THE Rotary Club of St Andrew on Tuesday night awarded Michael Lee-Chin, chairman of National Commercial Bank (NCB). the Paul Harris fellow for “aiding the development of the education system” over the past year.

In accepting the award, the NCB chairman said the bank had provided the means through which his contributions to education were achieved.

“NCB is more than an economic entity; it is a vehicle by which (I) can bring hope…and national vision,” he told the Pegasus Hotel gathering.

“NCB has allowed us to give leadership to not only the NCB community, but to give leadership within the context of Jamaica and two (NCB) programmes are most important for the development of the Jamaica,” he added.

NCB recently announced a $150-million education initiative of which:

*$15 million is for the fees for Jamaican students writing Principles of Accounts and Principles of Business in the Caribbean Examination Council’s (CXC) secondary examinations;

* an $85-million fund to finance early literacy programmes, mentoring schemes, book exchanges and other education-related projects; and

* $47.5 million in scholarships and grants — cash that will represent half of an estimated $95 million to be raised by diverting about one per cent of the earnings from its Keycard credit cards to charities.

These initiatives are projected to get off the ground for the start of the new school year in September, but the NCB boss said that details were yet to be finalised with Education Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson.

They would run, in the first instance, until the end of 2005.

NCB also announced plans to start a university in St Catherine to offer business training.

The Rotary Club also used the occasion of the function to announce plans to purchase a respirator and passport EGG machine for the Bustamante Children’s Hospital and the paediatrics wing of the University of West Indies Hospital.

Earlier, new president, Donovan Walker, said that this year’s project would focus on children and that the club is seeking equipment valued at US $62,000, which mainly includes a respirator, costing US $20,000, and a US $20,000 passport EGG machine.

“We hope to fund the venture from the business community, most of whom are here tonight.”