KINGSTON, Jamaica – Governor-General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen, is on a drive to boost the commitment of private sector enterprises, to encourage growth and national development.
He commended the quality of service and commitment displayed by the staff of Jamaica National Building Society, on a mid-June visit to the organisation’s headquarters in St. Andrew; and urged the employees to continue showing their commitment to nation building by working as one team.
“Once we have people like you and others like you who are committed to the building of this nation, then Jamaica can achieve success,” he said in an address to the staff members. “We are going through our challenges; but, we will get over it.”
The Governor General told the staff that the building society’s support for programmes such as his ‘I Believe Initiative’, was good for the national interest, and also added that, “I really appreciate the quality and type of service which Jamaica National offers.”
Sir Patrick has used his corporate visits, which started in May, to point out developments such as the Global Logistics Hub; enhancements in the highway system; as well as, in mining and power generation, are leading to a transformation in the country’s economy. He said that those who will reap the benefits of the change will be those best prepared to contribute.
Earl Jarrett, General Manager, JNBS, told the Governor General that, “Jamaica National has had to change many times…and today we are on the cusp of another change.”
Mr. Jarrett said the foundations of the building society were laid 1874 as an institution formed to serve its members and its community, and that required constant adaptation.
“We have applied for a banking license with the Bank of Jamaica,” Mr. Jarrett revealed. In addition to the existing services offered to members, Jamaica National wants to have the capacity to also offer credit cards, checking accounts, business loans, along with certain services to which banks have access.
The General Manager also outlined the recently launched crowd funding website, ‘I-Support Jamaica’, which is being driven by the JNBS Foundation, along with its sister subsidiary, JN Small Business Loans Limited. He said, “It provides a platform for persons from around the world, particularly in the Jamaican Diaspora, to provide funding to projects in Jamaica, whether through micro-loans or grants.”
The digital world offers “tremendous new ways of doing things,” Mr. Jarrett stated. He said this was of particular value in serving the needs of Jamaicans overseas.
Mr. Jarrett committed the organisation to continue its support of community programmes, such as the I Believe Initiative, along with others locally and abroad.
“We work locally through our universities and our staff to find solutions to our challenges and those we see in the community,” Mr. Jarrett declared. “And, we compete globally with a staff which is one hundred percent Jamaican.”
With a membership base of more than 600,000; several subsidiary companies, locally and overseas; as well as, Representative Offices in the United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada, Jamaica National is one of the oldest and largest building societies in the Caribbean, and is the third largest financial institution in Jamaica.
