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CMU News

Aug 01
8

The Real Fear of Terrorism – Major Public Safety Concern – Part 1

By | CMU News

Working in law enforcement for over forty years, has helped me to understand the view held by criminologists from across the world, that the fear of crime can be more serious and devastating than crime itself. I have seen in many communities where the effects of crime have generated so much fear and anxiety, to the extent where the lives of citizens have been disrupted beyond repair. The run for cover by hundreds of citizens in Times Square, New York on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, when popping sounds came from a motorcycle which was backfiring whilst it travelled along the roadway, is a classic example of how the fear of crime can affect the individual, community and country.  Those who were in that particular space and who rushed for cover could have caused a stampeded resulting in the injury or death of many or the destruction of property.

What were the people running from?

The people who scampered for cover were not running from the motor cycle itself, instead, they were running from what sounded like gunfire which has become too often the sound that has brought death, destruction and grief to the United States, which is classified as the world’s leading superpower. This superpower has not only prescribed security solutions for a number of developed and developing countries but have also intervened militarily in some countries to maintain law and order. Judging from the actions of the United States in helping other states with similar circumstances, one would imagine that they would possess both the will and capacity to deal effectively with this problem in their own country, to prevent further bloodshed. Unfortunately, that seems not to be the case.

The people were running away from the possibility of becoming a statistic from the many mass shootings which have taken place in the United States in recent times. Fresh in their minds were the two mass shootings which occurred hours apart, one in El Paso, Texas and the other in Dayton, Ohio which together claimed the lives of over thirty people and causing the injury of dozens. The gun continues to be the weapon of choice in the commission of these mass murder.

Mass shootings United States 2019

According to Gun Violence Archive (GVA) which is a non-profit corporation in the United States, and which is responsible to provide free online access to gun violence information; mass shootings topped the days of the year for 2019. As of August 5, 2019, which was the 217th day of the year, there were 255 mass shootings reported across the United States. The GVA defines mass shooting as any incident where at least four persons were shot, excluding the shooter.

The shooting at Dayton, Ohio, claimed nine (9) lives and injured twenty-seven (27) persons, whilst the shooting at Walmart in El Paso, Texas left twenty-two persons (22) dead and at least twenty-four (24) wounded. These are the two most recent mass shootings that have generated considerable fear, panic and anxiety among citizens and visitors within the United States. GVA has reported that before the mass shooting in El Paso, the deadliest mass shooting for 2019 happened in a Municipal building in Virginia Beach, where a former city employee killed twelve (12) persons and injured four (4).

For the period January 1 to August 5, 2019, GVA published the total number of mass shootings, injuries and deaths as follows:
Total shooting incidents = 33, 237
Total gun deaths = 8796
Total injuries = 17, 480

The last time mass shootings topped the days of the year according to GVA was 2016, which ended with 382 mass shootings. 2017 and 2018 recorded 346 and 340 mass shootings, respectively.

Call those shootings at Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas by any other name, their motivation, modus, intent, objectives, and end state are consistent with terrorism criteria, notwithstanding the racial identity of the perpetrators.

Irony of the situation

The irony of the situation which makes it incomprehensible, is that whilst so many persons are being murdered by men who satisfy the terrorists criteria, the authorities have failed to designate these killers with the appropriate classification of “Terrorist”. The failure to designate them as terrorist, has hampered effective counter terrorism strategies to deal with the problem.

Strategies that would allow law enforcement to engage in activities such as wiretapping and financial investigations to identify terrorists financing and to deal with sponsors and facilitators of terrorism, may not be employed outside the terrorist designation. The internet which is a major source of radicalization of these killers will remain untouched once these perpetrators are not classified as terrorists, a designation which is readily given to international terrorists. Double standards have no place in the fight against terrorism, neither are euphemisms in crime classifications.

