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JNBS Foundation Revisits History

In its constant bid to contribute to the preservation of local culture and history, the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation has committed to execute a four-year project, which will creatively illustrate the foundation and historical development of parishes in Jamaica.

Earl Jarrett, chairman of the JN Foundation, announced the launch of the Parish Histories of Jamaica Project at the recent commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Morant Bay Rebellion, hosted by The University of the West Indies.

He said the initiative was a legacy project, which will have a long-standing effect on Jamaicans at home and overseas.

“The sponsorship of these parish publications is another avenue through which we can preserve our rich heritage and guarantee that future generations, locally and overseas, can access information about significant events, as well as persons who worked hard to build this country we call home,” said Jarrett.

Pilot Programme

He explained that the project was the completion of a successful pilot programme undertaken several years ago, which resulted in the documentation of the history of Westmoreland. And the response to that initial work was tremendous. It has served as the basis for JN to revisit the project on a much larger scale, and to include all the other parishes.

“We recognised the importance of doing this history several years ago; and, therefore, we embarked on a pilot project to document the history of Westmoreland, which is the home of the Westmoreland Building Society, the pioneering organisation, which evolved as Jamaica National Building Society,” the general manager stated.

“And the response to the publication of the History of Westmoreland was overwhelming. therefore, we have decided to continue the project to document the history of the other 13 parishes,” he affirmed.

With St Thomas being the first parish targeted for the project, Jarrett recognised the significance of that parish to the history of Jamaica, and by extension, Jamaica National.

 

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20151117/jnbs-foundation-revisits-history

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Microcredit Leads To ‘Richer But Fatter’ Jamaicans

A study has found that microcredit loans make people ‘richer and fatter’ in Jamaica.

Consequently, it can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the researchers from the University of West Indies, Mona, and Florida State University, Tallahassee, in the United States.

The study titled Richer but fatter: The unintended consequences of microcredit financing on household health and expenditure in Jamaica was published last year in Tropical Medicine and International Health, a European journal.

It utilised a sample from the database of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), which operates a microcredit arm. The actual study was conducted between December 2007 and September 2008, but it becomes increasingly important with the growth of the micro-loans industry.

“The results demonstrate that microcredit financing is positively associated with wealth acquisition but worsened CVD risk status,” stated the researchers, who include Georgiana Gordon-Strachan, Colette Cunningham-Myrie, Kristin Fox, Claremont Kirton, Raphael Fraser, Georgia McLeod, and Terrence Forrester.

The method included matching 726 households of microcredit loan beneficiaries with 726 controls, or non-beneficiaries, by age, sex, and community. Then, the researchers administered a questionnaire to collect data on health and household expenditure. The weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure measurements were taken for an adult and one child (aged six-16 years) from each household.

Beneficiaries were those who received disbursements under the microfinance scheme for at least two years at the time of the study. The beneficiaries could qualify to borrow between $30,000 and $500,000, stated the study, which the researchers indicated was funded by the JNBS Foundation.

OVERWEIGHT BENEFICIARIES
The findings showed that more male and female beneficiaries were overweight, or obese, but more important, that 17.2 per cent of males (versus 7.1 per cent in the control) and 68.5 per cent of females (versus 63.3 per cent in the female control) exhibited substantially increased risk for CVD. In fact, children of beneficiaries displayed higher mean body mass index for their age than their control peers.

“We support the economic and other developmental benefits of microcredit financing but recommend that health promotion should be incorporated in such schemes to mitigate against a possible increase in CVD risk among beneficiaries. A number of initiatives report success in coupling microcredit with other innovative ideas inclusive of health promotion and education programmes … and money management,” said the researchers.

It is important to note that the beneficiaries’ average annual per capita household expenditure totalled $160,574 while controls (non-beneficiaries) spent $108,578.

The researchers’ review of the published literature revealed a dearth of evidence on the comparative differences in CVD risk between beneficiaries and controls of microcredit finance schemes.

Other authors, they said, have focused on comparing changes in equity and access to health services and other health indicators among communities exposed to microcredit.

 

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20160113/microcredit-leads-richer-fatter-jamaicans

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Out of Many, One Jamaica Exhibition in Brussels

A unique exhibition featuring an amazing and diverse range of photographs taken by high school students from rural Jamaica is currently on display in Brussels, Belgium, in an exhibition at the Headquarters of the European External Action Service (EEAS).  The exhibition is being staged as part of the activities to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of relations between the European Union and Jamaica. It was opened on 3 December 2015, and runs until to 31 January 2016.

Through the lens of high school students the project, which is sponsored by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation through its Resolution Project, depicts the various facets of Jamaican life and its people. Authentic and captivating scenes ranging from work, school, play, music, dance, religion, sports and nature are captured by the young photographers.

A reception to launch the exhibition was jointly hosted by the Mr. Roland Schafer, Acting Managing Director of the Americas Department of the EEAS and Ambassador Vilma McNish, Ambassador of Jamaica to Belgium and the European Union. Mr. Schaffer highlighted the strong partnership between Jamaica and the EU over the years.  As evidence of its commitment to this partnership, he referred to the EU’s allocation of 46 million euros to Jamaica under the 11th European Development Fund from 2014 to 2020.

For her part, Ambassador McNish referred to the special economic and political relations between Jamaica and the EU over the last four decades spanning a number of sectors, including education, security, agriculture and rural development.  “Jamaica and the EU have had a longstanding history of friendship and cooperation over the past forty years which will continue to strengthen for many years to come”, she said.   She described Jamaica National Building Society as the epitome of corporate social responsibility in Jamaica, noting its efforts to make a positive impact in areas such as community development, culture, education and youth and security.

