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Parris Lyew-Ayee (centre), chairman of the JN Foundation, makes a point to Pearnel Charles Jr. (right), Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change at the media launch of the Water Summit. Looking on is Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation.

Parris Lyew-Ayee, Chairman of the JN Foundation, said that the country’s water problems can only be addressed with a collaborative approach, with the input of key stakeholders, at the public and private sector levels.

“Solving this long-standing water problem is not an easy task,” he said. “The government cannot do it alone. That is why we are hosting this special webinar, to bring together in one place: experts, scientists, engineers, hydrogeologists, economists, financiers, policy makers, and social scientists; including many other stakeholders, to not only discuss issues, but to have constructive dialogue and put forward practical solutions, which we will need to grab and put into action,” he explained.

Mr Lyew-Ayee made those suggestions while addressing the JN Foundation Water Summit, which was held virtually on May 13-14, under the theme “Water is Life.”

The JN Foundation Chairman said that the country’s water challenges are unprecedented, which called for decisive actions and proactive approaches to address the issues.

“Our climate adaptation approach must involve the practices of water efficiencies and conservation,” he pointed out, noting that the summit had brought to the table the relevant stakeholders to discuss water related issues.

The geologist also recommended that upcoming housing solutions, constructed by private developers and government agencies, should feature climate resilience and water conservation fittings, as well as systems, at a minimum standard.

He said there should be an urgent ratification of the draft National Housing Policy, specifically in the areas, which aim to support and promote sustainable climate resilience.

The Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, said the government was pursuing solutions to address informal communities, which are vulnerable to climate change.

“My ministry is currently engaged in a comprehensive national survey of these informal settlements, with a view to obtaining information which will allow us to move toward solutions,” he said.

Minister Charles said that, so far, some 25,202 persons were surveyed in more than 219 settlements, which were conducted in the parishes of Clarendon, St Ann, Manchester, Trelawney, Hanover, and St Elizabeth. He also noted that, currently data is being collected in the parishes of St Mary, Portland, and St Thomas.

“That data which is being collected will also inform the Squatter Management Policy, to provide that strategic direction needed to address squatting, with the aim of also addressing the practice and fostering orderly planned development of our land resources,” he said.

The summit was organised by the Water Project Jamaica, which is being administered by the JN Foundation. Some of the other topics discussed included: water availability and housing; policy and water as a commodity; as well as, water security, water availability and urban planning.

The Hon. Earl Jarrett, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Jamaica National Group addressing the Water Summit.

The Hon. Earl Jarrett, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Jamaica National Group, considers that proper planning is needed to meet the country’s water needs, which he said, have been outpacing supply.

“It is inevitable that, without action, the country will not be able to meet its water needs. We must, therefore, find ways to change certain outcomes,” he said, and pointed out that the government has been doing well in wastewater management.

Mr Jarrett made those observations while addressing the JN Foundation’s Water Summit, which was held virtually, May 13-14, under the theme, “Water is Life.”

He said that the country’s water resources were under threat from climate change, development and a growing population. In addition, he pointed out that Jamaica’s water resources also generally cater to the needs of an additional two million persons annually, who visit the island, as tourists.

Mr Jarrett explained that one of the objectives of the Water Project Jamaica, which is being implemented by the JN Foundation and funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, is to engage citizens to become guardians of water resources, by being part of the movement to conserve water.

He said the project’s mandate include educating the Jamaican population to implement water-conservation methods in their homes, with the use of high efficiency toilets and faucets; and to purchase efficient washing machines; as well as, the harvesting of rainwater for domestic use.

The JN Group CEO said the project has also engaged developers to use strategies and techniques in the design and construction of homes, which includes rainwater harvesting and water saving faucets.

Citing other successes of the project, Mr Jarrett noted that householders in nine communities in Kingston & St Andrew, were engaged through a 12-month pilot study, where their homes were retrofitted with water-saving devices, which monitored their usage. He said that the results of the pilot study was astounding.

Some householders, he pointed out, achieved a reduction of up to 42 per cent in their water usage, following the installation of the water-adaptation devices; and the implementation of water-saving measures within their homes, during the past several months.

