CPJ awards scholarships to employees' children

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited (CPJ) has granted scholarship awards valued at $1.1 million to 28 of its employees' children.

This year's scholarship presentation was the eighth annual function hosted by CPJ. The first was held when the organisation was previously known as the Hart Group of Companies.

"The CPJ scholarship presentation is for the children of staff that are doing well. Any child that has done 75 per cent and over, or has a 3.5 GPA and higher, is eligible for some kind of remuneration towards their next academic year," explained Petra-Ann Williamson, CPJ's human resources manager.

"Twenty-eight children received awards - from the primary, secondary and tertiary levels … . We had about 33 persons last year, so we're down this year because we find that in the high schools some of the children are not doing as well as we would like."

CPJ Chairman Mark Hart recounted that the scholarship awards began in the 1980s when the then Hart Group of Companies operated a number of apparel factories.

CONTINUING THE TRADITION

"We used to award, at that time, over 150 scholarships because of the sheer number of employees we had in the industrial environment. The apparel factories had at one time 2,800 employees," said Hart.

"So we've continued the tradition, and it's not free education. It's awarded on a merit basis, so we ensure that the children are monitored in terms of their performance, and if they do not achieve the requirements, they won't get the support," added Hart.

"That is really an incentive to have the parents ensure that they're engaged in their children's education, and the children are encouraged."