Tag: Jamaica

Women Dominate JMMB Client Base

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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!

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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

Jamaica’s 2017 National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Launched

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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

Transformational Leadership Through God Can Bring About Vision 2030

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Transformation among leadership ranks is the primary focus of the 37th National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB) to be staged at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Thursday, January 19.

The purpose of the NLPB is to foster greater unity in the nation, particularly among the nation’s leaders at all levels.

In keeping with national protocol, the list of invited guests is headed by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and includes Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Leader of the Opposition Portia Simpson Miller.

God-Empowered Intervention

At a press briefing yesterday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel to officially launch the event and commence prayer week the Rev Stevenson Samuels, chairman of the NLPB Committee, spoke of transformation brought about by God-empowered intervention.

“In the process of the NLPB, we trust that we will contribute to our leaders experiencing transformation, a transformation that will impact core values for the betterment of all,” Samuels said.

He added: “We feel that for Jamaica to grow, for Jamaica to progress and experience true prosperity, there has to be transformation. That transformation must begin at the top, at the head of the stream, at the helm of our society. Transformational leadership is what is required to take us to the next level. Jamaica, as it is, cannot experience the growth and development that we all long for. If we are going to see this nation rise to new altitudes, we must change and challenge both Church and State to do that change.”

syranno.baines@gleanerjm.com

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20170113/transformational-leadership-through-god-can-bring-about-vision-2030

Twins Excelling Despite Difficulties

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Despite being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Cognitive Impairment, exceptional twin sisters Shantoi and Samoi Miller, all of seven years old, are outstanding and inspiring students and the celebrated shining stars at the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) Centre of Excellence.

At this young age, the two girls have faced severe odds, overcome several major health and development obstacles, and are now beacons of hope, showing the value of the early stimulation in the lives of children with special needs.

Enrolled at the stimulation centre over the last three years, their teachers Aunties Melissa Robinson and Norma-Jean Powell quickly realised that the girls needed extra attention to develop their skills and talents.

Issues such as forgetting letters and numerals, not being able to keep up in class, and refusing to eat plagued the girls’ development.

But help was on the way, as Digicel Foundation stepped in and provided critical funding under a programme designed to assist children like Shantoi and Samoi.

The poundation, having assisted some 34,000 persons with special needs since its inception, saw the Early Stimulation Programme as a right fit for the organisation’s input.

The school was able to move into a newly renovated environment with additional tools for intervention. The teachers were more motivated to deliver better results for each child, and the twin girls went from being shy and reserved to outspoken and ready to face new adventures.

Their excitement about going to school could not be contained and they developed a level of confidence that made them no longer worried about what people had to say about their special needs.

At the end of their programme, they were both chosen as valedictorians for their graduating class.

Digicel Foundation chairman Jean Lowrie-Chin, in celebrating the achievement of the twin girls, believes that there are many other children like Shantoi and Samoi who can benefit from the efforts of the organisation.

“It really warms my heart when we are able to help, and to see how lives can be changed because of our partnerships.” Lowrie-Chin said.

Shantoi and Samoi are inspiring classmates, parents, teachers and partners with their contagious warmth and can-do attitude towards life.

The ESP Centre of Excellence is among 45 special-needs projects benefitting from some US$11 million in funding from the Digicel Foundation.

http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20170109/twins-excelling-despite-difficulties

Food for the Poor assists inmates to get early release

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More than 300 former inmates were able to spend Christmas at home with their families, thanks to generous donors of the international relief and development organisation Food For The Poor (FFTP).

For 18 years, the charity has secured the release of non-violent offenders in Guyana, Haiti, Honduras and Jamaica by paying their accumulated fines at Christmas and at Easter.

Hundreds of the poor, including women, in the Caribbean and Latin America are imprisoned for minor offences because of their inability to pay their court fines, even though the amounts are minimal.

“These prisons can quickly become a black hole of despair, especially for someone locked up with murderers because they do not have the money to pay a fine for a minor offence,” said Robin Mahfood, president/CEO of FFTP.

