Message from the Editor
Table of CONTENTS
w
The winds of change are once again blowing in the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica as we prepare for the July 4 Annual General Meeting, where a new Council will be elected. The new Council meets on July 19 to elect a new President and Executive Committee, so in this issue we take the time to look back on the three-year term of current President, Joseph M Matalon. It is no surprise that his colleagues on the executive had only positive things to say about his work ethic, the causes he championed and his inclusive leadership style. Joseph was elected to the presidency at a crucial time, both externally, in terms of the global financial situation and locally, as there was a change of government as well as the Tivoli incursion of 2010. Even in the face of the challenges posed by these and other factors, he stood his ground and got things done. And even when results were not always in his favour, he remained gracious and positive about the future. We have certainly gained a lot from his leadership and wish him all the best as he returns to private endeavours. However, the work is not done, so the PSOJ will need a new crop of leaders to step up and take the baton in order for us to continue to be good advocates for the business community and the nation at large. To those who are interested in leadership roles, don’t hesitate to offer yourself for service. On another note, nominations for the PSOJ Hall of Fame will close on June 30, so be sure to get in your picks for this prestigious honour. Also, nominees for the 50UnderFifty Awards are being reminded to submit their completed entry forms and all supporting documents online before June 29, at 4pm. We look forward to working together as the PSOJ continues to build on the foundation that has been laid by each subsequent executive committee.
Page 17 Page 3 NEWS New Council to be elected at upcoming Annual General Meeting Page 4 Annual Economic Forum Consensus but no action: Why can’t we just do it? Page 7 MEMBER FOCUS Executive committee members reflect on an eventful term Page 12 COVER STORY Joseph M Matalon: The man in the arena Page 14 HIGHLIGHTS Joseph M Matalon’s presidency in pictures Page 15 MEET THE STAFF Angela Williams: Customer service personified
Page 9
Page 16 YUTE FEATURE YUTE signs MOU with PetroCaribe Development Fund Page 17 HAPPENINGS Page 20 News from the CEO’s Report
Sandra AC Glasgow CEO The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) 2
Page 12
NEWS
New Council to be elected at upcoming 24th Annual General Meeting
(L-R) PSOJ President, Joseph M Matalon, addresses members of the organisation at last year’s AGM. Members of the officer corps at the head table are Earl Jarrett, Honorary Secretary; Jacqueline Sharp, Honorary Treasurer; Don Wehby, Vice President; Sandra Glasgow, CEO; co-opted member William McConnell and Vice Presidents Nicholas Scott and Lisa Soares Lewis
T
he 24th Annual General Meeting of the members of The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) will be held at the Blue Mountain Suite of the Knutsford Court Hotel on Wednesday, July 4, beginning at 4pm. One of the highlights of the meeting will be the election of the new members to Council. The current president, Joseph M Matalon, and members of the present executive will deliver their final reports. In accordance with Article III, Clause 4 of the organisation’s articles of association, the following members of Council retire by rotation and, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election: Companies - Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Ltd - Citigroup - First Caribbean International Bank Limited - GraceKennedy Limited - Jamaica Observer Limited - Jamaica Producers Group - Jamaica Public Service Company Limited
3
- Musson Jamaica Limited - Pan Caribbean Financial Services Limited - Sagicor Life of Jamaica Limited Associations - Incorporated Masterbuilders’ Assn - Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica - Jamaica Customer Service Association - Jamaica Developers Association - Jamaica Livestock Association - Sugar Manufacturing Corp of Jamaica - Women’s Business Owners Jamaica Limited - Jamaica Cooperative Credit Union League - Institute of Internal Auditors Individuals - Oswald Lee - Roy Banarsee The following members will serve a second year on Council: Associations - Inbond Merchants Association of Jamaica - Insurance Association of Jamaica - Jamaica Bankers Association
- Jamaica Employers Federation - Jamaica Exporters Association - Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association - Jamaica Securities Dealers Association - Jamaica Used Car Dealers Association - Realtors Association of Jamaica - Shipping Association of Jamaica - Small Business Association of Jamaica - Spirits Pool Association Limited Companies - Digicel - ICD Group Limited - J Wray & Nephew Group Limited - LIME - Red Stripe - Jamaica National Building Society - Pan Jamaican Investment Trust Limited - National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited - The Gleaner Company Limited - Jamaica Broilers Group Limited Individuals - Charles Ross - Elon Beckford - Maureen Webber
NEWS
Consensus but no action: Why can’t we just do it?
Julian Mair, chief investment strategist at JMMB, gives the closing remarks at the PSOJ’s Annual Economic Forum.
T
he PSOJ hosted its Annual Economic Forum on June 26, exploring the theme ‘Consensus but no action: Why can’t we just do it?’ The objective of the forum was to advance the cause of economic development and job creation in Jamaica. Traditionally, the forum has focused on policy, but this year, the Economic Policy Committee, headed by vice president Nicholas Scott, decided to focus on implementation. In his opening address, PSOJ President Joseph M Matalon noted that, “there are many areas of economic policy where legitimate debate exists on what should be done: tax reform, energy policy, and public sector reform to name a few. In these areas, good people can disagree. In such circumstances, reaching a consensus on the way forward and getting buy in from stakeholders is a challenging first step. The focus here is on the ‘what’.” Matalon told the audience of PSOJ members and non-members that there were other areas where a longstanding and broad consensus among the government, opposition, private sector and multilaterals already existed; nevertheless, there is what some are calling an ‘implementation deficit’. Two examples discussed were land titling and secured transaction reform, with a focus on the ‘how’. According to Matalon, the forum was designed to help persons in the public sector, working on the issues, and private sector stakeholders to understand how to overcome the implementation deficit. At stake, he said, is the outlook for economic growth and, ultimately, job creation. Echoing this theme, Giorgio Valentini, representative of the World Bank in Jamaica, shared some ideas on how to stimulate changes in the island that could lead to achieving a knowledge society status which, he said, would be a great outcome for the society and a necessary one for a globally competitive private sector. He pointed to the need to dis4
rupt the status quo in Jamaica” in terms of “accepting and adapting to decades of weak growth (surprisingly, many people think that this can still go on) with avoidance to addressing structural reforms and balancing austerity measures with growth opportunities.” Valentini also touched on breaking the status quo, where the private sector focuses on the local market instead of global markets, pointing out that “global is the new local”. He also spoke about the lack of an innovation system and a fragmented policy framework and the mismatch of skills in the local private sector in relation to the needs of the global economy. The two panel discussions that followed on land titling reform and secured transactions reform explored the complexity of the implementation issues. Moderating the land titling reform panel was Paul Holden of the Enterprise Research Institute, who has studied Jamaica’s private sector for eight years and recently released an updated Private Sector Assessment for Jamaica, aptly titled “Removing Barriers to Growth”. Contributing to this discussion were Lisa Campbell, Director of the Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP); Garfield Knight, CEO of Geoland Title Limited and Wayne Chen, President of the Jamaica Employers’ Association, who was once the Chair of the National Planning Summit 2007 Expert Group on Land Titling Reform and a former Chair of the National Land Agency and LAMP. The panel on Secured Transactions Reform was moderated by Wayne Henry, vice president, Government Affairs at Scotia Group Jamaica. Panellists were Beverley Rose Forbes, senior director in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce; Gina Phillips-Black, attorneyat-law and Paul Holden.
