Photo Caption: Newly installed members of the UWI Mona-Western Jamaica Campus Ambassadorial Corps from left: Kathryn Pinto-May, Wayne Cummings, Paula Kerr-Jarrett, Richard Bourke, Rajesh Kripalani, Gloria Henry, John Byles, Laura Mazabel Fonseca, and Richard Ferdinand. The ambassadors had their inaugural meeting last Friday where they discussed how partnerships in business and education will help tackle many of Western Jamaica’s pressing issues. (Members not in photo: David Hall, Sitara English- Byfield, Kerry Ann Quallo-Casserly).

(MONTEGO BAY, 15 July 2016) At their inaugural breakfast meeting last Friday, members of the WJC Ambassadorial Corps discussed the growing issue of crime in Western Jamaica, and their commitment to partnering with the UWI Mona-WJC to provide support in the areas of education, mentorship, and job creation.

Ms. Gloria Henry, President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, spoke of a specific initiative on which the chamber and the UWI, Mona-WJC have already partnered - a comprehensive study on the rise of crime in Western Jamaica; the information provided by the study will help to create a more targeted approach to combating the issue of crime. Mr. Wayne Cummings, Director of Business Process and Administration at Sandals Resorts International, also added to the discussion, highlighting the importance of tackling these issues at the community level.

Other matters discussed in the meeting include the need for members of the Western Jamaica business community to be more involved in ensuring that higher education is accessible to all, which would in turn secure the workforce needed for the region’s growing industries, most notably, business process outsourcing. Managing Director of Amstar DMC Jamaica, Richard Bourke added, “While the entry level positions in these companies are regularly filled locally, there is need for a system that tracks students from classroom to job placement, further ensuring that top and mid-management positions are also occupied by trained and competent Jamaicans.”

Also present were members of staff of the UWI Mona-WJC, with the Campus Director, Mr. Patrick Prendergast, giving a detailed presentation on the way forward of the campus which opened the floor for discussion.

The ambassadors also pledged their commitment to lending support through mentorship for at risk youth in our communities.