Monthly Archives: October 2015

The organisers of the inaugural Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation Heroes In Action 5K Run/Walk were pleased with Saturday’s event, which was held in the historic tourist town of Falmouth, Trelawny, with close to eight hundred people taking part.

Ryon Chambers won the male run category in a time of 17 minutes and 58 seconds. Second place was taken by Lenford Adams, 18:15, while Ronique Williams copped third in 18:19.

On the women’s side, first place went to Karlene Blagrove of Pacers Running Club in an easy-looking 22:07 minutes. She was trailed across the finish line by Jozanne Harris (Jamdammers) in 22:57 minutes. Jordan Waldschmidt ended in third, running 25:04 minutes.

What made the event more special was the fact that multiple Olympic and World Champion and world record holder over the 100m and 200m Usain Bolt was on hand to send the participants on their way.

Bolt, through his foundation, were key endorsers of the event that seeks to provide funding to the tune of $8m for the construction of a building that will house a classroom, a library and a sewing room at the Granville Place of Safety for Girls in Trelawny.

Celebrity Participants
Also taking part were Bolt’s parents, Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt; the town’s mayor, Garth Wilkinson; and several other well-known personalities, including members of the Trelawny FA, Linnel McLean (president), Ronald McLean (no relation) and Ms Hernie Brown, among others.

Paula Sinclair won the overall female 5K walk title ahead of Kimberly Clarke, with Brynn Broadie finishing in third place. On the men’s side, victory went to AndrÈ Smith of Go Run Running Club. The Jamaica National pair of Vivian Lawes and Jason Henry were second and third, respectively.

Munro College won the Team Championship (5K race) ahead of Grange Hill High (second) and Bolt’s alma mater, William Knibb High, in third.

Munro’s team of Rushane Fullerton, Leon Whyte, Daviere Witter, Marville Yee, and Michael Goss crossed the line first in a combined time of 1:34:26, with Grange Hill (1:45:36) next best. William Knibb had a time of 1:46:1.

Port Authority took the Team Championship 5K Walk, with Good Hope in second and the Child Development Agency back in third.

Saffry Brown, general manager, JN Foundation, described the occasion as a special one.

“It is an awesome occasion. It actually has a special meaning to the Granville School of Safety for Girls and the wider community,” said Brown.

“That we are able to hold this event in Falmouth, a very historic town, and with Usain Bolt on board through his foundation, it gives a real sense of pride and purpose to the event,” she added.

The event was held as part of the JN Foundation’s 141st anniversary celebrations.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20151020/jnbs-foundation-marks-successful-5k-runwalk-falmouth

GENERAL manager of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), Earl Jarrett, will on October 28, 2015 be inducted into the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s (PSOJ) Private Sector Hall of Fame.

Jarrett has had a long history of involvement with the PSOJ, having served as honorary secretary on the organisation’s Executive Committee, and Chairman of the Trade Policy Committee, from 2009-2012.  He will be the second Afro-Jamaican, following after Glen Christian last year, to receive the prestigious honour.

“Earl is someone whom I have known and worked with for quite some time now. I have always been impressed with his stewardship of Jamaica National, and the impact he has made on the industry,” said PSOJ Presidenty William Mahfood. “Similarly, I am always amazed that even while growing the organisation, he has found time to contribute to society, such as the fantastic work he has done with the Jamaica Cancer Society.

He is well deserving of this award and continues the line of distinguished awardees who have served Jamaica well,” he added.

His tenure at Jamaica National began in 1997 following his entry into the organisation as an executive with responsibility for Compliance and Overseas Subsidiaries. In 1999, he became the general manager, a position he has held ever since. Jarrett is also a member of the Society’s Board of Directors, and a director of all its local and overseas subsidiaries, as well as the JNBS Foundation, the charitable arm of the JN Group.

A chartered accountant and graduate of the University of the West Indies, Jarrett also serves as an executive on the boards of several international, regional and local organisations. He is:

∞ Chairman: Caribbean Association of Housing Finance Institutions (CASHFI); Jamaica Cancer Society; Jamaican Diaspora Foundation and Mona GeoInformatics Institute

∞ Director: The Gleaner Company’s UK and North American Boards and Edna Manley College Arts Foundation

∞ Trustee: Dudley Grant Memorial Trust and the YWCA Trust

∞ Trustee Member: FIA Foundation Region 2

∞ Member: National Council of Jamaica, Order of St John and The University of the West Indies Mona Campus Council.

∞ Member: Electoral Commission of Jamaica

Prior to being at Jamaica National, Jarrett worked at a number of other companies, including T Geddes Grant/Mussons Group, where he served as finance director/company secretary, and NEM Insurance Company, where he was the assistant general manager. His career began at Peat Marwick (KPMG) where he served in a number of capacities, including senior auditor and manager.