He informed that a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed earlier this year with the University of Technology, Jamaica, to forge a partnership, which will train more persons in water adaptation, as one of the solutions to address the country’s drought challenges. The partnership will include the development of a course, to certify persons for careers in Water Adaptation and Research, relating to rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling.

Mr Jarrett commended the JN Foundation for organising the Water Summit, which he said, had brought key stakeholders to the table, to discuss solutions to the country’s water challenges.

The summit was organised by Water Project Jamaica, which is being administered by the JN Foundation.

The Hon. Zavia Mayne (left), Minister of State, Ministry of Labour & Social Security makes a point to Jodi-Ann Bowen (right), project officer, at the JN Foundation at the studio recording of the panel discussion. Sharing in the moment are O’Neil Grant (second left) , President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association and veteran trade unionists Danny Roberts.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market, the relevance of the labour laws in place today, and their historical origins are some of the issues to be raised at a Labour Day panel discussion entitled, “From Raising Cane to Remote Work: The evolution of work and labour laws in Jamaica.”

The virtual discussion will be aired on Monday, May 24 on Labour Day, via the JN Foundation’s YouTube Page, at 4:00 p.m.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, said the event is being organised by the JN Foundation to raise awareness about the genesis of Labour Day in Jamaica; and to highlight the sacrifices of our fore parents made, so that Jamaicans can benefit from the labour laws being enforced today.

“While there is still work to be done, we cannot disagree that the strong advocacy of trade unionists, community leaders, and political representatives has redound to our collective benefit,” Ms. Allen said.

“With the development of labour laws, which nurture productivity and protect the interests of workers, and employers, we are at a point, where that evolution must continue, if we are to make Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business,” she related.

Jodi-Ann Bowen, project officer, at the JN Foundation, said that the event is being organised by the JN Foundation, through the Parish Histories of Jamaica Project, an initiative of the JN Foundation.

She pointed out that one of the stalwarts of the labour movement in Jamaica, The Hon. Pearnel Charles, Sr. will take viewers on a trip down memory lane; and share some of the historical events, which shaped the Labour Movement in Jamaica.

Meanwhile, Dr Sonjah Stanley Niaah, director of the Institute of Caribbean Studies at The UWI, Mona, will moderate the event. The panellists will include the first female Political Ombudsman, the Hon.  Donna Parchment Brown; O’Neil Grant, President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association; and veteran trade unionists: Danny Roberts and Ruddy Thomas. Minister of State, Ministry of Labour & Social Security, The Hon. Zavia Mayne, will also be featured in the programme. 

The Parish Histories of Jamaica is a project being implemented by the JN Foundation. The project is charged to unveil and illustrate the history of the Jamaican people.

Through a collaborative effort with the History and Archaeology Department at The University of the West Indies, Mona, the histories of the parishes are researched and documented. The histories are written for an easy read; and are accompanied by captivating photographs of historical sites. Completed parish histories are housed on the project’s website, www.parishhistoriesofjamaica.org.

To date, the JN Foundation has published the Parish History of seven parishes on the project’s website. These histories include that of Portland, Trelawny, St Mary, St Thomas, St Catherine, St Elizabeth, and St James. The project is now writing the parish history of Kingston and will soon start the history of Hanover.

Michelle Toyloy-Carter, Chief Executive Officer of the Credit Information Services Credit Bureau.

Some persons may shy away from credit, but having no credit history may pose a problem, pointed out Michelle Toyloy-Carter, Chief Executive Officer of the Credit Information Services Credit Bureau.

“You are called credit invisible when you have no credit history. You may think that it is a good thing being credit invisible; but really it is not, because it makes the process a little more challenging for lenders, if you do not have any history. They have nothing to prove whether you are a good or bad performer. Therefore, even if it is a credit card, it is always good to have a presence on the credit landscape” she informed.

Mrs. Toyloy-Carter gave that advice while addressing a JN Foundation BeWi$e Financial Empowerment Webinar, which was held recently. The objectives of the webinar, which was entitled ‘Ask Me Anything About Money,’ were: to increase awareness about financial matters; assist persons to improve their money management skills; as well as, to discuss how they can navigate financial transactions using technology.

