Growth & Jobs | CVSS’s new chair targets reform and stronger sector advocacy

Newly appointed Chair of the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS’s), Kerry Scott, says his tenure will focus on strengthening advocacy, modernising data systems and advancing long-awaited reforms to the Charities Act as he seeks to position the voluntary sector as a more visible and influential force in Jamaica’s development.

Scott, who serves professionally as head of real estate and properties at JN Properties, was elected at the CVSS’s recent annual general meeting held at the CVSS’s offices on Camp Road in Kingston. In his acceptance remarks, he reflected on a journey with the Council that began in 2016, when he was recruited to serve in a leadership capacity.

“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” he admitted, recalling the early days when he and a small team, including Saffrey Brown, Kim Mair and Wanika Purkiss, worked to reposition the organisation.

He said the group spent “many hours, many days” rethinking how to rebrand and reawaken the council’s membership, with a clear focus on restoring visibility and relevance.

“We carved out the way forward,” Scott told members, noting that the experience underscored the importance of having a clear vision and strategically aligning that vision with action. “We have to pull people up, having them understand the importance of what we do.”

Looking ahead, Scott outlined three priority areas that will guide his chairmanship: reform of the Charities Act, stronger advocacy around government funding for the sector, and the development of more robust data systems.

“Those will be the three things that we will need to drive this movement forward,” he said, expressing confidence that the council’s executive and wider membership will rally behind the agenda.

Scott stressed that the work of the voluntary sector can no longer be seen as basic or peripheral, describing it as “material” to national development. He pointed to the Council’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it engaged government at a high level and contributed to broader social transformation efforts.

Referencing the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica-led Project STAR initiative, a joint social transformation programme involving government and private sector partners, Scott said the Council’s input demonstrated the weight and value of the sector.

“That just goes to show how important we are, both as a sector and also to Jamaica,” he said, adding that even the Council’s limited but valuable data resources have proven critical in times of need.

He described the incoming executive as a “very young team” infused with energy and vibrancy, balanced by the experience resident within the council and its broader membership.

“With your help and your support, I am 100 per cent sure that the things that we have charted for the next period… we will achieve many things that we set out to do,” Scott said.

He also used the opportunity to thank outgoing Chair Kim Mair for her leadership over the past three years, acknowledging the support and collective expertise that helped to steady and strengthen the organisation during challenging periods.

As he assumes the helm, Scott signalled that his leadership will build on that foundation, seeking to elevate the voice of civil society and ensure the Council remains a critical partner in shaping Jamaica’s social and legislative landscape.

Other members of the incoming team are Nashauna Lalah, vice chair; Carlton Stewart, treasurer; and Vanessa Lalasingh, secretary.