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CCGI head bemoans lack of support for charitable venture
BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter
Friday, July 03, 2009
MONTEGO BAY, St James - Head of the Risarc/CCGI Foundation, Richard Stephenson has expressed disappointment over the lack of support displayed by Jamaicans to CCGI's annual charity effort which has so far realised 600 brand new Dell computers in over 60 primary schools islandwide in the last four years.
"I don't believe that Jamaica recognises what we are trying to do. Our goal was to educated the region because if the region come together that would give us strength.... I wanted to start at home," Stephenson argued.
"I can tell you we have done 60 schools so far and I can challenge Jamaicans to go into every single one of those primary school and speak to every single principal that we have put computer learning centre in and they will tell you the difference in their learning since. So I want to tell Jamaica I have carried it for five years, the international audience have carried it for five years Jamaica I need you to come in seriously," Stephenson implored during the CCGI's gala Saturday night.
Saturday night's event was the culmination of a series of events which formed the fifth CCGI Foundation. Other event included 'Champions of Champions Two' Muay Thai fights, featuring Clifton Brown, a Canadian of Jamaican parentage; Jamaica Comedy Showcase, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer and Culture Show featuring Bobby Brow, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant and CCGI Amateur golf tournament at Cinnamon Hill.
In the meantime, Education Minister Andrew Holness who was present at the gala event profusely expressed his gratitude to Risarc for establishing the 60 computer learning centres in the schools as he promised "a massive show next year".
"I am here tonight to tell you thanks sir but more importantly don't lose faith. I Iook at what you do and it is clear to me you are a man of vision but more importantly you are a man who gets things done".
He added: "We hear what you are saying and I want to tell you Jamaica is onboard with what you are doing. I can tell you this year was good... it was an excellent production but I tell you that next year you are going to have a bigger show.
Holness pleaded with Stephenson not to move the charity event out of Jamaica.
"I know there are people whispering in your ear Richard come to me, and I tell you Richard stay with us," Holness beseeched.
Stephenson, a former Cornwall College and UWI student who hails from Sherwood Content in Trelawny, is the president of Risarc, a leading health care and software solutions firm based in the United States of America. In 2004 he established the Caribbean Classic Golf International (CCGI) Foundation, a charity event with the intent of providing computer learning centres in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean.
Stephenson, who captained the Cornwall College Headley Cup cricket team in the late 1970s, is appealing for regional integration.
"We have to understand we are a small nation. The United States of America is great and the reason the United State is great is because they recognise from very early that unity is strength and the Caribbean does not recognise this yet. There was just one time we did and when we did we controlled the world. It was with the West Indies cricket team," Stephenson remarked.
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