NEWS
Consensus but no action: Why can’t we just do it? QUICK FACTS ON SECURED TRANSACTIONS REFORM t 5IF SBOHF PG TFDVSJUJFT HFOFSBMMZ BDDFQUFE JO +BNBJDB BT DPMMBUFSBM JT extremely narrow – real property such as residential and commercial buildings and land; late model vehicles and equipment and a longstanding source of income – from a job, business or profession. t 0WFS UIF ZFBST TVDDFTTJWF HPWFSONFOUT CVTJOFTT QFPQMF BOE BDBdemics have bemoaned the narrowness of the collateral base, noting that it has inhibited the flow of credit, investment and development. t "DDPSEJOH UP 1BVM )PMEFO T TUVEZ 3FNPWJOH #BSSJFST UP Growth – A Private Sector Assessment for Jamaica, the ratio of private sector credit to GDP has ranged between 22-27 per cent over the past four years. t 4PNF PG UIF SFBTPOT GPS +BNBJDB T MPX SBUJP PG QSJWBUF TFDUPS DSFEJU to GDP lies in high collateral requirements of creditors; the costs, length of time and cumbersomeness of liquidating real property; lack of proper titles by many borrowers and lack of information on borrowers’ credit histories.
Giorgio Valentini, World Bank representative, gives opening remarks
QUICK FACTS ON LAND TITLING REFORM t "DDPSEJOH UP UIF /BUJPOBM -BOE "HFODZ PG UIF QBSDFMT PG land on the valuation roll as of January 2012, 357,429 parcels or 45 per cent of parcels were unregistered. t 5IF HPWFSONFOU JT FTUJNBUFE UP MPTF BCPVU CJMMJPO BOOVBMMZ GSPN the large number of unregistered parcels from which it receives little or no revenues. t 5IF QBSJTIFT XJUI UIF IJHIFTU OVNCFST PG SFHJTUFSFE QBSDFMT BSF ,JOHTUPO QFS DFOU 4U "OESFX QFS DFOU 4U +BNFT QFS cent) and St Catherine (69.4 per cent). t 5IF 8PSME #BOL %PJOH #VTJOFTT 3FQPSU QMBDFT +BNBJDB BU PVU PG DPVOUSJFT JO UIF FBTF PG SFHJTUFSJOH MBOE OPUJOH UIBU JU takes a minimum of 37 days and six procedures to do so. However, Jamaica’s position compares favourably with other Caribbean countries. For example, the Dominican Republic ranks 105 with 60 days and Trinidad & Tobago ranks 175 with 162 days. t 5IFSF BSF BQQSPYJNBUFMZ TFQBSBUF QJFDFT PG MFHJTMBUJPO HPWFSOJOH the transfer of land and the administration of estates in Jamaica. 5
A work of Heart.
The all new Nissan Qashqai. Developed for the person looking for the capacity of a hatchback and the capabilities of a SUV. Nissan engineers took their time to fine-tune the possibilities for a vehicle worthy of Nissan’s solid line-up of quality vehicles for the long haul. The Qashqai Cross-over combines the features that make your daily routine fun, easy and efficient along with a comfortable interior and sporty body styling. It’s the final outcome from years of research and development infused with our unique vehicle design to make a car Nissan can be proud of. A true work of heart.
MEMBER FOCUS
Executive committee members reflect on an eventful term
Sandra Glasgow
Chief Executive Officer
W
hen I accepted the offer to become the CEO of the PSOJ in September 2007, I recognised that one of the possible downsides of my job was that I could potentially have a new boss every five years or fewer. I have to say that I have truly been blessed to have had Joseph M Matalon as my boss for the past three years, (although he kept telling others that I was his boss!) I can only describe this experience using superlatives. Joe has been an exceptional President. A superlative man It’s not often one is blessed to encounter A man whose vast intellect, imbued with humility Respect, love, integrity and laughter Comes with a force so steeped in gentility To tackle the negative energies and turn them to positives With the courage to take the rugged road And the seemingly insurmountable hills For love of his country; Not once did he show anger or disdain Despite the mounting bills But rather, he had the faith to move mountains. And generous to a fault, always thinking of others Appreciating the value of women... and men Yet finding the germ of the best in everyone Speaking with feeling and candour about our social condition; And in so doing, earning our love and adoration. I’ll miss you... Joseph Mayer Matalon, But I count this experience as one of life’s beautiful lessons To later look back on and say It was most truly a blessing. Sandra A. C. Walter-Glasgow, June 2012
7
Lisa Soares Lewis
Vice President Human Resource Director, North LAC, Diageo
W
orking with Joe and the PSOJ executive has been a real privilege and awesome opportunity. Working with the spirited team on the Education and CSR Committee to deliver the policy paper on education and measure CSR activities in the private sector has been very rewarding, knowing how important both influences are to Jamaica’s development. One of our projects, the Private Sector Working Group’s (PSWG) proposal offered a great opportunity to undertake proper tax reform. Sadly, all proposals didn’t get accepted and the final package approved by the government added complexity and delivered less change than was needed for full reform. Hopefully we’ll maintain the group to keep an active partnership with the government and with our stakeholders. For my successor, I have just a few words of advice and encouragement: build a great working team in the executive so that pace and engagement embody the ways of working. Constantly seek member feedback and interest and check in for the sage advice of learned past presidents so that you’re informed and confident in decisions. Certainly, be an active partner in the transformation process we need now to get our economy growing. Tough decisions lay ahead and the government will need a PSOJ that holds the tension to undertake the difficult task of staying on strategy.
