AMCHAM JAMAICA | American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica

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Promoting Investment and Trade between the United States, Jamaica and the Region

AMCHAM honours corporate, civic leaders

The National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica, the Honouree for the AMCHAM Jamaica Award of Excellence for Arts & Culture has been hailed as one of the most innovative dance companies to have achieved world acclaim in the last half of the twentieth century. It has been celebrated for its creative blend of the lore music and dance traditions of Jamaica, the wider Caribbean and the American south, with both modern and European classical ballet forms.

This dance company, co-founded by Eddy Thomas and the late Hon. Rex Nettleford, O.D., in 1962, the year Jamaica won it’s independence, is regarded by many as one of the most influential cultural voices of the third world.

The company has forged its own organic vocabulary, technique and style, securing for Jamaicans a way of articulating their identity through dance, theatre and music. They have toured extensively – from London’s Saddlers Wells to Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes, from the Theatre Royal in Sydney to the Palace of Culture in Kiev, at the Gausman Theatre in Miami, the New Orleans Theatre of Music and Performing Arts and the New York City Center Theatre.

Kevin Wallen, Founder of Staff & Students Expressing Truth, the Honouree for the AMCHAM Jamaica Award of Excellence Civic Responsibility: Individual, has dedicated a decade of his life to helping to empower individuals and groups in prisons, schools, communities, businesses and government, to realize and create opportunities for themselves.

He has been an instrument of transformation for many inmates in Jamaica’s prisons, helping them to turn their lives around.

A philanthropist at heart, Mr. Wallen believes that excellence can be achieved by hard work, a positive attitude and a strong commitment to excellence. He is a motivational speaker, radio personality and founder of an organization that has assisted over 100 former prison inmates, achieving 0% recidivism, and earning the attention of correctional authorities in Jamaica and the Caribbean.

He has used his own resources to establish computer laboratories and centres in three prisons, providing ICT training for inmates and wards and conducting literacy programmes that enhance their employability and self esteem.

Mr. Wallen also conducts workshops in schools and correctional institutions in a bid to reduce truancy, achieve behavior modification and to provide guidance to those who have or are at risk of going down the wrong path.

Food For The Poor, the Honouree for the AMCHAM Jamaica Award of Excellence for Civic Leadership: Organization, has worked continuously to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the island’s poor since being established in 1983.

They have raised and contributed billions of dollars cash and goods including medicine and equipment to help hundreds of thousands of poor Jamaicans and they provide food, housing, medical supplies, agricultural assistance, education and social outreach, and prison ministry, through over 5,000 church and community organizations.

The charitable organization has built over 22,000 housing units for the needy, and each year completes 50-80 projects such as community centres, sanitation units and basic schools. They have also provided boats and equipment for 17 fishing villages islandwide and continue training fishermen in current fishing, survival and business skills.

Food For The Poor distributes seeds, supplies and equipment to small farmers and provide start-up equipment, livestock and advice for beekeeping, livestock and crop farming and ornamental fishing. They also support 21 children’s homes and minister to prisoners, helping over 3,000 ex-inmates to make a “fresh start” in income-earning endeavours.

Capital & Credit Merchant Bank, won third place in the AMCHAM Jamaica Award of Excellence for Corporate Social Responsibility, for its commitment to promoting a better, more caring society and the enrichment of the lives of the less fortunate and their investment in human and financial resources in a range of spheres including education, health, sports, child welfare and culture.

Hundreds of children have benefitted from their scholarships to secondary and tertiary level institutions and they have partnered with other local organizations like the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica and the Ministry of Education to promote literacy and good reading habits in the Reading…the Bottomline Programme, and with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, to sponsor the annual “Mello Go ‘Roun” concert, the Festival Queen Competition, the Pop Song Competition and the Traditional Folk Forms Competition.

Through their annual concert, “Pickney Love at Christmas” the company has contributed millions of dollars to the School of Hope for handicapped children and the Dare to Care Homes of the Mustard Seed Communities to benefit children with HIV/AIDS.

Capital & Credit Merchant Bank has sponsored the Jamaica Cricket Association’s National Youth Development Cricket Camp, the National Limited Overs Cricket Competition and the All-Jamaica Junior Tennis Championship and the Jamaica Corporate Golf Tournament resulting in significantly improved standards and enhanced exposure of Jamaican players internationally.

