The president and CEO of PanCaribbean Financial Services, Donovan Perkins (right), speaks with the outgoing president of the Rotary Club of Mandeville, Winston Lawson, (left) and PanCaribbean's Mandeville Branch Manager, Richard Longmore, at last Thursday's Presidential Installation Ceremony held at the Golf View Hotel.
JAMAICA CAN successfully overcome the socioeconomic challenges which confront the country if we have strong leaders who inspire confidence in the people, says the chief executive officer of Pan Caribbean Financial Services, Donovan Perkins.
"Today ... Jamaica is at a crossroads from a political, economic, social and moral standpoint. But what's new? Jamaica has been at many crossroads in its history. Is this one any different from those in the past? Only time will tell ... However, when we take a look at Jamaica today, across the spectrum, I don't see enough of our leaders who deal in hope," argued Perkins.
A HOST OF PROBLEMS
Pointing to a host of problems bedevilling the country's progress, Perkins, who was speaking in Mandeville last Thursday at the installation of Trevor Brown as the president elect of the Rotary Club of Mandeville at the Golf View Hotel, said this was nothing new.
"At home we face many issues our debt to GDP leaves little flexibility for Government,
and crime remains a national problem. Education has many
challenges and it is estimated that one per cent of Jamaica has the HIV virus so we have an emerging health crisis on our hands. [However], the challenges facing our generation today are no different than those other generations have faced
in every decade of the 20th
century."
Perkins argued that with a combination of good leadership that inspires confidence, no problem is too. "Every problem, ... no matter how large, can be tackled if you set your mind to it. But you have to break it down into small components and then ... collectively develop your action plan to deal with each component."
The PanCaribbean boss pointed out that women have become a very powerful force in all areas of leadership such as politics, business and service organisations. In this regard, the Rotary Club was no different since its chapters in Falmouth, Montego Bay and Kingston had all elected female presidents.
He told the audience that gender ought to be irrelevant when seeking the most competent person. "The fact is, today, we should no longer seek the best man for the job. What we need is the best person."
Perkins also gave his commit-ment that PanCaribbean's Mandeville Office would contribute to the Rotary Club's health and education projects.
A.M.
