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SEPTEMBER 2021/ ISSUE 04 / VOLUME 21

HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP THE COVID-19 VACCINES SO QUICKLY?

12.9% GROWTH IN ECONOMY FOR APRIL TO JUNE 2021 QUARTER

JIANNA THOMPSON IS

Queen!

STAKEHOLDERS BENEFIT FROM LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMME

ineisha Lavis D

LOOKS TO THE FUTURE!

From the Editor Hello again! This month brings a mixed bag of news for businesses, though the good news still outweighs the bad. The “third wave” of rising Covid infections we alluded to last month is now cresting, and the rising case counts have resulted in stricter curfews and no-movement days, further restricting opportunities to make a living. The silver lining to this cloud, however, is a surge in the country’s vaccination efforts as the Ministry of Health scrambles to vaccinate as many citizens as possible with a new wave of vaccination blitzes in every parish. Even so, many people are still hesitant to go for the jab because they are confused by so much conflicting information online and in the media. This month’s feature article, How it Was Possible to Develop Covid-19 Vaccines so Quickly, will, hopefully, help change more minds, as vaccination is the only way to ensure we get back to business and get our children back to in-school learning without any further interruptions. Some further good news for local businesses — the Local Economic Development Support Programme has produced a total of 404 local economic initiatives (LEIs) leading to the creation of 1,659 new jobs, the Companies Office Jamaica (COJ) reports that 12,809 business names and 3,935 companies were registered in 2020, and there was 12.9% growth in the economy during the April to June quarter of 2021. Finally, in the culmination of an event that’s very close to our hearts at Millennial Media Management, we present Miss Jianna Thompson, who secured the title Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest 2021! We wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors and look forward to following her progress as she moves on to the Miss Universe Jamaica competition. Keep scrolling to see outgoing MUJNW Queen Lineisha Davis’ beautiful, fashion-forward photo spread. As always, I hope you find this month’s issue of The Millennial Marketer a valuable resource for the continued success of your business! Warm Regards, Paul Bauer EDITOR, THE MILLENNIAL MARKETER

STAKEHOLDERS BENEFIT FROM LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMME A total of 404 local economic initiatives (LEIs) have benefited from business support services provided under the Local Economic Development Support Programme. This resulted in the generation of jobs for 1,659 persons, inclusive of 189 youth. A total of 840 of these persons gained full-time employment, 542 were employed parttime, while 277 were engaged seasonally. This is contained in the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s 2020 Economic and Social Survey Jamaica 2020, which was tabled in the House of Representatives recently. A total of 52 capacity-building sessions were also held with over 398 community members and grassroots entrepreneurs, and 96 civil society organisations/LEIs. The training covered business idea development, management principles and entrepreneurship, costing and pricing, business registration, social media marketing, product development, financial planning, basic bookkeeping, and packaging and labelling. The document further noted that additional work undertaken with selected LEIs resulted in the preparation of 52 business models and 21 business plans. Approximately $3.8 million in funding support was also provided for six project proposals.The grants were secured through the Digicel Foundation, Tourism Enhancement Fund and Tourism Product Development Company. Meanwhile, a total of 62 business fairs were held, 20 of which took place between January and March 2020. However, the model for these engagements was revised in response to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on communities’ economic base. “This change saw the business fair concept being merged with a farmers’ market component, and 42 community market and business fairs were held in 32 communities islandwide,” the Survey outlined. The participants included 326 grassroots community enterprises, 440 farmers, 111 vendors and 25 distributors, with earnings generated totalling just under $66 million.

