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A typical single family home in Jamaica uses approximately 3,000 to 5,000 gallons of water per month with approximately 10 per cent being wasted, according to data from the National Water Commission (NWC).

However, the public company with responsibility for the distribution of potable water across the country notes that water consumption at home can be reduced by as much as 30 per cent, by using proper water saving devices and good conservation practices.
Onyka Barrett Scott, acting general manager of the JN Foundation said that, “The Jamaica National Group recognises the importance of water conservation, especially in an environment where climate change is a real threat to Small Island Developing States (SIDS),such as Jamaica and for many, water lock offs and dry taps are a frequent reality.”As such, the JN Group has partnered with the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) and the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) to seek meaningful solutions through the four-year Water Project Jamaica.
“The Water Project Jamaica focuses on the important role that householders and real estate developers can and should play, through the adaptation of water efficiency technologies,” she said. “It aims to introduce householders and developers to technologies, which can help us to better manage our water supply.”

Some of these water adaptation measures include: the use of rain water harvesting systems; water efficient taps and showers; low-flush toilets; efficient irrigation systems; grey water recycling facilitiesand other appropriate efficiency measures.

Mrs. Barrett Scott noted that in addition to the benefits to the wider householder network,Jamaica National members stand to benefit from the Water Project of Jamaica.

“The JN Foundation, part implementer of the Water Project, has began awareness efforts and will further roll out several activities to foster greater awareness about the many water-efficiency technologies which can be incorporated into the home-building and home improvement process. In turn, several sections of the society, JN members included, stand to experience direct and indirect cost savings and gain economic and environmental benefits,” she explained.
Mrs. Barrett Scott said that the four-year project will not only raise awareness about the threats of climate change; but, will also build local capacity, to design and install water adaptation measuresand provide loans to implement the technologies.
“The loan component of the project will cover the on-lending of funds for the Integration of Water Adaptation Measures in new and existing Jamaican housing and will be administered by the JN Bank,” she said.

Persons can access this loan, through JN Bank, to facilitate the installation of water saving measures and technologies, which would not otherwise have been purchased.The loan component of the project is scheduled to come on stream in September 2018.

In the interim, JN Members can start to take action within their household to be more responsive to changing climatic conditions.  For steps you can take to be Water efficient at home, please read the Water Project’s Homeowner’s Guide to Water Use efficiency at http://www.waterprojectja.com/resources/

Contact:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications

Hazard Primary School in Clarendon will benefit from improvements to its road infrastructure, with enhanced safety for students commuting to the educational institution.
The upgrading will be implemented by the JN Foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)and the FIA Foundation.Under the project, “X Marksthe Spot,”a Crosswalk Road Safety Campaign, the school will benefit from the erection of signage for bus lay-bys, pedestrian gates, as well as, the widening and paving of sidewalks.
Winsome Atkinson, acting principal at Hazard Primary,said she was elated that her school was the first to be selected by the campaign and welcomed the planned work to improve the safety of students and adults.
“We appreciate that JN Foundation thought about Hazard, because we are actually midway between Mineral Heights and May Pen Town, therefore, we are located along a busy thoroughfare. I’m happy, because it will improve the safety of our students,” she said.
Mrs. Atkinson informed that the school had experienced several accidents at its gate, though to date none were fatal. “I know that the proposed improvements will enhance safety for our children and the members of our community,” she pointed out.
Onyka Barrett Scott, acting general manager of the JN Foundation, said that the work at Hazard Primary School was being facilitated under a broader initiative, the Child Road Traffic Injuries Prevention (CRTIP) project, to address the road safety crisis in Jamaica; and that, the X Marks the Spot Road Safety Campaign falls under CRTIP.

“The CRTIP intervention seeks to improve the safety of children travelling on roads, particularly near to, or on their way to schools, through research, advocacy and evidence-based interventions,” she explained.
Elements of the X Marks the Spot Crosswalk Campaign include: conducting a baseline assessment to determine the state of road safety within chosen school zones, infrastructure assessment, upgrading of a number of features aimed at improving safety around the school and advocacy.

The projected school improvement should be completed for school resumption in September. “We are indeed happy to be implementing the X Marks the Spot Crosswalk Campaign as we see clear benefit not only for our nation’s children but also the communities in which our members reside,” she added.

