Kingston, Jamaica – Leading lights from corporate Jamaica have joined together to promote the value of showing respect as an essential component of making Jamaica a place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.
The Respect Jamaica programme sees corporate Jamaica standing up and making the positive changes that it has the unique opportunity to do. Whether it is discrimination related to colour, race, class, sexual orientation, those with special needs, the youth and elderly, as well as gender, religion, politics and environmental conservation – the Respect Jamaica programme is calling on all Jamaicans to stand in support of the marginalised and vulnerable in our communities – whoever they may be – and bring about genuine nation building.
The programme will be in communities island-wide and across a large number of corporates entities and will have a strong social media element – meaning that everyone, everywhere can get on board and help get the Respect Jamaica message out in a meaningful way.
With support for the programme coming in from all quarters, the Respect Jamaica Advisory Board features some of the biggest names in corporate Jamaica: Adam Stewart (Sandals Resorts International) Barry O’Brien (Digicel), Brian George (Supreme Ventures), Chris Zacca (PSOJ), Earl Jarrett (Jamaica National), Donna Duncan (JMMB), Jason Henzell (Jake’s Hotel), Peter Moses (Citibank), Thalia Lyn (Island Grill), Tony Hart (Caribbean Producers) and William Mahfood (Wisynco).
Brian George, CEO of Supreme Ventures, comments; “We believe that everyone, no matter who they are or how they are, should be afforded the basic right of respect. The objective of our Respect Jamaica programme is to bring about some genuine nation building and help make Jamaica a better place to live, work, raise families and do business. ”
Jason Henzell, General Manager of Jake’s Hotel, explains; “Whether it’s the little things like holding open a door, giving way in traffic and saying please and thank you through to the big things like treating all people with due deference and calling out inappropriate behaviour, the Respect Jamaica programme is all about standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Ultimately, this is about pulling together to build a better future for the children of Jamaica.”
Front Row (l-r) Jason Henzell (Jake’s Hotel); Christopher Zacca (Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica) and Thalia Lyn (Island Grill)
Missing: Peter Moses (Citibank); Donna Duncan-Scott (Jamaica Money Market Brokers)
President of the Private Sector of Jamaica, Chris Zacca, sums up; “As proud supporters and lovers of Jamaica, we believe that it is critical to stand up and make the positive changes that we, as corporate leaders, have the opportunity to do. And, given that there is undeniably a direct correlation between social stability and economic growth, we hope that, together, our efforts will mean that all Jamaicans will stand to benefit from this commitment.”
As part of the drive to involve more corporate entities, the Respect Jamaica programme has begun signing companies to the Respect Jamaica charter – businesses such as JPS, Scotiabank, Proven Investment, and the Gleaner Company – all Jamaicans both here and afar are encouraged to join the movement by following on Facebook @facebook.com/respectjamaica and twitter at #respectjamaica.