INCREASED BUSINESS NAME AND COMPANY REGISTRATIONS IN 2020 A total of 12,809 business names and 3,935 companies were registered by entrepreneurs and investors with the Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) in 2020. This was disclosed by Government Senator, Don Wehby, who indicated that this represents a 12 per cent increase for business names and three per cent rise for companies over 2019, despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Senator Wehby said the entrepreneurial spirit ignited last year during the global health crisis was a testament to the resilience of locals, adding that “we have to big up our Jamaican entrepreneurs.” He was delivering the opening 2021/22 State of the Nation Debate presentation in the Senate on Friday (June 25). Senator Wehby informed that over 25 per cent of the registrations in 2020 were done using the COJ’s electronic business registration platform. The portal is the digital version of the COJ’s Super Form, which introduced the one-stop-shop approach to registrations, linking several critical government agency systems. An Executive Agency of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, the COJ’s principal roles are: registering and regulating companies and businesses; maintaining accurate and up-to-date records on commercial entities, and administering the National Security Interests in Personal Property Online Registry. The COJ registers local and overseas companies, and individuals and firms conducting business in Jamaica. Through the entity’s website, the public can ascertain companies’ or businesses’ legal status, statutory compliance, and ownership. The COJ encourages voluntary compliance by companies and businesses with the Companies Act 2004, the Companies (Amendment Act) 2013, and the Registration of Business Names Act of 1934.

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12.9% GROWTH IN ECONOMY FOR APRIL TO JUNE 2021 QUARTER The Hotels and Restaurants Sector is estimated to have grown by a huge 330.7% during the April to June 2021 quarter, to lead all Goods Producing and Services industries recording growth during the period.

Dr. Henry said all Goods Producing Industry subsectors grew, except mining and quarrying, which contracted by approximately 12.3%, due to lower alumina and crude bauxite production.

The output for that subsector, which falls under the Services Industry, helped to spur a significant turnaround in the performance of the economy, which grew by an estimated 12.9% over the quarter, according to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

Construction recorded the largest output, 18.3%, reflecting higher levels of activities in the building and other (civil) construction components. The second largest out-turn, Dr. Henry said, was recorded by Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, which grew by an estimated 10%.

Director-General, Dr. Wayne Henry, noted that the Goods Producing Industry grew by an estimated 7.8%, while the Services Industry expanded by approximately 14%.

The Director-General also informed that the Manufacturing subsector grew by approximately 3.1%.

“The output for the period largely reflected the impact of the relaxation of measures implemented to manage the (coronavirus) COVID-19 pandemic, relative to the corresponding quarter of 2020 when the country was partially locked down for the majority of the period,” he pointed out. Speaking during the PIOJ’s digital quarterly briefing on Thursday (August 26), Dr. Henry said the out-turn for Hotels and Restaurants reflected a sharp increase in visitor arrivals, following the closure of Jamaica’s borders to passenger movement for most of the corresponding quarter of 2020, due to COVID-19. “Stopover arrivals for April-May 2021 increased to 205,244 visitors compared with none during the corresponding period of 2020,” he further informed. Other Services Industry subsectors recording growth were Transport, Storage and Communication, up 16.5%; Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair and Installation of Machinery (WRTRIM), up 13.2%; Electricity and Water Supply, up 4%; and Finance and Insurance Services, up 2.5%. However, the Government Services subsector remained flat.

Meanwhile, the economy grew by an estimated 2.3% for the first six months of the 2021 calendar year, from January to June. Dr. Henry said the Goods Producing Industry grew by an estimated 5% and the Services Industry by 1.4%. The industries recording the largest increases were Construction, up 13.8%; Agriculture, up 3.9%, Other Services, up 3.6%; and Transport, Storage and Communication, up 3.4%. Dr. Henry said that the prospects for the July-September 2021 quarter and 2021/22 fiscal year are “positive”. He indicated that growth is anticipated to be within the range of 4% - 6% for the September 2021 quarter, and 6% - 10% for the full fiscal year. The Director-General said it is anticipated that Jamaica will record higher levels of output for all quarters of 2021/22, relative to the subdued performance in 2020/21, due to the restrictions caused by COVID-19. “It should be noted, however, that the economy is not expected to attain pre-COVID GDP levels until fiscal year 2023/24,” Dr. Henry stated.

