Claudine Allen, the general manager of the JN Foundation, says while compliance is vital to increasing helmet usage among cyclists and pillions in Jamaica, simply achieving greater use of the gears alone will not safeguard against injury and fatalities.
“Behaviour change is a part of the solution, but we have to create an environment where the helmets that are available are protective, not decorative and are going to save lives,” the JN executive underscored.
Ms Allen made the statement during a courtesy call recently on Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz. She was accompanied by Aggie Krasnolucka, programmes director of the FIA Foundation, an international charity, working closely with grant partners to shape projects and advocate to secure change in policy and practice.
Ms Krasnolucka was on a visit to Jamaica to sign an agreement with the National Road Safety Council and the JN Foundation to implement the National Helmet Wearing Coalition Project, which seeks to increase helmet wearing among riders and pillions, increase the use of approved helmets, as well as stimulate a local market for helmets.
Ms Allen said the National Helmet Wearing Coalition, which comprises stakeholders in road safety and mobility, will assist in addressing the widespread issues pertaining to the regulatory standards for helmets and enforcement, as well as awareness among cyclists and pillion.
In his response, Minister Vaz said a public education campaign is necessary to promote helmet wearing.
“A big part of any initiative would be the public education component because these youngsters do not listen easily and it is very difficult to get them to comply,” he said as he commended the initiative to be undertaken.
Paula Fletcher, executive director of the National Road Safety Council, noted that while motorcycle deaths have been trending downward since 2021, the figures are still a major concern.
“It has been coming down, but it is still a third of national statistics, so that is still significant,” she pointed out.
The National Helmet Wearing Coalition Project was established under a three-year agreement valued at $750,000 euro last month.
The first phase of the project will commence with the execution of research to provide baseline data that will inform the work of the project going forward. A comprehensive stakeholder mapping and engagement exercise will then be undertaken to examine and understand the situation relating to helmets and helmet wearing in Jamaica.
According to the National Road Safety Council, since 2015, approximately 1,238 motorcyclists up to September 13 have been killed on roads in Jamaica. All were men. Data from the Ministry of Transport and the Jamaica Constabulary Force indicate that these deaths account for approximately 30 per cent of total deaths caused by road crashes in Jamaica over the period, and that over 90 per cent of those who died were not wearing a helmet.
Photo Caption: Earl Jarrett (second right in back), chief executive officer of The Jamaica National Group and Claudine Allen (at right, front row) take a group photo with winners of the JN Foundation Jamaica 60 Photo Competition – Gerald Gordon (second left, front row), first place winner in the Greatness in People Category and Advocacy Award, he also placed third in the Greatness in Community Category; Kaodi Allen (third left), winner of the Greatness in Community Category; Sharlene Higgins (fourth left, front row), who placed second in the Greatness in Community Category and Tevaughn Gordon, brother of Joshua Gordon who won the People’s Choice Award and placed second in the Greatness in People Category. Sharing in the moment are Radcliffe ‘Ruddy’ Roye (left in the back), photo journalist and one of the trainers; Stuart Reeves (second left, back row), one of the trainers; Shanti Persaud (third right, back row), one of the judges and Omar Wright, lead, Environment and Community Development Programmes at the JN Foundation. Occasion was the awards ceremony which took place at the Corporate Offices of the Jamaica National Group on Oxford Road in Kingston on August 30.
Seventeen-year-old, Kodia Allen, a sixth form student at Manchester High School; Gerald Gordon, fine art photographer; and Joshua Gordon, a third-year student at the University of Technology, Jamaica, emerged winners of the JN Foundation Jamaica 60 photo competition.
The awards ceremony took place recently at the JN Group Corporate offices on Oxford Road in Kingston.
While winning a major competition of this nature is not new to Gerald Gordon and Joshua Gordon, who are both unrelated, this is the first time Kodia has emerged a winner.
“I feel elated, and it has taught me patience. The patience was worth it as I came out on top and I’m excited,” said Kodia, winner in the ‘Greatness in Community’ category.
