CHASE Director, Ian Levy (right) poses with Sly Dunbar and YVA originator, Karen Clarke.    Director levy had earlier presented Dunbar with the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing him and his “TAXI” producing partner Robbie Shakespeare, for their contribution to the music industry at the Your View Awards held on February 24, 2018 at the Indoor Sports Centre.

Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare teamed up in 1975 and have been the driving rhythm behind innumerable songs.  They changed the face of reggae music with the introduction of a harder beat called “Rockers” which quickly replaced the then-prevalent “One Drop” style.

They were also important in developing the trend towards computer-assisted music in the nmid-1980s.  After 43 years together, they still tour and record relentlessly.

The Jamaica Reggae Industry Association honoured Reggae pioneers at the JaRIA Honour Awards held on February 25 at the Courtleigh Auditorium.  The JaRIA awards are held annually to celebrate the contribution of some of Jamaica’s most outstanding music professionals, past and present.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon Olivia “Babsy” Grange, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to the music industry.  The award was presented by CHASE Director, Novlette Howell.

The CHASE Fund committed $3 million to support the mounting of the 10^th renewal of “Reggae Month” in February.  Contribution to Reggae Month falls under the Fund’s Arts and Culture portfolio.

Chief Executive Officer of the CHASE Fund, W. Billy Heaven, said that JaRIA continues to provide a stage not just for quality entertainment but also the opportunity to learn more about reggae music and the industry.  “I thank JaRIA for encouraging serious dialogue on maximizing the potential of the industry at its Music Symposium, but most importantly I thank them for broadening the participation of Jamaicans by continuing to make many of these activities free to the public,” he said.

The Reggae Month enterprise has been strengthened with the assistance of funding from the CHASE Fund in the sum of approximately $30 million over nine years with special consideration given to the Reggae Industry Honour Awards.

The Mico University College, the oldest teacher training institution in the Western Hemisphere will have a new entrance by April this year. Ground was broken last week for the construction of the new entrance to the institution funded by the CHASE Fund.  The Mico University College is a heritage site with the main iconic Buxton Building recognized as a National Landmark of fine Georgian colonial architecture.

One of the benefits of the redesigned entrance will be a reduction of traffic congestion along the Marescaux Road corridor and is expected to reduce major disruptions to the flow of traffic especially during peak hours.

CHASE’s contribution of $12 million to the development of the new entrance supports the preservation of the character of the original building which was built in the 1890s and is protected by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.  The initiative falls under the Fund’s Arts and Culture mandate.

Participating in the recent ground-breaking are (l-r) Professor Neville Ying, Chairman of Mico Unversity College; Paulette Mitchell, CHASE Fund Project Manager; Dr. Ashburn Pinnock, President of the University; Sylvester Tulluch, Mico Foundation Chairman; and Laban Roomes, Secretary of the Mico Foundation.

The Heart Foundation of Jamaica’s (HFJ) life-saving screening services have received another boost from the CHASE Fund which has facilitated the purchase of a mobile echocardiogram at a cost of J$6.4 million.  The machine was officially handed over yesterday by the Chief Executive Officer of the CHASE Fund, Mr. W. Billy Heaven at the CHASE Fund’s Belmont Road address.

Mr. Heaven noted that CHASE’s focus on primary health care in Jamaica is deliberate and in keeping with the national direction and policy.  “After 15 years of intervention in the public healthcare system, the Fund is now looking at ways that we can have a larger and more lasting impact on the sector particularly as it relates to the provision of cutting edge diagnostic and rehabilitative equipment like the echocardiogram which was presented to the HFJ today”, he said.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Jamaica, incapacitating thousands of people – some of them for life – and hampering national productivity. An echocardiogram is a modern technique that allows physicians to evaluate the heart without inserting tubes or wires. The images produced allows the physician to identify various abnormalities in the heart.

The Heart Foundation currently screens over 250 persons per month at their head office. The mobile echocardiogram will enable the Foundation to screen an additional 150 persons per month at their head office and an additional 50 at satellite locations including health fairs.

Executive Director of the HFJ, Mrs. Deborah Chen in accepting the machine said “the Heart Foundation of Jamaica is very happy and appreciative of the donation of this echocardiogram machine.  Presently we have only one machine which limits the number of echo’s that can be done daily.”  She further stated that the additional machine will allow the HFJ to offer this service island wide. “We are particularly pleased that we will be able to offer this service to patients in hospitals where it may not available,” she said.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Jamaica. The Jamaica Health and Lifestyle survey found that 25% of Jamaicans had high blood pressure, 35% had pre hypertension, 12% had high cholesterol while 8% had diabetes. Over 50% of the population is overweight or obese.

“We applaud the Minister of Health for the formation of the Food Industry Task Force in an effort to address the obesity epidemic. If no action is taken there will be an additional 20,000 obese persons each year,” Mrs Chen noted.   She also noted that the HFJ also supports the Jamaica Moves initiative which aims to encourage Jamaicans to increase their level of physical activity.

The HFJ conducts screening island wide and when persons are found to be at risk they are referred for further testing. This may include an echocardiogram. The HFJ also conducts islandwide screening for sudden cardiac arrest, a test which is particularly important for those involved in any athletic activity such as football, track or swimming. After the initial screening some persons may be referred for further testing and again this would involve an echocardiogram.