In 2008, Mr Jarrett received the Order of Distinction, in the rank of Commander (CD), from the Government of Jamaica, for service to the financial sector, and the Pelican Award from the University of the West Indies Alumni, Florida Chapter, for outstanding work in business development among the Jamaican Diaspora in the USA.

Jarrett has a passion for volunteering and has served in a number of organisations, including the Jamaica Cancer Society, the Council of Volunteer Social Services, the Rotary Club of New Kingston, and the YMCA. Earlier this year, he was recognised as the Gleaner Honour Awardee for exceptional voluntary service.

He joins a list of 22 previous inductees to the PSOJ Hall of Fame.

Each year, since 1992, the PSOJ pays tribute to a private sector leader who has made innovative and sustained contributions to the development of the private sector over a minimum of 25 years, has demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the industry in which his/her company operates and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the advancement of his/her industry and to national development.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Earl-Jarrett-to-be-inducted-into-PSOJ-Hall-of-Fame

Tahj Simpson is the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation scholarship recipient for St Elizabeth.

Tahj was one of 31 students who were awarded a five-year scholarship and were officially recognised as JN Foundation scholars at a reception held at the JNBS Half-Way Tree branch on September 13. Thirteen of the awardees were children of JN Group employees.

Some 498 GSAT students, including students in the JN School Savers programme and employees’ children, have benefited from the JNBS Scholarship Programme since its inception 32 years ago.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20151022/corporate-hands-tahj-simpson-cops-jnbs-scholarship-st-bess

ENCOURAGED by the auspicious inaugural staging of the Jamaica National (JN) Building Society Foundation’s Heroes in Action 5K Run/Walk in Falmouth on Sunday, JN’s General Manager Earl Jarrett is hoping to include cruise and stopover visitors in next year’s staging of the event.

“Hopefully next year we can get the tourism sector involved. I would love to have hotels participate… for visitors to come down to the island to participate in it. A great ambition would be to see if we could have a boat in the (Falmouth) port, a ship in the harbour, and people from the vessel participating. So we have some big objectives and we are going to work on it for next year, and we are going to be right back here in Falmouth,” an enthused Jarrett told the Jamaica Observer West during the presentation ceremony of the event held on the Falmouth Shipping Pier.

“It’s our first year and it exceeded our expectation; We had over 500 people registered. It is a good start and we had the partnership with the Usain Bolt Foundation. We are in the beautiful historic town of Falmouth and I don’t think you can replicate the experience of walking pass some of these historic buildings.”

The event was endorsed by Usain Bolt and the Usain Bolt Foundation.

Bolt, who was also pleased with the maiden effort, pledged his continued support for the event.

“I am always willing to participate in anything to uplift my community and I am looking forward to doing it again next year. It is a great event,” said the phenomenal athlete, a native of Sherwood Content in Trelawny.

His manager, Nugent Walker, was also impressed with the overwhelming support for the event.

“We are happy with the turnout. It’s the first staging and the community seems to be vibrant; everybody came out and enjoyed themselves. It’s for a worthy cause, so we are pleased,” a satisfied Walker noted.

Proceeds from the event will go towards the construction of a media library, sewing room and a general studies classroom at the Granville Child Care facility in Trelawny.

Manager at the institution, Kisha Riley, was very appreciative.

“I am so enthused, I am overwhelmed, I am struck with awe, I am in amazement. I feel so good with the JN Foundation and Usain Bolt Foundation coming out to support Granville Child Care facility in such a way, and the CDA (Child Development Agency) in general,” expressed an overjoyed Riley.

Ryon Chambers won the male category of the event with a run of 17 minutes and 58 seconds. Second place went to Lenford Adams in 18:15, while Ronique Williams finished third in 18:19.

In the female category, first place went to Karlene Blagrove of Pacers Running Club in an easy-looking 22:07 minutes. She was followed by Jozanne Harris in 22:57 minutes, while Jordan Waldschmidt ended in third position in a time of 25:04 minutes.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/westernnews/Successful-staging-of-JN-Foundation-s-5K-Run-Walk-in-Falmouth_19234748

A 24-year-old male, who had no chronic illnesses and was gainfully employed, got involved in a fight and was chopped on the chest and arms then rushed to a hospital in a taxi.

There are many such incidents which occur too often in a Jamaican society stained with blood from more than 1,000 murders per year.

However, in this case, the injured man was fighting with his girlfriend – something he did repeatedly.

During the fracas, according to a case study, a relative of the woman intervened and inflicted the chop wounds.

The case study forms part of the JN Foundation and National Health Fund-sponsored research on the cost of violence-related injuries and road-traffic crashes on the health sector.

Dr Jason Toppin, associate lecturer in anaesthesia and intensive care, who presented the case study, told the story of how the man was rushed to the emergency room bleeding profusely, and how medical personnel immediately carried out blood investigation and administered intravenous fluids. The upper limb of the injured man was subsequently X-rayed.

