State Minister Dunn Lauds Jamaican Farm Workers’ Donation to High School Students Pursuing Agricultural Studies
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Wednesday, June 14, 2023
State Minister Dunn Lauds Jamaican Farm Workers’ Donation to High School Students Pursuing Agricultural Studies
Six Hundred Thousand dollars (J$600,000) in cash grants was presented to twenty (20) students from ten (10) prominent High Schools across mainly rural St Catherine, on Monday, June 12, 2023.
The initiative, spearheaded by Jamaican Farm Workers attached to the Gebbers Farms in Washington State, USA, provided the Grade 10 students with the financial aid to assist with their pursuit of studies in Agriculture at their various institutions.
In making his contribution, Farm Work Supervisor, Eyon Gayle noted that the initiative had selected Agricultural students, because “food security and sustainable agriculture must be central to Jamaica’s 2030 Vision if it is to be fully realized”. He said, that in a world controlled by cutting edge technologies, “our young people need to be prepared to compete”.
During his address at the handing over ceremony, State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, said, “Each student will receive an amount of J$30,000.00 towards assisting with their studies. This act of kindness represents an example of commitment to country and dedication to civic responsibility, which unfortunately sometimes goes unrecognized and unappreciated, but should be emulated”.
Minister Dunn noted that for the past 12 years, Jamaican Farm Workers at the Gebbers Farms in the United States have been engaging in fund-raising activities and donating the proceeds to assist their fellow countrymen and women in need in communities across Jamaica. Since then, the initiative has sought to ‘give back’ through support with educational and other grants. To date, residents at the Golden Age Home in St. Andrew as well as students across the parishes of St Ann, St Thomas and Clarendon have benefitted.
“I would like to take this opportunity to commend the workers for their thoughtfulness, kindness and goodwill towards their fellow Jamaicans. I am happy that the workers have seen it fit to donate these funds to a wonderful cause each time.” Minister Dunn said.
The Gebbers Farms has been employing Jamaican Farm Workers since 2010 and is one of the largest employers of Jamaican Workers with over 300 workers.
Dr the Hon. Norman Dunn, (1st left) State Minister in the Ministry of Labour & Social Security, shares in the official handing over of the symbolic grant cheque to two (2) of the (20) High School recipients. Looking on are Sophia Forbes Hall, (2nd left) Director of the Ministry of Education and Youth Region 6, Eyon Gayle, (Centre) Supervisor of Gebbers Farms and Kereen Reid Clarke, Community Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education and Youth Region 6.
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