Impacting Jamaica

Internet entrepreneur Gordon Swaby believes Jamaica’s most significant accomplishment since Independence is the improvement in life expectancy of the population, which has moved from about 50 years old to above 70.“I think for a country that is not wealthy we have done extremely well. We have benefitted from our people living longer,” Swaby tells Impacting Jamaica host Byron Buckley.Swaby, who is the CEO and co-founder of EduFocal Limited, an e-learning platform, identifies underperformance of the education system as one of the most disappointing features of the Jamaican society.He recommends the leveraging of technology in combination with expert teachers to improve the quality of education outcome on a wider scale.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Archbishop Howard Gregory is proud of the strong democratic tradition that Jamaica has developed since gaining political Independence in 1962. He points to the regularity of the nation changing governments by the ballot and not subterfuge. With the high level of maturity of Jamaica’s electoral system, its election officials have served abroad in professional capacities and as observers, Archbishop Gregory notes. Additionally, he is impressed by the significant improvement in the island’s physical infrastructure such as roads, housing, and educational facilities, with the church playing a significant role in the latter.However, the Archbishop, whose jurisdiction includes the West Indies, is disappointed that nearly sixty years after gaining Independence Jamaica is still tied politically to Britain. He believes it is time to complete the process of decolonization.Jamaica needs to replace the United Kingdom Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final appellate court, Archbishop Gregory tells Impacting Jamaica Host Byron Buckley.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Industrialist Richard Pandohie celebrates the fact that, since gaining Independence, Jamaica has expanded as a global brand and huge influencer, both culturally and in the terms of the positions Jamaicans hold internationally.He points out that the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris, is of Jamaican descent.“One of my disappointments is that we have not even begun to scratch the surface of what that brand can do,” Pandohie tells Impacting Jamaica Host Byron Buckley. “We do not know how to monetise the brand.”Pandohie, the immediate president of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, reasons that maybe Jamaica does not have the local capability to manage its cultural assets, and should employ the expertise.His most disappointing feature of the Jamaican society is the poor quality of life being experienced by the majority, which he describes as iniquitous. He slams the high crime rate as a burden on the economy and calls on civil society to be more demanding of political leaders.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Spanish-Jamaican Foundation (SJF), founded in 2006, is a collaborative effort of a number of Spanish companies with current investments in Jamaica. The main objective is to strengthen the friendship between Spain and Jamaica. The foundation stages and supports educational, cultural, and community development initiatives with the support for the teaching and learning of Spanish being one of its priority areas of focus.Today, we learn more about the excellent work being done by the foundation from Project Manager Vanessa Meggoe who sits down with Impacting Jamaica host, Shelly-Ann Harris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long before Simone Thomas, president of the Merl Grove High School Past Students’ Association, Canada Chapter, became involved in the organization, she knew that she wanted to give back to her alma mater. She believes that others contributed to her education and therefore she is required to do the same for students at the institution.Having been a member of the association since 2009, and its president from 2014, Thomas can easily list the names of students who are succeeding because they were supported and are determined.In an interview with Impacting Jamaica host Neil Armstrong, Thomas pays homage to mentors who guided her path. In return, she is doing the same for students at Merl Grove High School in Kingston, Jamaica.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation spends millions each year on individuals and projects across Jamaica. It is strong on supporting education at every level and has supported hundreds since 2003, the year the foundation was formalised by Jamaica’s largest commercial bank.Additionally, it promotes and encourages knowledge and appreciation of Jamaica's culture in all aspects. The foundation and its board are passionate about ensuring that Jamaica’s youth are prepared to participate in the future of work, and are in a position to become the global tech entrepreneurs of the future.The foundation’s boss, Mrs. Nadeen Matthews Blair, spoke with Impacting Jamaica host Keisha Hill about uplifting work across the country.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CIBC First Caribbean International Bank has been a supporter of various philanthropic efforts to aid education, healthcare and individuals. These include supporting frontline healthcare workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rehabilitating schools and supporting projects that assist with educating students.In this edition of Impacting Jamaica with host John Myers Jr., Managing Director Nigel Holness explains the importance of giving back to the corporate culture of this Canadian banking subsidiary that has been operating in Jamaica and the Caribbean for in excess of 100 years. He also implores others to give back and underscores the positive impact of such undertakings on the lives of people and the society.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Hill has been there, done that. Now the boss of CIN TV, the number one television broadcaster of Caribbean-centric programmes in the New York tri-state area, is encouraging Jamaican businesses to recognize the value and aggressively take on the lucrative diaspora market as he has done. In this edition of Impacting Jamaica, with Host John Myers, Jr, Mr. Hill emphasises the benefits of tapping this growing market for Jamaican food and other goods and services. He shares how he first started out in this highly competitive market; and the roadmap he used to select and broadcast programmes that would captivate this large group of Jamaican viewers in a fast-paced, multicultural metropolis.After 29 years of dominance in providing television content for Jamaicans and other Caribbean nationalities, he gives advice and tips for local producers of uniquely Jamaican goods and services aiming to make their diaspora entrance.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Telecommunications giant – Digicel – is transforming communities and organizations, while at the same time helping to improve people’s lives across Jamaica. It is doing this through the Digicel Foundation.The telecoms company is increasing access to special needs communities to improve quality of life; expanding access to education through technology; supporting and empowering survivors of domestic violence; providing health interventions; and fostering a spirit of self-reliance through sustainable enterprise within communities. Chairperson of the board, Mrs. Jean Lowrie-Chin, talks about the work of the foundation with Impacting Jamaica Host Keisha Hill.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rainford ‘Perry’ Bloomfield is not your average past student and not because he breathes ‘purple. He is the president of the Kingston College Old Boys’ Association-USA; and given the task of leading those brave souls in their quest to help with the new dynamism, that is changing the delivery of secondary education in Jamaica.In this episode of Impacting Jamaica with host Aubrey Campbell, President Bloomfield provides an insight into a number of projects that are not only changing the physical landscape at the famed North Street institution but those who will benefit as well.“We provide a network, in partnership with Kingston College, where ‘Old Boys’ and friends can join us and share in our Fortis pride, networking and philanthropy,” he declared.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.