PAHO ADVISES CAUTION IN REOPENING SCHOOLS The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is recommending that member countries adopt a phased approach to reopening schools for face-to-face learning in the 2021/22 academic year, in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, says this approach should take into consideration the local epidemiological situation, which, she notes, “can change rapidly.” “Surveillance will be key to ensuring that reopening is done safely and that learning environments remain safe,” Dr. Etienne added, while speaking during PAHO’s COVID-19 digital briefing on Wednesday (August 25). Dr. Etienne said prior to reopening schools, countries must ensure institutions can maintain COVID-19 prevention and infection control measures, including physical distancing, hand hygiene, and mask wearing.

CONT'D... 1

Noting that there is COVID-19 community transmission “in almost every country,” the Director emphasised that “what we do not want is for schools to be transformed into catalysts for more [of this].” She pointed out that closing and reopening schools should be considered a part of the physical-distancing measures that national and parochial authorities are constantly adjusting, depending on the epidemiological situation and the local response capacity. The Director maintained that schools “must remain healthy settings for living, learning and working,” while adding that safe and accessible transportation between institutions for children and adolescents is also an important consideration. Dr. Etienne said the region of the Americas continues to be the epicentre of the pandemic, noting that, to date, more than two million people have died and over 82 million cases reported. Consequently, she said, more than 101 million children across Latin America and the Caribbean have been hit harder by school closures than their peers in any other region. Dr. Etienne advised that PAHO has developed guidelines for reopening schools, “and we are working with our member states so that this can be achieved as safely as possible.” She contended that reopening schools “is and should be a priority for governments,” among other stakeholders. “But, ultimately, the safest way to reopen schools rests on countries’ abilities to suppress transmission through vaccination and the implementation of public health measures. This is the only way that we can fully protect children, teachers, parents and the community,” Dr. Etienne added.

JAMAICA LEADING CARIBBEAN RESPONSE TO CYBERSECURITY THREATS Jamaica is leading the charge to significantly improve the Caribbean’s response in tackling existing and emerging cybersecurity threats through the development of skills in this area. The country is now undertaking a Strategic Cybersecurity Training Needs Assessment, which will serve to identify the cybersecurity knowledge and skills required to deliver and sustain strategic responses to combat malicious cyber activities across the region. The initiative, which is a significant action under the revised Draft National Cybersecurity Strategy of Jamaica, will inform the building of cybersecurity scholarship and talent to serve the country and the rest of the Caribbean. The needs assessment was launched during a two-day Virtual Caribbean Cybersecurity Skills Symposium, which kicked off on Wednesday (August 25). Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Fayval Williams, in welcoming the symposium, said it is a timely initiative amidst an increased digitally driven world and global reliance on information and communications technology (ICT). “Given the increased incidence of cyberattacks, it has become increasingly clear that governments and institutions must take cyberthreat management seriously. At the same time, this global challenge is compounded by a global cybersecurity skills shortage,” she said. Mrs. Williams contended that undertaking a training needs analysis is a critical first step in addressing the issue of a cyber-skills shortage that affects the Caribbean. She cited a study done by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC) Cybersecurity Workforce, which estimates that the gap between the 2.8 million cyber professionals currently employed in 11 major world economies and the total number needed in the public and the private sector is around four million. Ms. Williams stressed that the need for qualified experts within the region to aid in a successful fight against cybercrime “cannot be over-emphasised,” especially as cyberthreats continue to grow in sophistication. “A report published in June this year stated that the cybersecurity skills crisis continues on a downward trend, impacting over half (57%) of large organisations. At the same time, companies are incurring steep costs from data breaches, with an average of $4.24 million per incident. This is a nearly 10% increase over 2020,” she lamented. As part of the national strategy and initiative to build and maintain cybersecurity capacities and expertise at the national and regional levels, Jamaica launched the Caribbean Institute of Cyber Science in June 2020. It is intended that that Institute, which is part of the Caribbean Military Academy, will provide the necessary cybersecurity training and cyber-skills capacity building to support the efforts of the region in tackling cybercrime. The Institute’s programmes and courses are currently at the design and development stage, and the results of the needs analysis will help to inform its cybersecurity training and education offerings.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, said the Government is committed to strengthening cybersecurity training and education, “and will continue to lead this process of improving our national and regional cyber resilience and response.” “Cybercrime is a clear and present danger to every country in the region. This is the new frontier of national and regional security resilience and an area in which the Government of Jamaica is deeply committed,” he said. British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Her Excellency Harriett Cross; Executive Secretary, Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) of the Organization of American States (OAS), Alison August Treppel; Chief of Defence Staff, Jamaica Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rocky Meade; and Secretary General, Caribbean Telecommunications Union, Rodney Taylor, also brought remarks. The Symposium was hosted by the Government of Jamaica through the Office of the National Security Advisor with the support of Protection Group International and facilitated by the OAS. The undertaking of the Caribbean Training Needs Analysis is being supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