Terrorism criteria

In arriving at the terrorist classification there are a number of variables which must be weighed in the terrorism equation. Variables such psychology, sociology, motivation, intent, purpose, capability and end state. When these incidents in the United States are examined against international terrorism standard, they not only bear similarities with groups such as ISIS and Al Qaeda but they are equal in most respect. The only identifiable difference is that the perpetrators are from within their own country and are in receipt of support from misguided person, who are blinded by conditions of race, colour and politics. Nothing would be wrong if they were designated the status of domestic terrorists. Law enforcement would have a better hand to counter their activities when they are so designated.

The psychology of the terrorists

Terrorists at the international or domestic level hold the belief that they are marginalized, the world or some group of persons are against them, the criminal acts they are carrying out are not wrong and it is for a good reason why they are behaving in such manner. The term “Freedom fighting” is often used by them as a euphemism to soften their crime. The greater part of their psyche predisposes them to inflicting mass casualty on vulnerable civilians and generate fear as was seen at Time Square, with the end state of forcing the citizens into submission so they will have total control over them. They will be happy and encouraged to carry on their activities when acts committed by them are blamed on other matters such as mental health, violent video games, family and community unattachment. Ambivalence cannot be part of the counter strategy to deal with terrorism.

Similarly, fear was generated from the 9/11 incident where up to today, persons who previously travelled on aircraft with only the fear of accidents, which according to the Federal Aviation Authority FAA are few and far apart, have hardly flown since that incident. That incident which is referred to as 9/11, has changed the conduct of travel and trade across the world. As travellers and traders suffer inconvenience whilst going about their business, the terrorists are likely smiling that their mission has been accomplished in creating fear, panic and anxiety in the aviation industry.

For any person or group of persons to lend support to people with this type of thinking, would be the clearest indication of them not understanding that crime affects the entire society and is not confined to the individuals against whom it is committed. In the proverbial term, “Today for me, tomorrow for you”. With the global village becoming smaller due to international travel and trade, what is happening in the United States can very well happen in other countries as was the case in Christ Church, New Zealand. In that incident, the terrorist who killed over fifty (50) people at worship was from another country.

The fear has become so widespread that Amnesty International has issued travel advisory, warning people traveling to the United States to be on the lookout for perpetrators of gun violence. They have warned citizens against attending places with large gathering such as schools, churches, bars, casinos, shopping malls, and cultural concerts. This warning has serious implications for business and social activities as these places which are listed are almost inescapable whether in the conduct of business or social engagement.

In arriving at a prognosis relating to the prevailing circumstances, guidance is taken from Ronald Akers, “Social Learning Theory” which makes the point that criminal behaviour is learnt through a process of socialization. With the unrestricted access to the internet and the “copycat” mentality, which is being actively played out in other jurisdictions, if strong counter measures are not taken, the situation will likely worsen. The article posted in the Washington Press on August 18, 2019 titled “Four different white men have been arrested for plotting mass shootings in two weeks” supports this theory”.

It begs the question therefore, “What must we do and when?”.

Part 2 of this article will address, “Countering Terrorism and Restoring Public Safety”.

Assan Thompson, Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, JCF
Head of Department
Centre for Security, Counter terrorism and Non-Proliferation (CSCTN)
Caribbean Maritime University

Jul 23
22

FROM LINSTEAD TO CARNIVAL

By | CMU News

For the first time, Jamaica will have a female marine engineer officer aboard a Carnival Cruise Line vessel.

Seychelle Bailey, a final-year student at the Caribbean Maritime University, will join the engineering crew on the world’s most popular cruise company when they set sail in August.

The Linstead St. Catherine native told us that she sees this as an opportunity of a lifetime and she intends to represent the CMU, and gain additional competence,

“I’ve always wanted to work on-board a passenger vessel, so when I was selected—it was like a dream come through,” she said. “My main goal now is to use what I’ve learned at CMU and gain additional skills that will reduce human error while I am at sea.”

Speaking about her journey at CMU, Seychelle stated that it was always her desire to pursue a ‘non-traditional’ career, which influenced her decision to pursue a career at sea.

