Last October, Hurricane Melissa left widespread destruction across swathes of Jamaica, leaving the island’s business community grappling with unprecedented disruption to operations and supply chains. On Thursday, that same community gathered at Jamaica Pegasus hotel to celebrate the trailblazing organizations and entrepreneurs whose grit, creative problem-solving and decisive leadership have steered the country toward meaningful economic recovery in the storm’s aftermath.
Hosted by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), the 41st Annual Awards Banquet centered on the theme “Building Forward: Recognising Excellence in Recovery, Resilience & Growth”. The event shone a spotlight on honorees that did not merely adapt to the chaotic, fast-shifting post-disaster landscape, but emerged more competitive, operationally robust and well-positioned for long-term, sustained expansion across every major sector of Jamaica’s economy.
The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Jamaica’s Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who earned rapt attention from the packed room of business leaders. Holness opened by commending the private sector for its unwavering commitment to national development in the wake of the crisis, before highlighting the critical role of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) in unlocking opportunities for inclusive, long-term economic growth.
Holness emphasized that national reconstruction extends far beyond rebuilding damaged physical infrastructure, framing private sector participation as a core pillar of Jamaica’s transformed future. “As we advance the work of the NaRRA, all of the private sector entities in this room are part of that story,” he said. “Local contractors, engineers, suppliers, financiers and logistics operators who build capability through this process are not just serving the reconstruction. We would like you all to work in partnership with the Government to become the private sector infrastructure of a stronger Jamaican economy. That is the ambition — not to return to where we were [but] to arrive somewhere better.”
A centerpiece of the award ceremony was the inaugural Resilience In Action Honour, created to recognize individuals and corporate entities that stepped up with extraordinary leadership and community support to speed Jamaica’s recovery after the storm. This year’s recipients included Jaimie Ogilvie, Vice President at Jamaica Broilers Group Limited; management consultant Lisa Bell; Lisa Soares Lewis, founder and CEO of Great People Solutions; Olive Downer Walsh, Special Advisor for Government and Industry Affairs at Hardware & Lumber; and major corporate players Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, Digicel Jamaica, and FLOW Jamaica.
Multiple other awards were distributed to recognize excellence across diverse business categories and priorities. Sagicor Group Jamaica claimed the JCC CG United Marketing Excellence Award, which honors campaigns that deliver both public engagement and measurable impact, for its widely popular Sagicor Sigma Walk/Run initiative. The Best of Chamber Awards, which celebrate top performance across enterprise size segments, went to Joan Latty Realty (micro), EPIC Technologies (small), Allied Insurance Brokers (medium), Chas E Ramson (large), and Seprod Group (extra-large).
Additional honors included the JCC CARRERAS Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Award, which went to National Commercial Bank Jamaica Ltd; the Entrepreneur Award, presented to Chef Brian Lumley of Foodie Focused Limited; and the All-Star Award, granted to Janine Chen — JCC Vice President and Chair of the organization’s Pharmaceutical Subcommittee — for her years of extraordinary service and contributions to the chamber’s work.
In closing remarks, JCC President Emile Leiba reflected on the unique significance of this year’s ceremony, tying the achievements of the honorees to Jamaica’s broader post-disaster journey. “In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, businesses across the country were required to make difficult decisions, adapt quickly, and rethink how they operate,” Leiba said. “What we have witnessed since then is a remarkable commitment to strengthening systems, embracing innovation, and building greater resilience. Tonight’s awardees have demonstrated that recovery is not simply about returning to normal but about creating stronger, more sustainable organizations that are prepared for future opportunities and challenges.”