At the PODIUM

WEEKLY SELECTION OF EXCERPTS AND QUOTES

1. Committed to efficient technology

The Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry is on target with the theme of Expo 2013 - 'Services Globalisation - Enabling Business Development'. It speaks to a key route to prosperity for Jamaica. We have to think of ourselves as part of a fast-moving world where we can provide the services and facilities that allow local businesses to successfully ply their wares internationally.

Digicel Business is committed to always finding the most modern and efficient technologies to support Jamaican business. Expo 2013 gives us the opportunity to engage our existing and potential customers to remind them that whether you are a small, medium or large organisation, we can help you to achieve greater success as we customise solutions that suit your unique needs. Everything we do - from cloud solutions to securing your data - we do to enable organisations to save money and focus on their core business.

- Jason Corrigan, commercial director of Digicel, speaking at launch of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Expo 2013

2. Private-public sector partnerships key to growth

The Courtyard by Marriott is the pioneering lodging brand that created the upper moderate tier, and the brand continues to evolve to meet guests' needs.

With 130 rooms and five stories, this will be the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED-certified building in Jamaica, and it is designed to meet very high standards of environmental sustainability as well as energy efficiency and water conservation.

This project is a rich demonstration of how international business works to strengthen our economy and create rewarding opportunities. The growth agenda requires real collaboration between the public and private sector, one that supports and facilitates development.

We expect that the public sector and entrepreneurs must have shared values in that partnership for growth; and inasmuch as we demand that the private sector be efficient and effective, now more than ever, we also expect the same from the public sector.

- Stephen B. Facey, chairman, Pan Jamaican Investment Trust speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Courtyard Marriott, July 25

3. Digicel, downtown share similar DNA

With operations in 31 markets, including the Caribbean, Central America and Oceania, Digicel opted to place its headquarters in Jamaica's capital city. The similarities between the Digicel culture and downtown Kingston also made it an apt location for the group and country headquarters. Like downtown Kingston, the Digicel DNA is rich and colourful, vibrant, energetic and dynamic.

The move to downtown Kingston offered Digicel a number of wonderful opportunities. Moving to downtown Kingston offered Digicel the opportunity to give its employees a more spacious and aesthetically pleasing work environment, while allowing both operations to come together under one roof.

Digicel has applied itself to the vision of helping in the redevelopment of downtown Kingston. Knowing that we have begun the journey towards bringing downtown Kingston back to its original status as the economic capital of Jamaica has instilled in us a sense of pride and accomplishment and we know others will feel the same once they begin this journey themselves.

-Patrick King, speaking at the recent Leaders-to-Leaders Series on July 22.

4. Children are most vulnerable

Crashes are preventable and there is no reason for Jamaica to lose any child or adult to a preventable death. Is your family an active purveyor of the culture of road safety? If not, you need to start this culture in your family today.

Children are now shown to be the most vulnerable population among our road users, representing almost a third of road casualties each year. Overall road fatalities between January 1 and July 11 stand at an alarming 145, in comparison to 131 for the same period last year.

Let us take control of our behaviour on the roads and exercise all effort to keep road deaths to fewer than 240 per year. We need the participation of every Jamaican - pedestrian, motorist, commuter, pedal cyclist, motorcyclist and pillion rider - to accomplish our new road-safety target.

- Dr Lucien Jones, vice chairman/convenor, NRSC, speaking at the recent Poster Competition Awards Ceremony, Knutsford Court Hotel

5. Learn from Nelson Mandela

The story of Nelson Mandela is one that we must learn from if we are serious about pulling ourselves up. We must pull the best solutions from icons like Mandela.

Mandela had the worst experience imaginable for any human. He resisted the ruling South African National Party's cruel apartheid policies and was arrested, convicted of sabotage and conspiracy and imprisoned for 27 years.

After that horrible experience, Mandela led negotiations to abolish apartheid and held elections in 1994, which he won. He formed a government of National Unity, established a new constitution and initiated the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate past human-rights abuses.

Mandela said, "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." That quote should inspire us if we want a positive change in our society.

- Christopher Issa, speaking at the Rotaract Club of New Kingston, Altamont Court Hotel, recently

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