MEMBER FOCUS Officers’ reflections
William McConnell
M
Co-opted member
r Matalon’s presidency has been marked by many achievements, but the two most outstanding were the YUTE programme and the work done by leading the Public Sector Working Group (PSWG) on taxation. Under Mr Matalon’s presidency, the private sector was exposed to him not just talking but actually doing something about Jamaica’s unemployment problems and lack of skills training. He threw himself into that project, together with members of the PSOJ and others, and that will always stand as a monument. If YUTE even ceases to exist in five years time or even two years, that doesn’t matter. It has given the PSOJ a different face and I think it was very important. As I leave office, what I’m hoping for is that Jamaica will be able to find the path to financial and economic stability. I think we’re going through very perilous times right now and we have a lot of our indicators pointing in the wrong direction. My greatest hope and aspiration is that with the passage of time, I’ll be able to look on and see the dials all turning in the right direction, which will equal to a Jamaica that is more stable economically, which will lead to employment, job creation and therefore, a better country.
8
Nicholas Scott
Vice President Group Project Manager, Facey Commodity Company Limited
B
eing on the executive has been a fantastic experience and the main difference about me is that I’m significantly younger than most of the other officers. For me, being able to sit at a board table with some of the most experienced executives in the country and seeing up close and personal the way they make business decisions, has been a fantastic experience. One of the most memorable moments for me was being involved with the creation of the YUTE programme in the wake of the Tivoli incursion, which provided mentorship, training and jobs for disadvantaged youth. That was very rewarding. Working with Joseph Matalon, he set a remarkably high bar for us to follow. He has displayed pretty fantastic dedication to Jamaican civic life and, most importantly for the PSOJ, I’ve seen him put aside his own private interests and his businesses. I’ve seen him put the country first time and time again and, unlike a vast majority of the people in Jamaica, I’ve seen him be really, completely objective as far as is possible without having a bias. That’s given him tremendous credibility without which, I don’t think we could have accomplished what we did.
MEMBER FOCUS Officers’ reflections
Earl Jarrett
Jacqueline Sharp
Honorary Treasurer Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Ltd
I
found Joe to be very passionate about his role as head of the PSOJ. He has a firm grasp of the issues impacting Jamaica’s growth and development and made significant effort to influence government policy to support private sector lead growth. In executing his role, I found that he was consultative, often engaging the organisation’s members and other private sector groups to discuss significant issues; while at the same time, he was firm and decisive. I also admire his commitment to corporate social responsibility and his efforts to help the at-risk youth under the YUTE programme are exemplary. During my tenure as an executive of the PSOJ, I enjoyed the opportunity to serve with a group of outstanding citizens, my fellow officers and with Sandy, our CEO, an individual who is highly committed to the cause. I hope to use the experience and knowledge gained over the last three years to contribute in other areas in future. I wish the new Executive all the best as they continue to build on the work of previous administrations.
9
I
Honorary Secretary General Manager, Jamaica National Building Society t was a real honour to be elected as an officer of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica.
The period of office has been a particularly challenging one, spanning two governments. It commenced with a strategic planning session where the PSOJ agreed to develop its economic policy framework, which it did, as well as for most of its other areas of operation. It was also a period in which members came together through the public sector transformation project, which saw a range of entities and NGOs meeting with the government to identify key priorities. I would think one of the biggest challenges has been getting the private sector as a group to work as one, and significant gains have been made in that regard. With everyone working together to support agreed objectives and priorities, I believe that was a significant area of collaboration. Undoubtedly, there’s space for effective collaboration between the private sector, the government and the NGO community to achieve their goals, and the organisation has reinforced its commitment to Jamaica and, as such, it augurs well for the future. Working with Joe and the PSOJ executive has been a real privilege
MEMBER FOCUS Association presidents’ reflections
Wayne Chen
Vintoria Bernard
President, Jamaica Employers’ Federation
M
y tenure as a member of the PSOJ executive committee coincided with a period of watershed national events. The government’s handling of the Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke extradition and its aftermath were unexpected, but the escalating fiscal crisis which resulted in Jamaica’s return to the IMF, even if ultimately inevitable, was long predicted.
10
President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica
I
t was an enlightening experience for me to have the opportunity to work with Joe Matalon. His drive, selflessness, his inclusive management style and his incisive mind made the experience very worthwhile.
The PSOJ, under the tireless and skillful leadership of President Joe Matalon, played a leading role in uniting the wider private sector and civil society to actively meet these national challenges in a way that has not been seen since the 1970s. Working with other groups, a strong and principled common position was articulated to the government that it was not going to be business as usual when it came to the relationship between politicians, criminal dons and garrisons.
The YUTE project has transformed the lives and circumstances of many persons who, predictably, had no future. The impact here is huge, not only for the persons themselves, but for the nation as a whole. Also, the time, energy and effort put into the PSWG’s response to the tax green paper was phenomenal. Even though many of the suggestions were not adopted by the government, it was still a humongous effort, which speaks to the generosity and selflessness of the man. I commend Joe for the part he played.
The subsequent launch of YUTE, demonstrated the private sector’s caring side and its genuine commitment to the improvement of young people’s lives in our inner city communities at a time when trust had fallen and the society was in serious need of healing.
Under Joe’s leadership, the PSOJ has been able to influence policies and drive economic thought processes while being a standard bearer for private sector interest. The PSOJ has gained immense visibility and its brand is more deeply etched in the minds of the public.
The PSOJ made significant interventions in several areas of public policy, but the most important was its contribution to the PSWG’s tax reform proposals that embodied not only the best thinking, but equally important, a careful process of consultation and consensus-building, that I believe created a great precedent for future initiatives.