Her winning image, entitled ‘Uncountable Badges’ captured her friends helping the newly-elected Jamaica Prefects Association (JPA) president, Gabrielle Bryan, with her badges on the joyous occasion. She said for her that moment of friendship and unity was a very powerful form of advocacy.
Parris Lyew-Ayee (right), chairman of the JN Foundation is fascinated by one of the photos on display at the JN Foundation Jamaica 60 Photo Competition awards ceremony. Looking on is Radcliffe ‘Ruddy’ Roye, Jamaican documentary photographer.
“I was inspired by friendship at its finest. I followed my friend to support her in being elected JPA president and just seeing the process, especially behind the scenes, I just decided not to wait on the limelight but take the picture behind the scenes, working up to the moment that we all looked forward to seeing,” she said underscoring the value of friendship.
Kodia’s words of advice to persons interested in photography are simple- ‘always be armed with your camera’. She hopes to, one day, take up photography as a business.
Gerald Gordon is not new to winning. He was the winner of the Prime Minister’s Calendar Photo Opportunity Competition in 2021 and The Gleaner’s Capturing Kingston Photo Competition in 2018. He is however still excited about his latest accomplishment.
“I’m lost for words, but I’m bursting with joy inside,” he said shortly after being named the winner of the ‘Greatness in People’ category for his piece ‘My Honest Bread’. He also received two other awards, winning the Advocacy Award with the same entry and was placed third in the Greatness in Community category for his submission, ‘The Future of Sports’.
Earl Jarrett (right), chief executive officer of The Jamaica National Group congratulates Kaodi Allen (centre) , winner of the Greatness in Community Category and her mother, Claudia Allen.
His winning shot, ‘My Honest Bread’ captures Venessa, a vendor from Greater Portmore, St Catherine, and her daughter pushing her stocked cart of goods. Both mother and daughter routinely perform this task just before Venessa’s daughter goes to school each day.
“I was in a car with my friends returning home, and when I saw the scene, I said to my friend ‘stop the car’ and when I saw the shot, I said ‘this is it’. In fact, I took the photo on the morning of the deadline for submission of the photo,” he informed noting that Vanessa’s action of earning an honest living was a form of advocacy.
Gordon, who has a photography business, said that the knowledge gained from participating in the competition will help him to produce better quality work.
“Photography is my bread and butter, and I’m happy to have gained further knowledge about my craft through the masterclasses conducted by the trainers. My mind is now rushing with ideas and the knowledge that was imparted,” he said.
“As a fine arts photographer, myself, I dive into the theory of photography telling stories through my lens, and I’m seeing it from a different perspective now,” he said.
Joshua Gordon, who had previously emerged second place winner of the JN Resolution ProjectCOVID-19 Jamaica Photography Competition in 2020/21, said that he was happy to be a winner again. He won the People’s Choice award with his piece entitled ‘Salute to 60’, which captured a cadet from Clarendon College as he raised his hand to his head in salute at an event to mark the high school’s Founder’s Day on February 2 this year.
“This image stood out mainly because of the significance of the ceremony, the patriotism, and the angle. The cadet’s salute represents us Jamaicans showing respect and love to our country, which was simply iconic,” he said.
Congratulating the winners, Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, expressed hope that the competition would spark more advocacy for causes that will positively impact the country.
“We wanted this competition not to be just something that you came across on social media where you enter, and you win some money, but we wanted to leave with you a lesson. We wanted to build the capacity for the skill and art of photography but also advocacy,” she said, noting that the competition attracted close to 500 entries.
“We hope that you heard something that will reassure you and give you hope. But we hope you heard something that made you uncomfortable and feed that thing inside you to bring you out of the box that you are in and to tell your story differently,” she said, noting that the competition provided a platform for the participants to amplify their voice and advocacy.
The JN Foundation launched the Jamaica 60 Photo Competition in 2022 in celebration of Jamaica’s 60th year of Independence. The competition invited persons passionate about photography and community advocacy to enter.
The aim of the competition was to equip and train Jamaicans in the art of photography and advocacy. The competition focused on celebrating Jamaica’s 60th year of independence, under the theme Greatness Through the Lens, an ode to the national theme Re-igniting a Nation for Greatness.
