Seaga Honoured for Service to Stock Exchange

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Eward Seaga, is the second recipient of the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s (JSE) Regional Award for outstanding and distinguished service to the organisation.
He was presented with the award and a citation during the first day of the JSE’s Investment and Capital Markets four-day Conference which ended at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay, on January 30.
The conference, held under the theme “Competition or Collaboration?”, was a unique forum for all constituents of the financial services sector to exchange views and develop strategies for engineering an environment to foster successful growth of the financial services industry.
One of the main objectives of the conference was to create an awareness of the importance of the Capital Markets to the economic development and prosperity of the region.
In lauding and highlighting the work and worth of Mr. Seaga, JSE’s General Manager, Marlene Street Forrest, said that it was significant that the Stock Exchange has seen it fit to recognise his contribution while it was marking its 40th anniversary.
“We thought that it would be a fitting tribute to the work that he has done to pave the way for the august organisation that we are today,” she said.

Former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, addressing participants at the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Investments and Capital Markets four-day Conference, which got underway at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay, St. James, on January 27.

The citation, read by Master of Ceremonies Norma Brown-Bell, described Mr. Seaga as ‘one of the original designers’ of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
“During his tenure, Mr. Seaga had used his sphere of influence to establish, encourage, promote or introduce several institutions which have contributed to the modernisation and development of the financial sector. These include: the Jamaica Stock Exchange in 1969; the Jamaica Unit Trust in 1970; the Student Revolving Loan Fund for Higher Education, 1970; Jamaica Mortgage Bank 1972; National Development Bank 1981; the Agricultural Credit Bank, 1981; the ExIm Bank 1986; and the Self Start Fund in 1984,” Mrs. Norma Brown-Bell noted.
She further said that, today, the JSE stands out as the most technologically advanced and the largest stock exchange in the English-speaking Caribbean.
“The phenominal growth of the organisation is a living testimony to his undaunted confidence in Jamaica. Jamaica and the Caribbean salute your work and your worth, as Caribbean Regional Extraordinaire, Edward Phillip George Seaga”, she noted.
In accepting the prestigious award, Mr. Seaga pointed out that it was not one that he could accept on his own, as there were others who played pivotal roles in the achievements.
“This is not an award that I accept on my own behalf. Many people worked on the stock exchange. I would like to mention in particular, Senator the Hon. Alfred Rattray, whose job it was to create it in legislation, and many others who gave their inputs to have made this the wonderful institution that it is today. On their behalf, I accept this award,” Mr. Seaga said.