My wish for the incoming executives is that they continue to build on the strong foundation that been laid and forge ahead creating new avenues growth and expansion, while maintaining the solid age of the organisation.
will has for im-
COVER STORY Joseph M Matalon: The man in the arena
T
heodore Roosevelt’s iconic Citizenship in a Republic address, delivered at the Sorbonne in 1910, was an exhortation to every citizen to be disciplined and work hard, for those are the keys to building a successful country. He also decried the critics who make no actual contribution, but complain when things are not done to their liking. There are many people of both persuasions in Jamaica, but oftentimes, it is the voice of the critic that is most strident. But doers do, even if their decisions and actions raise questions, because they are working towards a goal. One such doer is Joseph M Matalon who, three years ago, answered the call to serve as president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). “I’m a nationalist. I very much believe in Jamaica, the future of Jamaica and Jamaicans. I guess that’s something that’s in the DNA. A lot of my uncles and my father (Mayer Matalon) did a fair amount of public service themselves,” he said. Matalon previously served as a vice president under the leadership of Peter John Thwaites, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, Dennis Lalor and Douglas Orane. He offered himself for candidacy in 2009 after constant encouragement from a number of the organisation’s past presidents. He was returned, unopposed, to the position in 2010 and 2011. He demits office at the PSOJ’s Annual General Meeting on July 4, but made it clear that members of the organisation can still call on him if the need arises. The man in the arena
Josph M Matalon, president of the PSOJ
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. – Theodore Roosevelt 12
Roosevelt’s stirring speech, popularly called ‘The Man in the Arena’, evokes the image of a gladiator, bloodied and dirty as he fights for his life in an ancient Roman amphitheatre. One can’t quite picture the quiet, unassuming Matalon in this scene, but over the course of his presidency, he has stood in the ring defending various issues of national importance. For instance, in the maelstrom surrounding the Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke extradition, he was instrumental in leading a coalition of private sector and civil society groups in calling for an end to relationships between politicians and dons. Matalon and the Private Sector Working Group on Tax Reform, which included several PSOJ representatives, were heavily criticised by members of the public following the submission by to the Parliamentary Committee on Tax Reform in March. While some proposals were deemed acceptable, others, like the recommendation to increase the number of taxable goods while reducing GCT to 12.5 per cent, were seen as ‘taxing the poor’.
Matalon reads to a group of students at St Michael’s Primary School on Read Across Jamaica Day last month.
Even though the government’s recent tax package did not reflect the PSWG’s recommendations, Matalon stands by the proposals, saying they were equitable and had the potential to transform the economy. “We are mindful of the fact that the extent of the revenue requirement with which the government was faced was substantially more than we ever contemplated and the greater the level of additional revenue you need to generate, the more difficult it becomes to really reform the system in ways that are transformational,� he conceded. Achieving transformation Perhaps, then, it is Matalon’s vision and hardworking nature that make him the gladiator. His three-year tenure has been marked by DIBMMFOHJOH PVUTJEF GPSDFT DPNJOH PO UIF IFFMT PG UIF HMPCBM economic meltdown. But Matalon stuck to his vision of creating more unity within the PSOJ, which ensured a better platform to push the organisation’s advocacy efforts. “One of the very important things that we have managed to achieve over the three years has been to produce a whole suite of policy position papers,� he said. This includes position papers on national security and education, an economic policy framework and the organisation is finalising its position paper on energy and the environment,� he said. “The PSOJ’s mission is essentially one of advocacy, but in order for your advocacy to be effective, your positions must be very well informed, very well researched to be able to stand up to the questioning of both policy makers and the public at large.� For example, the PSOJ’s position paper on education has been commended by minister Ronald Thwaites, who has stated that he is looking forward to working more closely with the private sector to transform the current system. Matalon is also proud of the Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE) programme. The initiative came out of the June 2010 Tivoli incursion, in a bid to prepare inner-city youth for employment through mentorship, vocational and educational training and internship opportunities. 13
Matalon delivering the Private Sector Working Group on Tax Reform’s proposals to the Parliamentary Committee in March.
YUTE has been well supported by the private sector community, XJUI NPSF UIBO WPMVOUFFS NFOUPST BOE NBOZ DPNQBOJFT PáFSJOH internships, apprenticeships and long-term employment, in addition UP SBJTJOH 64 NJMMJPO JO GVOEJOH *U IBT BMTP IFMQFE UP JNQSPWF UIF organisation’s public image. “To be associated with a project that has the kind of profile that YUTE has, its very important for the organisation and for its own advocacy objectives,â€? he said. Finding a balance Matalon, a family man, will no doubt enjoy the extra time he gets to spend with his loved ones. He will also return to his ‘day job’ as chairman of the ICD Group, where he admits he hasn’t spent much time since 2009, as leading the PSOJ became a full-time job. He credits his senior managers for keeping the company going. “The fact is, my business has actually done much better while I was away than it did when I was there. So there may be some amongst my shareholders who are concerned that I’m coming back,â€? he laughed. “I’m very much looking forward to getting back into the business and pursuing some investment opportunities that we see in Jamaica over the next three years.â€? Matalon also plans to stay close to YUTE. He challenged the incoming executive and officer corps to continue doing the task at hand and urged them not to be deterred by the “powerful defenders of the status quoâ€? or disheartened by the low level of trust Jamaicans have in public officials, which has created Jamaica’s “implementation deficitâ€? – the failure to act on plans made. “The organisation ought to focus on diagnosing the causes of this implementation deficit and coming up with strategies [to combat it],â€? he advised. He also had praise for the PSOJ staff, led by CEO Sandra Glasgow, whom he described as “the match of any CEO in the private sector‌ She has a great team around her that all have made significant contributions to the organisation and, in particular, to the success of my presidency and I’m really grateful to all of them for all of the support that I’ve had over the last three years,â€? he said.
HIGHLIGHTS Joseph M Matalon’s tenure as PSOJ president
14
MEET THE STAFF
Angela Williams: Customer service personified
disposition while performing her duties. “Everybody is made up different and not everyone is at that place in their mind where you would be at that particular time. You cannot allow what upsets them to spoil your day,� Williams said of handling difficult calls. This attitude positive attitude has taken her from a teenage mother facing a miserable future to the strong woman she is today. After dropping out of school, Williams worked as a domestic helper and saved enough money to complete courses in telephone/ switchboard operating and data entry. She went on to work at the Electoral Office of Jamaica as a public assistant and field officer. At the PSOJ, Williams took advantage of the workforce development initiatives and received certification in Customer Service Communication, Interpersonal Skills and Microsoft Office courses. She also completed Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) English Language in 2004 and now awaits her results for Mathematics, Principles of Business and Human and Social Biology. “The only time I don’t do, is because I don’t know. If I don’t know, then I will find out,� she stated.
Angela Williams, customer service representative and poet
C
reative, curious, positive. Different words from various PSOJ staffers, but all used to describe one respected member of the team: Angela Marie Williams.
