Jamalco invests deeply in community development

WHILE THE global downturn in the bauxite industry was wreaking havoc with economies the world over during the last two years, in Jamaica one company continued to maintain its commitments to the communities dependent on it for their economical survival, even ramping up its operations in some cases.

Jamalco, which is located in Hayes, Clarendon, managed to continue producing alumina at a time when others in the industry were forced to either shut down or to send home throngs of workers.

A modern operating plant as well as the nature of the forward sale agreement for the supply of bauxite, signed with the government of Jamaica, kept Jamalco's production train rolling through the recession.

"You have a number of problems because the market turned, but the major thing is that at least you had a market. While the contract ran into problems because of the market changes, especially with oil, the fact is that having a contract guaranteed a market to keep the operations going," Carlton Davis told The Gleaner. He was for many years chairman of CAP （Clarendon Aluminum Production Limited）, which has a 45 per cent share in the company, with America-based parent company Alcoa holding the other 55 per cent shares.

24-hour operation

"We never closed for a day and we never laid off anybody," Community Relations Officer Errol Davey told The Gleaner, during a recent interview at the refinery, which is a 24-hour operation. For the 17 communities that benefit directly from the plant's refinery, mines, port and railway operations, Jamalco has provided a lifeline over the years, with well-paying jobs. However, it is its extensive community outreach programmes covering education, sports, health and other areas for which the bauxite company has endeared itself to residents of Clarendon and Manchester.

As Community Relations Officer Phillip Biggs explained, the company's outreach programmes and policies are guided by five pillars - social renewal, capacity building, alternative economic employment, charity and volunteerism.

With the refinery and mines located in what was for a long time part of the island's sugar belt, the bauxite company inherited some of the legacy from sugar's demise. Part of this was the abundance of low-skilled workers （such as cane cutters） who now found themselves trying to access employment opportunities which demanded higher-grade skill levels. For a company that employs the best qualified applicants, this at first presented a problem, but in recognition of the enormity of the issue, Jamalco sought to redress it in a practical way.

"A number of persons who seek employment from us don't have any skills, and in some instances their proficiency level is very minimal, and so we have introduced a number of programmes geared towards dealing with that," Biggs related.

"We feel that education is the key to come out of this scenario and so, under capacity building, we have introduced a number of initiatives. We now have a programme called Jamalco Enhancement Programme, and that was long before the Ministry of Education came in with a programme called Career Advanced Programme.

"We realised that a number of the youngsters, in particular, did not get a chance to finish school or to get the kind of qualifications in terms of passing exams. Although Vere Technical is in the area and offers evening classes where persons can go back and do subjects, there is a cost attached and so we say we need to give these persons a second chance," said.

Through its community councils persons are selected to resit the Caribbean Examination Council's CSEC or CAPE examinations at Vere Technical High School, with Jamalco paying their full tuition fee and 50 per cent of the cost of two subjects. The decision not to pay the full cost for the subjects is deliberate, according to the community relations officer, since the company wants the beneficiaries to have a stake in the project.

"All we say to these students is that you have to maintain a certain level of attendance - 80-90 per cent, and we are in touch with the school in terms of giving us information based on attendance, because we don't want to invest in you and you not showing interest in yourself," Biggs explained.

This programme, according to Biggs, is very active right now at Vere Technical High School, and in January will be rolled out at Winston Jones High School in Manchester. This is consistent with Jamalco's recognition of the importance of education to enhancing the quality of living in these communities. For this reason, they also have a Community Scholarship Programme that provides financial assistance for children who pass GSAT but whose parents/guardians cannot afford to send them to high school.

"Working with the schools' guidance counsellors and community leaders, we have identified a number of students and they are getting full scholarships to attend Denbigh High, Decarteret College, Manchester High, Vere Technical and Glenmuir High," Biggs disclosed. "Every term we draw a cheque to the bursars of these schools, which goes towards the education needs of these students."

Continuing, he said, "We also assist at the tertiary level. Again, the needs are so many, so we use our criteria in terms of evidence that students are in need, evidence that they have applied for student loan. We look at their grade because they have to maintain a certain GPA （grade point average） but, at the end of the day, a certain number of students get assistance from us, ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 towards their educational expenses."

The bauxite company also helps a number of students with books through vouchers that are redeemable at the bookshop in May Pen. So the evidence is clear that, where education is concerned, Jamalco is demonstrating its commitment in very practical and far-reaching ways.