MONTEGO BAY, St James — New Fortress Energy, the leading natural gas provider in Jamaica, has promised that its back-to-school give backs will continue as long as it operates in the island.

Vice-president of the company Verona Carter made the promise while speaking with the
Jamaica Observer during a back-to-school fair that was held in Montego Bay on Wednesday.

“As long as we are here, we will do this,” declared Carter.

“It is to see the youngsters come through and continue to drive the country forward for economic development,” added Carter.

On Wednesday, New Fortress Energy, in partnership with the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI), provided students at both the primary and tertiary levels with various forms of support including bursaries and school bags.

More than 300 primary students received $10,000 to purchase school supplies while the 25 top Primary Exit Profile (PEP) students received $35,000 towards their tuition and other expenses.

Forty high school students where given bursaries of $50,000 towards external education requirements and tuition.

Carter explained that New Fortress Energy has been carrying out this initiative for the past eight years and it is something that is a big part of the make up of the company.

“It’s a huge deal for us and our founder Wes Edens believes in giving back and lifting up our communities and the countries that we operate in,” said Carter.

She argued that this has been good for the company and Jamaica as they have seen more students who benefit from this programme going into areas of study that are the new focus.

“We have been doing this for eight years now and we have seen the huge movement towards STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics]. We have had students who have become engineers and some are currently studying in that field and so it continues. It’s all an evolving mechanism that is moving forward to move the country forward,” added Carter.

Carter insisted that New Fortress Energy was happy of what it has been able to do in this regard given what it has been able to achieve in Jamaica since opening its doors here.

“For Nadine Spence, vice-president of the MBCCI, the partnership with New Fortress Energy has been quite beneficial for students in St James with more and more benefiting each year.

“We are at 300 students. I remember when we started we were barely at 100, so it goes to show that the growth is significant and the reach is even far more impacting,” said Spence.