" EFFQMZ TQJSJUVBM XPNBO UIF ZFBS PME NPUIFS PG UISFF TFFT her role as a certified customer service representative as a way to serve. “I do it with joy and dignity,� she said with a smile that mirrors her warm personality. Williams first joined the PSOJ in June 2000 as an office attendant BOE SFMJFG TXJUDICPBSE PQFSBUPS *O TIF XBT QSPNPUFE UP her current position where her duties include promptly receiving and routing calls, daily mail dispatch and assisting staff members with work overflow. She also diligently maintains the databases that track PSOJ press mentions, members’ events attendance and monthly telephone calls. She takes pleasure in receiving calls from PSOJ members and the general public and prides herself on her ability to have a pleasant 15
It is this unending quest to know more that has won the admiration of her co-workers. CEO Sandra Glasgow also noticed her “intelligence and strong ambition� and ensured she was trained and ready for her promotion four years ago. “Angela is a valuable member of this organisation. Not only because she sends me my daily prayer to start my day right, but because persons who come to this building regularly remark on how helpful and pleasant she is,� Glasgow remarked. Someone else who noticed her abilities is former Executive Director, Charles Ross. He first hired Williams at the organisation and further encouraged her to publish the decades’ worth of poems which she had collected in several notebooks. With the encouragement of her colleagues, friends and family, Williams published her first collection, Break Through, which was launched at the PSOJ secretariat in November 2002. Three years later, she published another book, The Call of the Poet and has even released a CD of her poems. On June 5, Williams celebrated 12 years of working with the PSOJ and said she would love to be at the organisation for another dozen. She hopes, by that time, to serve as a human resources manager. “Human labour is one of the most important factors for an organization,� she said. “A company with productive staff cannot lose and even if the staff leaves they will have nothing but good things to say about the company. I would love to be a part of that process.�
YUTE FEATURE
YUTE signs MOU with PetroCaribe Development Fund
(L-R) Sandra Glasgow, PSOJ CEO; Joseph Matalon, PSOJ President; Andre Hylton, MP; Sharon Weber, Managing Director and Althea Robinson of the PetroCaribe Fund sign the YUTE/PetroCaribe memorandum of understanding.
M
ore than 190 participants in the Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE) programme were on hand to witness the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the PetroCaribe Development Fund on May 29. The MOU will facilitate skills training for 295 qualified participants, who will benefit from tuition payment, career guidance workshops, mentorship, monthly stipends and job placement opportunities. The MOU was signed at the YUTE Skills Training Opportunity Fair, held at the St Luke Church Hall in Kingston. Participants were able to apply on the spot for admission to the Level 2 NCTVET certification programmes at the nine community-based training institutions in attendance: B & E Training Institute, Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Excelsior Community College, Professional Development Institute – Girls Town, Institution for Workforce Education and Development, Jan’s School of Catering, St Patrick Foundation, Trinity Moravian Skills Training Centre and Bars to Go Training Institute. 16
Participants also benefited from a reality session, featuring a presentation by entrepreneur and Member of Parliament for Eastern St Andrew, Andre Hylton, who shared his own youthful experiences and encouraged the participants to question their actions, determine their strengths and move steadfastly towards achieving their goals. State minister in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Horace Dalley, explained the history of the PetroCaribe Fund and impressed upon the attendees the need to study and gain employment so that they can contribute to the repaying of the PetroCaribe Fund loan in the years to come. Several professionals also spoke to participants about the skills required to be successful in various industries. They included Mark DeKrines, executive chef; Janise Butler, HEART Trust/ NTA assessor; Meredith Derby, president of the Small Business Association of Jamaica; Seymour Riley, director of Community Development and Service at the University of Technology, Jamaica; David Foster, early childhood development officer and Cecile Kennedy, principal of the Future Leaders Institute.
HAPPENINGS PSOJ/Gleaner launch 50UnderFifty awards
(L-R) Christopher Reckord, chairman of the Membership Committee; Christopher Barnes, Managing Director of the Gleaner Company; Sandra Glasgow, PSOJ CEO; Vernon James, General Manager of NCB Insurance Company Ltd; Michele English, President and COO of Columbus Communications Jamaica Ltd and Joseph Matalon, PSOJ President
T
tariat.
he Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and the Gleaner Company hosted the official launch for the 50UnderFifty: Business Leaders Shaping Jamaica’s Future awards programme on June 6 at the PSOJ secre-
The awards will recognise 50 members of the business community 49 years old and under, who have made or are expected to make a significant impact on Jamaica’s overall development. During his address, guest speaker Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Anthony Hylton, said it is the under-50 cohort of business leaders that is best equipped to help Jamaica achieve its economic goals. “We believe our younger business cohort will demonstrate a greater capacity for innovation, which is central to competitiveness and economic growth,” he said. “Going forward, it is important that the country sees growth in the number of our 17
young business leaders that hopefully will bring a new quality to the business environment.” “We feel confident that the talent of the group, the men and women who will be nominated and eventually selected for this honour, will be pivotal in creating the wealth and acts of corporate social responsibility that will lead to sustained economic growth for Jamaica,” said PSOJ CEO Sandra Glasgow. Nominations for the 50UnderFifty awards closed on June 15. The nominees must ensure their completed entry forms and all supporting documents are submitted online by 4pm, June 29. The 50UnderFifty Awards programme will culminate with a banquet on November 29 at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel. The special guest speaker will be renowned educator and scholar, Dr Freeman Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
HAPPENINGS
South St James Youth Training Project launched
T
he Inter-American Development Bank-funded Fambiz project came to an end on May 25 with a closing workshop held at the PSOJ secretariat. The main goal of this project was to improve the competitiveness of family-owned businesses through corporate governance. Several participants in the project, which began May 2010, were on hand to evaluate the achievements, sustainability and outlook of the project.
KISSERUP HOSTS EU EXPORT WORKSHOPS
(L-R): Omar Chedda - Trade and Environment Manager, PSOJ; Pierre Dawson – Coordinator, European Banana Support Programme in Jamaica; Jesus Orus Baguena – Head of Operations, EU delegation to Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands and The Cayman Islands; Derrick Kellier – Minister of Labour and Social Security and Member of Parliament for South St James; Glendon Harris – Mayor of Montego Bay
S
ome 200 young persons in St James are currently undergoing training for information communication technology certification as part of the European Union’s (EU) Banana Support Programme. They will be later employed at Global Gateway Solutions in Montego Bay. The programme, also supported by the constituency development fund, was officially launched on Friday, June 22.
