TOTAL Jamaica Limited’s Total Card has doubled its customer base since its relaunch in March and projections are on target for subscriptions to triple by year end, Network Manager Howard Henry told Jamaica Observer’s Auto on Tuesday.

Henry made the revelation at the presentation of scholarships to two University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, students pursuing master’s degrees under the France-Caribe exchange-student programme, which is in its second year.

“We have since had major telecommunications companies, banking and companies from the industrial sector signing up.

“People have discovered that it’s a very good thing for their fleet,” Henry said of the internationally renowned fleet-management tool, an all-in-one post-paid convenience card accepted at most of its service stations islandwide — including partner stations outside the TOTAL network.

Available in post-paid packages, the TOTAL Card is tailored to meet clients’ needs, offering Gold, Silver and Platinum offerings.

Subscribers sign up for the card and are afforded an agreed monthly limit to cover a combination of fuel, lubricants, store or other services, such as toll road payments for fleets.

“The customer base is growing every month. The trajectory is upwards as there has been greater awareness. Since the relaunch, we have had customers coming to us as opposed to us seeking them out,” Henry added.

“What they have come to realise is that it is a simple, efficient and safe way to manage their fleets, especially to prevent incidents of fraudulent activities,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Kimone Townsend and Jevon Dixon were presented as the 2016 recipients of TOTAL’s 6,000-euro scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in political science in a programme involving students from UWI, Mona; Bordeaux University, France; and University of the French West Indies and Guiana, Martinique.

Stephania Saunders, UWI, Mona’s 2015 recipient, addressed the gathering headed by TOTAL Jamaica’s new managing director, David Ducognon; Winnie Berry, assistant chief education officer, Ministry of Education; and Dr Omar Hawthorne, coordinator, Programme France-Caribe.

“Receipt of the scholarship was the day our dreams made a gigantic leap,” said Saunders, who spent a year at Bordeaux. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and people were depending on us,” she added.

Hawthorne said the programme was grateful for TOTAL’s funding, especially its decision to increase the sum to 6,000 euros per student for 2016.

“We’re sure Kimone and Jevon will continue the success. We look forward to them returning next year, making the UWI family proud,” she said.

Berry pointed out that TOTAL’s commitment to education showed the French multi-national company’s “loyalty to Jamaica and hope for its future”, encouraging the recipients to “continue being beacons of TOTAL”.

Ducognon, in his first public engagement as TOTAL Jamaica’s head, said the company was proud of Saunders and fellow 2015 awardee, Alexis Smith, saying the company was “equally proud to have contributed”, while telling Townsend and Dixon, “We will be tracking your progress and have every confidence you will do well.”