COVID-19 VACCINE COMPARISON

UP TO 90%

EFFICACY

AGAINST SEVERE illness, hospitalization & DEATH

2 DOSES

86%

95%

AGAINST SEVERE illness, hospitalization & DEATH

1 DOSE

2 DOSES

3 WEEKS APART

DOSAGE

UP TO 12 WEEKS APART

ELIGIBLE AGES

18 & OLDER

12 & OLDER

MOST COMMON SIDE-EFFECTS

chills, tenderness of the injection site, Fatigue, Muscle pain, headache, nausea & fever

Fatigue, FEVER, Muscle pain, headache, nausea, tenderness of the injection site.

nausea, chills, tenderness of the injection site, Fatigue, headache, Muscle pain, & fever.

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HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP THE COVID-19 VACCINES SO QUICKLY?

The quick development of the COVID-19 vaccines is unprecedented and an encouraging step toward putting an end to the pandemic. However, the expedited process has created concerns for some people who have a hard time believing that effective vaccines could be produced in such a short amount of time. Since understanding how and why this was done can help demystify several details and ease fears, we break down key aspects of the development process and explain how this achievement was made in record time. Armed with this information, your business can join the vaccination efforts in your community. MONEY, RESOURCES, AND THE PUBLIC BACKED VACCINE DEVELOPMENT Because COVID-19 became a pandemic, Lynlee Burton, head of center for vaccines and emerging infectious diseases at PRA Health Sciences, said governments and companies put resources toward prioritizing COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. “There was a lot of money that was freed up and moved to the places where research was being done,” Burton told Healthline. In addition, enrollment for trials that require the number of people that the COVID-19 trials did usually take years. However, these trials filled up fast. “The public was rooting for us. When we started to enroll trials, there was lots of interest, so we had an easier time maybe than standard in terms of enrollment,” Burton said. Dr. Kathleen Jordan, infectious disease specialist and senior vice president of medical affairs at Tia, agreed. She said the prevalence of COVID-19 allowed the trial period to be short. “[In] only a few months the numbers could show efficacy as placebo arms quickly evolved as being inferior. In less common diseases, it takes years for enough people to be affected in either arm to show the difference, so trials usually require much longer observation periods for the incidence to be statistically significant,” Jordan told Healthline. THERE WAS ALREADY RESEARCH TO BUILD ON Before the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, arrived and started causing COVID-19, there was much research done on similar coronaviruses called SARS and MERS. “The University of Oxford had begun work on SARS, and so when SARS kind of went away and didn’t turn into a global pandemic, the research kind of stopped on that vaccine,” Burton said. The previous research gave scientists a head start on COVID-19 research. Additionally, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) was formed due to the Ebola outbreak in 2015. CEPI is a global partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organizations that works to accelerate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases. “[Ebola] made it very clear that as a world, we were not ready for a pandemic. If Ebola had been worse, we would not have been able to respond, and CEPI was formed out of that. There was already strategies in place for responding to an epidemic,” Burton said.