During the past two years, more than 40 children have lost their lives due to road traffic crashes in Jamaica. In 2017, 320 people died from road traffic crashes on our roads, of which six per cent were children. 

“The project successfully brings together several government and non-governmental stakeholders, including: the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, the National Works Agency, the Ministry of Transport and Mining, the Road Safety Unit, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, among others,”Mrs. Barrett Scott informed.
Established in 1962, Hazard Primary School has a population of approximately 600 students, inclusive of the Special Education Unit and a complement of some 27 teachers and nine ancillary members of staff.

Academically, the school holds its own in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), and this yearstudents were particularly successful,as most of them passed for entry to traditional high schools.
Mrs. Atkinson stated that the studentsalso excelled in sports; and, it’s Special Education Unit competes annually in the Special Olympics. Students at Hazard Primary also actively participate invibrant 4- H and Environmental Clubs.

Authur:  Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications l 

As Jamaica and the world celebrate World Oceans Day, Dr. Kwame Emmanuel, project manager of the Jamaica National’s Water Project is encouraging Jamaicans to safeguard the environment and the country’s water resources.
“The damage we do to the environment will impact us negatively, in the medium to long term.  Whether it is the pollution of our oceans or fuelling climate change through greenhouse gas emissions,” he stated.
Dr. Emmanuel was speaking against the background of World Oceans Day, that is being observed on June 8th under the theme, “Preventing Plastic Pollution and Encouraging a Healthy Ocean.”
He posited that Jamaicans need to reconsider their environmental ethics and how they view and treat our natural resources, and noted that, “The Water Project Jamaica is enabling Jamaican householders to be more actively involved in water adaptation practices, including conservation habits and installing water efficient devices within their households,” he noted.
Dr. Emmanuel explained that untreated wastewater from the housing sector, with contaminants, such as microplastics, is sometimes disposed in coastal areas and negatively impacts water quality and marine resources, including coral reefs. 

He said that The Water Project will assist in reducing this impact by facilitating efficient water use and wastewater recycling.

The Water Project is being implemented by the JN Foundation. Onyka Barrett-Scott, acting general manager of the JN Foundation, underscored the importance of preserving the environment, noting that this is one of the key areas in which the JN Foundation works.
“The JN Foundation implements projects to improve environmental sustainability; and, through The Water Project, we address water management issues related to climate change, which in real terms will affect our already limited water supplies.  Under the Water Project, the JN Foundation is therefore educating householders about individual actions they can take to preserve their environment and water supply,” she said.
The Ocean Project, coordinator of World Ocean Day, has encouraged everyone to help to protect the ocean for future generations by changing their perspective.
“Individual persons should think about what the ocean means to them; and what it has to offer all of us, with hopes of conserving it for present and future generations,” said information on the Ocean Project’s website.
The international body also urges persons to change their ways, as they are all linked to, and through, the ocean.
“By taking care of your backyard and helping in your community, you are acting as a caretaker of our ocean. Making small modifications to your everyday habits will create a difference; and, if you involve your family, friends, and community members, their efforts will benefit our blue planet even more,” said the Ocean Project’s website.
JN’s Water Project is the result of  two Cooperative Agreements signed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and The Jamaica National Group in March 2017. These provide the JN Bank and the JN Foundation with funding to execute the four-year project.

 Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications l JN Bank l 

Current data indicates that most Jamaicans who are currently employed may have no income but the meagre payments from the State-run National Insurance Scheme (NIS) when they retire.
That, according to Rose Miller, grants manager at the JN Foundation, it’s a recipe for poverty in one’s golden years, given that the average pensioner receives approximately $2,480 fortnightly under the NIS — hardly enough to pay a regular utility bill. To make matters worse, only some 46 per cent of the Jamaican workforce contributes to the NIS.

“This is a dire situation,”she said. “NIS benefits should be seen as a supplement to one’s overall retirement plan, and not the sole means of sustaining oneself after you have stopped earning a salary.”

Miller, who leads the Foundation’s BeWise financial empowerment initiative, explained that data from the Financial Services Commission (FSC) indicates that as at July 2017 there were some 399 active private pension plans with assets of $520.6 billion, covering 9.4 per cent of the employed labour force, or about 115,000 individuals. Jamaicans with government pensions account for roughly seven per cent of the employed population.

