A son of St. James, Hon. William 'Billy' McConnell (left) has returned to stake his claim and what better way to do this than to open a spanking new state-of-the-art insurance office that will either be the envy or the admiration of his competitors. Here the chairman of Globe Insurance chats with Henry McCurdy (centre), owner of Last Resort Detective Agency, andDouglas Prout, manager of Globe Montego Bay, during the official opening of his new offices at Fairview Shopping Centre. - Photo by Janet Silvera

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Reminiscent of South Beach architectural style, Globe Insurance Company raised the bar in Montego Bay on Thursday night opening a state-of-the-art facility that lends its customers a relaxed air, pleasing comfort, harmonised with a business edge. Seated on prime property at the Fairview Shopping Centre, Globe's new offices are now 'uptown' Montego Bay.

Contemporary and decidedly first-world, the edifice is the pride of company chairman, Hon. William 'Billy' McConnell, who made sure to declare his hands as a son of the parish, before introducing his 'born a Bay' branch manager, Douglas Prout.

Having spent the last 30 years in the west, the Globe Insurance team didn't need to look far, because 'the Republicans' have become extremely receptive, especially when it relates to major investments that will push the town forward.

A blue passport, stamped by immigration officers on arrival led guests into a large 50 x 40 tent decorated by Kingston's Nadia Khan. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, as the citizens of the second city paid tribute and admiringly commended the efforts of the team.

Fabulous facility

Occupying 5,000 square feet of space, the new office boasts an executive business class meeting room, reception area and an area designed and equipped as a designated recovery centre in the event that a catastrophe disables operations at its Kingston office.

This fabulous, unbelievably eye-catching facility will have the capability to replicate the company's network and all the important systems independently of a similar centre in Kingston. And as if that was not enough, the team of engineers has made provision for the new offices to operate independent of power from the Jamaica Public Service.

Many would probably ask: "Well isn't that enough?" Not so for Mr. McConnell and his team, as good corporate citizens they have already commenced the restoration and regeneration of one of the city's venerable landmarks - the Fairfield Theatre. A commitment, the company says, it will expand and deepen as it grows.

On hand to welcome to move was Custos of St. James, Hon. Clarence Nelson, and, of course, local celebrity, hotelier Gloria Minto.

Globe's Kingston team was on hand to support the process, including managing director, Evan Thwaites and his wife Marion, Winston Millwood, Peter Levy, Gordon Arnold and Nadia Mitchell. Team MoBay included Paul Thwaites, Sandra Mathis, Marlene Cooke, Kadia Jarrett, Yvonne Hamilton and Alison Thwaites.

Others who turned out were Jamaica Information Services' Andrea C. Whyte, Peter and Janice Williams, Launa Alvaranga, Makeda Solomon, Janet Edwards, Nicola Delapenha, Janett Jackson, Clayton Morgan and Noel O. Whyte and a host of Montegonians.