THE VACCINE TECHNOLOGY ALREADY EXISTED Both the mRNA and adenovirus technologies behind the COVID-19 vaccines were built on decades of research and experience. “The scientific community wasn’t starting from scratch. Adenovirus and mRNA technology has been used in humans for decades. These are not new technologies. It’s mature, safe technology that was tailored and employed to fight this pandemic,” Jordan said. In fact, Burton added that Moderna has been working strictly on mRNA for years. “From a technology perspective, what’s really interesting is in late January [2020], we were able to [detect the genome sequence of COVID] and put it on the internet, and researchers around the world had access to it, and that is unprecedented,” Jordan said. ADMINISTRATIVE LOGISTICS WERE PUSHED THROUGH To conduct a clinical trial, Burton said it typically takes anywhere from 2 months to a year of administrative work — submissions, answering questions from regulatory agencies — before the actual trial can begin. “[What] happened with the regulatory agencies across the world is that they were able to prioritize COVID studies, and as soon as they came in, they… reviewed them and brought on additional staff in order to process it,” Burton explained. They also instituted rolling reviews, which means pharmaceutical companies were able to provide regulatory agencies with data as they received it on an ongoing basis throughout the trials rather than waiting until the end of the trials to send all the data they collected at once. Isaac Rodriguez-Chavez, PhD, senior vice president and head of global center of excellence for decentralized clinical trials at PRA Health Sciences, said rolling reviews have been used for other indications. “This is a public health emergency situation, so under these conditions it is pertinent for the regulatory agency to [use] this kind of mechanism,” Rodriguez-Chavez told Healthline. By doing so, Jordan said, “It’s important to realize that the scientists did not make risky shortcuts on the actual science and followed usual scientific design. It’s just that enrollment and outcomes were quick, and committee hearings and data reviews were prioritized.” HARD WORK AND LUCK PLAYED A PART Burton pointed out that vaccine researchers across the world worked around the clock, putting trials together, reviewing data, and programming the ability to review data. “There are so many people who have worked so hard that we don’t always know about,” she said. Burton also credits luck, because it typically takes 10 to 15 years for a vaccine to come to fruition. “I think the fastest was mumps… a workable vaccine was established very quickly, but it didn’t work very well and it took some time in order to get to one that worked better,” Burton said. “Here, we got lucky. The messenger RNA came out with amazing efficacy, and that is something we have to say, you know what, this was no HIV, this was a coronavirus that we were able to easily identify a vaccine that worked quickly. So all in all we had an unprecedented response from the world and we also had a little bit of luck,” she said.

DOES EMERGENCY USE MEAN CORNERS WERE CUT? The COVID-19 vaccines that are currently available in the United States were granted emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They’re not fully approved. “The reason that there is not a full licensure given to the vaccines is essentially because we have very limited time in understanding… the mid-term and long-term benefits of the vaccine in the individuals that were vaccinated,” Rodriguez-Chavez said. This isn’t cutting corners. Rather, it’s an extensive standard review process that is expedited, he said. Regulatory agencies in the world look at two things: 1. The safety of the participants and that they wouldn’t be compromised under an emergency use authorization. 2. The data quality and data integrity of any submissions to the agencies. “The standards could never be compromised even under an emergency authorization use of the vaccines; the data integrity is there and the safety of the participants is paramount,” Rodriguez-Chavez said. Burton pointed out that in the fall of 2020, the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson vaccine trials all paused due to a safety signal. “[The] truth is, that is part of the clinical trial process… we have people watching for any sign or symptom from the individuals that are in the trial, and the fact is that when we see something that meets the criteria, we [pause] the study… It’s integral to the design of every single study and shows that the process is working,” she said.

WILL COVID-19 VACCINES SET A PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE VACCINE DEVELOPMENT? The reason resources were upped to make COVID-19 vaccines so quickly is because of how many people developed the disease. “Remember, you need high infection rates to shorten the period of time being studied,” Jordan said. “I do think, however, that we realize now that the world needs to invest into vaccine development on the whole as a powerful tool in keeping the world healthy.” Rodriguez-Chavez believes the speed of vaccine development will be determined on a caseby-case basis. But he thinks lessons were learned here, especially when it came to aligning different elements that go into vaccine development, including science, medicine, regulatory processes, policies, logistics, and financial support.