Rose Miller, Grants Manager at the JN Foundation; and Team Lead of the BeWi$e Financial Empowerment Programme, who was one of the panellists at the webinar, advised that a credit card, if used responsibly, can assist in building a person’s credit history.

“Many people are afraid to use credit cards, because they do not understand how to utilize this powerful tool to their advantage. You don’t have to be afraid to use a credit card. What you need to do is use your credit card according to how you have budgeted; and just pay the credit card bill in full, on time, every time,” she advised.

She stated that, if persons were to follow that advice, they would incur neither interest nor any other penalties such as late fees. Mrs Miller also noted that no matter how you start building credit, persons should ensure that they take steps to manage it responsibly.

“That includes paying your bills on time; staying well below your credit limit; only opening new accounts when necessary; and checking your Credit Report regularly,” she advised.

Mrs Toyloy-Carter advised there are three Credit Bureaus in Jamaica, which gather information about consumer’s credit history from a lenders’ database and help to keep both lenders and borrowers on their toes. The three bureaus are: Credit Information Services (CIS Credit Bureau), Creditinfo Jamaica, CRIF Information Bureau Jamaica.

She also informed that everyone is entitled to a free Credit Report, annually from each bureau. Persons can request this report by visiting the website of each bureau that are regulated by the  Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) 

All bureaus offer online application via their website (credit.cisjamaica.com) and reports are generally available same day, or within 48 hours.

Your Credit Report will include your personal information, such as: your name, date of birth, TRN, address and employment; as well as, a credit summary of current or past due credit accounts. The summary  includes, payment history, debts accumulated, credit limits, as well as information on  bankruptcy and lawsuits if any.

In support of the government’s vision for a healthier Jamaica, the JN Foundation will be staging an international water summit under the theme, “Water is Life,” spanning a two-day period, May 13-14, 2021.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, said the summit will take the form of a ‘Phygital’ experience, a combination of both physical and digital activities. She underscored that the event will also be up to par with the standard of UN conferences in respect of its look and feel.

She said that the two-day Climate Change, Sustainability, and Innovation Summit, aims to present climate smart solutions geared to impact residential and/or commercial industries and also provide general solutions to address climate resilience, with a special category focused on water adaptation.

Other aims of the summit are to present businesses that help to solve a climate related challenge and overall, promote increased climate resiliency, particularly in residential industries; energizing and exciting persons who are currently involved in this line of business and/or considering entry.

The summit will also provide specific avenues for women and youth-led climate resiliency businesses, to participate. It will also seek to identify the needs of international stakeholders operating the field of the climate resilience.

It is free and open to everyone and will incorporate speakers both locally and from across the Caribbean, who are experts in their field; and who will provide the well- needed knowledge for attendees.

“The Summit will give participants the flexibility to register online for workshops based on their interest; allow networking – with the opportunity to obtain funding, or capital for their businesses; and showcase water adaptation best practices or technology; as well as, highlight the progress of the entrepreneurs, who have been funded by the JN Foundation,” Cornelia Walters-Jones, project manager of the Water Project, outlined.

The University of Technology, Jamaica, will present some of its latest research. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the university to offer a course in Rainwater Harvesting and Greywater Harvesting under its Faculty of the Built Environment. Mrs Walters Jones stated that the key takeaways from the summit will be to foster entrepreneurship in climate resilience; support the uptake of water efficiency measures in the housing sector across Jamaica and to obtain commitment from the government, to maintain focus and action water conservation strategies.

Through its Water Adaptation Project, the JN Foundation has cemented its objectives to bridge the gap between Jamaica’s already limited water supply, due to climate change and population growth, urbanisation, environmental degradation- among other factors- by encouraging the use of water adaptation technologies by developers and householders.

The project, which was launched in 2017, and is a joint collaboration between the JN Bank, the JN Foundation, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is approaching its final stages of completion, but promises to leave a lasting impact on both the environment and the Jamaican people.

