JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has established a Corporate Finance Committee to improve its financial management system.

 

Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, made the disclosure at the reopening of the Jamaica College Parent-Teacher Association’s (PTA) stationery and memorabilia shop at the Old Hope Road-based institution on September 27.

 

Chief Executive Officer of Proven Management Limited, Christopher Williams, has been appointed committee head and Sagicor Chairman, R. Danny Williams is a member.

 

Mr. Reid said the committee will keep track of accounts receivables and payables and the progress of projects. He noted that the body will also ensure that there are proper budgets in place for school furniture, among other needs.

 

“Every year there are complaints because of a lack of furniture. The Ministry has not had a proper budget for furniture, for maintenance. I will now be able to look at a maintenance programme that will reach every school,” he pointed out.

 

The work of the committee will also assist the Minister in giving better evidence-based policy directions. “By doing so, I am able to programme funds more directly so we can have more impact,” Mr. Reid said, noting that the objective is to have the Ministry operate like a corporate body.

 

Meanwhile, President of the Jamaica College PTA, Errol Holmes, said the refurbished shop provides services such as research, printing and laminating.

 

“It houses eight top-of-the-line Lenovo computers and we have an area that sells supplies for the school as well as memorabilia,” he informed.

 

“The building will assist our boys with research for the timely submission of school-based assessments and internal assessments for exams and for research,” he pointed out.

 

Mr. Holmes informed that the project was undertaken over nine months at a cost of $5.2 million.  Jamaica National Foundation contributed approximately $2 million, with the remainder coming from donations and other forms of funding.

 

School Captain, Malik Morrison, said the shop is a “great addition” to the offerings of the institution. He expressed gratitude to the PTA for improving the building.

 

At the grand reopening, five past PTA presidents were recognised for their contributions to improving the school.

 

Among them is Editor-in-Chief of the Gleaner Company, Garfield Grandison, who is the immediate past president.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), examines a Jamaica College branded draw-string bag, which is among items for sale inside the newly refurbished stationery and memorabilia shop, which was reopened on September 27. Others (from left) are PTA President, Errol Holmes; Group Chief Financial Officer, Jamaica National, Curtis Martin, and School Captain, Malik Morrison.