“All those elements were aligned because of the nature of the emergency. What we need is an alignment of those different sectors of society, and we have learned that we need to work together more than ever if we are to develop vaccines going forward,” he said. The financial risk associated with the COVID-19 vaccines may not be something repeated often, Burton pointed out. “[All] the countries began manufacturing vaccine for use at risk, so as soon as they had a product in clinical trials, they started manufacturing large quantities, which is something that’s never done. They don’t take that risk, and that comes with the resources that were freed up for this pandemic,” Burton said. One area Burton thinks might be used going forward is technology related to the logistics of gathering information during clinical studies. “We had lockdowns. We had some guard rails up in terms of seeing people in person, so we were able to utilize technology that we already had in place like electronic diaries,” she said. “We were able to take some of that infrastructure we had in place that wasn’t always used to the fullest extent as it could on COVID trials, and we’re seeing that it works and it collects even higher quality data quicker,” Burton said. THE BOTTOM LINE The high worldwide rates of people with COVID-19 initiated a joint effort in putting public and private resources toward finding a vaccine. People’s interest in joining studies also played a part, as well as the availability of existing science and technology. “I would acknowledge that the concern over vaccine safety stems from trying to make the right decision for themselves and their loved ones — what we all want. With infection rates like we have seen in the last year… I strongly recommend choosing what it takes to avoid infection, as with vaccines and other prevention measures,” Jordan said. While COVID-19 is complex, she noted the choice to vaccinate is not. “Will we put up with sore arms, maybe even 1 to 2 days of fatigue and aches, to save tens of thousands lives, perhaps even our own? I’ll take a sore arm any day. I have seen many people die of COVID-19 and no one die from vaccination,” Jordan said. The original article first appeared on Healthline. Written by Cathy Cassata on March 11, 2021 — Fact checked by Jennifer Chesak.

PORT AUTHORITY CEO LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE CRUISE CALLS President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), Professor Gordon Shirley, says he is confident Jamaica will once again be a preferred cruise destination once the COVID-19 numbers are curtailed. In fact, Professor Shirley, in an interview with JIS News following the arrival of the Carnival Sunrise in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on August 25, said that, with all things being equal, the major Jamaican ports could start seeing ships by November 2021. “So, the next stop (Falmouth and Montego Bay)… we are talking to others (cruise lines)… I call it one baby step at a time. This is the process, and which is why I am here in Ocho Rios today… to see [the protocols at work] for myself,” Professor Shirley pointed out. “I don’t want [information] second-hand. Hopefully, things will improve. Hopefully by November… if we get the COVID numbers down… we think Jamaica stands a good chance of regaining its position”. Professor Shirley, however, added that while the PAJ has been working overtime to get the cruise ships back to Jamaica, the agency has also been working closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that all health and safety guidelines (both local and international) are being followed. “As the Prime Minister has said, it’s a delicate balance where as much as we want to preserve people’s economic livelihood, we also have to protect lives. So, it’s important for us that all protocols are being followed, and as you can see, a lot of effort has gone into that. We are starting slowly, and we are rebuilding. I would say that on the second trip [of the Carnival Sunrise] …while not hiccup-free… things have gone well and we are pleased,” the PAJ President/CEO said. Professor Shirley said that while some stakeholders have expressed dissatisfaction with not getting enough business, the general feeling is that “everyone is happy to see the ships coming back… the business coming back,” adding that a determination as to how much wider and more inclusive the passenger spread will go will be based on business owners and staff being fully vaccinated and compliant with all health and safety guidelines. “We know that the Delta variant is spreading rapidly and that St. Ann has its own problems,” he said. “Our goal is to work with the Ministry of Health and to live within the constraints they have provided for us… to get the guests to come and go back as safely as possible. And if we can make that work, then, hopefully, we can grow the business over time.” Meanwhile, PAJ’s Vice President, Cruise Shipping & Marina Operations, William Tatham, said he was particularly pleased with the seamless movement of passengers and the herculean efforts displayed by the State agencies. “I think… it’s a learning process where after every call we have a major debriefing with the stakeholders and those who participated… to look at what worked and what didn’t work… refine it and move forward. We see that process being repeated for the next couple of months,” Mr. Tatham pointed out.