“Based on the FSC data, only about 16 per cent of the employed labour force contribute to a formal pension plan, which is significantly low, particularly when you take into consideration that the profile of our population is growing older and life expectancy is increasing,” Miller outlined.

She said people who invest in pension plans now will avoid the stress of increased living and health expenses, coupled with high tax burdens after they retire.

“Retirement planning isn’t only for ‘old people’, which is a misconception that many young people have,” she said. “Hence, the real obstacle to saving for retirement is that some people prioritise their immediate needs and view retirement as a far-flung goal.”

She advised that, “Ideally, one should start saving towards a pension from their very first pay cheque; therefore, their retirement fund should be a regular line item in their monthly budget.”

Miller added: “Retirement is not an age. More important than age is one’s financial security. Now more than ever young people can look forward to retiring long before their parents were able to, because of the numerous opportunities available to young people.

The JN Foundation BeWise team lead also maintained that a retirement account should be considered a “need” rather than a “want,” “Therefore, you should take this as seriously as you take any other bills, such as your utilities, rent or mortgage” she explained.

If your current employer does not provide a pension scheme you should approach an approved financial institution with a pension scheme, such as the JN Individual Retirement Scheme, and start an individual pension plan.

“You can begin with a minimum of five per cent of your monthly income; and, over time, steadily increase the sum to approximately 20 per cent of your income, which is the maximum allowable,” Miller recommended.

A smart move is to also assess how much you will need to save to live comfortably after your retirement.

“Currently, the average life expectancy in Jamaica is 75 years. Therefore, if you retire at age 65, you have approximately 10 years for which you will need a reliable income. On that basis, you should calculate how much you will need to save and invest for your retirement, based on the lifestyle you want to live,” Miller advised.

She also recommended that, in addition to a formal pension plan, there are other investments that should be included in one’s pre-retirement portfolio.

“The ideal pre-retirement portfolio consists of at least five instruments. There is the formal pension plan which you have through your employer or, if you are self-employed, that you set up with an approved financial institution.

In addition, your portfolio could also include: investment in real estate, stocks, bonds and mutual funds; health and life insurance; and finally, your NIS benefits,” Miller outlined.

“All these together can help to generate a suitable income to assist you to live comfortably during your retirement years, which may well be beyond the average life expectancy.”

Miller emphasised, too, that that keen financial education is important to one’s retirement plan.

“The key to securing your financial future is adequate financial knowledge and how best to utilise the tried and tested tools such as successful budgeting; saving, which will ensure that you are able to take advantage of investment opportunities; using credit towards wealth creation; and understanding that insurance is also a critical tool in not only helping to create wealth but to preserve it,” she said.

See the original article here!

