Child Month sponsors lauded

KINGSTON — Chairperson of the National Child Month Committee (NCMC), Dr. Pauline Mullings, has lauded the corporate support for National Child Month activities.

She noted that the assistance in cash and kind over the years, from private entities and individuals, has enabled the committee, comprising of volunteers, to more effectively carry out its task for the benefit of the nation’s children.

“We do make time to work on this committee as Jamaica’s children mean a lot to us (but) we could not have done this on our own. Our wages would not be enough to do that and so we are very, very grateful for our sponsors,” Dr. Mullings said.

She was speaking at a Think Tank held on March 29 at the Jamaica Information Service's (JIS) head office in Kingston, where the discussion focused on up-coming events for National Child Month 2011, which will be launched on Wednesday, April 6 under the theme: ‘Our World, Their Future, Our Responsibility’.  Representatives of the two main sponsoring companies, GraceKennedy Limited and LIME Foundation, were also in attendance.

Dr. Mullings also used the opportunity to commend the patron of the NCMC and Chairman of GraceKennedy, Douglas Orane, who, she said, has served the committee “very well."

Chairman of LIME Foundation, Errol Miller, said that contributions to Child Month initiatives by LIME should be seen as an investment in young people.  “Our history proves that we have a deep and abiding feeling and care for the young people in this country. We have, for many years, provided support to initiatives in education, in sports, community development, youth empowerment and we plan to continue for as long as we are in existence,” he stated.  

Mr. Miller said he was pleased with the theme chosen for Child Month, noting that it speaks to the key role of adults in the upbringing of children. “I think that is something that is overlooked. We talk about the young people and what they should be doing, but we do not talk about what we as adults should be doing,” he stated.

Mr. Orane, said GraceKennedy’s support over the years, is in keeping with the company’s role and responsibility to give back to society. He encouraged other private entities to make similar contributions.

GraceKennedy has been the main sponsor of Child Month activities since the 1980s, while LIME Foundation has contributed to the work of the committee for the last three years.

Other companies, which have contributed to National Child Month 2011, include Tastee Limited and National Continental Corporation Limited.

By E. HARTMAN RECKORD, JIS Information Officer