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Bill Clarke calls for more focus on socially-disadvantaged in society
Jamaica Observer
Friday, October 19, 2007
CLARKE... persons who are privileged to occupy positions of influence should be focused on helping all the socially disadvantaged persons in the country.
President and CEO of Scotiabank William E Clarke said that after 45 years of independence Jamaican society is far too polarised along lines of class, gender, colour, social orientation and wealth. He said it is now an imperative for vertical integration of the society to validate our motto, "Out of Many One People."
Clarke was speaking at a dinner in his honour attended by the Governor General, Sir Kenneth Hall ,Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and former Primer Minister PJ Patterson.
The event was held at the bank's training facility in Acadia, on National Heroe's Day, hours after he was conferred with the Order of Jamaica for his sterling contribution to banking and public service.
"Those of us who despise our gardeners and maids do so at our own peril. The tendency to relegate our fellow citizens to a class that may be considered less than desirable by measures that are obscure is a travesty in Jamaica at this time in our history," he said.
Additionally, he said, "Persons who are privileged to occupy positions of influence should be focused on helping all the socially- disadvantaged persons in the country. We must make concerted efforts to uplift all the children in the society rather than just our own who invariably are not at risk.
"As a nation, we are plagued with unacceptable levels of crime and violence and a significant number, if not generations, of our young men who are the main perpetrators need to be rescued from further marginalisation, first through education, skills training and creating job opportunities."
Jamaica Observer
Friday, October 19, 2007
CLARKE... persons who are privileged to occupy positions of influence should be focused on helping all the socially disadvantaged persons in the country.
President and CEO of Scotiabank William E Clarke said that after 45 years of independence Jamaican society is far too polarised along lines of class, gender, colour, social orientation and wealth. He said it is now an imperative for vertical integration of the society to validate our motto, "Out of Many One People."
Clarke was speaking at a dinner in his honour attended by the Governor General, Sir Kenneth Hall ,Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and former Primer Minister PJ Patterson.
The event was held at the bank's training facility in Acadia, on National Heroe's Day, hours after he was conferred with the Order of Jamaica for his sterling contribution to banking and public service.
"Those of us who despise our gardeners and maids do so at our own peril. The tendency to relegate our fellow citizens to a class that may be considered less than desirable by measures that are obscure is a travesty in Jamaica at this time in our history," he said.
Additionally, he said, "Persons who are privileged to occupy positions of influence should be focused on helping all the socially- disadvantaged persons in the country. We must make concerted efforts to uplift all the children in the society rather than just our own who invariably are not at risk.
"As a nation, we are plagued with unacceptable levels of crime and violence and a significant number, if not generations, of our young men who are the main perpetrators need to be rescued from further marginalisation, first through education, skills training and creating job opportunities."