“Words do not convey the gratitude we have for our loving donors and staff who have not lost faith in a segment of people who are often forgotten or written off as a lost cause,” said Mahfood.

In Jamaica, 21 non-violent prisoners were released from their cells. Four women were freed from the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre, four men from Richmond Park, one man from Tamarind Farm, two men from Tower Street, and 10 men from the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre.

Among the released is a 63-year-old bus driver who was placed behind bars on December 1 for not wearing the required bus uniform.

He was faced with two options for the offence: pay a fine of $32,000, or spend 60 days in prison. He opted to be jailed because he could not afford the fine.

“I have a daughter attending university, and college expenses are quite costly, but I want to give her a better life. This is why I didn’t have the funds to pay the fine,” he said.

“It has been hard in prison, especially when you think about not having the freedom you are used to. Being on lockdown is not easy.”

When the man found out that FFTP had paid his outstanding fine for his early release, he said, “I feel good! I didn’t have it to pay, and to know that people who don’t know me would just do this for me, it makes me feel really good inside.”

Immediately upon release from the different prisons, the former inmates were each greeted by FFTP staff who provided them with food, supplies and offered words of encouragement.

http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20161228/food-poor-assists-inmates-get-early-release

‘Sub-Zero’ Boosted By Win In Barbados

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A persistent two-fisted body attack, was the tactic used by Ramel ‘Sub Zero’ Lewis last Friday night, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in St. Michael, Barbados, to earn himself a split decision verdict in his six-round junior middleweight bout against Barbadian Christopher ‘Shaka’ Henry.

Two judges voted 59-56 each for Lewis, while the other judge voted 58-56 for Henry. This was the main event on a six-bout, Pro-Am Card. In one of the three amateur contests, Jamaica’s Felice Groves lost on points to Barbadian Mary Frazer, in a bout in which she should have been declared the winner by tko in the first round.

The Lewis versus Henry contest was a bruising, action-packed affair from start to finish. Henry, who is 6 feet tall, had a distinct reach advantage over the 5′ 5″ Lewis, and tried to use the jab as his main weapon. Lewis caught on to this quickly, however, and kept boring in successfully. His body shots rattled Henry, who although outgunned, had a few moments of glory himself. Lewis told The Gleaner that Henry was particularly decisive in the fifth round.

“He came on strong in the fifth and caught me with some really good shots, but I was able to hang in there, and then come back strong in the final round,” Lewis said. “It was a good hard fight, and I had to work hard to beat Shaka, who had the crowd behind him all the way, and this assisted him.”

Lewis added that he was happy for the victory and that it will boost his confidence going into 2017.

Groves met Mary Frazer in a four- round amateur bout, and started aggressively. A recording of the bout showed that within the first 30 seconds of the contest, she was all over Frazer, and caught her with a solid right to the chin that floored her. Frazer landed on her back with legs in the air, but got to her feet as the referee reached the count of two. She stumbled back, however, and was falling to the canvas again, when she was caught by the referee and taken to a neutral corner.

He then spoke with her for about 30 seconds, while she recovered. Instead of awarding the bout to Groves, the referee inexplicably signalled that it be resumed. Frazer survived the remainder of the round, regained her composure in the second round, made it a close contest thereafter and was eventually awarded a points victory.

Coach Carl Grant, who accompanied the boxers to Barbados, told The Gleaner that there was no doubt in his mind that the referee blundered, and that Groves clearly won the bout in the first round.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20170104/sub-zero-boosted-win-barbados

Digicel Foundation Appoints New CEO

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The Digicel Foundation has appointed Dane Richardson as its new chief executive officer, following the recent resignation of Samantha Chantrelle.

Richardson is now responsible for taking the organisation to the next level and building on the solid momentum achieved under the leadership of Chantrelle who resigned from the position late last year.

Oversight and management of a US$3+ million annual budget ­– focused on education through improvement in literacy and (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) STEM; the development of the special needs sector; and community development/social entrepreneurship.