Dr. Saffrey Brown, General Manager of the Jamaica National Foundation was on hand to welcome the guests and provide the background and context of the exhibition.  She said the main goal of the Resolution Project is the promotion of advocacy through the art of photography among young Jamaicans as a way of expressing themselves, focusing on issues that concern them.  The photographs ask complex questions about human rights, sexuality, gender and identity issues that affect them and the communities in which they live, she said.  The authenticity and uniqueness of Jamaica is captured through the lens of the young photographers.

Guests at the launch of the exhibition included representatives from the diplomatic corps, the European institutions, the Secretariat of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, as well as the Jamaican diaspora.  Members of Parliament Mr. Fitz Jackson and Mr. Mikhail Philips who were in Brussels to attend the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly also attended.

Jamaica National Foundation has staged similar exhibitions in several countries including the USA, the UK and Germany.

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‘Out of Many, One Jamaica’ exhibition mounted in Brussels

Stunning images of Jamaica, as captured by Jamaican teenagers, will receive prominence at the headquarters of the European external action service in Brussels, Belgium, at the ‘Out of Many, One Jamaica’ art exhibition.

Scheduled for December 4, 2015 to January 31, 2016, the exhibition is being mounted as part of the activities to recognise the 40th year of partnership between the European Union (EU) delegation and Jamaica.

‘Out of Many, One Jamaica’ will feature the work of student photographers in the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation’s Resolution Project, which was instituted in high schools in rural Jamaica to train students in photo-journalism and youth advocacy.

Saffrey Brown, general manager of the JNBS Foundation, noted that the collaboration with the European Union for the staging of the exhibition will provide an increased opportunity for Brand Jamaica to be shown on an international landscape and to reinforce the strong partnerships between Jamaica and the EU.

“This exhibition will allow persons to see the authenticity and uniqueness of Jamaica through pictorial depictions,” noted Brown. “It will also provide a medium for the students to showcase just how talented they are through their various expressions and interpretations of art. This partnership is indeed a perfect culmination of the 40th-year celebration between Jamaica and the EU, as we are taking Jamaica globally.”

Head of the EU Delegation to Jamaica, Ambassador Paola Amadei, remarked on the importance of the exhibition taking place in Brussels: “Our EU colleagues in Brussels, who have not had the opportunity to experience all of the variety and beauty what Jamaica has to offer, will be able to get a glimpse through this thought-provoking exhibition. It’s the perfect way to end a marquee 40th year of progress between the EU and the people of Jamaica.”

The mounting of the exhibition is also being held in collaboration with the Jamaican Embassy in Brussels.

 

 

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20151208/out-many-one-jamaica-exhibition-mounted-brussels

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Problem-solving missing from maths education — Benjamin

THE country’s leading authority on mathematics education has indicated that one of the major gaps in the teaching and learning of the subject in local classrooms is the lack of focus on problem solving.

National Mathematics Coordinator Dr Tamika Benjamin, who is part of the team implementing the iLead educational leadership programme in schools — an initiative created and implemented by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation and the Ministry of Education — told maths teachers from Happy Grove and St Thomas Technical high schools at a recent workshop that very often the tasks set by teachers are focused on finding answers to questions that already dictate the algorithm to be used to find the solution. However, she explained, problem solving requires students to find solutions without knowing what method to use.

“You have to allow students to use their own strategies; do not restrict them,” she stressed, noting that while questions may have one answer, problems may have multiple solutions.

“We stifle their development when we eliminate problem-solving. [That] approach adopted by most teachers encourages passive learning and consequently, students become dependent on instructions, rather than grasping concepts and confidently take on challenges,” she argued.

Using examples, Dr Benjamin challenged the teachers by demonstrating how problem solving tasks were different from questions teachers in general currently set.

“Thirty-five pupils attended a Children’s Day party. At the party, each girl was given five sweets and each boy was given three sweets. If a total of 155 sweets were given out the party, how many more girls than boys were there?” the Mathematics Coordinator asked, in an effort to demonstrate her point.

Dr Benjamin posited that the tasks set must deal with situations that are natural to the students and should centre on core mathematical concepts which they should learn. That approach, she said, shoulld lend itself to students justifying and explaining their answers.

The mathematic coordinator countered claims that students will resist problem solving tasks, insisting that dialogue must be an important part of the teaching and learning environment, in order to engage the students.

“Teachers have to ask purposeful questions that allow students to explain and reflect. Questions that help them to know what the students know. They must lead to meaningful discussions and ideas,” she emphasised.

In addition, she urged teachers to use a variety of strategies to engage students, including drawing or dramatising to “bring mathematics to life in the classroom.”

Happy Grove and St Thomas Technical are two of the new participants in the iLead programme, which targets ten schools in Portland, St Mary and St Thomas, given the National Education Inspectorate’s assessment of their needs.

 

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/Problem-solving-missing-from-maths-education—Benjamin_45354

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JNBS Foundation Marks Successful 5K Run/Walk In Falmouth

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

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Earl Jarrett to be inducted into PSOJ Hall of Fame

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

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Corporate Hands: Tahj Simpson Cops JNBS Scholarship For St Bess

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

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Successful staging of JN Foundation’s 5K Run/Walk in Falmouth

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

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Violence And The Exorbitant Cost To Taxpayers – Study To Serve As Reference For Establishing Prevention Programmes

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

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