Rose Miller, grants manager at the JN Foundation says that Jamaicans who fail to plan for their retirement could easily find themselves in poverty in their golden years.
Her comments were based on current data, which indicates that most Jamaicans who are currently employed may have nothing, but payments from the state-run National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to live off when they retire.
“This is a dire situation, as NIS benefits should be seen as a supplement to one’s overall retirement plan, and not the sole means of sustaining one’s self, after you have stopped earning a salary,” she said.
Mrs Miller, who leads the Foundation’s BeWise financial empowerment initiative, explained that the average pensioner receives approximately $2,480 fortnightly under the NIS, which is hardly enough to pay a regular utility bill.
In addition, only some 46 per cent of the Jamaican workforce contributes to the NIS operated by the government.
Data from the Financial Services Commission (FSC) indicates that, as at July 2017 there were some 399 active private pension plans with assets of $520.6 billion, covering 9.4 per cent of the employed labour force, or about 115,000 persons. And, Jamaicans with government pensions accounting for roughly seven per cent of the employed population.
“Based on the FSC data, only about 16 per cent of the employed labour force contribute to a formal pension plan, which is significantly low, particularly when you take into consideration that the profile of our population, is growing older and life expectancy is increasing,” Mrs Miller outlined.
She said persons who invest in pension plans now will avoid the stress of increased living and health expenses, coupled with high tax burdens after they retire.
“Retirement planning isn’t only for ‘old people,’ which is a misconception that many young persons have,” she informed, “Hence, the real obstacle to saving for retirement is that some persons prioritise their immediate needs and view retirement as a far-flung goal.”
She advised that, “Ideally one should start saving towards a pension from their very first pay cheque; therefore, their retirement fund should be a regular line item in their monthly budget,” she said.
She reminded the public that: “Retirement is not an age. More important than age is one’s financial security. Now more than ever young people can look forward to retiring long before their parents were able to, because of the numerous opportunities available to young people.
The JN Foundation BeWise team lead also maintained that a retirement account should be considered a “need” rather than a “want.” “Therefore, you should take this as seriously as you take any other bill, such as your utilities, rent or mortgage” she explained.
If your current employer does not provide a pension scheme, you should approach an approved financial institution with a pension scheme, such as the JN Individual Retirement Scheme, and start an individual pension plan.
“You can begin with a minimum of five per cent of your monthly income; and, over time, steadily increasing the sum to approximately 20 per cent of your income, which is the maximum allowable,” Mrs Miller recommended.
A smart move is to also assess how much you will need to save to live comfortably after your retirement.
“Currently, the average life expectancy in Jamaica is 75 years. Therefore, if you retire at age 65, you have approximately ten years for which you will need a reliable income. On that basis, you should calculate how much you will need to save and invest for your retirement, based on the lifestyle you want to live,” Mrs Miller advised. 
She also recommended that, in addition to a formal pension plan, there are other investments that should be included in one’s pre-retirement portfolio.
“The ideal pre-retirement portfolio consists of at least five instruments. There is the formal pension plan, which you have through your employer; or, if you are self-employed, that you set up with an approved financial institution.
In addition, your portfolio could also include: investment in: real estate, stocks, bonds and mutual funds; health and life insurance; and finally, your NIS benefits,” Mrs Miller informed. “All these together can help to generate a suitable income to assist you to live comfortably during your retirement years, which may well be beyond the average life expectancy.”
Finally, Mrs Miller emphasised that keen financial education is also important to one’s retirement plan.
“Key to securing your financial future is adequate financial knowledge and how best to utilise the tried and tested tools, such as successful budgeting; saving, which will ensure that you are able to take advantage of investment opportunities; using credit towards wealth creation and understanding that insurance is also a critical tool in not only helping to create wealth but to preserve it,” she said.

See the original article here!

THE Louise Bennett-Coverley All-Age School in Gordon Town, St Andrew benefited from a well-needed facelift with the repainting of its buildings, de-bushing, landscaping and paving from Labour Day activities organised by the JN Foundation.

Onyka Barrett Scott, acting general manager of the JN Foundation, said the school was selected based on the national focus on the areas of health and education, under the theme, “Ramp It Up, Fix It Up”.

“Today, we wanted to take on schools and health institutions off the ‘beaten track’, hence we identified projects in the Corporate Area and rural parishes, where our participation, with the help of volunteers, would make a difference,” she said.

“We are out in Gordon Town and it is a pleasure working alongside the teachers, community and past students to improve the school environment, “ she stated. “The educators were delighted for us to be here,” she added.

Wayne Mullings, principal of the school, said that he was grateful to have the JN Foundation and its volunteers on board, to undertake the needed refurbishing at the school, which is named after one of the country’s cultural icons, Dr Louise Bennett-Coverley.

“We have been trying to improve the environment of the school to make it more conducive to teaching and learning. However, the bathrooms are currently in a deplorable condition and require painting and fixing up. We are, therefore grateful to have the JN Foundation on board,” he said.

He explained that the school, which started in the 1930s, has evolved over the years from being the Gordon Town All -Age School, and was renamed The Louise Bennett-Coverley All-Age School in 2009, in her honour.

“One of our first board chairmen was Eric Coverley, husband of the late Louise Bennett-Coverley; therefore, we were proud to have the Coverley family being an established part of the institution,” he explained.

Mullings also revealed that in 2016 the school was reclassified as a primary school; and is now focused on improving its enrolment numbers and reposition it as a school of choice in the community.

He said that the students were outstanding in sports and cultural activities, won several competitions and performed well in academics.

