St. Catherine, Jamaica –With over 25 years at the helm of LASCO Distributors and over five decades in the world of business, Lascelles Chin, Founder and Executive Chairman of the LASCO Affiliated Companies, continues to be recognized for his outstanding contribution to the Jamaican economic landscape. On Tuesday, July 28, Chin was bestowed with the Medal of Distinction by the International Federation of Consular Associations (FICAC), also known as, the World Federation of Consuls.
At a ceremony at the new dry blend and liquid manufacturing plants of LASCO Manufacturing Limited in White Marl, Spanish Town, the medal was presented by FICAC President Dr. the Hon. Arnold Foote before an audience of notable ambassadors and dignitaries. Among those present were Mr. Robert Ready, Canadian High Commissioner, Shri Pratap Singh, Indian High Commissioner, Dr. The Hon. Arnold Foote, President of The World Federation of Consuls and wife Patricia, The Hon. Kenneth Benjamin Founder and Executive Chairman of the Guardsman Group of Companies, Mrs. Julie Sutherland, Representative from the British High Commission, Sonja Sutherland, Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Guardsman Group and Mr. Peter Hillarie, General Manager of Jamaica Pegasus.
Dr. Foote noted that, “one of the most important functions of a consul is the development of trade, and the FICAC recognizes that Chin has built a brand and a business that are ingrained in the DNA of Jamaicans everywhere.”
“His commitment to providing quality, affordable products to Jamaican families has seen LASCO’s manufacturing and distribution of over 3000 products along a wide spectrum of categories including but not limited to beverages, cereals, canned foods, condiments, baby products, personal care, pharmaceuticals and household products,” Dr. Foote highlighted.
The prestige of such recognition was not lost on Chin. With over 90 countries and 18000 individual consuls as members, the FICAC, which was established in 1982, is the oldest institution serving international bilateral relations. Chin, whose business distributes products not only in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean but also in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Central America, gave his guests a tour of the new and expanding facilities of his operations. The esteemed recognition by the Federation follows honours and awards from the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, the Roche Quality Awards and the AMCHAM Jamaica Awards of Excellence for Corporate Social Responsibility in addition to induction into the PSOJ’s Hall of Fame and other recognition and salutations for his entrepreneurial efforts, business acumen and local outreach efforts.
Programmes such as LASCO’s Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, Police Officer of the Year, Nurse of the Year, Releaf Environmental Awareness Programme and numerous contributions to education and local HIV/AIDS care and treatment efforts speak to the pride for his nation and efforts to help build Jamaica.
From his humble beginnings in rural Jamaica, to once being Jamaica’s largest trader of black pepper as his first entrepreneurial effort, to the man named Jamaica’s Most Admired Business Leader on numerous occasions, Chin has blazed a trail for the past 50 years with no signs of slowing down. While thanking Dr. the Hon. Arnold Foote, President of The World Federation of Consuls for the recognition of his efforts throughout the years, Chin revealed that the company was in a rapid state of growth with no signs of slowing down. With the new manufacturing facilities and major upgrading of the warehouse at the White Marl location and the launch of LASCO’s latest product iCool, the company is poised for even greater heights.
