Cemex employees recognised for efforts in restoring their environment
Published:Saturday | February 22, 2025 | 12:05 AMKeisha Hill/Senior Gleaner Writer
CEMEX, A leading sustainable construction materials and solutions company with innovation and sustainability at its core, has recognised the outstanding efforts of two of its Jamaican employees for their unrelenting efforts in restoring the environment.
Chad Bryan, communications and social impact coordinator, and Jerome Cowans, social impact specialist, developed a project plan to restore the gypsum quarry area in the Bull Bay community, close to the Cemex Caribbean Cement plant in Rockfort, Kingston.
“We inherited the quarry; however, it was closed. The residents made us aware that silt from the quarry was flowing into the river and making it dangerous for their health and the community. We decided to address this situation quickly and designed a plan to plant trees in the quarry to prevent the silt build-up in the river,” Cowans said.
In keeping with the company’s pillars to reduce its carbon footprint, Bryan and Cowans designed the project that was supported by their head office in Mexico. They received US$10,000, or J$1.5 million in funding, to undertake the tree-planting exercise per year.
In collaboration with local authorities, including the Forestry Department, members of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), other entities, and community members, they have planted over 900 trees at the quarry. The plan, they say, is to plant 450 more trees in the next two years.
“We had several meetings with the Forestry Department to ensure that we had the right species of trees that would combat the silt issue in the quarry. We also wanted to bring back the flora and fauna of the area, and we designed the project in such a way that we would ensure its viability and sustainability,” Bryan said.
“There are no plans to stop, because the project enjoys the support of staff, management and regional partners,” Bryan added.
The tree types being planted in the quarry include moringa (Moringa oleifera), the Swietenia macrophylla, commonly known as mahogany, Honduran mahogany, and fruit trees including the ackee (Blighia sapida).
“We have had at least a 70 per cent success rate. We are heavily invested in the community and have also provided employment, especially during the dry season. We employ persons to water the plants and clear the shrubs. The community members are happy because they are a part of the efforts to build their community,” Cowans said.
During the execution of the project, they have also brought in top soil and manure to help with the PH level of the soil.
Bryan and Cowans were recognised in the Cemex Echo’s publication that highlighted and featured employees that were positively impacting their communities. They have also received commendations from their parent company’s top executives, and the initiative has gained traction in at least 60 countries.