After being appointed a member of the Order of Jamaica (OJ) on this year’s national honours and awards list, prominent businessman and JMMB Chief Executive Officer Keith Duncan says the recognition affirms his lifelong commitment to advancing Jamaica’s economic and social development through responsible leadership and national service.

Duncan, who has led JMMB Group since 2005, expressed gratitude for the recognition, noting that he finds true fulfilment in serving the country and working toward its progress.

“I am grateful for the acknowledgement of my efforts. To be awarded this great honour is extremely gratifying; gratitude is a must…I am really fulfilled when I am working for the advancement of our country and our people [and] I am always motivated to be a part of the solution to advance the best interest of our beautiful country,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday.

He conveyed a deep sense of pride and joy, expressing satisfaction with the strides Jamaica has made and a strong desire to continue contributing to the nation’s future.

“I believe in Jamaica, and I believe we really can become and are on our way to Jamaica being the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business…Jamaica is on a good path, and come what may, we must continue to put in the work to drive inclusive economic growth. So let’s not ease up and allow our path to be derailed under any circumstances,” Duncan said.

He pointed to key national achievements in recent years, including gains in economic stability and improvements in public safety, while also highlighting the strength and potential of the Jamaican people.

“We have built a stable and resilient macroeconomic foundation and made the investments in national security from which we are seeing great results in reduced crime levels that we should be able to sustain and continue to reduce. We have a powerful brand, an industrious, creative, and resilient people, and once we continue the efforts in education, healthcare, skills development and community development we are unstoppable as a country,” he added.

Over the years, Duncan has earned a reputation as one of the country’s leading voices in finance and national development.

Since joining JMMB in 1993 as trading manager, he has steadily climbed the ranks, becoming deputy managing director in 2000 before assuming the role of group CEO in 2005.

He has also played a key role in supporting Jamaica’s social and economic development, serving as president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) from 2019 to 2022, and previously as vice-president from 2012 to 2014. His influence has also extended to policy and public service, having previously served as co-chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) before being appointed chair of the advisory committee for Jamaica’s newly established Independent Fiscal Commission, which began operations in January to support fiscal responsibility, transparency, and long-term economic stability.

A strong youth empowerment advocate, Duncan also chaired the National Youth Service between 2003 and 2009 and co-founded the YUTE (Youth Upliftment Through Employment) programme to provide at-risk youth with skills training and job opportunities.

Duncan’s appointment to the Order of Jamaica, the nation’s fourth highest honour, builds on previous recognition for his work, including the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD) in 2020.

He has also received the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies Award for Excellence in Business Leadership (2020) and the Best of Chamber Award (2011) from the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.