“DIASPORA GROUP INVESTS IN LOCAL BEE INDUSTRY”

KINGSTON – June 13, 2008 – The Boston Diaspora Ventures LLC (BDV), an investment group created by Jamaicans living in Boston, will be entering a collaborative business venture with the All Island Bee Farmers Association (AIBFA), the industry’s official advocacy group, when it signs a Memorandum of Association (MOA) on Monday, June 16 at the Jamaica Conference Centre. The signing, which will be attended by Agriculture Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, and Permanent Secretary Donovan Stanberry will take place during the Third Biennial Jamaican Diaspora Conference scheduled to run from June 16-17.

In 2006, the AIBFA announced a 7 year plan which seeks to create a coordinated, market driven, commercially and environmentally sustainable beekeeping industry in the island. The organization acknowledged the challenges such an ambitious plan presented; the main concern of which stemmed from the unavailability of funds to finance such a program. The association viewed the opening of a bottling plant in Linstead as a key component to boosting its production output and accomplishing its long-term objectives.

The establishment of the Jamaican company, Logwood Distribution Ltd., signalled an important step in the joint venture between BDV and AIBFA. By the terms of the agreement, the AIBFA and BDV will co-own Logwood. BDV will provide the working capital, renovate and operate the bottling plant, obtain the requisite certifications for the property, purchase honey from bee-farmers, process, bottle and market honey for the benefit of both Jamaican bee farmers and investors.

Through its partnership with AIBFA, the BDV is hoping to encourage growth inbee farming,

provide training and materials for youth interested in becoming apart of the industry, generate much needed foreign exchange for the country through the sale of honey on the international market and also encourage the Diaspora to seek out and support other worthwhile ventures in Jamaica.

“Small business industries, such as honey farming, are set to become a driving force in the rebuilding of the Jamaican economy”, said Winfield Murray, AIBFA President. “We believe that this partnership is crucial to accomplishing our objectives of significantly increasing production and become internationally competitive.” he concluded. 

ABOUT THE AIBFA

The All Island Bee Farmers Association (AIBFA), comprised of 12 parish bee-farming organizations, was established in 1989 in an effort to strengthen the local industry. The AIBFA’s primary objectives include encouraging production and cooperative marketing among its members, coordinating beekeeping programs, training, supplying equipment and materials to farmers and advocating on their behalf.

ABOUT THE BDV

The Boston Diaspora Ventures LLC (BDV), a Massachusetts Limited Liability Company, was organized by Jamaican expatriates living in the Boston area. Inspired by Dr. Kenneth I. Guscott, the Jamaican Honorary Consul for the Boston area, the group is committed to assisting Jamaicans and Jamaican organizations in the island to gain access to markets and opportunities globally.

BOSTON DIASPORA GROUP - ACTIVITIES 2006 – 2008

On November 4, 2006 we hosted a Trade & Investment Forum at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center.  Ambassador, Professor Gordon Shirley, Consul General Dr. Basil Bryan, Mr. Leo Williams – Financial Consultant, Ms. Claudine Blackwood, Mr. Mel Smith – JAMPRO, Mr. Winfield Murray – AIBFA, Dr. Harold Mignott – Chair, Northeast Diaspora, Mr. John Woolcock – Jamaica Tourist Board were our special guests.

The all day event was hosted by Honorary Consul Dr. Kenneth I. Guscott, Honorary Vice Consul Patricia Farr and moderated by Attorney Denzil D. McKenzie.

The program began with an overview of the Jamaican Diaspora by Ambassador Shirley.  Presentations followed by JAMPRO, All Island Bee Farmers Association (AIBFA), Jamaica Tourist Board and Dr. Johnny Francis, PhD on renewable energy.

The morning concluded with a presentation by Leo Williams on how a fund could be created to facilitate investment opportunities in Jamaica.

Our luncheon speaker was Dr. Basil K. Bryan speaking on “Jamaica Today”.

