The Rotary Club of New Kingston ushered in a new chapter of leadership on Thursday, July 4, 2025, with the installation of its 36th President, Rotarian Alex Robinson, at a celebratory banquet held at the elegant Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, under the theme, Unite for Good.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA — The Rotary Club of New Kingston officially installed its 36th President, Alex Robinson, at a banquet held on July 11 at the Terra Nova Hotel. The event marked a new chapter for the club, as Robinson takes the leadership baton from outgoing President DorrettRCampbell with a commitment to empathy and a special focus on cardiovascular health.
In her final address, immediate Past President Campbell reflected on her successful year, highlighting the club’s major achievements and acknowledging the unwavering support of her members and partners. She also passed on a message of encouragement to President Robinson, urging him to lead with integrity, empathy, and consistency.
In his inaugural speech, President Robinson pledged to embody these values, emphasizing his commitment to empathetic leadership. He announced that the club's flagship project for the year would be the promotion of awareness and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, a cause he holds dear.
The evening's keynote speaker, the Governor of the Bank of Jamaica, Richard Byles offered both praise and a call to action. He commended the spirit of volunteerism embodied by the Rotary Club and underscored his institution's support by presenting a donation of $100,000 towards the club's new cardiovascular diseases project.
The Governor's address also touched upon the state of the Jamaican economy, noting that the country had achieved significant macroeconomic stability. He pointed to a debt-to-GDP ratio on track to reach the "holy grail" of 60% and low, stable inflation of 4 to 6 percent since September 2024. However, he cautioned that this stability had not yet translated into substantial economic growth, and "all Jamaicans are not feeling the growth."
He urged all sectors and citizens to work together to maintain economic discipline and unite for the good of the nation. The Governor identified Jamaica’s greatest resource as its people and stressed the critical need for a massive investment in education to produce "employable people who can produce greater value-added." He also called for continued efforts to boost tourism, improve the crime situation, and implement a civic program in schools and society to build social values and improve attitudes. He highlighted the vital importance of investing in the arts and the creative cultural industries.
The Governor's powerful closing statement was a plea for national consensus around economic objectives. He specifically called on the Rotarians, known for their resolute commitment, to help foster a consensus among political parties, social institutions, and business enterprises "to do the right things and exercise sustained discipline for economic growth and development."
The event concluded with a strong sense of purpose, as the club’s new leadership prepares to tackle the challenges and opportunities of the year ahead.
