Kingston—Two very different gatherings on June 19 have underscored a single theme: service to the wider Jamaican community.
A Lifeline Poured at Scotia Centre
Scotiabank transformed its downtown headquarters into a mobile clinic last Thursday, partnering with the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) to replenish the island’s critically low reserves. Employees, clients, and neighbours rolled up their sleeves throughout the day, turning boardroom camaraderie into literal lifeblood for hospital patients.
“We want giving blood to feel routine, not heroic,” one volunteer executive noted between donors. The bank says the drive is part of a broader push to normalise regular donations among corporate teams and their stakeholders.
Ethical Framework Secured for HR Professionals
While donors were filing through Scotia Centre, leaders of the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ) were finalising a landmark agreement with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The pact grants the Ministry formal oversight of HRMAJ’s newly mandatory Code of Ethics—elevating what was once voluntary guidance into enforceable professional standards.
“This is the culmination of years of work to protect practitioners from pressure to compromise our principles,” said Michael McAnuff-Jones, HRMAJ’s second vice-president. “Mandatory compliance strengthens both credibility and integrity across Jamaica’s labour market.”
HRMAJ President Dr Cassida Jones Johnson added that the Ministry’s endorsement positions Jamaica to lead the region in human-capital governance. Full legal recognition, she said, “will enhance the quality of our workforce and the standing of HR professionals at home and abroad.”
One Day, Two Milestones
Whether safeguarding patients through blood donations or safeguarding workplaces through ethical reform, both initiatives illustrate how institutions can move far beyond their core mandates. One filled coolers for the nation’s hospitals; the other filled a long-standing gap in professional accountability. Together, they mark June 19 as a date when Jamaican organisations showed that modern stewardship means caring for people—inside and outside the office.
