THE PRIVATE Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) awarded four companies for their contribution to employment at the PSOJ/Cable and Wireless 30th Job Creation Awards ceremony held at the Terra Nova Hotel yesterday.
The companies receiving awards at this month's breakfast ceremony included Starfish Oils, Garbage Disposal & Sanitation Systems (GDSS), Capital & Credit Merchant Bank and the Gleaner Company. Starfish Oils and GDSS were awarded small business awards for creating a minimum of five jobs while Capital & Credit was honoured for its contribution of over 25 jobs within the last six months. The Gleaner Company was acknowledged for its contribution to employment for over 70 years.
STEADY GROWTH
Starfish Oils, makers of handmade candles and other aromatherapy products, began in 1996 with a total staff of three persons. After an 8-year period of steady growth, Starfish has moved to an 8,000 square foot facility, opened its 4th Starfish Oils signature store and now employs 33 people. In the next 12 months, the company plans to expand its range of products to achieve greater presence in the local and regional markets as well as in Europe and the United States of America.
Garbage Disposal and Sanitation Systems (GDSS), Jamaica's leading private comprehensive waste management company has over thirty years of experience in the collection, transportation and disposal of industrial, commercial, and domestic waste. The company supplies, installs and manages sanitation systems, removes rubble, building spoils and scrap metal and recycles glass, cardboard and paper among other waste management services. In the short term the GDSS will expand its recycling activities to include plastics and metals.
INCREASED ASSET BASE
Capital & Credit Merchant Bank entered the market in 1994. Built on confidentiality, professionalism, safety and personal integrity, the company has enjoyed success in the financial sector. Capital & Credit has increased its asset base from US$30 million to over $50 billion and the bank's shareholders' equity has recorded impressive growth from $21.5 million at the start of operations to over $2 billion at the start of 2004.
The Gleaner, Jamaica's oldest and largest newspaper, was founded in 1834 when it was published as a four-page weekly newspaper. Today, the newspaper produces over 15 products.