FAMBIZ PROJECT ENDS WITH CLOSING WORKSHOP
PSOJ CEO, Sandra Glasgow, makes a presentation to participants in the Fambiz project.
18
Participants pay close attention to a presentation during the Kisserup project export workshop
T
he workshops were held on June 5 and 6 with the objective of providing potential and current exporters with information on access opportunities and limitations in European Union markets, how to access these markets and the important points of contact.
NEWS From the CEO’s Report CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE t The committee did not meet in May. However, the Chairman, B Michael Hylton and members of the Insolvency Review Committee (Peter Goldson, Hilary Reid and Sandra Glasgow) met with the Hon Anthony Hylton, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), the Hon Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, Minister of State in the same ministry and Senator the Hon Mark Golding, Minister of Justice, BMPOH XJUI PUIFS NJOJTUSZ PøDJBMT PO .BZ UP EJTDVTT UIF SFQPSU that had been submitted to the ministers in April. t 5IF NFNCFST FYQMBJOFE UIF QIJMPTPQIZ VOEFSQJOOJOH UIF DPNNJUtee’s recommendations and the models that were considered and eventually proposed as the basis for drafting a new Arbitration Bill for Jamaica. Hylton advised that the Government would wish to issue a Green Paper to solicit feedback from the public. Golding requested that the committee submit a summary of how the recommendations for the proposed Act would be operationalised and, in particular, an overview of the Barbados legislation and how it works. There was also discussion on who would draft the Act as the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel is inundated with a significant backlog of legislation to be drafted. It was agreed that the MIIC would approach one of Jamaica’s international development partners to request funding support and to request support from the Canadians in particular.
CRIME STOP t The Crime Stop Coordinator’s report highlighted the following for the month of May: t 5IF OVNCFS PG DBMMT JO .BZ JODSFBTFE CZ TFWFO QFS DFOU PWFS the previous month. The number of calls to date is ahead of the level at the corresponding month in 2011. t 5IF OVNCFS PG XFC UJQT JODSFBTFE CZ QFS DFOU PWFS UIF previous month and is just four tips fewer than the number received in total in 2011. t 5IF BWFSBHF OVNCFS PG UJQT QFS XFFL JODSFBTFE CZ TJY QFS DFOU over the previous month. t 5IF OVNCFS PG BSSFTUT JO .BZ TFWFO XBT QFS DFOU MPXFS UIBO the previous month. t 5IF OVNCFS PG TVDDFTTFT FJHIU XFSF QFS DFOU MPXFS UIBO UIPTF in the previous month XBT QBJE PVU JO .BZ QFS DFOU MFTT UIBO JO "QSJM QSPQFSUZ SFDPWFSFE XBT WBMVFE BU QFS DFOU MFTT UIBO JO "QSJM BOE OBSDPUJDT TFJ[FE XFSF WBMVFE BU QFS DFOU MFTT UIBO JO April.
EDUCATION AND CSR COMMITTEE The committee met on Friday, May 11, at the Zoo House, Hope Gardens. The Committee’s special guest was education minister Hon Ronald Thwaites. Among the issues discussed were: t +5" 3FBE "DSPTT +BNBJDB %BZ t 1SFTFOUBUJPO ;PP ,JOHTUPO t 140+ &EVDBUJPO 1PMJDZ 1BQFS NJOJTUFS T SFWJFX t $43 4VSWFZ *OJUJBUJWF
20
t 3FDFOU QVCMJTIFE SFQPSUT PO DIJME BCVTF JO +BNBJDB t &YUFSOBM DPNNJUUFF VQEBUFT JTA Read Across Jamaica Day The PSOJ, through its Reading... the Bottom-line project mobilised its member companies to participate in the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s (JTA) national initiative Read Across Jamaica Day, which was IFME PO 5VFTEBZ .BZ 'PVSUFFO DPNQBOJFT BOE UIFJS TUBá SFBE UP a total of forty-four (44) schools across the nation. President Joseph M Matalon and treasurer, Jacqueline Sharp, read to Grades 1 and 2 students at St Michael’s Primary School and St Aloysius All Age, respectively. The children were very responsive and active to the reading session. Presentation - Zoo Kingston Orlando Robinson, Curator of Zoo Kingston, invited the committee to view a promotional DVD. He said Guardsman Group has been instrumental in reviving the zoo, which aims to convey the message of Jamaica and its people. Robinson also appealed for funding. Sheila Benjamin agreed to submit to committee member Peggy Bleyburg a cost analysis/budget of the operations of Zoo Kingston in order to garner financial support. Education Position Paper - Minister’s Review Thwaites expressed appreciation for the diligence and insight presented in the Education Policy Paper and noted that all the recommendations coincided with that of the Education Ministry. He stated that the policies are clear and that the Education ministry fully endorses the Paper. The minister acknowledged that there were several areas of the Jamaican education system that needed immediate improvements: t )FMQ JT SFRVJSFE XJUI SFHBSET UP UIF CVJMEJOH PG TDIPPMT UP TBUJTGZ approximately 1000-1500 spaces needed to aid in the abolishment of the shift system. The ministry is courting private sector input by donation of unused buildings to be used as schools. t 5IF NJOJTUSZ OFFET BTTJTUBODF XJUI SFHBSET UP UFDIOPMPHZ BOE edutainment.
NEWS From the CEO’s Report
Education Committee members in discussion with Minister of Education, Ronald Thwaites, at a recent meeting.