In the afternoon Breakout Sessions were held on renewable energy, honeybee farming and finance and investment.  At the end of the sessions, each group gave a summation of their discussions to the audience. 

There were approximately 50 members of the Diaspora and friends of Jamaica in attendance including members from the various states represented by the northeast Diaspora group.   As a result of this trade forum the Boston Diaspora Group decided to work with the AIBFA in their effort to grow their organization and increase honey production for export.

AIBFA

Since then we have met several times with the AIBFA, visited their bottling plant in Linstead and have agreed to loan the organization the money needed to renovate the factory.  We have created a distribution company, Logwood Distribution, in Jamaica to facilitate the export of their honey.   We have hired a member of the Diaspora, a returning resident, Ms. Ivy Lawson to manage the distribution company.  We have also created Boston Diaspora Ventures (BDV), a group formed to encourage Jamaicans in Boston to invest their funds in approved projects that help in the development of Jamaica.  

We have had an enthusiastic response from the Diaspora.  The principles of the BDV are Dr. Kenneth I. Guscott, Atty. Denzil McKenzie, Ms. Patricia Farr & Mr. Leo Williams

We will be signing our MOA with the AIBFA during the Diaspora Conference.  Our hope is that we will be able to encourage growth in the bee farming industry, provide training and materials for the youth who are interested in becoming a part of the industry, earn much needed foreign exchange for the country with the sale of the honey to the international market and to encourage the Diaspora to seek out and support such ventures.

Renewable Energy:

We have been working with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in research

on wind farms, solar panels and new projects.

Computers Donated To Jamaica

In 2007, Mr. & Mrs. Winston Watson, moved to Jamaica after building their house in Westmoreland.   In searching for a school for their three children they discovered that the schools had none or very few computers.  Recognizing that computers were a necessity in today’s competitive world they set out to source computers to donate to the schools. 

Maura Watson and Shelley Hoon of Boston put together the funding for 200 computers to be shipped to Jamaica.  They contacted the Kiwanis Club in Montego Bay and they helped to identify schools and distribute computers to several schools in Hanover.  Mrs. Watson donated several computers to schools in St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland.  FLOW, the internet/cable company in Jamaica has been helpful as well by donating free internet access.  The children of Jamaica and their teachers have benefited by having the internet available for their use and expanding their knowledge base.

The development in Westmoreland is also being used as a model for residential renewable energy use. This will include a small wind farm and the use of solar electric power generators.

The Rubina A. Guscott Building – Boston MA

On May 5, 2007 the Rubina A. Guscott building was dedicated in Boston, MA.  The Building is a 4-story building, located in the Grove Hall section of Dorchester, MA.  It is named in honor of the mother of Dr. Kenneth Guscott and his brother Cecil Guscott.  It was dedicated in tribute to the accomplishments of Jamaican immigrants who moved to Boston back in the early 1920’s and the contributions they have made to the City of Boston and the State of Massachusetts.  It is now the new home of the Honorary Jamaican Consulate in Boston.

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM

In 2007, Dr. Doreen Wilkinson a member of the Boston Diaspora Group and the then President of the Jamaican Associates of Boston recognized the need for training of special education teachers in Jamaica.  As a former administrator with the Massachusetts Department of Education she was able to identify the Carroll School in Lincoln, MA as one of the best places for training.  She arranged a meeting with the Principal of the school and along with Dr. Guscott they convinced the school to provide scholarships for two teachers from Jamaica to be trained on a six-week program during the summer of 2008.  Two teachers, Mrs. Icylyn Malcolm and Ms. Celeste Lewis were identified from the North Coast to be the recipients of the scholarships.  Maura & Winston Watson have donated their travel expenses to get to Boston.  Valerie & Kenneth Guscott have provided the text books that they will be needing for the courses and housing will be provided for them when they get to Boston.  The goal is for these teachers to return to Jamaica to share their training with other teachers on the island and for us to continue with this program.