“I always wanted to do something different in terms of my career, so it wasn’t a hard choice,” she said. “I remember while at the Queen’s School, I did a career evaluation and discovered that my interests are more aligned with engineering field.”

This discovery led her to do additional research on careers in engineering, where she came across marine engineering—a male dominated field.

“It was while researching engineering degree programmes, I discovered CMU and its marine engineering programme.” She noted that there were some reservations about the career path, due to an article she read online, that described it as a ‘male dominated field’ However, after consulting with her father, and other members of staff at the CMU, she decided to pursue her dream.

“At first, I was a bit hesitant,” she said. “But looking at where I am today, and what I have achieved, I can say I made a good decision.”

Founded in 1972, Carnival, which currently operates 24 cruise ships, is said to be the world’s most popular cruise company, carrying more passengers than any other line.

Jun 21
6

CMU Deputy President to be conferred with PM’s Medal of Appreciation

By | CMU News

The Deputy President of the Caribbean Maritime University, Professor Ibrahim Ajagunna, is to be presented with the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education.

The announcement came by way of a letter from the Office of the Prime Minister to Professor Ajagunna.

In the letter, Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted that the award is being made “in exercise of the powers vested in (him) by Rule 4 of the Prime Minister’s Education Awards Rules 2005.”

The Prime Minister asked that Professor Ajagunna “accept (his) warm personal congratulations” for what he termed “your well-deserved award.”

Responding to the announcement, Professor Ajagunna said he was “deeply humbled” by the recognition.

In the meantime, CMU President Professor Fritz Pinnock, himself a past recipient of the award said he was “overjoyed” to learn that his colleague was to be accorded with “this tremendous recognition” from the Office of the Prime Minister.

“Professor Ajagunna has a long and distinguished career in education,” said Professor Pinnock, adding that “Professor Ajagunna has played a critical role in the transformation of the Caribbean Maritime Institute to the Caribbean Maritime University and in seeking to fulfill the vision of cementing the CMU as the maritime university of choice for global leaders.” 

The letter notes that the award will take effect on June 23, 2019.

A notification of the award is scheduled to be published in the Jamaica Gazette.

The presentation will be made at a ceremony to be held on the Lawns of Jamaica House on Wednesday June 26, 2019.

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Mar 05
3

Key CMU partner wins major award for Maritime Leadership

By | CMU News

A key partner of the Caribbean Maritime University – the President and Executive Director of the American Caribbean Maritime Foundation, ACMF, Dr. Geneive Brown Metzger has won a major award for maritime leadership.

Dr. Brown Metzger has been awarded the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation Rear Admiral Stephen Bleecker Luce Award for Maritime Leadership.

The ACMF raises funds to support scholarships as well as infrastructure projects at the CMU.

The surprise announcement was made at the J Luce Foundation Awards gala on Thursday February 28, 2019.

Responding to the award, Dr. Brown Metzger said “The James Dudley Luce Foundation is a champion for the neediest of the needy, and I am grateful and humbled by the extraordinary acknowledgment.”

The J Luce Foundation citation presented to Dr. Brown Metzger notes that under her leadership “the AMCF has become an outstanding and effective organization dedicated to the reduction of poverty in the Caribbean in support of the Caribbean Maritime University and has resulted in visibility of the CMU in the United States, providing scholarships to deserving students.”

The citation also asserts that Dr. Brown Metzger “embodies the characteristics of honour, intelligence, benevolence and integrity.”

The award is named in honour of the late Commodore Luce, an American naval education reformer and modernizer who rose through the ranks of the US Navy during the American Civil War to establish a Naval College at Newport, Rhode Island in 1884 and the US Naval Institute in 1887, and played a vital role in establishing what is today known as SUNY Maritime College.

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Mar 05
2

CMU President wins James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation Humanitarian Award

By | CMU News

Caribbean Maritime University, CMU, President Professor Fritz Pinnock has been recognized with the 2019 James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation Humanitarian award.

Professor Pinnock was one of three recipients of the award at a ceremony held at the Princeton Club in New York City in the United States on Thursday February 28, 2019.

