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The Christmas season is here and some Jamaicans may want to enjoy a more ‘bountiful’ season than they can afford.

Some persons may be tempted to borrow money to buy gifts for those near and dear. Others may want to take out loans to purchase hams, stock up on sorrel and other food and drink or decorate their homes with lights and new appliances.

A survey of local lending houses to find out the costs attached to securing a Christmas showcase revealed that what are essentially personal loans might be rebranded as Christmas loans as the season begins.

Commercial banks and micro financiers have been rolling out loans that consumers can use for their personal needs. All loan sources canvassed for the details of their Christmas loans declined to share their rates.

However, Jamaica National chief of retail sales at JN Bank, Steve Distant explained, “JN Bank provides loans to assist our members to meet their personal goals on an ongoing basis. These loans are purpose-driven and are not categorised by social events.”

He added, “through the BeWise financial empowerment programme executed by the JN Foundation, we provide our members with information to assist them with developing their financial acumen and managing their expenses carefully.”

The consumer watchdog, the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) says in an online report that currently, many advertisements are offering same-day loans, pay-day loans and quick loans.

It warns, however, “as a consumer, you need to be cautious in responding to these offers, especially during the Christmas season when they may seem even more attractive, but not everything that glitters is gold. “

The CAC stated, “Many of these “deals” are often unrealistic and are being offered by predatory loan companies, which, are not regulated.”

The consumer body asserted that many lenders at this time of year practice over-lending to customers and sometimes impose excessive fees and onerous contract terms which once signed to, the consumer has to honour because it is a private contract.

The most common of these is the requirement to pay a non-refundable processing fee. The loan application is frequently denied, as it is often used by unscrupulous lenders as a means of accumulating funds.

In instances where the loan is approved, consumers are faced with high loan repayments that are burdensome and some are not able to repay.

“As such,” the CAC noted,” consumers find themselves in a bind when they are unable to make loan payments, and some may even go to other lenders — formal and informal — to get a new loan to repay the old one while accumulating more debt.”

If you are seeking a loan for the Christmas season this year, try to approach reputable organisations like banks and credit unions, the CAC advised.

Before you do so: consider the purpose of the loan; review the terms and conditions of the loan -including interest (add-on- versus reducing balance) and processing fees; the period for repayment; and other non-interest related charges, the CAC added.

“Remember, Christmas is only one day of the year. We want you to enjoy the season. However, be mindful that after Christmas, all the other bills will have to be paid (rent, utilities, transportation, food as well as sending the children back to school),” the consumer watchdog warned.

Think carefully before assigning your hard-earned cash to loan payments Christmas loans that will follow you all year long. It’s better to budget and save towards the extra spending that the season usually demands.

Residents in Brown’s Town, St Ann have identified poor waste management and traffic congestion woes as some of the social problems which they would like to tackle “through advocacy,” to improve the situation in their community.

The residents discussed the areas they want to be improved in their communities, at the inaugural meeting of the JN Circle Brown’s Town, which was held at the JN Bank in Brown’s Town, St. Ann, recently.

They noted that waste management was a result of the poor garbage collection system; and highlighted the need for changes in the manner in which persons disposed of their garbage.
They also cited the need for improvement in road infrastructure, as one solution to address the congestion in the town.

Chevanese Peters, project coordinator at the JN Foundation, encouraged the residents to come together and find out about the plans for the town’s development from the Municipal Council.

Addressing the issue of waste management, Ms. Peters said, “We need to take a multifaceted approach, as we strive to change human behavior, among other issues. This is what the JN Circle will seek to accomplish, as you sit down and discuss the situations. No idea is too small or too big. It is a safe place to speak about your issues and then you go into a planning mode to implement a campaign,” she said.

Earlier in the meeting, Claudine Allen, member ombudsman at The Jamaica National Group, in explaining the rationale of the JN Circle, informed residents, that it was a local network of service clubs, driven by the JN Group and its members, with the aim to improve the lives of its members and positively impact the development of their communities.

“The mandate of the JN Circle is community building, advocacy and networking,” Ms. Allen informed. “There is power in advocacy, and we want to give power to that advocacy. We want to work with you and assist you to make decisions that will positively impact your communities,” she explained.

Ms. Allen stated that the JN Circle was recruiting members who have a ‘fire in their bellies’ for change and want to see improvements in their communities and Jamaica.

