PRO-CHANCELLOR OF the University of Technology, Jamaica (U-TECH) Dr. Blossom O'Meally-Nelson, urged graduates of the ICAJ/ACCA Programme, to hold fast to their professional standards of "honesty, thoroughness and impartiality, wherever they chose to make their contributions.
In delivering the keynote address at the ICAJ/ACCA Graduation Ceremony, held at U-Tech's Alfred Sangster Auditorium recently, Dr O'Meally-Nelson told the group that as newly-qualified accountants, they had a role to play in the restoration of the country's image; cautioning them in the words of Mahatma Gandhi that: "wealth without work and commerce without morality" were the trappings of corruption.
One hundred and two candidates successfully completed the December 1999 and June 2000 sittings of the ICAJ/ACCA examinations - representing a 50 per cent increase in the pass rate over the past five years. Of this number, 58 received their certificates at the ceremony and six were presented with special awards.
Mrs. C. Patricia Hayle, President of the ICAJ and Ms. Clare Minchington, ACCA Head of Education, jointly hosted the event. Mr. Emile Valere, Trinidad-based ACCA Head of Caribbean Affairs, also took part in the ceremony.
In her address to the group, Ms. Minchington highlighted that "more than one third of the 75,000 members of ACCA's global network - the world's largest professional accounting body, were under the age of 35".
She welcomed the new Affiliates of the ACCA and urged them to apply for membership of the Association, after having completed the mandated three years of practical experience.
This, she stressed, would enable them to use the ACCA designation so as to avail themselves of value-added access to employment opportunities worldwide.