t "QQSPYJNBUFMZ USBJOFE FBSMZ DIJMEIPPE UFBDIFST IBWF OPU been placed due to a lack of financial resources to pay them. t 'VSUIFS BTTJTUBODF JT SFRVJSFE JO DIBOHJOH UIF DPVOUSZ T WBMVF TZTUFN with respect to technical and vocational education. Approximately 27 per cent of students have special needs. Two diagnostic centres are required – one in Montego Bay and the other in
Mandeville. t *OOPWBUJWF BOE DPTU FáFDUJWF XBZT BSF OFFEFE UP QSPWJEF B CFUter breakfast programme in schools. t 5IF 1"5) QSPHSBNNF OFFET UP CF SFGPSNFE t 5IF 4UVEFOUT -PBO #VSFBV JT OPU BCMF UP CFBS UIF GVMM DPTU PG funding tertiary education. An agreement was made by the financial community to form a committee to work out how best to assist in this regard. t 1BSUJDJQBUJPO JO UIF SFWJTJPO PG UIF DPEF PG SFHVMBUJPO GPS TDIPPM boards is required. t +BNBJDB 'PVOEBUJPO GPS -JGF -POH -FBSOJOH +'-- BOE UIF +Bmaica Library Service are partnering to assist students who have dropped out of the school system to obtain a high school diploma at any library across Jamaica. CSR Survey Initiative Lisa Lewis reported that the sub-committee met twice and continues to work on drafting the CSR Survey. The survey will be
21
used to ascertain the level of CSR involvement among PSOJ members. Lewis also noted that the survey could be used as an instrument to garner participation in the restoration of Zoo Kingston. Recent published reports on child abuse in Jamaica The committee expressed deep concern about the recent published reports on child abuse in Jamaica. It was felt that we should encourage further action towards ensuring that schools do more in terms of building awareness, monitoring for risk and ensuring that the safety of our children in schools is given priority attention. EXTERNAL COMMITTEE UPDATE National Council on Education Caroline Mahfood said that since the change in government, the National Council on Education was disbanded and reinstated. As such, she is uncertain of the direction of the board. She also said that the date of the next meeting is unknown. An update will be provided at the next meeting. SAFE Schools Committee Patricia Sutherland advised the committee that since the general election, the Safe Schools Committee has been disbanded.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE Round table meeting on energy The committee did not meet in May, but most members attended the Sustainable Energy Conference and Expo hosted by the University of Technology in collaboration with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany from May 16 to 19. The conference included a round table meeting with the German Ambassador, energy minister Phillip Paulwell, the JPS CEO, representatives from the IDB and the OUR, and experts in renewable energy. Paulwell noted that the government had committed to increasing the proportion of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix to 30 per cent, as there needed to be a greater reliance on indigenous sources of energy to reduce energy dependence and risk. The government would be seriously considering coal and nuclear as part of the country’s energy mix, as well. The government implemented a policy on net billing and 11 licences were issued in May. A waste-to-energy policy was being developed. Germany would be moving away from nuclear energy and all nuclear plants would be shut down by 2022. The German govFSONFOU JOUFOET UP TVQQMZ QFS DFOU PG JUT FOFSHZ OFFET GSPN renewable sources by 2050. In fact, on May 25 and 26, solar power plants in Germany peaked at 22 gigawatts of output for a few hours, yielding almost half the country’s energy needs from the renewable resource and setting a new record in the process for a country of that size and energy demand. However, on average renewables currently supply about 20 percent of Germany’s energy needs. The IDB informed the gathering that the bank would be placing greater focus on renewables and energy efficiency. Attention would also be given to climate change adaptation. The bank will BMTP NBLF BWBJMBCMF 64 NJMMJPO GPS DP HFOFSBUJPO PS SFnewable energy projects at concessionary interest rates. The recently launched IDEAS energy competition for the region, funded by the IDB, received 69 submissions from Jamaica. The JPS currently generates 70 megawatts from hydro and seven per cent of its total energy generation from renewables. The company will be increasing its investments in wind farms. According to the OUR, more than 65 percent of the cost of electricity was related to fuel. Grid stability is also a key factor to consider in looking at polices affecting the provision of electricity to the public. The OUR thinks that nuclear should be a part of the country’s energy mix after 2020. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE The Membership Committee met on May 29 and discussed a range of topics, including the process of dealing with delinquent members, a more deliberate targeting strategy with the assis22
tance of the Companies Office of Jamaica and an upcoming project that will provide assistance to growth companies. On another note, the next executive lyme is scheduled for July 6. Membership subscriptions Eighty-one per cent of subscription payments for 2012 have been collected. Unpaid members are to be alerted ahead of the annual general meeting on July 4. Non-payment of subscription will result in the loss of voting rights. Membership application packages Membership packages were sent to: t Caribbean Producers Ltd t Fosrich Company Ltd t Captech Ltd t Leisure for Pleasure Holidays and Tours TCJ Ltd t Ingenuity Technology t Fujitsu New members There were four new members: t Kirkland Anderson – Individual member t Christopher Zacca – Individual member t Power Solutions Technology Ltd – Corporate member t The Business District – Corporate member TRADE POLICY COMMITTEE (TPC) CARICOM/Jamaica Trade Relations Trevor Hamilton of Trevor Hamilton and Associates met with the Trade Policy Committee on May 22 to present the findings and recommendations of his study on CARICOM/Jamaica trade relations. This study was undertaken as part of a PSOJ project to strengthen exporter capacity.
Among the key findings was that market access for Jamaican goods and free movement of capital are not the main challenges facing exporters in the regional market. The main problems are: t Jamaican exporters are not introducing integrated production and distribution value chains and other strategies that are successfully used to access markets in other trade blocs. t Non-governmental organisations such as CAIC, CCL and others don’t have the requisite capacities or broadbased ownership/membership to perform to reinforce CSME. t Member states don’t have the legislative and institutional infrastructure to effectively and efficiently facilitate trade. t Key regional organs such as CCJ, COTED and the CARICOM Secretariat don’t have the requisite capacity to implement decisions. Growth in total non-traditional exports for 2010 over 1999 was 6.6 per cent, as compared to 36.6 per cent in Jamaica’s exports to CARICOM in the same period. Jamaica’s trade deficit with CARICOM is generally high and growing – 23.3 per cent in 2012 over 1999, but much higher with Trinidad and Tobago at 30.6 per cent and rapidly improving with Barbados at minus 36.7 per cent. It was found that government bodies performed much better than key non-government bodies on regional trade promotion/facilitation due to lack of private sector support. These strategies include: use of subcontractors, direct investment, licensing to manufacture and operate a service, joint venture in production/distribution, institutionalised lobbying and advocacy, operating specialised trade houses, national brand operations and integrated production/distribution value chain. The overall trading environment in the region tends to be more favourable to goods than services. The recent JCC/T&T Manufacturers’ Agreement will facilitate access to information on opportunities and logistics for trade missions, but will not help with critical strategies that entrepreneurs have to implement. Some of these include: process/production/distribution partnerships, co-branding and development of standards. In looking at the CET, it was found that large CARICOM exporters can import competing inputs from third countries, free of duty, if enough regional supplies are not available and export the corresponding finished product to Jamaica without any duty. This creates a price advantage to the CARICOM products against the MSMEs, which cannot import raw material from third countries free of the CET. The CET regime is enshrined in law. Therefore, Jamaica has to continue to exclude imports from CARICOM from CET. The CET can only have an adverse economic impact when Jamaica has a negative trade balance with CARICOM. Consequently, the country’s only option is to competitively export to CARICOM 23
to realise a trade surplus or at least to reduce the trade deficit. The private sector needs to establish private trade houses for SMEs, implement traceability regimes, use data on suspension of CET/ROO to create business, invest in a regional private sector mechanism and co-brand with foreign brands and promote B2B partnerships. The areas of greatest opportunities for Jamaica for goods exports in the region include: chemicals, apparels, mineral products, wood products, spices and nutraceuticals. For services, these include: financial and allied professional services, construction, engineering, fashion, entertainment, food and beverage service and educational services. Events t ACP and ACP/EU Ministerial Councils, Vanuatu, 10th - 15th June. t $BOBEB $"3*$0. GPVSUI SPVOE PG GPSNBM OFHPUJBUJPOT #BSCBdos, June.
