Jamaica Institute of Financial Services 40th Anniversary Awards Dinner and Cocktail: Wednesday, September 20th, 2017
Opening Remarks: Jerome Smalling, JBA Executive Council Member
Welcome
Master of Ceremonies, Ms. Terri Karelle Reid; Executive Members of The Jamaica Institute of Financial Services; Members of the JBA Council, Award Recipients; Specially invited Guests; the media; Friends; Families and Well-wishers……………… Good Evening.
It is my pleasure to welcome each of you to the Jamaica Institute of Financial Services 40th Anniversary Awards Dinner.
Let me also use this opportunity to extend apologies on behalf of Mr. Nigel Holness, President of the Jamaica Bankers’ Association who unavoidable could not attend this evening’s proceedings; and has asked me to share his regret for having missed what he describes as a prestigiousevent organised by the very capable JIFS secretariat.
I wish to also give a very special welcome to our valued sponsors, The Bank of Jamaica, Blue Print. J. Wray and Nephew Ltd, JMMB Bank, NCB, Business Access TV, Guardsman Group, Jamaica Deposit Insurance Corporation and Sagicor. We are grateful for your support and acknowledge that without you all this would not be possible.
2017 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Jamaica Institute of Financial Services (JIFS), having been inaugurated on the 24th of February 1977 as the Jamaica Institute of Bankers (JIOB) under the sponsorship of the Bank of Jamaica. The JBA assumed responsibility of the operations of JIFS in 1999 and with that the organisation underwent structural and strategic changes in an effort to reflect its mandate to support the financial services industry through training (Financial Services Training Institute), research (Research Club) and social exchange (Finance Club).JIFS as we now know it, is the product years of dedicated work and solid, goal oriented leadership; the of culmination of years of conceptualizing and planning geared at professionalizing banking as a career among Jamaicans.
The number 40 is significant; not solely because it is symbolic of new beginnings, but also because any organisation that is able to aptly adapt to the ongoing, ever evolving economic climate as well as other direct and/or indirect factors affecting its operations and probability for success for 40 years is to be commended and celebrated.
I believe it is fitting that the theme of the celebration of our 40th year is “Renew, Refocus, Reposition”, especially since, now more than ever, the financial services sector is more dynamic and riddled with disruption, thereby requiring constant evaluations, assessments and reactive and proactive responses to ensure efficiency within the sector.
One of the greatest assets of any organisation is its people; it is therefore undeniable that the growth and success JIFS has enjoyed throughout its 40 years is a product of the hard work and dedication of its Secretariat, its Executives and Stakeholders; to you I say thank you and bid you to continuewith the same and even greater drive for success as you have done to get us thus far. For those who will be awarded tonight, this award is but a small commemorative of how truly grateful we are for your committed service to the organisation and your shared belief in its vision and mission.
As demonstrated in our earlier celebratory ‘passing of the baton’ event, JIFS will only grow from strength to strength as the chairmanship of the organisation is passed from the very capable Michael McAnuff-Jones to Dr. Rickert Allen who I am convinced is endowed with the prerequisite skills to propel the organisation forward.
Before I take my leave, I invite you all to stand with me and offer a round of applause to JIFS, for 40 years of excellence and for all the advancements and achievement that will be had in the years to come.
(Applause)
Thank you.