 

In accepting the award Professor Pinnock said he was humbled by the recognition and remains driven to serve Jamaica.

The citation from the J Luce Foundation highlights that Professor Pinnock has “dedicated his life to uplifting Jamaican youth, transitioning from several years in the shipping industry to first lecturer then Executive Director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute to today serving as President of what he has grown into the world-renown Caribbean Maritime University.”

It also notes that the CMU has grown from 30 students in 1980, to 300 in 2007 to over 6,000.

The award comes in the wake of a partnership between the J Luce Foundation and the CMU which has seen the creation of the The Luce Leadership Centre at the CMU.

The two co-directors of the Luce Leadership Centre at the CMU – Romaine Wallace and Roberto Bennett – were also recognized for their work along with Dr. Abigail Pinnock who was among recipients of the 2018/2019 Luce Leadership awards.

The Centre has been developed to support the students on campus in Kingston, as well as for Young Global Leaders (YGLs) online around the world, with emphasis on Honor, Intelligence, Integrity, Benevolence, and Stewardship.

Professor Pinnock holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Sustainable Cruise Tourism from the University of the West, Mona Campus; an MSc. in International Shipping and Logistics from the University of Plymouth, United Kingdom, and a BSc. (Hons.) in Economics and Accounting (Management Studies) from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

He is an International Maritime Consultant who has worked on numerous projects for a range of governments and international agencies and organizations.

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Mar 01
1

Implications of the US Withdrawal from the INF Treaty:  Is Arms Control Dead?

By | CMU News

Implications of the US Withdrawal from the INF Treaty:  Is Arms Control Dead?

The February 1 announcement by United Sates’ Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, that the U.S. would suspend its compliance with its obligations under the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) because of Russian violations brought echoes of a similar announcement almost twelve years ago.  On July 14, 2007, it was the Government of the Russian Federation that declared its intention to suspend its participation in the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE), citing violations by the U.S. and its NATO partners and their refusal to ratify the Adapted CFE.  One month before, at an Extraordinary Conference on the CFE at the Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria, the meeting place of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), then, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Grushko had warned the gathered diplomats that the CFE Treaty was growing increasingly out of step with military-political realities which threatened its demise.  Six months later, Russia halted its compliance with the CFE, and, in 2015, permanently ceased participation in the landmark arms control agreement.

The fate of these two Treaties, which was preceded by U.S. withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Nuclear Treaty in 2002, does not bode well for the future of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), signed in 2010, and which limits strategic nuclear weapons.  Nor does it offer any optimism for the future of arms control in general. Rather, arms control seems to be on a precipitous trajectory that is being driven as much by geopolitical developments as technological advancements that have blurred the lines between conventional and nuclear weapons, threatening the start of a new arms race.

Signed during the waning years of the Cold War—the INF, in 1987 and the CFE, in 1990—the two Treaties have been referred to as the “Cornerstone of European Security”, reflecting the contributions of both instruments to security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic sphere.   Both Treaties, in effect, limit military armaments on the European continent, thus, reducing the possibility of large-scale military conflicts.  While the INF Treaty constrains the deployment of short and intermediate-range, nuclear and conventional ballistic and cruise missiles that are land-based,[1]the CFE Treaty addresses conventional armed forces.

The INF Treaty was agreed upon in 1987 by then U.S. President Ronald Reagan and the then President of the former Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev.  It prohibits the deployment of “land-based” missiles of 500 and 5,500 kilometres in Europe, (but not air and sea-based missiles) on the parts of the Russian Federation and the United States.  Since coming into force, it has seen the reduction of 2,692 short and intermediate range ballistic missiles that are ground based. [2]

Signed between the former Warsaw Pact countries and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the original CFE Treaty came into force in 1990.  The Treaty reduced conventional armed forces, both personnel and certain categories of military weapons on the European Continent.  In effect, the Treaty and saw the destruction of more than 70,000 pieces of Treaty-limited equipment, eliminated excess war-making capacity in Europe, and established a military parity between the two blocks.  By restricting the movement of arms and personnel in specific geographic locations, the CFE prevented destabilizing build ups that could lead to surprise, military attacks in Europe.

