KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) opened the doors of its Florida Representative office in Miami Gardens on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, making a range of key services available to more Jamaicans in the diaspora.

In his welcome remarks at the ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony, President and CEO of the Victoria Mutual Group Richard Powell said the new office represents a significant milestone for the company in its ongoing effort to meet the needs of Jamaicans residing outside of the country.

“Our commitment at VMBS is to operate a truly mutual entity that is owned by and run for the benefit of its members,” Powell said. “The new VMBS location in Miami Gardens makes this commitment real by meeting the needs of existing and prospective members in the Jamaican Diaspora.”

“VMBS continues to enable thrifty Jamaican savers to become homeowners by providing additional financial services to our members, both at home and abroad,” Powell said. These expanded services include wealth management, general insurance, real estate management and money remittances. Powell noted that the company has evolved in its range of services offered to further meet the needs of its diaspora customers in a changing economic climate.

In her address, manager of the VMBS Florida Representative office, Suzette Rochester, gave her assurance that “VMBS will continuously seek new and innovative ways to satisfy our customers’ needs while operating in a highly competitive global marketplace.”

Among those in attendance were Sandra Grant Griffiths, Jamaica Consul General in Miami; and Florida local and state officials — State Representative Hazel P Rogers and Mayor Shirley Gibson of Miami Gardens.