“We were in the top 10, in terms of performance in the Grade Nine Achievement Test (GNAT) for many years. Most students who came to us from the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) were students performing in the mid-20s and 30s; and we were able to transform those students to high 80s and 90s as they prepared to sit the GNAT exams,” he related.

He also said students made significant improvements in the Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy Exams; as well as the GSAT exams, with a significant number of students from the last cohort achieving passes for traditional high schools.

Philishea Garnett, JN act!on volunteer, said the Labour Day experience at the school was amazing for her, and that a project of this nature was dear to her heart.

“Students need to be in a comfortable environment, where they can play and feel safe. Therefore, what we are doing today will mean a lot to them,” she said, pointing out that, “Citizens should try to embark on projects, especially on Labour Day, as it is ‘a give back’ to other persons in the widersociety.”

Barrett Scott said JN Group staff members joined with volunteers from the JN Foundation’s Act! on Jamaica and implemented Labour Day projects in the Corporate Area and rural parishes.

The Percy Junior Hospital in Manchester was repainted and the bathroom facility upgraded by the JN Manchester Branch. The Type 5 Health Centre in Montego Bay and the Falmouth Health Centre were also painted and ramps installed, by employees and volunteers in Montego Bay and Falmouth.

See the original article here!

JN Group Provides Relief for Victims of Walker’s Place Fire
They’re coping, however, the effects of the trauma lingers in the minds of many of the children and care givers who escaped the flames from the  fire at Walker’s Place of Safety in Kingston, on the tragic night of January 15.
“It will take long term treatment,” says Leroy Anderson, manager of the Jamaica National Children’s Home (JNCH) in Papine, St Andrew.
Thirteen of the 34 children who were saved from the inferno were transferred to the JNCH, and others are residing at the Maxfield Children’s Home and City of Refuge. 
“The trauma doesn’t leave them overnight. There are children who, if they hear an alarm or a siren now, they….” he tried to explain, with sympathy in his voice, but was unable to complete the sentence.
He tried to explain, again: “Some go into reflection and they have flashbacks. However, they are learning to cope,” he concludes.
It was with similar compassion that The Jamaica National Group, through its JN Foundation, responded to the urgent needs of the wards of the Walker’s Place of Safety, going immediately to social media to raise funds to replace the furniture and equipment which were destroyed by the fire.
“In February, after taking stock of the ongoing needs, we created a public appeal via JN Foundation’s social media platforms and several persons, many of them employees, responded,” explained Zola Hinds, JN Foundation project officer, who coordinated the relief efforts. 
Through the JN Group Human Resources and Development department, a list of needed items was created, and the funds raised via social media from the public and employees, were used to purchase those items, including: a four-burner gas stove, refrigerator, pots, three double beds and sheets.  
“It’s a big relief!” a pleased Mr Anderson exclaimed. “The children, and the home in particular, will use these donations as best as we can,” he said, noting that the home was in need of additional items to make living more comfortable for the 00 number of children they are now nurturing.
“On behalf of the JN Group’s staff and members, we were happy that we could assist,” said Onyka Barrett, acting general manager of the JN Foundation, as she, along with several JN Group employees, presented the items to the home, recently.
“It is a tragedy when children lose their home in that way, therefore, we are happy that JN members, employees and others have responded so generously to that call,” Miss Barrett stated.

Gareth Manning | JN Bank | Corporate Communications

Saffrey Brown was not yet a teenager when she was thrust into advocacy and volunteerism while living in Trinidad and Tobago.

“The first time I protested, I was eight years old. My mother had me outside this old historical structure called the George Brown House, and my placard read: ‘Honk your horn if you want to save this house.’ Every day, after school, I would be out there protesting and we did save that house,” she chuckled.

The George Brown House was the centre of controversy in Trinidad and Tobago when plans were made for its demolition in 1985 to make way for a new office complex. This led to the ‘George Brown Uprising’, and, as a result of public outcry, the house was saved and subsequently restored.

For Brown, the campaign sparked a passion, which influenced her to dedicate her career to advocacy and assisting the disenfranchised. She also indicated that her ambition was further cemented at age 15 when her community in St Ann, Trinidad and Tobago, was flooded, resulting in the death of a few people.

“I remember spending weeks teaching community members about the dangers of living on the embankment of rivers. I was studying geography at the CXC level, and wanted to educate them about flood-prone areas. That was where my independent volunteerism started,” the former general manager of JN Foundation related.