For more information about the summit, visit the Water Project’s website, at www.waterprojectja.com.

The JN Foundation, through its BeWi$e Financial Empowerment Programme, will host a series of webinars on financial literacy on April 27- 29.

Rose Miller, grants manager and team lead for the BeWi$e Financial Empowerment Programme, said the webinars will target students at the high and tertiary levels, who are JN scholarship recipients; as well as the parents and guardians of these scholars. Another is also being hosted for members/customers of the JN Group but is also opened to members of the public.

“These sessions have become even more relevant now as we go through the pandemic, now in its second year.  COVD-19 has impacted the lives of everyone socially and emotionally, but by far its greatest impact has arguably been financially. Those who are going to survive are those who are mentally prepared and truly understand money and how money works,” she informed

 Mrs. Miller said the focus of the sessions is to increase awareness about financial matters; assist persons in improving their money management skills; and to discuss how they can navigate financial transactions using technology, during this challenging period where working from home, curfews, occasional lock-downs, social distancing and the reduction of large gatherings are implemented as part of the solution to help in the fight against the Pandemic .

“We have been encouraging persons to use the available technology, such as the use of an app to monitor their finances as well as budgeting; pointing persons to sign up for online banking  to carry out activities such as bill payment,” which she said is convenient, efficient and safer.

Mrs Miller said while some Jamaicans have expressed concerns about using technology, it is time that they embrace the technology as the pandemic has forced many to adapt.

Turning to the webinar scheduled for JN members and the general public, on April 29 at 7:00 p.m., Mrs. Miller encouraged everyone to log on and join the conversation.  “We must be continually working to improve the level of financial literacy of our citizens so that our families and country can be more financially stable.”

The session entitled ‘Ask Me Anything About Money’, will be facilitated by experts from across the JN Group along with special guest, Michelle Toylor-Carter, Chief Executive Officer, of Credit Information Services.

“Persons attending may register on the JN Foundation website and JN Group social media platforms for an informative discussion on charting a path to financial security,” said the JN Foundation grants manager.

The JN BeWi$e Financial Literacy Project was launched by the JN Foundation, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank, in June 2013.

Initially targeting remittance customers, many of whom were unbanked, the programme has been expanded to include other groups, including children.  Utilizing a toolkit designed to debunk the myth that financial independence is a dream attainable by only a few, the programme promotes the idea that with knowledge, discipline and commitment, this desirable status can be achieved by many.

Revamped in 2015, the initiative has become one of the most sought after programmes at the JN Foundation, as individuals become more aware that proper money management is necessary in their quest to achieve their financial goals

Parris Lyew-Ayee (right), chairman of the JN Foundation presents water efficiency kits to Tanya Wildish (second left), director, Wortley Home for Girls. Sharing in the moment are Mary Allen-Smith (left), director of the JN Foundation and Delores Bailey, manager, Wortley Home for Girls. The home also received a rain water system at a handing over ceremony on World Water Day, March 22, at the home. The donation is in an effort to implement water adaptation measures and curb water usage within the home.

The JN Foundation, through its initiative, the Water Project Jamaica, has donated a rainwater harvesting system and 12 water-efficiency kits to the Wortley Home for Girls at a handing over ceremony on World Water Day, March 22, 2021, at the Home. This is in an effort to implement water adaptation measures and curb water usage within the Home.

Grappling with high water bills, the Wortley Home was established by the Anglican Diocese in 1918 to provide a home and a safe space for girls ages seven to eighteen. The institution was recently rebuilt following a fire in 2015, and now provides a loving environment and Christian upbringing for 14 girls, from a variety of backgrounds.

“In observance of this year’s World Water Day, we want to emphasize the value of water, whether in homes, schools or communities. And, we want to spread the message of water conservation and efficient water use as a part of valuing water. Our donation to the Home will increase its efficient use of water, and decrease the burden of high bills,” expressed Mr. Parris A. Lyew-Ayee, Chairman of the JN Foundation, who made the presentation of the items to the Home this week.

