“Teaching a man to fish, rather than giving a man a fish must remain a core part of the country's institutional and national framework, and should be central to any vision for social and economic development,” says Jamaica National Group executive, Aditi Dhiman.
Dhiman stressed that citizen empowerment must be seen as a critical component of economic development, in a speech Friday at the Rotary Club of New Kingston's breakfast meeting, at Altamont Court Hotel. She said there was tremendous economic value in empowering people and communities, by providing them with opportunities for education and training, entrepreneurship, increased financial literacy, as well as access to credit.
Dhiman, who has lead responsibility for the JN Group's Loyalty Programmes, noted that economic reform would be unsustainable if citizens are not empowered.
“Teaching a man to fish, rather than giving a man a fish must remain a core part of the country's institutional and national framework, and should be central to any vision for social and economic development.
“A nation in which people simply feel entitled to benefits without having to work for what they have, or where people don't have adequate access to opportunities, or a country in which people don't feel confident or have a sense of identity, eventually becomes a failed state,” she argued.
“At that point it is unable to sustain itself, because its citizens cannot see into the future, or envision what they can become and achieve,” Mrs Dhiman stated, adding that the objective must be to assist Jamaicans to be confident in and believe in their capacity to shape and influence the country in which they live.
She told the Rotarians that over the years JN had not simply provided loans and accounts for savings, but had provided opportunities to nurture families through homeownership, created independence through business ownership, urged saving for life goals, influenced wealth creation, and provided access to credit.
“As we venture into 2018, the JN Group will continue to 'place people first' and promote confidence through our products and services,” she pledged.