Therefore, after graduating from The University of the West Indies, Mona, Brown sought to immerse herself in development work. She landed a job at Kingston Restoration Company (KRC), where she worked on remedial educational projects for children living in the inner city of Southside; and the Urban Renewal Trust Fund provided a grant to assist people living in those communities.

She also championed Tools for Development, a project led by KRC, in collaboration with the then Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) and the Gleaner Company Limited, which sought to put tools and equipment into the hands of inner-city entrepreneurs.

“It was a great project. But I felt that professionally, things were moving too quickly, and that I needed a foundation of learning and experience. Therefore, I left Jamaica to live in England and worked there for a few years,” she said.

While working in England, Brown discovered the social enterprise model, and worked on several projects in that context. However, she became disenchanted.

“I found that I was not passionate about the people I was serving and I was becoming slightly resentful about the amount of money that was available for development in London. I thought about what we could accomplish if we had those sums of money back in the West Indies. While I acquired technical knowledge, the passion was beginning to fade, and I knew that it was time to leave, so I moved back to Jamaica,” she related.

On her return, Brown was invited by Earl Jarrett, then managing director of JNBS to work on an inner-city project in which she designed the first JN Source Centre in August Town.

She was later appointed general manager of JN Foundation and for the next decade spearheaded and introduced a series of projects which impacted the lives of many Jamaicans, particularly young people, in communities across the country.

These projects included: the JN Resolution Project, in which high school students in rural Jamaica were introduced to photography and the opportunity that it presented them to address issues affecting their communities; the Financial Literacy Project – Be Wi$e, and the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI), among others.

For Brown, the jewel of all those projects was the creation of the Social Enterprise Model through The Source and SEBI. “Being the architect of the social enterprise movement in Jamaica is something that I’m extremely proud about,” she said.

“The fact that so many agencies and organisations are now using this social enterprise model is testament to the fact that it is a viable tool for development. Consequently, it is now included in the MSME Policy of Entrepreneurship, and the Planning Institute of Jamaica uses it for its interventions. It is now being adopted on a national scale,” she revealed. “I’m immensely proud of the fact that it all started with The Source in August Town.”

Brown credits the success of her work at JN Foundation to Jarrett, chief executive officer of the Jamaica National Group, who is her mentor.

“I have had an amazing 10 years working with Mr Jarrett, who was the chairman of the JN Foundation and my mentor. Having him and his vision in close proximity to the work I was doing, was a boost. It allowed me to see possibilities. His support when I attempted to implement things slightly out of the box and knowing that I had his support to go out there and test things, allowed me to be courageous,” she related.

Brown also credited the members of the JN Foundation board, over the decade, who supported her. “I didn’t have to constantly prove myself, and they were willing to drive development from within, as well as, the team members at the JN Foundation, who were very supportive.”

The daughter of the late Jamaica Observer columnist, renowned poet and fiction writer Wayne Brown said that her parents’ upbringing was another factor which encouraged her to strive for excellence.

“I come from a family of whom I’m proud. They are a family who added value to society. They are not just extractors, they give back, and are like the ‘bread and butter’ of Caribbean folk. Being part of that family legacy is something of which I’m very proud,” she said.

The mother of two boys — five and seven years old — said that managing her workload and maintaining a family life would not have been possible without the support of her partner.

“I have an amazing partner, who is an extremely supportive father. JN provides a balanced work life, so there is flexibility,” she said, pointing out that having a family forces her to work efficiently.

As Brown leaves the JN Foundation to establish her own business and become a social entrepreneur, she has words of encouragement for women, urging them not to limit themselves, but to be proud of who they are and pursue what they want to do.

“Don’t apologise for wanting to do great things. Don’t ask fewer questions. Don’t be silent, and don’t lower your voice. Be unapologetic about who you are, acknowledge the mistakes that you made, but also be clear about who you are and what you stand for,” she said, adding that women need to “surround themselves with the right people, focus on doing work they are proud of and ensure that they are always being challenged professionally”.

See the original article here!

For a recent graduate fresh out of university and in his or her first job, a credit card can be a a helpful financial tool, but only if used wisely and responsibly.
As Rose Miller, grants manager at the JN Foundation, and head of the JN BeWi$e financial empowerment programme advises, the key is to make consistent, on-time payments and avoid accumulated interest. That, she explains, boosts one’s credit rating.

