KINGSTON, Jamaica – The back-to-school rush is on, as parents and students grapple with booklists, ponder about fees, clothing and the ultimate cost for funding the education of young people. It is within this mix that corporate Jamaica has rolled out a dynamic ‘support base’ to assist with the increasing cost for a wide range of back-to-school needs.
Leesa Kow, General Manager of JN Money Services (JNMS), operators of the JN International Money Transfer brand, says that, “remittances usually peak during this period, and this year we want to assist with reducing back to school expenses for our customers with cool rewards and discounts.”
Some lucky customers will receive laptops when they use JN International Money Transfer to send or receive money from the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), the Cayman Islands and Canada during the one-month period, August 13 to September 11,” Miss Kow stated. And this windfall is also open to persons using their Student Card to make school payments from JN International Money Transfer locations.
“We want students to start the school year right; therefore, during the one-month period we are going to reward lucky customers each week with a laptop,” announced Miss Kow. The winners will also receive a free modem and three months internet access from Claro.
“In our seamless computer-based environments, there is increasing demand for students to enter the school system with their own laptops,” the General Manager stated, “therefore, we want to assist some lucky students to be “online” this school year.”
Of note is the fact that Internet access in Jamaica improved in 2009 to 57.1 percent of the population, but the actual number of households with computers and internet connection was just 12.02 percent according to the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s (PIOJ) Economic and Social Survey. Approximately two thirds of those households were in the Corporate Area.
Juliet Brown, a cosmetologist from St. Elizabeth, is excited about how the new computer will enhance her life and assist her niece with assignments. Miss Brown was presented with a Compaq Presario laptop computer at the JNMS office on Trafalgar Road in Kingston on Tuesday, August 24, after she received money from her sister living in the Cayman Islands through JN International Money Transfer. Miss Brown says she used the money to purchase school items for her sister’s daughter, whom she looks after.
Garfield Wilson (left), an entertainment coordinator from St. Ann, and winner of a Compaq Presario laptop in the JN International Money Transfer Back-to-School Promotion, talks about the plans for his prize. Listening keenly are Leesa Kow (second left), General Manager of JN Money Services Limited (JNMS); Juliet Brown, also a winner of a Compaq Presario laptop; and Gabriel Heron, Marketing and Business Development Manager, JNMS.
“My niece is so excited about the computer. She is always asking me when we are going to get a computer. She is now going into Grade Two and she will be required to do some assignments using the internet, so I’m very happy for this laptop computer.”
Garfield Wilson, who was also presented with a Compaq Presario after he received money from his girlfriend living in London, says the laptop will benefit his two nephews, who are 10 and 12 years old respectively.
“I sometimes look after them and I am sure they will be able to benefit from it when they have assignments to complete,” the Brown’s Town, St. Ann resident says.
In addition to the laptops, persons who use JN International Money Transfer to send or receive funds will also receive coupons to qualify them for discounts from 16 select outlets across the island, including book stores, clothing stores and pharmacies.
“The stores will offer discounts of up to 15 percent, on presentation of a JN International Money Transfer coupon,” Miss Kow said. “And, we know these discounts will certainly go a far way in reducing school costs for many parents.”
