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Pearls of the West, RJRGLEANER Communications Group’s Jamaican Women of Distinction launched under one roof

Published:Sunday | March 15, 2020 | 12:00 AMAlbert Ferguson - Outlook Writer
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Ashley Anguin
Sarah Darling-Findlay (centre) is flanked by her daughter Pamella Findlay (left) and granddaughter Tameka Bryce at the Sarah’s Children annual International Women’s Day Luncheon at the S Hotel Convention Centre in Montego Bay on Monday.
Ashley Anguin
From left: Laura Heron (Guardsman hospitality general manager; Sheila Benjamin McNeill public relations and advertising director, Guardsman Group) and Cindy Breakspeare (former Miss Jamaica World).
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Shereika Burton (left) and Nicollette Prout-Love (Child Protection and Family Services Agency).
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From left: Saneeka Leach (Mt Alvernia High School), Dian Barnes (head of Guidance Department, Mt Alvernia high School) and Chrisann Martin
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Sarah's Children member, Launa Alvaranga (right) presents a gift from Asam Creations to Professor Opal Adisa, keynote speaker at the Sarah's Children Pearls of the West/Women of Distinction luncheon at the S Hotel Convention Centre in Montego Bay on Monday.
Ashley Anguin
From left: Stayce Ingram, Terri Karelle-Reid, Michelle Tulloch and Andre Hudson
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Karen Smith (left) performing at the Sarah's Children International Women's Day luncheon, and having Elcho Stewart and Jackie Jarrett-Nicholson and birthday girl Kathi Marie Cooke in a frenzy.
The RJRGLEANER Communications Group's chief financial officer, Andrea Wilson-Messam (second right) is surrounded by from (from left): Alliyah Sherriff (Maldon High School), Kacey-Anne Johnson (Anchovy High School), and schoolmates Asaine Stephens, and Tricia Reid.
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Kyan Henton (left) and Mavoy Smith - Montego Bay Convention Centre
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From left: Flow's Phadra Saunders, Nicholette Wade and Sola Hines at the Sarah's Children International Women's Day Luncheon
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From left: Sarah's Children founder and chairman, Janet Silvera and her mom, Sarah Findlay accepts a cheque from Guardsman Armoured's managing director, Lititia Meyers Grey
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As the world paused to celebrate International Women’s Day, Sarah’s Children launched the RJRGleaner Communications Group Jamaican Women of Distinction souvenir book: Jamaican Women of Distinction and Pearls of the West under one roof at their annual luncheon.

The event, staged on Monday, attracted approximately 200 guests who were predominantly women and girls from Anchovy, Mount Alvernia, and Maldon high schools, who will benefit mainly from the gesture.

Proceeds from the sale of the book that chronicles the lives of 60 phenomenal women from humble beginnings will go towards the introduction of the ‘Pearls of the West’ project in the schools. At-risked girls attending the institutions will benefit.

Published by The Gleaner and authored by Dalia Bean, a lecturer and graduate coordinator at the Institute of Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaican Women of Distinction is also a dedication to folklorist and poet, the late Louis Bennett-Coverley, says Andrea Wilson-Messam, chief financial officer at the RJRGLEANER Communications Group.

“The publication is a shining spotlight on 60 living Jamaican women who have been at the forefront of everything that is great about this island, their contribution has done much to life and this book serves as a timely reminder of Jamaica’s rich and complicated past,” she told the gathering at a luncheon at the new S Hotel Convention Centre.

The event was sponsored by Guardsman Group, Flow, S Hotel, Ascend Innovation, ATL, Pinksque Allison Green, Terri Karelle-Reid and Denton Edwards.

Wilson-Messam admitted that it was not an easy task selecting a finite number of exemplary women, noting that it was tough one, as there were far too many exemplary women from which to select 60.

Flow’s Sola Hines, director of legal affairs at the organisation also spoke, while Guardsman presented a cheque in the amount of $200,000 towards the Pearls of the West project.