Whether it is painting an infirmary on Labour Day, refurbishing Martha’s House, mentoring students at the University of the West Indies or donating personal lunch money matched by company funds to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, management and staff work together to improving the lot of communities all across Jamaica.

The NCB Foundation, second place winner in the AMCHAM Jamaica Awards of Excellence, Corporate Social Responsibility, has committed itself to creating life-changing opportunities and building a better Jamaica by supporting education, youth leadership, community development and entrepreneurship, all within a defined corporate social responsibility policy which covers the areas: ethics, employment practices, engagement of stakeholders and community outreach.

Their policy ensures that as a company, they conduct their business with integrity and transparency, while respecting the dignity and rights of individuals in the communities in which they operate.

Through the specially formed foundation, the National Commercial Bank (NCB) has committed more than a half a billion Jamaican dollars on initiatives in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, community development, and youth leadership in the last six years. Over the years, approximately 140,000 Jamaican students were given the opportunity to pursue their academic dreams through the Foundation’s scholarship and CXC/CSEC education programme. In addition, the Foundation upgraded several IT facilities across the island giving over 10,000 persons an opportunity to develop their IT skills. The Bank has also donated over 500 computers to schools islandwide, giving more than 50,000 students the opportunity to increase their computer skills.

The Foundation has also partnered with several projects that seek to transform communities in a positive way. One of their most celebrated projects “Be the Change” campaign is aimed at inspiring youth to make positive changes not only in their communities, but in their daily lives.

The NCB Foundation has assisted in improving the employability and economic self sufficiency of thousands of persons from innercity and rural communities by creating and upgrading IT and educational facilities for institutions like Children First, St. Vincent Strambi High School in St. Elizabeth, Titchfield High, Black River Primary, Ardenne High School and the Beacons for Peace Youth Information Centre in Westmoreland.

The Scotiabank Group, first place winners of the AMCHAM Jamaica Awards of Excellence for Corporate Social Responsibility, has had considerable impact on the social sector in Jamaica contributing through their Foundation over $643 million to social development and the alleviation of poverty and deprivation among the economically and socially disadvantaged in Jamaica.

The primary focus of their work has been in the areas of health, education and community development. Living their slogan “Impacting Communities Through Service” over 1500 staff members have formed a formidable volunteer group which has partnered with communities in a range of endeavours including Read Across Jamaica Day, Labour Day, Coastal Clean Up Day, clean up and refurbishing of children’s homes, school rehabilitation and community greening projects.

The Scotiabank Group has built and expanded the Trench Town Reading Laboratory and visit the children twice per month. They have partnered with Shaggy & Friends Make A Difference Foundation for the benefit of the Bustamante Hospital for Children and they have established a Big Brother Big Sister Mentorship Programme to provide mentorship and support to vulnerable children who are beneficiaries of the Foundation.

Through their Street Smart, Street Safe programme they support the Jamaica Constabulary Force Road Safety Unit’s efforts by outfitting their safety wardens, providing a road safety van and a mascot who accompanies them on their visits to schools.

Their “Speak Up! Speak Out!” HIV/AIDS Education Awareness Programme built awareness on the pandemic through the media of debate and creative arts and their environment project, supports and promotes the recycling of plastic and paper and the planting of trees.

The significant investments in Jamaica’s social sector made by the Scotiabank Group will have long term sustained impact on the development of the nation.

Honourable Mention

The Independent Judging Panal of the inaugural AMCHAM Jamaica Awards of Excellence singled out four organizations for Honourable Mention. They included:

The Calabash Literary Festival for “inspiring a fertile literary culture in Jamaica”.

The Rural Family Support Organization (RUFAMSO) which began as a Teenage Mother’s Project in 1086 and is now a comprehensive programme of support to vulnerable families in childcare training, skills training, counseling and remedial education.

Barita Investments Limited which earned commendations for their work through the Barita Education Foundation to improve literacy and numeracy at the Early Childhood level.

RJR Communications Group which was lauded for devoting over $100-M in valuable airtime in the areas of community life, education and learning, sports and recreation, culture and environment.