THE JAMAICA National Building Society has expanded its overseas operations with the addition of a new representational office in South Florida, United States.

The office, in Tamarac, Fort Lauderdale, was opened on Thursday, March 21.

According to Earl Jarrett, general manager of the JN which has its headquarters in Kingston, the Jamaica National Building Society will help Jamaicans overseas realise their dreams of acquiring property when they return to the island. The expansion of JN's services is the first step to helping them fulfil this dream, he added.

Oliver F. Clarke, chairman of Jamaica National, said that with an extensive network of 23 branches in Jamaica along with the overseas offices, the organisation has a strong objective in always trying to improve customer service and security. With this focus, he added, Jamaica National would be a good corporate citizen to the Tamarac community.

Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of National Security, in officially opening the new location, endorsed the Jamaica National Building Society as one of the longest standing exemplars of institutions as it continued to play a leading role in the Jamaican private sector.

According to Dr. Phillips, the almost 130-year-old institution represents an example "of the strides and ambitions our forefathers have laid for us to go forward, despite difficulties and challenges we face". He said that such occasions were important developments for the country, especially at this time when the country was "striving to strengthen the entrepreneurial fabric of our society".

After briefly outlining some details of the Jamaican Govern-ment's efforts to sustain economic growth, including a major expansion programme put in place in various areas such as the Information/ Communication Technology industry, as well as the overhauling of the transportation network to improve the airports, seaports, and roads, Dr. Phillips applauded the vision of the Jamaican communities overseas. He lauded them for moving forward and encouraged them to "continue to embrace the vision".

Economically, Jamaicans constitute an important market in their overseas communities, through private businesses, professionals, and even non-governmental organisations. Dr. Phillips expressed appreciation for the support those persons provide to Jamaicans at home and assured his audience that special efforts were in place to facilitate the interchange of Jamaicans abroad.