First place winners received cash prize of $100,000, second place $50,000 and third place $25,000. Other winners in the competition were Javan Sutherland who placed third in the ‘Greatness in People’ category and Sharlene Higgins who placedsecond in the ‘Greatness in Community’ category.
Photo Caption: The JN Foundation presented the Cross Keys Development Area Committee (DAC) with a deep fryer and commercial slicer for its agro-processing facility and a pavilion stand in Cross Keys, Manchester, last year. On hand to make the presentation to members of the Cross Keys DAC are Alethia Peart (second left), business relationship and sales manager at JN Bank; and Dawnette Pryce-Thompson (fifth right), project coordinator, JN Foundation.
The JN Foundation is inviting chapters of the JN Circle across the island to submit proposals for projects that will improve their communities. Successful applications could access grant funding of up to J$1.5 million to address issues related to youth and education, road safety, environmental and climate issues, financial inclusion, and literacy.
Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, notes that the Foundation’s commitment goes beyond mere grant funding. Noting the capacity development sessions held for members of the JN Circle, was intentionally actioned to empower members to discern and define projects, sharpen proposal writing skills, and gain project management proficiency.
“The intention is to strengthen capacity at the community level, so that our members may capitalise on opportunities to partner with other funding organisations in their work to improve their own outcomes,” she said.
Pointing to sustainability and collective benefit as a priority, Ms Allen added, “We want project proposals that are also impactful for groups of people; and are designed in a manner which ensures longevity,” she noted. The deadline for the submission of proposals is August 31.
For proposals to be considered, they must meet the following criteria: projects must fit within the themes/focal areas; they must be sustainable and impactful; should have measurable and realistic outcomes; and the project budget should be aligned with the grant amount.
Dr Powell Sydney (left), senior medical officer at the Port Maria Hospital demonstrates how the pulse machine works to Jennifer Martin, board director of the JN Foundation at the handover ceremony last year.
She urged persons to visit the JN Circle website at www.myjncircle.com to learn about the JN Circle and join a local chapter so that they can be a part of an initiative in their community.
“There is a JN Circle attached to a JN Bank branch in every parish. As a member of a JN Circle, you can work with other JN members to make a difference and improve your community, “she said.
The JN Foundation established a pool of funds, to be accessed by chapters of the JN Circle, to fund initiatives that will serve to improve their communities. A selection committee is in place to review applications and determine the winning projects.
Last year, the JN Foundation awarded some $8.3 million for funding projects developed by members of the JN Circle, successfully implementing seven community related projects across the island. The projects that were awarded grants included a skills training centre spearheaded by the Ocho Rios Baptist Church and the Rotary Club of Ocho Rios; the Port Maria Hospital in St. Mary also benefitted from the grant funding with the donation of medical equipment, such as an ECG machine, pulse oximeters and a defibrillator.
Through the work of the JN Circle Junction chapter, the Bull Savannah Primary and Junior High School in St. Elizabeth was awarded funding to furnish an existing open-air lunchroom that caters to some 40 students. The Lucea Circle, assisted the Maryland Primary and Infant School in Hanover to obtain tablets that were used as loaners to students in need. The devices assisted them with accessing lessons remotely, when necessary and provide access to online resources.
Cross Keys and surrounding communities in southern Manchester benefitted from a grant won by the Mandeville Circle, to boost an agro-processing facility and improve a community centre. The Spanish Town Young Men Citizens Association’s computer lab in St. Catherine was upgraded with needed air conditioning units.
The newly built centre of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, was another recipient of the grants. The new centre was outfitted with chairs, tables, office equipment, kitchen appliances, cribs and utensils.
The JN Circle is a network of groups which comprises JN members and customers of the companies in The Jamaica National Group. It was introduced in August 2019 and allows members and customers, who share JN’s values, to take action aimed at improving outcomes for themselves and for all Jamaicans, wherever they reside. There are 16 JN Circle chapters across the country, with two other chapters in Canada and the United Kingdom.