Richardson joined the foundation as programme manager for education in 2013 and was later promoted to head of programmes. Richardson assumes the new role from his position as director of operations.

Over the years, he has developed a reputation for strong people, project and resource management. With more than 10 years of experience in the social development sector in Jamaica, Richardson has served the public and private sectors in addition to civil society.

The 33-year-old has contributed significantly to the growth of Digicel Foundation, leading the implementation of a three-year strategic plan.

“The foundation has given me a tremendous platform to challenge myself in ways I never did before. Stepping up to the helm is both an honour and a charge,” Richardson stated in a release from the organisation. “The needs in Jamaica are great and varied. What is clear is that all my efforts must remain focused on how to better serve those who are most in need.”

Richardson started his career at Digicel in 2001 but spent much of his time in managerial roles in secondary and tertiary level education, before joining Jamaica AIDS Support for Life as its programme development and grants manager. The Wolmer’s Boys’ graduate is described by his peers as a dynamic and innovative team leader who has consistently displayed honourable work ethic.

“This is an exciting time for the foundation as Dane charts a road map for expanding our reach to touch more lives. I know that he will be a strong leader, with the passion to guide our foundation towards achieving more for our communities,” expressed Jean Lowrie-Chin, chairperson of the Digicel Foundation.

Last year, the Digicel Foundation invested more than $3 billion in communities islandwide, impacting over 580,000 Jamaicans since inception.

In the release, the Board acknowledged the “outstanding contributions” of previous CEOs Major General Robert Neish and Samantha Chantrelle.

Chantrelle was CEO of the foundation since November 2011, having previously worked as a project manager for the NCB Foundation. She holds an MSc in the Sociology of Develpment from the University of the West Indies, Mona, and a BA in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley in the United States.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Digicel-Foundation-appoints-new-CEO_85486

Dane Richardson Takes Reins At Digicel Foundation

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Leadership is an innate quality entrenched in the DNA of 33-year-old Dane Richardson, who officially took the reins as chief executive officer at Digicel Foundation on New Year’s Day.

Digicel Foundation is a non-profit organisation that distributes and utilises funds on a charitable basis for the sole purpose of building communities and community spirit in Jamaica.

Richardson will be tasked with advancing the goodwill organisation by adding to the legacy achieved by his predecessor, Samantha Chantrelle.

The Wolmerian joined the foundation in 2013 as programme manager for education and quickly climbed through the ranks to be promoted to head of programmes in 2015, and, subsequently, director of operations in 2016.

Before joining the foundation, he was programme development manager and grants manager at the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, one of the largest health care agencies in Latin America and the Caribbean, addressing the socioeconomic challenges facing, and advocating for, Jamaicans living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, STIs, and intimate-partner violence.

In speaking with The Gleaner about his ascension to the helm of the foundation, Richardson said: “Happy would be an understatement. Deeply ecstatic better sums it up.”

He added: “Receiving such an opportunity to lead an organisation has been a lifelong aspiration. Having witnessed and learnt from many outstanding development specialists, I have always wanted a chance to make my own mark contributing to positive changes in my home country.”

Richardson’s appointment comes on the heels of the foundation being awarded the Non-profit Organisation of the Year by the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS).

Richardson contributed greatly to said recognition through procedural improve-ments and efficiencies, improved cost effectiveness, as well as increased scope in programme design and reach; his most noteworthy achievement being his leadership of the implementation of the foundation’s largest project with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) valued at J$600 million, which contributed to the achievement of the Ministry of Education’s goal of 85 per cent literacy in 2015 at the primary level.

SUITABLE PERSON

Krystal Tomlinson, public relations and engagement manager at Digicel Foundation, expressed that upon hearing the news from outgoing CEO Chantrelle, she wept joyfully.

“He’s the most suitable and deserving person. Dane knows the foundation inside out. We are coming out of a three-year strategic plan and he wasn’t just a part of it, but he led it from the jump. He’s inclusive and he encourages a sense of creativity. He allows you to challenge his own ideas, and that style of leadership is ideal.”