PROJECTS YUTE Social engagement On May 10, the European Union, along with the South African High Commission, invited YUTE participants to the viewing of internationally acclaimed documentary The Choir by Michael Davie. More than 20 YUTE participants were in attendance. The film chronicles the conception, development and ultimate success of an all male choir coming out of the Leeukwop Prison system near Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Ministry of Health’s HIV testing intervention programme, ‘Big Man Ting’, in collaboration with Bashy Bus, was also held on June 15. Mentorship On Saturday May 26, 19 YUTE participants attending preskills classes at the Parade Gardens Centre were matched with their mentors. The event was one the participants were anxiously anticipating upon completing mentee training earlier that week. Upon arrival at the United Theological College, participants spoke with two to three potential mentors, sharing their dreams and hopes for the mentoring relationship. Career planning is a major objective for most mentormentee pairs, as participants prepare for work experience and skills training. Pre-skills (Learn and Earn) .PSF UIBO :65& QBSUJDJQBOUT BSF DVSSFOUMZ FOSPMMFE JO pre-skills training programmes in Parade Gardens, Rockfort, Mountain View and Drewsland. On May 29 and 30, the Level 4 Rockfort pre-skills participants were engaged in career workshops in preparation for their upcoming five-week work experience placement, during which they penned their resumes. Upcoming events Mid-July – Olympics Quiz Competition Skills Training Opportunity Fair One hundred and ninety participants witnessed the signing of an MOU between the PSOJ and the Petrocaribe Fund on May 29 at the St Luke Church Hall and to participate in an opportunity fair that would enable them to actively apply for their preferred training institution. Nine community-based training institutions offering Level 2 NCTVET certification were represented at the skills training fair. Entrepreneurship stream A series of activities were conducted for YUTE Entrepreneurship. These include: t Junior Achievement Training for the Rockfort pre-skills training among Level 4 participantst 22 persons attended an entrepreneurship preparedness workshop. The sessions, facilitated by Leachim Semaj, followed the theme ‘Tekin it to the worl’: Unleashing your entrepreneurial excellence’ and examined areas such as ‘were you born for business?’ t The live market test of the Micro-franchise Project began with participants who selected the distribution business model. t The first micro-franchise training was held at the JBDC Incubator and Resource Centre on Marcus Garvey Drive. The sessions were facilitated by the Fairbourne Consulting Team, team members of the Musson Group and YUTE PMO. 24
t The Parade Gardens Junior Achievement Programme was
launched on June 6
t Orientation sessions were held for the Trench Town and
Jones Town programmes on June 13 and 14.
Study preparedness workshops Three study preparedness workshops were conducted for more than 100 YUTE participants who are about to commence skills training. Sessions were conducted for participants prior to placement with training institutions on June 17, BOE EU BANANA SUPPORT PROGRAMME – ST JAMES YOUTH TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT PROJECT The works at the Cambridge facility have been completed. Tactical Radio, a computer supplier located in St James, will be awarded the contract to supply and install the computer and related equipment at the Cambridge facility. However, the company is to submit a financial guarantee from a bank before the contract can be issued. The second round of training is being completed at the Maldon facility. The training has been affected by the absence of trainers on certain days, which required the training period to be extended beyond what was originally planned. The liaison officers have been in touch with Global Gateway concerning their hiring practices and recruitment needs. They were informed that in addition to recruiting potential trainees, persons ready for employment, who meet Global Gateway’s requirements, have been sent directly to the company for interviews. The launch event for the project has been set for June 22. However, a venue for the launch has not been decided on as
yet. Rev Thomas informed that the Maldon Baptist Church would not be available because of other activities taking place there on that date. However, the Liaison Officers are communicating with the board of the Church to see whether the Church could be made available. If no venue is found in the project communities, the launch will have to be held in Montego Bay.
limitations in EU markets, how to access these markets and the important points of contact.
CDB PROJECT: IMPROVING CARICOM MARKET ACCESS FOR JAMAICAN GOODS AND SERVICES
Since the marketing campaign began, 15 calls have been received regarding disputes: four were referred to other organisations, four withdrew their complaints, three have been delayed and four are currently being processed. Two of the four possible cases were registered on May 31. Follow-up is underway with the responding parties to get a confirmation for a mediation meeting. The video conferencing equipment has been installed and should be up and running by June 11.
Trevor Hamilton and Associates made his final presentation to the Trade Policy Committee on May 22, and outlined the recommendations that the Private Sector should take. (See recommendations under TPC report). Mendel Verlag: Currently awaiting feedback from 10 private sector stakeholders on the website so the consultant can improve the site and database. The site was reviewed by the Trade Policy Committee in May. Business Bridges: Successful workshop with 23 persons held on 6 and 7 March. Final report submitted. Kisserup: EU export workshops on June 5 and 6. The objective of these workshops is to provide potential and current exporters with information on market access opportunities and
COMMERCIAL ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTRE (CADRC) During May, the CADRC had four confirmed bookings – three for workshops and one for an ADR consultation.
Justice Roy Anderson spoke about the CADRC with Jerry Small on Newstalk 93.7FM on May 16. A letter was sent to Hilton McDavid of UWI to discuss CADRC and UWI collaborating to promote ADR in Jamaica. 5IF BQQMJDBUJPO GPS UIF NBUDIJOH HSBOU PG 64 TVCNJUUFE by an SME whose case is being handled by the centre was approved by the CADRC PSC Sub-Committee. The centre is still waiting on a response from the Chief Justice regarding referral status for Supreme Court mediations.
Highlights of the 2012/2013 budget
25