1974: R. 'Danny' Williams, president of Life of Jamaica, breaking ground for the start of construction of a new branch office on Half-Way Tree Road in Kingston to house their Half-Way Tree branch. The five-storey structure is being built at a cost of $750,000 million. - File photos
In 1963, 29-year-old R. 'Danny' Williams proposed to the North American Life Assurance Company of Canada (NALCO) that he and his five young associates, Adrian Foreman, Manley McAdam, Donald Davidson, Herbert Hall and Peter Rousseau, were capable of creating a Jamaican life insurance company on the base of NALCO's 54-year-old branch in Jamaica.
Williams was then involved in the insurance industry for only a short time. So, too, were his colleagues. They were inspired by the spirit of independence which was achieved six years earlier, and which had brought a sense of urgency, purpose and challenge to young Jamaicans like themselves.
Their initial approach was rebuffed. They saw, however, men and women making breakthroughs in business, in cultural movements, in industrial developments, and the creation of new financial institutions through the establishment of the Jamaica Citizens Bank and the Insurance Company of the West Indies, and the 'Jamaicanisation' of the Bank of Nova Scotia. And they were determined to pursue their dream.
Change of heart
By 1970, the Canadian insurance giant agreed to assist the venture, and on June 1, 1970, Life of Jamaica, the first publicly owned Jamaican life insurance company, was born.
Also significant in 1970 were the staging of the Third Netball Tournament in Jamaica, the ordination of the Rev. Samuel Carter as Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jamaica, and the naming of Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante as National Heroes.
The statue of Sir Alexander Bustamante graces St. William Grant Park, downtown Kingston. Bustamante was named a National Hero in 1970. -Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer
Getting themselves in top physical condition for the Third World Netball Tournament which will be held at the National Stadium from December 30 to January 12 are (from left) Sonia Chronicle, Joy Charles. Vilma McDonald (captain), Babagene Barrett and Sonia Sewell.
