform Sangster International Airport to ensure a passenger-centric, sustainable, efficient and safe airport operation,” said Shane Munroe, chief executive officer of MBJ Airports Limited.
While enjoying the win for Sangster International, MBJ is also celebrating its 20th anniversary operating the airport. Over those 20 years, MBJ has made considerable investment in the development and transformation of the airport to improve the overall infrastructure and passenger experience.
The WTA was attended by travel industry leaders from across the Caribbean and The Americas, in acknowledgement of organisations spearheading the growth of the region’s travel and tourism sector.
Graham Cooke, founder of the WTA, said: “World Travel Awards has maintained its position as the industry leader for the past 30 years, consistently proving its value as the global benchmark for recognising excellence in travel and tourism.”
The Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.
The Norman Manley International Airport’s (NMIA) development is pivotal to the Government’s broader strategic plan to reposition Kingston as a regional business centre and Jamaica as a logistics hub.
Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz said crucial improvements to the facility by PACKAL, projected between the last and current fiscal years, are critical to protecting the NMIA’s reputation as one of Jamaica’s most valuable assets.
“The NMIA is, therefore, not just a place for departures and arrivals. It is a symbol of progress, a hub of opportunities, and has tremendous potential for growth,” he maintained.
The minister was addressing the PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL) NMIA Airport Forum on Friday, August 25, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
Vaz emphasised that the NMIA’s future rests in the facility’s untapped potential, and urged that more development be done to enhance the airport’s capabilities.
“The Government’s vision for the airport’s development is rooted in the need of the present and promise of the future. We look forward for the upgrades to be undertaken in a timely manner by PACKAL to serve the immediate needs of the travellers, stakeholders, and long term [survival] of the industry,” he outlined.
Vaz said close collaboration among regulatory bodies, airlines, airport operators, and technology providers is necessary to maintain a higher standard of safety, security, and superior customer service.
The NMIA is the second-largest airport in Jamaica. It provides an essential service as Kingston’s gateway to the world.
On October 10, 2018, the Airports Authority of Jamaica and PAC Kingston Airport Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, entered into a 25-year concession greement for the operation of the Norman Manley International Airport.
On October 10, 2019, PACKAL officially began operating and maintaining the facility.
Statistics from the NMIA Ltd website indicate that the airport caters to over 1.7 million passengers and handles over 70 per cent (17 million kilogrammes) of the island’s airfreight.
Jamaica Highlights 