Financial services company Barita Investments Limit has made a contribution of $10 million to Project Star, the social and economic transformation initiative spearheaded by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) in collaboration with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

This latest donation adds to the $1 million that Barita had contributed previously, significantly bolstering the project’s mission to uplift and transform communities through targeted interventions.

Ramon Small-Ferguson, chief executive officer of Barita, praised the initiative for its remarkable achievements thus far, noting its potential to positively impact under-served communities across Jamaica.

“Project Star has already shown that it can drive real societal transformation through focused interventions in areas that need it the most,” Small-Ferguson said. He also lauded the PSOJ’s and JCF’s decision to partner with a broad coalition of stakeholders— including public and private entities, non-governmental organisations, multilateral organisations, etc — as a critical step towards a brighter future for the country.

“We all have a vested interest in ensuring the growth and sustainability of Jamaica’s economy,” he added.

Keith Duncan, co-chair of Project Star, expressed his gratitude for Barita’s ongoing support. In accepting the donation, Duncan highlighted the long-standing commitment of Barita and its parent company, Cornerstone, led by founder Paul Simpson, who has been a supporter of the initiative since its inception.

“Corporate Jamaica has been a key partner in Project Star. Cornerstone, with Paul at the helm, and its subsidiary, Barita Investments, understands the crucial role social transformation plays in Jamaica’s growth and sustainability,” Duncan said.

Now in its fourth year, Project Star aims to transform communities across Jamaica by addressing social and economic challenges through partnerships and strategic interventions. Barita’s continued support is aimed at helping to drive these efforts, contributing to the vision of a better and more prosperous Jamaica for all its citizens.