CCRP Living Legacy Awards recipients display their awards and citations following the ceremony on October 12, 2023 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. From left, Mr. Pixley Irons, Dr. Lilieth Nelson, Dr. Blossom Anglin Brown, Steadman Fuller. (Photo: Contributed)
The Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) honoured five outstanding Jamaicans with respective 2023 living legacy awards on Thursday (October 12) at a presentation luncheon held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.
The honourees and the categories in which they were awarded are:
Dr Blossom Anglin-Brown for health, in memory of Syringa Marshall-Burnett;
Steadman Fuller for business, in memory of J Lester Spaulding;
Pixley Irons for philanthropy, in memory of Michael Fraser;
Lilieth Nelson for entrepreneurship, education and culture;
Dr Margaret Dingle Spence for cancer research and palliative care.
The CCRP, in a statement, indicated that Spence was unable to attend Thursday’s ceremony and will be presented at a later date.
In their responses, the recipients expressed their appreciation for being honoured and affirmed their commitment to continued service to their fellow Jamaicans.
The CCRP Living Legacy Award was created to honour individuals over 60 years old who have contributed to the growth and development of the country, going beyond the call of duty and displaying exemplary service and dedication in their fields of endeavour.
This is the tenth year that the CCRP Living Legacy Awards have been presented. The seniors organisation is pleased that the achievements of many of their honourees are finally being acknowledged as many were not known and celebrated previously.
Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism (first right) greeted passengers who were aboard the flight coming out of Kansas City while Richard Vernon, Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay looked on.
Over 100 passengers and crew arrived in Jamaica last Saturday aboard Southwest Airlines’ inaugural flight from Kansas City, Missouri in the United States to Montego Bay.
The visitors received a warm welcome at the Sangster International Airport from tourism officials, among them was Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, who expressed his appreciation for the new service to the country.
“The excitement of the passengers was amazing. This flight brings to the reality of how connected Jamaica as a destination is in the United States. We cover 18 gateways that connect us to over 100 cities across the US,” Bartlett said.
He added that as Jamaica expands its inventory with 2,000 new rooms, he is confident that Jamaica will welcome three million stopover visitors next year.
Director of Tourism at the Jamaica Tourist Board Donovan White expressed his optimism for the future of tourism in Jamaica.
“This new flight to Montego Bay is symbolic of the great things to come for the tourism industry. We have achieved a lot so far, and we look forward to additional flights that will help us to reach Minister Bartlett’s projected target of five million visitors and US$5 billion in earnings by 2025,” he noted. White added that he welcomed all the passengers for the inaugural flight and expressed gratitude for the visitors making Jamaica their preferred destination to visit.
The airline will be offering non-stop weekly flights from Kansas City to the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.
Jamaica is projected to welcome 3.88 million visitors in 2023, with estimated earnings of US$4.2 billion.
CCRP Living Legacy Awards recipients at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel. From left: Pixley Irons, Dr Lilieth Nelson, Dr Blossom Anglin Brown, and Steadman Fuller.
On this National Heroes’ Day, despite distressing news, let us remember the people who continue to bring light and hope to Jamaica.
Among those who will receive national honours today are my friends, whose talent and professionalism have made our country proud. Natalie Thompson, Order of Distinction, Officer class (OD), is an accomplished cinematographer, her latest work being No Time to Die. Andrew Mahfood, Order of Distinction, Commander class (CD), is not only a business leader, as managing director of Wisynco, but also the dedicated chairman of Food For the Poor Jamaica. Arthur Hall, OD, and Earl Moxam, OD, are journalism legends. Justine Henzell, OD, is the hard-working co-founder of the Calabash Literary Festival. Kudos to colleagues PB Scott, Order of Jamaica; Neville Garrick, CD; Colette Roberts Risden, CD; Dr Edwin Tulloch-Reid, CD; Dawn Azan, OD; and Lenford Salmon, OD.
Last week CCRP honoured five stalwarts who have served beyond the call of duty: Dr Winsome Anglin Brown; Pixley Irons, OD; Steadman Fuller, CD; Dr Lilieth Nelson, CD; and Dr Margaret Dingle Spence.
Dr Brown is the former director of The University of the West Indies (UWI) Health Centre, through her leadership, the health centre was the first in the region to be named a voluntary counselling and testing centre for AIDS. She was instrumental in making The UWI the biggest blood donor group in the country. She was head of the Department of Community Health and Psychiatry and coordinator for graduate studies and research at The UWI. During the pandemic she served as deputy chair on the Campus Emergency Committee.
A former president of Lions Club of New Kingston, she unstintingly supports the blind and is a volunteer with the Foundation for International Self Help Development (FISH) clinic. She is a perennial committee member for international sporting events, including the Cricket World Cup.
A number of Jamaicans will be recognised for service to the country at the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards.
Fuller, an avid proponent of lifelong learning, has been a pre-eminent figure in the Jamaican book industry for almost 50 years. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, he is chairman and managing director of the nation’s leading booksellers, Kingston Bookshop. His wife of 40 years, Sonia, has been his business partner as director of administration.
Fuller has served as custos for the parish of Kingston for over 13 years. He is chairman and co-founder of the Kingston and St Andrew Development and Homecoming Foundation Limited. He is a recipient of the Mico Gold Medal Award and is chairman of the board of both the Tulloch Primary School in St Catherine and Mona High School in St Andrew. Fuller’s community outreach sees his entire staff preparing hundreds of seasonal care packages for the imprisoned as well as back-to-school bags for needy children.
Irons exemplifies mentorship, service, and community involvement, whether in his own enterprise or in his participation in a variety of service and developmental organisations. His company, Iron’s Mechanical Services, is sponsor for scores of sporting events in St Ann. Irons was also affiliated with the Land Divestment Committee and the Rural Electrification Programme as a board member.
A dedicated Rotarian, Irons received the Rotary Service Above Self award three consecutive years. He is a passionate advocate for youth development, serving on the HEART/NSTA Trust’s Management Advisory Council and other youth-oriented interventions. Irons is the volunteer convenor of the CCRP Northeast Chapter. He says none of this would have been possible without his wife and family members.
Dr Nelson is an award-winning educator, published poet, musician, and entrepreneur who possesses a dual passion for the arts as well as the sciences. She has served as musical director of the University Singers, working with musical stalwarts Noel Dexter and Marjorie Whylie, among others. On the science side, Dr Nelson was a beloved teacher of chemistry and general science in Jamaica and The Bahamas.
Dr Nelson’s invaluable contribution to Jamaica’s energy sector includes the production of the Energy Coordinators Handbook for the Ministry of Mining and Energy in 2012. She has also served as managing director of Jamaica Laboratory & Industrial Suppliers Limited. She is the dynamic president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, Jamaica branch.
Dr Spence, renowned expert in both clinical oncology and palliative medicine, has brought relief and dignity to Jamaica’s cancer patients. She is the senior medical officer of the Hope Institute Hospital, Jamaica’s only dedicated oncology and palliative care unit. She is also an associate lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, and is currently the acting head of the Department of Radiotherapy at the Kingston Public Hospital.
Dr Spence’s fellowship in international pain policy at the University of Wisconsin focused on improving opioid accessibility in Jamaica, resulting in the immediate release of morphine tablets in 2012, not previously available.
She is currently working with the medical school at The University of the West Indies to develop a diploma in palliative medicine and to have palliative care medicine recognised as a medical specialty in Jamaica.
Farewell, dear Heather
Heather Arnella (right) and her daughter Dr Aimee Norman
We said a fond farewell to a star of the Digicel family, Heather Arnella (nee Hodgson) last week. Heather will always be the truest expression of active love. She was a lady of brief words but countless generous deeds.
Heather served as chairperson of the Governance Committee for the Digicel Jamaica Foundation and led by example. She travelled extensively as the group administrator for Digicel and was the go-to person not only in Jamaica but for the company’s international locations. Nevertheless, she remained humble and approachable. She respected everyone and stood up for humble folks. No wonder there has been such an outpouring of love for this warm-hearted lady who found time for everyone.
How she managed so many projects and still maintained her joy of life was amazing. Our dear fashionista friend Heather always carried herself beautifully, but it was her inner beauty that made her shine even brighter.
Her love of family, especially her dear daughter Dr Aimee Norman, and her mother Sybil Hodgson, was inspiring. She adored her grandchildren and would flash out photos on her phone as soon as anyone asked about them.
At the thanksgiving service, the tributes of Digicel Chair Denis O’Brien; CEO Oliver Coughlan; a reading by her son-in-law Evangelist Renaldo Norman; the blessings of Rev Al Miller, her pastor; and the music of Ashe brought comfort to family and friends.
Tisha Wilson, IGT’s Administrative Supervisor, and youngsters at SOS Children’s Village Barrett Town display some of the books donated by the IGT team on Friday, September 22, 2023. Standing at the back of the room are house mothers Marcia Whyte (left) and Juliet Campbell. (Photo: Contributed)
Hewitt Walker, SOS Children’s Village director, is impressed with the progress of his residents after a comprehensive upgrade by International Game Technology (IGT) of their After School Advantage (ASA) computer lab at SOS Barrett Town, St James.
“Previously, students lacked convenient access to information to complete their assignments but now we are grateful to have a dedicated space where the residents can efficiently access resources needed for their academic tasks,” said Walker.
Generous donation
SOS Barrett Town was first equipped with an IGT ASA computer centre in 2013. In a recent upgrade, the company replaced previously installed desktop systems with 10 brand-new laptops equipped with updated software. In addition, IGT has provided a laptop storage cabinet and versatile multipurpose printer.
In observance of International Literacy Month, representatives of IGT made a generous donation of books to SOS Barrett Town earlier this month, engaging residents in a reading session.
Hosted under the theme ‘#IGTreads,’ this initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to supporting education while emphasising the importance of literacy and reading. The theme was created for an IGT read-aloud initiative last year.
