Jamaicans Who Study Abroad Lauded For Contributions

Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, has lauded the contributions made to advance the country’s education sector by Jamaicans benefitting from tertiary training overseas, particularly in Canada.

Notable among these persons, he says, are late businessman and philanthropist, G. Raymond Chang; and National Commercial Bank (NCB) Chairman, Michael Lee-Chin.

Mr. Chang attended the University of Toronto, where he qualified as an engineer, and chartered accountant and financial analyst. He also served as the third Chancellor of another Toronto-based tertiary institution, Ryerson University.

Mr. Lee-Chin was awarded a Government of Jamaica scholarship to McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario, where he studied civil engineering.

Speaking at a Jamaica-Canada alumni reception at the Spanish Court Hotel, New Kingston, on September 22, Rev. Thwaites, who described Mr. Chang as a “wonderful example” of a philanthropist, said the late businessman not only provided financial endowments for several tertiary institutions in Canada, but also contributed “richly” to his alma mater, St. George’s College, a gesture which is still continued by his family.

In the case of Mr. Lee-Chin, Rev. Thwaites said he currently provides an endowment for Northern Caribbean University (NCU) School of Nursing.

Noting that Jamaicans studying overseas “seldom forget where (their) intellectual navel strings are buried,” the Minister said many of them continue to return home to make tangible contributions to the local education sector, adding that “even those who do not come back (still) contribute in important ways.”

Rev. Thwaites also expressed the hope that other Canadian university alumni will make similar gestures.

In his remarks, newly appointed Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency Sylvain Fabí, indicated that his office as well as other local stakeholders “will be trying to draw on you (alumni members), to share your experiences with our students.”