“A credit card is an unsecured loan, which uses plastic. You can spend sums up to a pre-set credit limit, which might be a few, or several thousand dollars. It depends on how confident your card provider is that you’ll pay it back,” she explains.

She advises that the key to avoiding interest payments is to pay the full balance, on time, each billing cycle.

“Resist the temptation to spend more than you can pay for any given month, and you’ll enjoy the benefits of using a credit card without acquiring interest charges,” she says.

She also advises that credit cards should be used for “needs” and not “wants” and warns that, “Frivolous purchases can lead to unnecessary debt. It is also not a good idea to take cash advances against your credit card”.

“Credit cards should be used to cover normal expenses for which you have budgeted, as well as in emergency situations, such as illness or for car parts, if your vehicle unexpectedly breaks down. However, your aim should be to repay the amount as soon as you can, to decrease or avoid interest charges altogether,” Miller says.

She adds that card holders should never skip a payment.

“Pay your bill in full, on time every month. If that is not possible, rather than skipping, make the minimum payment if that is all you can afford. Missing a payment could result in a late fee, penalty interest rates and ultimately impact negatively on your credit rating,” she says.

To achieve maximum benefit from a credit card facility, she advises that in addition to avoiding interest payments, one should take advantage of the rewards offered such as discounts on purchases, including hotel and travel, food and drinks, beauty and spa, fashion as well as home-and-garden supplies.

Another aspect of responsible credit card use which she addresses is protection from credit card fraud.

“While there is no foolproof way to prevent all instances of credit card fraud and theft, understanding and adopting a few best practices can help to reduce your risk,” she points out.

She notes that one way to reduce risk is to use a card that offers additional security.

“There are credit cards available with an EMV chip which provides an additional layer of security. It’s more secure, because you cannot copy the chip. Each time the card is used for payment, the card chip creates a unique transaction code that cannot be used again,” she says.

Miller also advises that people should be generally wary of requests for personal card information, regardless of the source.

“Independently verify the legitimacy of those persons requesting your credit card number,” she counsels.

Twelve social enterprises are about to receive another tranche of support from the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI), through the Accelerator Programme.
Opal Whyte, project manager of SEBI, said the 12 social enterprises are bringing innovation to a range of sectors from marketing, waste management, eco-tourism and education and will be exposed to capacity building, improved governance, leadership, mentorship, business linkages and partnerships.
“This is an exciting phase in which we intend to prepare them to become more efficient and responsive leaders resulting in baseline revenue growth of at least 40 per cent and greater social impact,” said Ms. Whyte.
She explained that the Accelerator Phase will build on the lessons learned in the incubator programme and focus heavily on long term sustainability of their businesses.
“SEBI’s objective in this phase is to assist the social enterprises in thinking more strategically and setting bigger goals and targets. The tools provided in the Accelerator Programme will enable them to ‘think big’, build partnerships and create networks and take the participants well beyond the $88 million generated in revenue by SEBI’s phase two incubator members,” she informed.
The Accelerator Phase commenced on Friday, March 23 with the “SEBI Power Up! Series  at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. Presentations were delivered on leadership development, personal effectiveness and leveraging social networks.
Don Anderson, chief executive officer of Market Research Services who already conducted seminal research into Jamaica’s social enterprise sector, shared with the participants that “The Next Great Leader Has Already Been Born” and may very well be sitting amongst them.
Mr. Anderson shared from his life experience, his entre into market research; political polling and sports leadership; provided tools and strategies on navigating an emerging sector and creating a viable niche.
The participants in the programme were selected following a call for applications in February, and they included: Livewire Act, Avant Academy of Music, Eco-Farms, Inzzpire JA, Bresheh and UCA Marketing. They join SEBI social enterprises: Deaf Can! Coffee, 360 Recycle, Bunkers Hill Cultural Xperience, Link Your Purpose, EducaTours JA and Bartley’s All In Wood.
The Social Enterprise Boost Initiative seeks to address social and environmental challenges in Jamaica through enterprise development. It is a joint JN Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development project.

Dionne Rose l JN Corporate Communications