Prime Minister Holness Lauds Digicel Founder, Denis O’Brien

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed Digicel founder, Denis O’Brien, for his role in establishing the company that has grown to be a major operator in Jamaica’s telecommunications landscape.

“[After] Twenty-two years of being in Jamaica, the people of Jamaica are grateful and proud of what you built. We want to say thank you for an amazing legacy. God bless you and walk good,” Prime Minister Holness said during a ‘Thank You’ reception held in Mr. O’Brien’s honour at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston on Tuesday (January 9).

Mr. Holness lauded the Irish businessman for incorporating diverse human resources comprising local talent for the growth and development of the business.

“He was an entrepreneur… a businessman [who] saw an opportunity and he took it, and as a result of that, we are here… to [not only] celebrate a great enterprise – Digicel – but to also celebrate a great human being,” he said.

Prime Minister Holness recounted that when he first met Mr. O’Brien, he was reminded by him that Digicel is a Jamaican business.

“Though the business would have obviously brought in talent from overseas, many from Ireland, the business really relied, cultivated and depended on talent from Jamaica. What Denis managed to do was to create a very diverse human resource for the business, but still maintained a Jamaican character that still exemplified the highest standard; and that work was very successful because it became the launching pad to eventually go into 32 countries and to have a significant customer base,” he shared.

Mr. Holness said the Jamaican people are very proud of Digicel and the company’s corporate social responsibility to give back in areas to include, but not limited to, education and persons with special needs.

“I worked closely with Digicel as Minister of Education. They were one of the few corporate entities that I could go to and be confident that we would get support. I believe I got very far with Digicel, particularly speaking with Denis at an event in New York regarding the building of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) school, and he actually had some commitments there from Digicel.

“We haven’t gotten it done, as yet, but I think it would be such a good thing to have the Denis O’Brien Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) School. So, I know the new board and the new directorship of Digicel may want to consider this,” he added.

Mr. Holness informed that recently, he had the occasion to work very closely with Mr. O’Brien in Haiti, pointing out that “whichever country Denis is doing business in, he is very much concerned about the people and the conditions”.

The Prime Minister said he stands ready to support Mr. O’Brien on his next area of focus.

“He is a man with a big heart, so I was not surprised when he told me that his next big project… is to stimulate, support and develop and prepare the reparations movement. So, I know you will be spending a lot of time with that, and as much as I can, Denis, you have my support. I will work with you very closely because this is something that we believe in,” Mr. Holness underscored.