“Each water-efficiency kit includes a showerhead, aerators for the kitchen and bathroom sinks and a toilet leak detector. In addition, we handed over a rainwater harvesting system which will be installed by Instant-Save Conservation Solutions Jamaica Limited,” Mrs. Cornelia Walters-Jones, Project Manager, added.

Rainwater-harvesting systems capture rainwater by directing it from large surfaces, for example, roofs, to an underground or over-ground holding tank. The harvested rainwater is filtered and then pumped directly to the appliances or to a header tank. Domestic or commercial applications include flushing toilets. The Home will use its system to reduce water consumption primarily in the laundry area.

“Water means different things to different people, and we, at the Foundation, have started the conversation surrounding water conservation and what it means to adapt to water saving measures,” stated Mr. Lyew-Ayee. “Adapting means adjusting, and our aim is to influence the narrative that water is important to your home and family life, your livelihood, your cultural practices, your wellbeing, and your local environment, so it is up to you to value and preserve it the best way you can.”

The water project, which was started in 2017, is a joint collaboration with the JN Bank, the JN Foundation, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and IDB Lab.

“The funding from our partners has allowed us to take on impactful and meaningful projects, such as this at the Wortley Home for Girls, as we aim to make a difference. We have also produced useful resources such as a water savings calculator; water adaptation guidelines for homeowners; offered training in water harvesting and carried out a 12 month-long household pilot study,” pointed out Mrs. Walters-Jones.

“A major shock to us at the Home came when the monthly water bill cost us over one hundred thousand dollars,” noted Mrs. Tanya Wildish, Director of the Home. “Most of that money we would have hoped to put into purchasing personal and educational items for the girls and fixing up the home.”

“With the installation of the devices, we are excited to see how much money we are able to save by cutting down our water usage,” added Mr. Keith Sangster, who is also a Director of the Wortley Home for Girls.

In addition to the installation of the devices, the visit to the Home featured a socially distant but interactive session with JN Ambassador, Agent Sasco and the girls, as well as a tour of the facility grounds.

To learn more about the Water Project Jamaica and its corporate philanthropy initiatives, please visit www.waterprojectja.com.

Lorna Lewis (right), principal of Bridgeport Primary School tours the infrastructural upgrade done at the school with Jodi-Ann Bowen (second at right), monitoring, evaluation & special projects officer at the JN Foundation; Camal Briscoe (third right), director of Alison Construction and Roberts Stephens, technical consultant at the JN Foundation.

When students at the Bridgeport Primary School in St Catherine return to face-to-face classes, they will be entering a safer environment, where commuting to school will be much easier.

This is because the school has received infrastructural upgrades, including sidewalks, road signs, and a newly painted crosswalk. The work was conducted under the X-Marks the Spot initiative, a school crosswalk road safety campaign being implemented by the JN Foundation, in collaboration with UNICEF and the ABERTIS Foundation.

Lorna Lewis, principal of the school, said the institution was grateful for the infrastructural upgrade.

“We are extremely pleased and we are grateful to the foundations for all that have done for us. Not only the students have benefitted, but also the community members, in terms of where they would wait for the buses; and even for the cross walk, which has been repainted to make it safer for our boys and girls when they return to face-to-face classes,” she informed.

Jodi-Ann Bowen, monitoring, evaluation & special projects officer at the JN Foundation, said the organisation is happy that the school has been made safer, as a result of the improvements to road safety infrastructure.

“Road safety is one of the priority areas of the JN Foundation, and we are happy that through our donor partners, the ABERTIS Foundation and UNICEF, Bridgeport Primary School has benefitted from such improvements,” she related.

She also noted that children should be protected at all cost, as they are vulnerable members of the population.

Samantha Gayle, education support consultant at UNICEF, who has responsibility for the road safety programme, said she was grateful to have upgraded Bridgeport Primary School, which did not have any safe road infrastructure in the vicinity.

“I’m glad that we were able to complete a major part of the work and the quality of the work done is in keeping with our standards. I wish that the students were here at the moment, so that we could actually see the impact it has on them,” she said.

