Lascelles Chin: A life of grit, grace and giving

For as long as she can remember, Lisa Chin-Watts watched her father, the late businessman and philanthropist Lascelles Chin, build not just businesses, but opportunities, communities, and a legacy of generosity. With the launch of his biography, ‘What A Life! The Hon. Lascelles Chin: A Biography’, she takes immense pride in sharing his extraordinary journey with Jamaica and the world.

“My father believed in hard work, discipline, and doing good,” she said, reflecting on the values that guided his life. “Everything he did was with purpose, and his purpose was always to make things better for people.”

Long before he became one of Jamaica’s most celebrated entrepreneurs, Chin was just a boy with big dreams and an unshakable determination to succeed. Raised in humble circumstances, he understood early on that his future depended on his own efforts. As a child, he made and sold sweets to afford his school supplies, and as a teenager, he endured a painful medical ordeal that tested his resilience.

“One thing about my father, he never backed down from a challenge,” Chin-Watts recalled. “Even when he was very young, he figured out how to take control of his own destiny. He had this incredible ability to see opportunities where others saw obstacles.”

That mindset propelled him into business, where he quickly distinguished himself. Long before LASCO became a household name, Chin made his mark in the private sector as the distributor of Henkel adhesives, achieving the highest per capita sales of the product in the world. But true to form, he didn’t stop there. He launched a bigger mission to provide Jamaicans with access to high-quality, nutritious, and affordable food and healthcare products.

“He never forgot where he came from, and he never stopped thinking about what he could do to help others,” Chin-Watts shared.

A COMMITMENT TO NATION-BUILDING

Throughout his career, Chin was deeply committed to national development. He served as president of the Jamaica Exporters Association, where he worked tirelessly to expand trade opportunities for local businesses. As chairman of the Jamaica Industrial Development Corporation, he was instrumental in creating thousands of jobs.

However, beyond business, his impact was deeply personal for many Jamaicans. He pioneered initiatives to honour teachers, nurses, and police officers, recognising their contributions to society. The LASCO Affiliated Companies’ dedication to corporate social responsibility made a tangible difference in education, healthcare, and community development.

“My father never saw business as just making money. It was about making a difference,” Chin-Watts emphasised. “He genuinely cared about people, and that’s why his work resonated so deeply.”

For all his business acumen and national influence, at home ‘Las’ was simply “Dad”. He was a man who loved good food, good company, and, perhaps surprisingly, baking.

“He swore he made the best cake,” Chin-Watts laughed. “I never saw him bake it myself, but according to him, the secret was simple – one pound of flour, one pound of butter, and one pound of sugar.”

His love for nature was another defining trait. Whether tending to fruit trees or watching documentaries about the world’s most remote places, he demonstrated a deep appreciation for life’s wonders.

And despite his demanding schedule, he always found time for family.

“We worked hard and played hard together. That balance kept him going,” Chin-Watts shared.

HIS FINAL GIFT TO JAMAICA

Though he passed away in May 2023, nearly two years before the book’s release, Chin had the opportunity to read and approve What A Life! - his life story as told by celebrated author Dr Angela Ramsay.

“That means everything to me,” his daughter expressed. “He was able to see the story of his life, to reflect on all he had achieved, and to know that his legacy would continue.”

She believes the book is essential reading for aspiring entrepreneurs, not only because of his many successes, but because of his failures and lessons learnt.

Chin-Watts emphasised, “My father wasn’t afraid to share his mistakes, because he believed that’s how we grow. He wanted others to learn from his journey and to know that setbacks are just stepping stones, once you have the right mindset.”

For Chin-Watts, sharing her father’s story is both a personal and national honour.

“He built something truly special, and he did it for Jamaica. He believed in this country, in its people, and in our potential,” she said.

With What A Life! now available, she hopes Jamaicans at home and abroad will be inspired by her father’s story - one of grit, grace, and giving.

“His greatest legacy isn’t just LASCO or his business achievements,” she reflected. “It’s the lives he touched and the belief he instilled in all of us, that with hard work and a heart for service, we can build something great.”