Speaking yesterday during the Cost of Care and Data Mapping Forum at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston, Toppin said shortly after he started receiving attention at a hospital, it became obvious that a large artery in his arm was damaged and, in order to save it, he had to be rushed to the operating theatre.

“As a result, two elective surgeries were postponed – meaning two people who had planned to have their elective surgeries done did not have their surgeries done that day and went back home without their surgery.”

The patient lost three litres of blood and spent a lot of time in the operating room while being transfused with three units of blood and plasma.

TURN FOR THE WORSE

Things took a turn for the worse when the man started having difficulty breathing and had to be transferred by an ambulance to another hospital to be treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

There he had to undergo a plethora of CT scans of the brain, cervical spine, his chest and abdomen, and required mechanical ventilation to breathe.

A day later, the patient’s arm became swollen and no pulse was felt. It was believed that his arm was in danger and as such, he was rushed to theatre again for another surgery. However, four days later, it was discovered that his arm was infected and in an attempt to save his life, he was taken back to surgery a third time and his arm amputated.

He spent a total of 34 days in ICU, where he received the highest level of care, including the assignment of a designated nurse, IV fluids administered, a lot of expensive machinery monitoring him and to help him breathe.

While in ICU, the patient developed kidney failure, which was transient and required 12 sessions of dialysis before his kidney functions returned. He also had repeated bouts of serious infections requiring IV antibiotics and many transfusions of red blood cells and plasma.

“We did a number of X-rays, chest studies. Most days, he required physiotherapy – at least one session every day – and there were several days he had physiotherapy twice a day,” Toppin explained.

The man was eventually transferred back to the wards.

“Unfortunately, after seven days on the ward, he had a massive bleed from his intestine and died as a result,” Toppin said.

“We spent a little less than $6 million on him in hospital and that’s the most obvious part of the care – the direct cost.”

With the man being 24 years old, the study projected that if he had lived up to 60 years and retired while earning minimum wage – the income lost to his family, that would go to his house, among other things, would be an estimated $10 million.

Toppin argued that the cost of a single injury could result in a potential loss of $16 million.

He reasoned that on the many occasions when the man’s girlfriend got injured by him before the fatal altercation, there would have been an opportunity for intervention.

Professor Trevor McCartney, medical chief of staff at the University Hospital of the West Indies, who was one of the lead investigators in the project, said the findings of the study would be a point of reference for stakeholders to establish preventive programmes geared to reducing violence- and motor vehicle-related injuries, as well as to eliminate the constraints faced by hospital services as a result of these incidents.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20151016/violence-and-exorbitant-cost-taxpayers-study-serve-reference

WHEN runners and walkers gather at the Falmouth Pier in Trelawny on Sunday morning to participate in the Jamaica National Building Society (JN) Foundation’s Heroes in Action 5K, they will be supporting an effort to give the girls at the Granville Place of Safety, located at Carrick Foyle in the parish, a fighting chance to receive a balanced educational experience.

The money will be used to assist with the construction of a building which will house a classroom, media library, and sewing room at the place of safety.

Rosalee Gage-Grey, chief executive officer of the Child Development Agency (CDA) says her agency places great emphasis on education for all children who are in State care.

“We recognise that education is the key to the success of our children and, on that basis, annually we make budgetary allocations to provide quality education for them,” she stated.

She also pointed out that presently at Granville there is a two storey building, which houses the dormitory upstairs and other facilities downstairs; therefore, the proposed new building will be a welcome change.

“Once the new facility is built we will be able to use both floors of the current block as dorm space to provide more individualised spaces for the children. Therefore, we will move from an open dormitory style residence to small rooms, which would house four children; and provide some level of independence and privacy,” Gage-Grey said.

She said other things were also being done to make the Granville Place of Safety a state-of-the-art childcare facility in western Jamaica, and that the support from the Heroes in Action 5K will assist with this endeavour.

Saffrey Brown, general manager of the JN Foundation, says the run/walk, which is endorsed by Usain Bolt and the Usain Bolt Foundation, will provide an opportunity for pople to support a beneficial project while experiencing the charm of the historic town of Falmouth.

“The race route traverses the town, including a section by the sea coast, which will give runners and walkers a chance to appreciate the beauty of Falmouth,” she noted.

The run is being organised with technical support from the team at Running Events Limited and will take runners on a five-kilometre path that will include adequate water stops and distance markers.

“We have sought to ensure the comfort and security of all participants in this special event and there will be an ambulance and medical attendants on standby to provide support, if necessary,” she added.

The foundation said that for people who will not be able to run, but would like to make a donation to the project, an account has been established at Jamaica National to facilitate them.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/JN-Foundation-runs-for-Granville-Place-of-Safety_19232865