JIANNA THOMPSON IS

Queen! 2021

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHED BY: MONIQUE GILPIN

MOGIARTT

MAY HER REIGN BE SUPREME! Saturday, August 28, 2021, will forever be remembered as the night Jianna Thompson walked away with the title Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest 2021. Proudly wearing the sash Miss Martina's Rejuva Beauty Salon, Jianna stole the hearts of patrons and judges alike with poise and intelligence from a field of nine (9) finalists. A 25-year-old banker hailing from the parish of St. James, Jianna was the definition of grace and confidence. "This was such an incredible experience, and it was surreal to win this title. I want to thank the ladies and the entire MUJNW team for this journey. I'm proud of the growth that we've experienced since the beginning, and I'm happy for the sisterhood that we've developed among us. I am looking forward to working with everyone as we move forward and coordinate on assisting with each other's philanthropic projects," noted the recently crowned queen. Jianna holds a Bachelors' degree from the University of Technology and hopes to expand further her vision of assisting underprivileged young ladies with their education and achieving their chosen career path. She added, "During my reign, I would love to assist the Montego Bay Community Home For Girls with their back-to-school endeavors. And I intend on reaching out to other young ladies and hopes to expand upon that goal." Over seven (7) days, the Grand Coronation exercise was one of determination and resilience, the epitome of the Jamaican people. Including a presentation of their altruistic projects via Zoom, a virtual pre-judging segment, and LIVE Interview features with last year's winner, Lineisha Davis; the current circumstances surrounding the pandemic were ever-present. "I extended my greatest appreciation to my team and Sponsors for making the season a success! The Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest organization was the first within the Caribbean region to host a virtual pageant in 2020. Capitalizing on last year's accomplishments, we elevated our approach to pageantry. While the current restrictions and protocols guided us, we offered a wholesome experience. As a result, we showcased the finalists in the most naturalistic ways possible," added Natalie Morris, Pageant Manager for Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest. Selecting the queen from this year's array of phenomenal finalists was no easy feat. While Jianna won sectional prizes for Most Aware and Best in Evening Gown, Keronica Lewis copped Most Photogenic and Most Congenial. The Social Media Award went to Martine Geddes. Nanja Lewis walked away with the Altruistic Award. Best in Swimwear was Chavelle Kavanaugh. Rounding out the top 3 placements were: 1st Runner-up, Keronica Lewis, Miss Kiss Mi Tings Jewelry & Swimwear, and 2nd Runner-Up Ashlei Gayle, Miss Earthly Desire JA. Jianna Thompson will represent Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest at the national competition later this year. You may show support by following the official Social Media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. You may also watch this season’s Grand Coronation at viewstub.com/missujanw.

PHOTOSHOOT CREATIVE DIRECTION: GARTH SOMERVILLE

Jia n n a T h o m p s o n,

M is s U niv ers e J a m aic a N ort h w e st 2 0 2 1.

PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION: HARMONY BEACH PARK

Keronica Lewis

1st Runner Up, Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest 2021.

Ashlei Gayle

2nd Runner Up, Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest 2021.

PHOTOSHOOT MAKEUP: THE JODIEKAY COLLECTION

LINEISHA DAVIS MISS UNIVERSE JAMAICA NORTHWEST 2020

Lavineisis ha D

September 27, 2020, was one of the most monumental moments of my life. I stood a very nervous and anxious woman surrounded by nothing but pure love as it was announced I would be Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest 2020! My eyes were flooded with tears as my heart was overwhelmed with tremendous joy. I am deeply honored and so very grateful to have been afforded this opportunity. Thank you to my mom, who taught me to be kind, purposeful, and always to display humility, my dad, who always made me laugh, you taught me to be jovial and always grateful as these are fine qualities a young woman should have. Thank you to my siblings and cousins who promoted me and this pageant without a second thought during my journey to becoming Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest. You were always so confident I’d be crowned, and that in itself gave me the confidence I needed to push through this journey.

