Ten Westinghouse 4,000‑watt generators and five standard Starlink units have been donated to schools in western Jamaica by CCL Business Technology Limited, in collaboration with Kyocera Document Solutions America.
The donations, valued at over $2 million, were formally presented to the National Education Trust (NET) during a ceremony at Caenwood Centre in Kingston on Tuesday, December 16.
Warsop Primary School in Trelawny; Frome Technical High School, Llandilo Special Education School, and Cokes View Primary School in Westmoreland, along with Slipe Leased Primary School in St. Elizabeth, will each receive a generator and a Starlink unit.
Additional schools receiving a generator are Spot Valley High School in St. James, Lacovia Primary and Elderslie Primary and Junior High in St. Elizabeth, Rusea’s High School in Hanover, and Friendship Primary in Westmoreland.
CCL Business Technology made the strategic decision to cancel its customer appreciation event and redirect resources to support customers and schools impacted by Hurricane Melissa.
Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Brown, underscored that the hurricane, which made landfall on October 28, impacted every corner of western Jamaica, posing threats to learning, safety and hope.
“In the face of hardship, we choose not to wait for perfect conditions but to act with urgency and compassion. These items embody more than just technology and equipment. They are symbols of our belief in every child’s right to learn, to stay connected and to dream without interruption,” he stated.
In her remarks, NET Executive Director, Latoya Harris‑Ghartey, described the donation as a powerful demonstration of partnership, purpose and shared national responsibility.
Noting that 710 schools sustained varying degrees of damage during the Category Five hurricane, she emphasised that the situation presents an opportunity to rebuild stronger and better.
The Executive Director expressed gratitude to the donors on behalf of the 10 schools identified as priority on NET’s needs list.
“Connectivity is important for all learning. Light represents more to these 10 schools now. It is access. It is communication. It is being able to print a page to send home for a student to revise,” she stated.
Mrs. Harris‑Ghartey said the equipment will help restore a measure of stability to school operations until electricity and internet services are fully reinstated.
“We emerge stronger today based on this gift, and to Kyocera and CCL, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your decision to prioritise the well-being of students and educators exemplifies what partnerships in education should look like. To our school leaders, we know these resources will be put to impactful use as you continue to shape a safe and supportive environment for teaching and learning,” she said.