The school crosswalk campaign was initiated in 2018 and is focused on encouraging advocacy and discussions about road safety in schools and households.

Hazard Primary School in Clarendon was the first school to be upgraded under the campaign. The educational institution benefitted from the erection of signage for bus lay-bys; and pedestrian gates as well as, the widening and paving of the sidewalks.

The campaign was informed by a Child Road Safety Assessment Report commissioned by the JN Foundation, which provided the baseline data, to improve the safety of children on roads, particularly near, or on their way to school.

The research identified specific schools and zones, where children were most vulnerable to incidences of road traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities. These areas required specific infrastructural and/or safety interventions, both at the physical and social levels.

Earl Jarrett (left), deputy chair and chief executive officer of The Jamaica National Group explains to Russell Barrett (right) the importance of the Oliver Clarke scholarship. Meanwhile, Parris Lyew-Ayee (second right), chairman of the JN Foundation and Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation look on. Mr Russell made a courtesy call at the organisation’s head office in Kingston, recently.

Twenty-five year-old Russell Barrett, who resides in St Elizabeth, is the recipient of the Hon. Oliver Clarke Graduate Scholarship, which was awarded to celebrate the life and legacy of the late chair the board of directors of The Jamaica National Group, a media mogul and Jamaican business stalwart.

Russell, a senior public procurement officer of the Southern Regional Health Authority, said that being selected as the first recipient of the prestigious scholarship was an overwhelming and grateful feeling.

“I’m most thankful and excited. The donor’s name, in which the scholarship is presented, is within itself most prestigious. Mr Clarke has a legacy of his own, and I am proud and honoured to be presented with this scholarship,” Russell said with pride.

He is pursuing a Master of Science Degree in International Public and Development Management, at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. He informed that the graduate programme is a sought after course for middle managers.

After completion, Russell hopes to continue to work at his organisation, where he aspires to be promoted to regional director within the next five years.

The Calabar High School old boy said that the scholarship, which is valued up to $2 million, will cover all his educational expenses, a burden which he said has been lifted from his shoulders.

A graduate at The UWI, where he pursued a first degree in International Relations, Russell knows the challenges which go into the financing of an education, as he shared that while doing his first degree, he was not qualified to get financial funding for his studies. However, his parents, who are from humble beginnings, were determined that their first born would get a tertiary education.

“It is from the sweat of their brow that I was able to go to university,” he said, as he revealed that his mother would buy and sell retail clothes, to finance his education, with assistance from his father.

He also worked on campus whenever he had no classes to earn extra cash to cover the shortfall. He noted that these challenges served to mould his character and made him into a thrifty person, who benefited from the value of saving.

“I was a member of the Jamaica National School Savers Club; and therefore, I had a bank account by the time I was 11 years-old,” he boasts.

He said that, with the guidance of his father, he continued saving with the institution; and was able to get a mortgage from the institution, to purchase his first home.

His advice to young people is to aspire to do well and seek higher education. “Hard work and dedication will take you far, but a good education will give you the edge,” he said.

Earl Jarrett, deputy chair and chief executive officer of The Jamaica National Group congratulated Mr Barrett and shared that Mr Clarke was passionate about stamping out corruption and mismanagement of public resources in the public sector and that The Jamaica National Group thought it was fitting to honour his legacy with a scholarship fund that would invest in a generation of young leaders who will not be corrupt and will shout out corruption when they see it and put in good management practices to safeguard against corruption.

Parris Lyew-Ayee, chairman of the JN Foundation said good leadership especially in procurement will be especially needed in the public health sector in the COVID-19 pandemic and post pandemic.

“Leadership procurement to deal with corruption is very important. This is why we are going to need people with backbone, high morals and values to take charge,” he said.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation said that the scholarship was introduced for the first time last year, following the death of Mr Clarke in 2020.

Ms Allen informed that two grants were awarded from the scholarship fund to Jamonte East, who is pursuing a Masters in International Public and Development Management and Keenan Falconer, who is doing a Masters in Science and Development Studies, at The University of the West Indies.

The scholarship offering will be replicated over the next two years and one person is expected to be selected annually.