In 1993, Jamaica’s financial sector was at its most vibrant ever. A host of indigenous banks and financial entities were thriving, creating jobs and, just as important, a need for incisive reporting on business. So, it was that in October that year, Moses Jackson introduced Jamaica to the heady world of financial journalism through the pages of a new publication — the Business Observer.

Three years later, using the award-winning Business Observer as a vehicle, the Observer announced that it would reward entrepreneurship via the Observer Business Leader Award. The programme unapologetically highlighted indigenous business achievements at a time when local companies faced some of the gravest challenges to their continued viability. Since then, Jamaica has been educated about the hard sacrifices and sweet successes of more than 70 of the island’s entrepreneurs in almost every facet of business.