Karren Dunkley, Contributor
ORANE
THE AMERICAN Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) on Saturday night honoured two local firms at a gala event in New York.
The two, GraceKennedy and Western Union, received the 2005 International Humanitarian Awards from the organisation. Both firms were honoured for their outstanding legacy of service and support to Jamaica.
They were acknowledged for their invaluable contributions to the field of education. Their participation in the "I Pledge" initiative, launched by former United States Ambassador Sue Cobb, resulted in a combined donation of US$100,000 for school books for Jamaican children.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Senior vice-president of Western Union, Tom McDermott, restated his company's philosophy of making a difference in peoples lives. "Western Union is about people making a difference in people's lives," he emphasised, reporting that the "I Pledge" programme would be extended to Canada.
Douglas Orane, the chairman and chief executive officer of the GraceKennedy Group, said that GraceKennedy would continue its tradition of excellence in service. Mr. Orane pointed out that the purpose of education was two-fold in nature. The first purpose being utilitarian and the second having to do with the cultivation of culture, morals and ethics, which govern people's lives. "By embracing this view of education, GraceKennedy will continue to make what is good for the country, good for the company. It is these words of the late chairman Carlton Alexander, which have continued to act as a compass and a guide for the company's mission," he told his audience.
ATTENDANCE
Held at the historic Copacabana in Manhattan, among those who attended were Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade K.D. Knight, Brenda LaGrange Johnson, U.S. Ambassador-designate, U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, U.S. Assemblyman Nick Perry, Jamaica Labour Party leader Bruce Golding, deputy JLP leader Horace Chang, and Consul General Dr. Basil Bryan. The master of ceremonies for the evening was Robert MacMillan who kept the mood lively, ripe with laughter and activity.
Retired U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica and current president of the AFJ, Glen Holden echoed the theme of the evening. In his opening remarks, he reiterated his love affair with Jamaica, reminiscing that it was a country he had grown to love and one in which he had found great friends and a promising future.
THOUGHT-PROVOKING SPEECHES
One of the most memorable and thought-provoking speeches of the evening was that of Minister Knight, who brought greetings on behalf of the Jamaican Government. He acknowledged the imperative role of organisations such as the AFJ in the ongoing development of Jamaica, and thanked them for their continued interest and friendship. His speech sprinkled with humour, resonated with gratitude and hope as he conveyed the profound impact that AFJ has had collectively in promoting social and economic growth.
Mr. Knight articulated the attractiveness of the Jamaican economy for American investors, saying that this was undeniable. He noted that Jamaica had undertaken significant structural reforms, which were necessary to compete internationally. As a result, "a stable macroeconomic environment, a strong and dynamic stock market, and a high level of investor confidence both at home and abroad" evidenced the prospects for investment.
