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AMCHAM bridging the gap

Published:Sunday | August 7, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AmCham), Diana Stewart (right), presents a cheque to Garfield McDonald, principal of New Day Primary and Junior High School. The money will help the students prepare for the Junior Schools' Challenge Quiz competition. Members of AmCham look on.
Richard Fontaine hangs out with the lovely duo of Ann-Dawn Young-Sang (left) and Georgia Gray.
From left: Antoinette McFarlane, Simone Phillips and Suzanne Gordon strike a pose.
Cementing ties! Carib Cement boss Anthony Haynes and wife Suzette (second right) rap with Diana Stewart (left), president of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica, and US Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater.
General manager of Jamaica National Building Society, Earl Jarrett, has plenty of jokes for (from left) Becky Stockhausen, Diana Stewart and United States Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater at the American Chamber of Commerce (Jamaica) reception at Paddington Terrace, St Andrew, on Thursday, July 21.
President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica, Diana Stewart (left), and United States Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater have some fun with Dennis Lalor.
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What started out as an amalgamation of a few businessmen has turned into a major bridge between two great nations. The American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AmCham) is in its 25th year of operation.

To commemorate the occasion, and to say thanks to their various partners, executives of AmCham held a reception at the residence of United States Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater on July 21. Executive director of AmCham, Becky Stockhausen, reiterated that the chamber's role was not only promotion of business and trade between the United States and Jamaica, but also to actively practise corporate social responsibility.

And so in true AmCham fashion, the group made a donation, this one to the New Day Primary and Junior High to help the students prepare for the Junior Schools' Challenge Quiz contest. Principal Garfield McDonald admitted that the violence that used to plague the Grants Pen community, where the school is located, led to a reluctance of students to attend the institution. He also noted that there was underperformance among students when he arrived there.

McDonald opined that entering the competition would be an excellent way for students to get positive exposure. It is also hoped that the overall performance of the students will continue to improve. The donation was from part proceeds from the chamber's golf classic held recently.

Guests out included Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, Transport Minister Mike Henry and wife Dawn, Dennis Lalor, George and Lana Forbes, Derrick and Rowena Nembhard, Sean Osner, Marjorie Borough, Christene King, Mark Jones, Marcia Erskine, Pollyanna Howell, Raymond Chang, Donovan Perkins, Dr Patricia Yap, Tony and Yvonne Ray, James Rachal and Michelle Wilson-Reynolds.

Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer