AWARDEES

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.

Their stories, published in the Business Observer each Wednesday in the run-up to the gala awards banquet, have inspired many other Jamaicans to go into their own businesses and have spawned additional recognition for their enterprise both here and abroad. The Business Leader awards banquet has grown in stature over the years to become one of Jamaica’s hottest ticket items, as it is attended by the movers and shakers of commerce and industry. And the title of Observer Business Leader has become one of the most prestigious in the country today, particularly given the fact that it has already been won by:

Joseph A Matalon and Joseph M Matalon of Mechala Group, 1996;

Douglas Orane, executive chairman of GraceKennedy, 1997;

Wayne Chen, chief executive officer, SuperPlus Food Stores, 1998;

David Phillips, principal, National Meats & Foods Distributors, 1999;

Lascelles Chin, principal, Lasco Group, 2000;

Donna Duncan-Scott, managing director, Jamaica Money Market Brokers, 2001;

Vincent Chang, principal, Tastee Ltd, 2002;

Patrick Casserly, CEO, e-Services Group, 2003;

Kenny Benjamin, principal, Guardsman Group, 2004;

Ryland Campbell, executive chairman and principal shareholder of Capital & Credit Financial Group, 2005;

Dr Henry Lowe, executive chairman of Blue Cross and conceptualiser of Eden Gardens, 2006.

Glen Christian. executive chairman of Cari-Med Limited, 2007

This year, the 2008 Business Leader will be announced on June 11, 2009 at the gala banquet and dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. The question on everyone’s lips is “Who will it be?”