JCDC Up For Most Socially Aware Award

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is among six finalists in the Public Sector Customer Service Competition.

The JCDC, an agency of the Ministry of Youth and Culture, has been nominated for the ‘Most Socially Aware’ award in the competition, organised by the Cabinet Office, which is aimed at recognising service excellence in the public sector.

“This nomination is welcome as the organisation continuously strives to realize its vision of becoming the global centre for Jamaican cultural excellence,” said JCDC Director for Marketing and Public Relations, Stephen Davidson.

He was speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank held on Wednesday (September 2), at the agency’s head office in Kingston.

Mr. Davidson said the nomination provides a perfect opportunity for members of the public to have a greater understanding of the work of the Commission, particularly its outreach activities.

He pointed out that over the years the entity has sought new ways of reaching more Jamaicans, especially the vulnerable in the society.

“There is hardly a Jamaican that has not been impacted by its (JCDC) planned programmes and activities, whether from participation in festival competitions, in music, speech or attendance at civic ceremonies and parish and national celebrations,” he noted.

Mr. Davidson said that almost all the programmes of the JCDC feature a social outreach component, which engages entrants and members of the public in philanthropic work centred on positively impacting children, seniors, education, youth and community development.

Mr. Davidson said the Festival Queen Competition, one of the signature programmes of the JCDC, requires that the entrants undertake an outreach project during the year of their reign.

“This component was implemented in 2000 and boasts 15 years of community service to Jamaica, with over 100 projects completed in that time,” he informed.

Additionally, he said, the JCDC introduced the Deaf Dance Competition in 2006 as part of the Arts Development Programme aimed at reaching the deaf community.

“This competition puts the spotlight on this vulnerable sector of our society and allows them to express their creative talent,” he noted.

Mr. Davidson said the ‘Mek it and Share It’ initiative of the Jamaica Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition, which was introduced in 2013, allows entrants and members of the public to donate toys and tokens to children in state care.

Through this initiative, he said, the JCDC, in collaboration with the British High Commission, handed over laptops to the Child Development Agency, for use in state homes.

Acting Senior Director, Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Programme, Cabinet Office, Michele Gordon-Somers, told JIS News that entrants in the Most Socially Aware category must demonstrate how they have ensured easy and comfortable access to their services for members of the public with disabilities.

“We want organisations to demonstrate how they have put measures in place to address the needs of those customers, who may be visually, hearing impaired or physically disabled. We want to make sure that those customers can access services very well and that they are served with excellence,” she pointed out.

Most Socially Aware is one of two new categories in this year’s competition. The other new category is the Most Responsive Entity.

Other segments are: Best Customer Service Entity, Most Improved Customer Service Entity, Most Creative/Innovative Entity, and the ‘Best of Like’ Entity.