Debbie Green, IGT general manager, says she is elated to see the progress and growth in the IGT decade-long partnership with SOS Children’s Village Barrett Town under its After School Advantage programme.
“We remain committed to partnership and continued support of our centres under our After School Advantage programme, and we embrace the opportunity to nurture lifelong reading among our students, understanding that in the pages of books, we venture into a world of possibilities,” said Green.
Tisha Wilson, IGT’s administrative supervisor, along with two team members, were welcomed by a host of youngsters at the children’s village, who were thrilled to receive this book donation. Upon seeing the range of books being donated, the youngsters could not contain their excitement.
Support United Nations SDG
This positive reaction was a major goal as IGT is encouraging reading and awareness around the significance of literacy. This is also in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, and Reduced Inequalities.
“The children were just so excited,” said Wilson. “The goal is to raise awareness for reading and improve literacy among our children. With technology and the Internet, we don’t have many readers, so for me, I was very surprised when we came in and the students were picking up books to find their favourite stories – even without us planning to engage them at that level. It was heart-warming to see students still having that interest to read.”
Walker believes that this initiative has the potential to ignite a passion for reading among the residents, particularly in an era dominated by technology, where reading is less common and social media use is more prevalent.
“I think it was a very good initiative because we live in a technological age and a lot of children use technology for social media, as opposed to reading, so a donation of books to the SOS Children’s Village is a good venture. This is a very important donation because it allows the kids to be exposed to books so that they can delve into stories and read more,” said Walker.
He, too, was impressed by the reaction of the youngsters.
“I think the kids are quite happy. They are looking for the books that they like and are enjoying them so far. I am very happy to see this because this is not something that you see very often in the village,” said Walker.
Improved literacy
House mothers at SOS Children’s Village Barrett Town Juliet Campbell and Marcia Whyte were also impressed by the initiative taken by IGT. For Campbell, IGT’s push for improved literacy plays an active role in their homework sessions.
“There are times when we have problems getting books at their reading level and I see that they have received a lot of those, so we are happy for them. We will engage them with more reading in the evenings after school,” Campbell said.
“I think this initiative will enhance the children in their vocabulary and help them to know new words,” said Whyte.
IGT shows its commitment to supporting education and technology access for youth through its After School Advantage (ASA) programme. The gaming technology firm has established 15 ASA computer labs in NGO-run institutions in Jamaica, including those in SOS Children’s Village Barrett Town and Stony Hill, Mustard Seed Communities – Matthew 25:40, Spring Village Development Foundation, Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation Mandeville and Savanna-La-Mar and Sunbeam Children’s Home in St Catherine.
SOS Children’s Village Barrett Town provides an alternative home for 38 children and young adults up to 22 years old who have lost parental care. SOS Children’s Villages International comprises more than 130 national associations around the world and has helped over four million children worldwide since its inception in 1949.
Brandon Howlett, a second-year student majoring in Business Management at the University of the West Indies, is no stranger to reading citations for the CCRP Living Legacy Awards. Having been a young reader last year, he felt great when asked to do it again as it showed that his reading had been well received. With enthusiasm, Brandon is eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to read the citation for Dr Blossom Anglin-Brown, who is being honoured for her outstanding contributions in the field of health, as well as the citation for Dr Lilieth Nelson for her outstanding achievements in entrepreneurship, education, and culture.
Reading the citations for the awards will be three young adults who will bring diversity to the event and bridge the generation gap. The other young readers are Sashoi Nichols-Dobson and Shantay East.
Sashoi Nichols-Dobson
Nichols-Dobson will be reading the citation for Steadman Fuller, who is being recognised for his outstanding achievements in business and philanthropy. For Nichols-Dobson, Fuller’s achievements highlight that as a professional, one can be successful in many areas of life and not be restricted by one’s area of study.
Shantay East
East will be reading the citation for Pixley Irons, who is being recognised for his outstanding services in philanthropy and volunteerism for community development. East noted that she was elated when asked to be a young reader for the prestigious awards and is honoured to be part of something that acknowledges people like Irons, who go beyond the call of duty.
CCRP Jamaica will host its annual Living Legacy Awards on October 12 at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston to highlight five of those individuals 60 years and over who have contributed to the growth and development of the country, going beyond the call of duty and displaying exemplary service and dedication in their fields of endeavour.
The fifth honouree is Dr Margaret Dingle Spence, who is being recognised for her outstanding contributions in the fields of cancer research and palliative care. She will be unable to attend the ceremony and will be presented with her award at a later date.
This year marks the 10th staging of the CCRP Living Legacy Awards.
CCRP said it takes pride in honouring individuals who not only meet the requirements of their duties but who go above and beyond, deserving the utmost recognition. Through these awards, CCRP aims to shine the spotlight on those who truly make a difference and leave a lasting impact on their communities.
The event is sponsored by BPM Financial Limited, Cari-Med Group, Gallagher Insurance Brokers, Juici Patties, and National Baking Company.
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).
Jamaica Highlights 