Ashford W. Meikle, Staff ReporterSINCE ITS inception in January 2002 almost 70 Jamaican companies have been honoured with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) Job Creation Awards. Award winners have been drawn from practically all facets of the Jamaican economy. These include large distribution entities - Bashco Trading Company, to major players in the food industry - Island Grill, to investment banking - NCB Capital Markets and even to entertainment - Quad Nightclub.
Vice-president of Distribution at NCB Capital Markets, Debra Lopez, said the company was honoured to have received the award. NCB was one of the recipients last month along with British Caribbean Insurance Company (BCIC) and Guardsman Armoured. Ms. Lopez told The Sunday Gleaner that her company has created jobs through its hiring of investments advisors who are trained and strategically placed in the branches and regional offices. She said, "What we are trying to do is to make investment advice available to our clients by trained professional persons throughout the island."
Major distribution company MegaMart has the distinction of being honoured twice owing to its expansion when it opened its second store on Upper Waterloo Road.
HIGHLIGHTING THE POSITIVES
According to the chief executive officer of the PSOJ, Greta Bogues, "We thought it was important to recognize companies that had created additional sustainable jobs (in the economy). We felt it was important to highlight the positive things still taking place notwithstanding economic challenges." She emphasised that the awards is not a recruitment drive for new members in the organisation. She reiterated, "Our main objective is to recognise private sector entities who continue to create jobs."
To be eligible for the award, a company must be a majority private sector entity and employs a minimum of 25 persons. Importantly, though, the jobs created must not be as a result of acquisition or merger of an existing business. The PSOJ also points out that the majority of the funds used to create the jobs should not be as a result of Government grants and there is a "reasonable chance that these jobs will be sustained for at least two years."
