Centennial strikes alliance with JLC

By Sonia Morgan, Staff Reporter

James 'Jim' Benenda, chief operating officer of Centennial Digital Jamaica (second left), has the attention of Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Technology (right), Greg Stephens, vice president of Centennial (second right) and Eugene Ffolkes, managing director of the Jamaica Lottery Company (JLC). - Junior Dowie

THE HEAVY chatter of businessmen and businesswomen flooded the foyer of the Hilton Kingston Hotel, New Kingston, ballroom for the eventful luncheon to mark the 'strategic alliance' of the Jamaica Lottery Company (JLC) and the new mobil phone company, Centennial Digital Jamaica.

The gathering mingled in the cocktail area and awaited the arrival of the Minister of Industry Commerce and Technology, Phillip Paulwell, the afternoon's guest speaker. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by the top men in the companies then they proceeded to the ballroom, where they sat for a sumptuous lunch.

Finally, wireless cellular company number three is on target and already forging alliances with established companies.

Mr. Paulwell said he was pleased to the witness the alliance between the two companies and welcomed the "new dimension of growth to our telecommunications sector". He said the country has begun to embrace the concept of a knowledge-based society for economic and social development.

James Beneda, chief operating officer of Centennial, said his team was very excited about the market in Jamaica and felt that the they would get a favourable response from the people. And, the JLC's general manager, Eugene Ffolkes, gave media personnel point by point reasons for the alliance and why it would be successful.

But the excitement was in the actual signing of papers by the Mr. Beneda and Mr. Ffolkes while the technology Minister watched. This was followed by loud cheers and shouts of congratulation.

Jamaicans who still search for a reliable cellular phone company or those who will now have three phones clipped onto their waists (the Minister of Technology said he couldn't wait), will be happy to know that Centennial is setting up shop here as quickly as possible.

Centennial phones will have features that do not yet exist in the cellular world of Jamaica. Yes, there will still be phone cards - virtual phone cards. They will not be the tangible card which means that persons can access the card at anytime and can purchase whatever number of credit they want - interesting! Plus, persons will be able to spend only the amount of money they want on a phone card.

Present were US Charge d'Affaires, Richard Smyth; Dean of the Consular Corps, Arnold Foote; Monsignor Kenneith Mock Yen; John Beckles; Alex Gonzales; Dayner Clarke and Christopher Seres.

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