PHOTOSHOOT CHOREOGRAPHED BY: GARTH SOMERVILLE

PHOTOSHOOT MAKEUP: THE JODIEKAY COLLECTION

A Special Thank you to The Murray’s. You opened your homes to me, allowed me to have my zoom sessions, practiced my walks no matter how long it took me and chaperoned my trips to get things I needed for my journey. Thank you to the whole team and sponsors. Your dedication and the time you put in each of the contestants were nothing short of remarkable. We’ve all grown and developed qualities and principles that will last us a lifetime. This year, not only did I participate in Miss Universe Jamaica, I was able to visit different parts of the northwestern regions of Jamaica and learn so much about the rich and diverse culture of our country. I met other queens and witnessed their passions for the causes they love. I was able to build friendships and be a part of a tightly knit sisterhood. I will cherish this experience for a lifetime. 2020 taught many life-altering lessons. I was able to inspire and be inspired by so many! To the incoming Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest, know that you have a team who will be your biggest cheerleaders! Represent this organization with poise, grace, and love. Embrace all the challenges, the bloopers, the highs, and most of all, don’t lose yourself. As this particular chapter of my life closes, I can say it’s an array of emotions, gratitude, happiness, and a little sadness, but happy to pass the crown to someone very deserving who will continue the legacy. The Miss Universe Jamaica Northwest pageant will always have a huge space in my heart. Once again, thank you! LINEISHA DAVIS MISS UNIVERSE JAMAICA NORTHWEST 2020

PHOTOSHOOT HAIRSTYLIST: COURTNEY’S BRASH & SASSY

PHOTOSHOOT CREATIVE DIRECTION: RAXANN CHIN

STYLIST: FEMHEKA

LINEISHA DAVIS MISS UNIVERSE JAMAICA NORTHWEST 2020

DOMESTIC CROP PRODUCTION UP 20.3% The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting a 20.3% increase in domestic crop production for the April to June 2021 quarter, over the corresponding period last year. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, said outputs moved from 170,027 tonnes in 2020 to 204,594.8 tonnes this year. “The quarter has produced a new record for domestic crop production. For the first time in the history of our country that we are recording domestic crop production in quarters, we have passed the 200,000-tonnes mark. I think that is testament to our hard-working farmers,” he said during a recent virtual press conference. Minister Green said year-to-date production has increased by more than 8.9% for the first six months of 2021. “Preliminary estimates indicate that the sector not only produced 204,595 tonnes, representing a 6.6% improvement over the first quarter of 2021, but that was reaped from 13,031 hectares, which represents a 12.9% increase in the areas under production. This highlights that we are seeing greater participation in the sector, but also, thankfully, we are seeing greater productivity from our hard-working farmers,” he informed. Mr. Green explained that vegetable production increased by 27.8% and is now at 15,222.4 tonnes for the June quarter. “Our condiment production went up by 20%, our plantain production went up 25%, and our yam production went up by 19.8%, taking our total yam production for the quarter to 6,780 tonnes,” he informed. Minister Green said significant growth was recorded in livestock over the review period. “We saw a 4.8% increase in egg production over a similar period in 2020. Last year was our best production in years for eggs on record, so we are continuing on that trajectory and we did see a 5.05% increase in poultry meat production,” he added. The Minister indicated that key to the increase were the various campaigns and intervention programmes by the Ministry as well as favourable weather conditions. “I definitely believe that the increase in production and productivity was influenced by the Ministry’s team and the strong intervention that we had on the ground. We intervened to promote market stability,” he said. Mr. Green said the Ministry’s ‘Say Yes to Fresh’ programme has also driven local consumption, adding that “the farmers are telling [us] that they are seeing increased demand in almost every area that they produce; so that, for us, is good news.”

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2021

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