Neville Charlton, fellow CVSS awardee (young leader award) and public relations and engagement assistant at Digicel Foundation, echoed similar sentiments.

“Dane is an optimist and a go-getter. He’s not the conventional leader; he tries to get everyone’s opinion. He’s very passionate about anything he does,” he told The Gleaner.

Foundation Chairperson Jean Lowrie-Chin also expressed confidence that Richardson’s passion and leadership strength would propel the organisation towards achieving more for communities.

Richardson credits his immediate family for fostering his growth and development while citing his mother as a daily tower of strength and motivation.

In speaking to his vision for the foundation, the shrewd executive said: “It is important that I build on our solid 12-year history. The former CEOs have created a fantastic platform for creating more positive change in Jamaica. I see Digicel Foundation contributing to a sustainable Jamaica for all. Through a shared-value proposition, the foundation can deepen its efforts in tackling serious national issues through alignment with key government and non-government agencies to ensure investments are impactful and sustained.”

The end of 2016 saw more than

J$3 billion invested by the foundation in communities islandwide, impacting more than 580,000 Jamaicans since inception.

syranno.baines@gleanerjm.com

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170102/dane-richardson-takes-reins-digicel-foundation

Digicel, JCPD Grant Christmas Wish

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An enterprising young Jamaica living with cerebral palsy will remember this Christmas as the time he entered the workforce as an entrepreneur, after receiving a new computer, printer and external hard drive for his start-up technology firm, Ventura Tech.

While more than 3,000 children will ‘Get Gifted’ with toys, courtesy of Digicel during Christmas treats to be held islandwide.

The gift to Roshane Foster, who has refused to let the cerebral palsy crush his dreams, was made possible through collaboration between Digicel Foundation and the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD).

A recent surprise visit to Roshane’s house in Manchester brought tears of joy from his mother Gennie Facey, who was happy to see her son’s entrepreneurial dream come to life.

“Roshane has always wanted to start his own business and I have always known that he had it in him to be successful, but as a single parent it has been difficult to give him all he would need to succeed. I am so very appreciative. I could not ask for more,” said Facey.

A GOOD START

She noted that this was a good start for Ventura Tech, a name hand-picked by her son for his business.

Roshane already supports his community through graphic design and other digital services. However, with new gadgets, he will now have better equipment to extend his business portfolio.

As Roshane spoke it became clear that he had great passion for his business. “Ventura Tech is very unique because I try to make sure each design is different and I listen to my customers, so that I can give them what they ask for. I put my heart and soul in each design so that makes a big difference.”

He was eager to share his vision for the future, saying, “I see myself in the next five years with at least two computer shops and giving back to the persons who helped me to make my dream come true.”

“We want to celebrate the resilient spirit of champions like Roshane, who want to contribute meaningfully, despite the hurdles along their way,” said Dane Richardson, director of operations at the Digicel Foundation.

Through several initiatives, the foundation supports organisations to help address challenges in the disability sector.

FAR-REACHING EFFORTS

“Working with key agencies like the JCPD helps to ensure that our efforts are far-reaching and impactful,” said Richardson.

From his certification in information technology and business administration to his own volunteerism in becoming the first active Rotaract Club member living with cerebral palsy, Roshane has made great strides.

In speaking about his next steps, he was steadfast in sharing how he wants to channel his own success to actively supporting members of the special-needs community.

“What I want is for persons to stop looking down on people with disabilities. We have a lot to offer, just like anyone else,” said Roshane.

In the meantime, Digicel will continue giving toys to children tomorrow, with the Usain Bolt Treat in Sherwood Content Trelawny

Digicel Jamaica CEO David Butler said toy-giving has become a happy tradition of the company.

“Nothing warms our hearts more at this time of the year than seeing the joy a toy brings to children’s faces. We are always very happy to support our ambassadors and community organisations that work hard to ensure we extend smiles right across Jamaica during the Yuletide,” said Butler.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20161225/digicel-jcpd-grant-christmas-wish