Dr Ransford Davidson, business relationship and sales manager at JN Bank, explained that the JN employees and members will come together in the JN Circle, to build relationships and leverage the JN network to implement activities, designed to positively impact the lives of citizens, in communities where entities within the JN Group operate.

“The JN Circle’s intent is to connect people and empower members to boldly enrich their own lives as they build their communities,” he informed.

The JN Circle initiative is being guided by the Member Relations team at The Jamaica National Group, in collaboration with the JN Foundation; along with other JN member companies and organisations.

To date, JN Circles have been established in Port Antonio, Morant Bay, Spanish Town, Linstead and Mandeville.

Members at the Spanish Town branch of JN Bank welcomed the introduction of the JN Circle, a global network of service clubs, which are empowered by Jamaica National to advocate for change and strengthen their community.

The members expressed their delight about the initiative at the inaugural meeting, which was held at the branch in St Catherine, recently.

“I believe that this is quite interesting. Once it has something to do with building, conserving and preserving our communities, then this is something that I want to be part of,” Alvin Lawson, a JN Member for some 30 years, said.

Peter Chin, another member, said that he believes that Spanish Town will benefit from having a JN Circle chapter in the old capital.

Pastor Phillip Johnson stated that he has high expectations from the JN Circle. “I believe that this JN Circle is not simply another talk shop. I believe that great things will come from it, therefore, I’m happy to be a part of the JN Circle,” he affirmed.

Major Effiom Whyte, member relations coordinator with JN Group, in explaining the aims and objectives of the JN Circle, said that its goals are to, “Improve the lives of members and serve as a platform for advocacy.”

“This service club is going to provide a platform for all of us to use our voices and to experience and create change for ourselves and others, through networking, advocacy and community development,” he related.

Outlining the benefits of the JN Circle, Chevanese Peters, project coordinator, JN Foundation, informed that participation in a JN Circle will afford members the opportunity to build their network.

“You will benefit from empowerment training, leadership and capacity-building. Through unmatched access to JN’s subject matter expertise and resources, JN Circle members will live better lives,” she said.

Peters further added that “JN Circle members will be connected to Jamaica National, as their relationship will extend beyond the business relationship and also include, JN’s support for issues which impact them and their communities.

JN Circle chapters have been established in Port Antonio, Portland; Morant Bay, St Thomas; Linstead, St Catherine and Mandeville, Manchester. Additional chapters will be rolled out in other parishes during the coming months.

Claudine Allen, member ombudsman, at The Jamaica National Group, who is driving the initiative, stated that the JN Circle presents an opportunity for JN members and employees to work together, to ‘do good,’ in their respective communities; and contribute to building their country.

“Connecting people, communities and doing good are the main objectives of the JN Circle. It will provide an avenue through which members can be engaged in meaningful, sustainable partnerships with JN and their communities, as the group of companies and organisations work to unleash the potential of Jamaicans, wherever they reside,” Allen affirmed.

The initiative is being guided by the Member Relations team at The Jamaica National Group, in collaboration with the JN Foundation and JN member companies.

According to the National Health Fund some 20,000 Jamaicans with epilepsy are registered to receive subsidized medication. It is also estimated that another 20,000 Jamaicans are not diagnosed and therefore not registered.

