S Hotel donates $5M to Project Star

Keith Duncan, co-chair of Project Star, the social transformation and renewal programme led by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), in partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), has hailed the support of its partners and the private sector over the past two years.

He was expressing his gratitude for the latest donation of $5 million to the programme from S Hotel Jamaica, a leading force in the hospitality sector.

Duncan said, “As we complete two years of the Project Star initiative, the support from the private sector has been invaluable. This backing has enabled us to extend our reach into five communities across Jamaica, where we are seeing tremendous results.”

Duncan continued, “Through our social cohesion programmes, early childhood education, parenting initiatives, and economic opportunities – including job creation and entrepreneurship – we are making a real difference. We’ve established community governance structures that are yielding impressive, data-driven results, including a reduction in crime levels.”

“The $5 million donation from S Hotel Jamaica will greatly support our ongoing efforts,” Duncan added. “We are incredibly thankful for their contribution, as it underscores the importance of investing in our communities. Project STAR exemplifies what is possible in Jamaica when we unite as a society to invest in our people and communities,” he said.

Christopher Issa, chief executive officer of S Hotel Jamaica, highlighted the impact Project Star has had over the past 18 months, noting, “Research conducted by the Project STAR team shows a downward trend in major crimes across all the communities influenced by the project. This contribution will significantly bolster the impactful work being done to uplift marginalised communities.”

Issa emphasised the importance of supporting initiatives like Project Star after witnessing firsthand the positive changes they are bringing to the communities they serve. “Our goal is to strengthen these efforts and ensure a brighter future for those in need.”

S Hotel’s donation follows closely on the heels of another charitable act: in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the company was among the first to donate $1 million to victims in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth.

“Ideally, this is just part of our ongoing commitment to aiding communities in times of need. Our contributions reflect our belief in giving back and making a tangible difference in the lives of Jamaicans,” Issa noted.

Project STAR, the strategic and targeted intervention programme aimed at transforming 10 of Jamaica’s under-resourced communities, has initiated projects for individuals in these communities to attain economic sustainability for themselves and their families. The overall objective is to achieve sustainable violence prevention at the community level.