Joy McHugh, executive director of the Jamaica Epilepsy Association (JEA), emphasized that this is why there is a need for an aggressive public education campaign about epilepsy. 
In a bid to demystify the disease, the JEA has rolled out a series of public education activities which aim to raise awareness and raise funding, to support persons affected with epilepsy.
With a grant from the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund the Association has embarked on a training programme for school teachers, educating them about epilepsy and teaching basic first aid for seizures.  So far 25 schools have been visited and approximately 500 members of school staff have been sensitized.
The JEA public awareness activities commenced earlier this year and were highlighted throughout the month of November, which is observed worldwide as Epilepsy Awareness month.
Mrs. McHugh, also pointed out that the Association partnered again with ISupportJamaica.com, a crowdfunding platform, powered by The Jamaica National Group, to raise funds to purchase medication for persons affected by the condition.
The JEA executive director stated that medication for persons affected with epilepsy can be expensive. She noted that the cost for: two to three, or even four to six different combinations of medications, can be from J$12,000 to J$45,000 monthly, per person. Persons with epilepsy (PWE) often times have difficulty finding employment. Consequently, many persons living with the disease have difficulty purchasing their medication.
“The campaign with ISupportJamaica will run from November 1 to January 31, 2020,” she explained, “And, this time the Association’s goal is more conservative, with a target of about J$300,000.”
She explained that donations to the cause will go a long way to purchase medication for these persons.
Phillip Lindsay, Manager of ISupportJamaica, at the JN Group, said that persons can support the JEA’s initiative via the platform, which he said is simple and secure.
Interested persons can donate by visiting the ISupportJamaica.com platform at www.isupportjamaica.com, click on Health Education, Epilepsy Awareness; and then click the “Fund Project” button. In addition, donations can also be made via JN Live e-banking; and at any branch of JN Bank or JN MoneyShop, as well as, through interbank transfers.
During epilepsy month the JEA held a series of public awareness sessions in schools; an Open House, featuring a ‘lunch and learn’ at the Andrews Memorial Hospital on November 21; and a ‘Walk & Talk’ on November 24, at the Emancipation Park in Kingston.
Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder, in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behaviour, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Anyone at anytime can develop epilepsy but it tends to occur more frequently in younger and older persons.
Members of the public can assist with a seizure by cushioning the head of the person affected; loosening tight neck wear; and turning the individual on his or her side. Refrain from putting any objects in the mouth or over the mouth of the person with the seizure; do not hold the person and look for any identification on the person.

Most seizures last approximately two minutes, however, if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes the patient should be transported to the nearest Hospital. After the seizure, offer help and look for any identification to contact next of kin.

Worldwide, approximately 50 million people have epilepsy, making it one of the most
common neurological diseases globally. It is estimated that up to 70 per cent of people living with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated. 

For further information about epilepsy, contact the JEA at: Email:jaepilepsy@gmail.com; Telephone: (876) 968-8274 or (876) 393-7889.

The head of the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit (TMRU), at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona is recommending that maternity leave be extended from three months to six months.
Professor Marvin Reid said the extension would allow lactating mothers to exclusively breast feed their babies for at least six months, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“I agree with you that the maternity leave, as currently constructed in law, is relatively too short; and thoughts need to be given to have it extended. Thought also needs to be given to creating an enabling environment, which purports proper nutrition of the infant; and encourages breast feeding, as much as we can, in the work place,” he said.
Reid made the recommendation, as he responded to a question from a participant in the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust Early Childhood Development Conference, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, recently.
This followed his presentation of recent research findings by the TMRU which revealed that several mothers reported that they did not exclusively breastfeed for six weeks. He stated that the data was drawn from six weeks of clinics, at health facilities across the country.
“Roughly half of the women reported exclusively breastfeeding their infants at six weeks, when interviewed which is bad,” he said; and pointed out that, “This was an infringement on the rights of the child to proper nutrition.”
He said the TMRU went a bit further, by doing an objective measurement of breast feeding, to test the accuracy of reported data through a small sized sample, conducted in rural Manchester; and which showed that two thirds of the women were exclusively breastfeeding at six weeks.
However, a similar experiment in the Corporate Area showed that only about one third of women were exclusively breastfeeding at six weeks. He also stated that a longitudinal study was done on the babies of these mothers for a year.
“Most importantly, and perhaps most significantly, what has consequences later on, is that babies who were breastfed, got more protein from their mommies; and at one year-old, were less fat,” he revealed, noting that they were less likely to become obese when they were older.
The UWI professor, who is the grandson of Dudley Grant, commended the work of the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust, which was also celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The conference was held under the theme, “Embrace Children’s Rights: Secure our Future,” ; and it coincided with the 30th Anniversary of the 1989 Declaration by the United Nations Convention on The Rights of the Child.
Onyka Barrett Scott, general manager of the JN Foundation, in delivering greetings on behalf of Earl Jarrett, chief executive officer of The Jamaica National Group, said that the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust should be commended for applying current theories of learning, teaching, and child development to solve problems in primary schools, especially those which catered to children who were being raised in less fortunate conditions.
“Your knack, to provide research-based publications to guide the sector, is enviable. Some of these publications included: training manuals, and teaching learning materials. And, as you look forward to another 30 years, we wish the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust continued success in all of its educational initiatives,” Barrett Scott said.