When Russia announced its withdrawal from the CFE in 2007, NATO’s membership had expanded from the sixteen that signed the original CFE to include several states from the former Soviet Block “East of Vienna”. In announcing its withdrawal from the CFE, Russia protested that: NATO member States had not ratified the Adapted-CFE(Russia had); the Baltic States, as new NATO members, had neither ratified the original CFE nor the Adapted-CFE, thus,  NATO’s force ceilings exceeded the levels agreed under the CFE; and NATO’s refusal to ratify the Adapted-CFE until Russia withdrew its military presence from Georgia and Moldova represented an artificial linkage to the CFE.  Russia also argued that the planned U.S. missile defense systems in Central Europe and an early warning radar for Southeastern Europe violated regional arms control norms and posed a threat to Russian security.  The U.S. demurred, justifying the need for the missile defense capabilities in Europe on Iran’s advancement in developing ballistic missile capabilities.

In Russia’s present-day assessment, the increasing vulnerabilities engendered by NATO’s eastward expansion have devalued the security benefits of both the INF and the CFE given geopolitical and technological developments.  Similarly, NATO’s decision to base missile defense components in Europe has been cited by Russia in its charges of Treaty violations with regards to both the CFE and the INF.  While the U.S. and its NATO partners are numerically advantaged vis a vis Russia in the air and sea-based intermediate-range missiles, not barred by the INF, China, a key U.S. adversary, is not a party to the INF Treaty and has already amassed longer-range stockpiles of the missiles prohibited by the INF that have been judged to possess both nuclear and conventional capabilities.  U.S. withdrawal from the INF, therefore, provides cover for Russia to scale up production and deployment of the 9M729 cruise missile, which the U.S believes to be capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear warheads and of traveling over the 500 kilometres limit set by the INF.  Russia denies this is so.

Should the U.S. follow up on its withdrawal from the INF and place the treaty-prohibited weapons in Europe, Russia could reciprocate by installing such missiles at geographic proximities that would leave U.S. allies on the Continent more discomforted.  Russia, could, for example use Kaliningrad, on NATO’s doorsteps, as one of its bases in response for the use of Polish territory for basing NATO missile defense components.  With the Trump Administration showing no interest in further negotiations on confidence-building and verifications, and China unrestrained by the Treaty, arms control seems destined for expiration as Europe does little more than hand-wringing in response.

[1]Arms Control Association, February 2, 2019

[2]Arms Control Association, Issue Brief, Volume 11, Issue 4, February 1, 2019

Winsome Packer presently serves as Coordinator for Counter Terrorism and Nonproliferation Studies at the Caribbean Maritime University in Kingston, Jamaica.

Feb 07
4

Education Minister lauds CMU and KWL for new Professorial Chair

By | CMU News

Education, Youth and Information Minister Senator the Honourable Ruel Reid has said he is thrilled to learn of the latest partnership between the Caribbean Maritime University, CMU, and Kingston Wharves Limited, KWL.

Senator Reid was speaking on Wednesday at the launch of the Dr. Grantley Stephenson Professorial Chair in Logistics and Port Management at the CMU.

The launch took place at the Corporate Offices of KWL in Kingston.

Commenting on the initiative Senator Reid asserted that “as Jamaica positions itself to become a major logistics and transshipment hub to increase the volume of business that passes through our ports annually, the latest tripartite collaboration between KWL, the Caribbean Maritime University and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is a major step towards achieving this goal.”

He added that “investment in infrastructure is critical and equally so is the investment in capacity building and training persons at all levels of the industry. I am therefore thrilled to learn of this latest initiative by KWL to strengthen the existing relationship between the Caribbean Maritime University and Kingston Wharves Limited.”

The Chair will be held jointly by CMU President Professor Fritz Pinnock and CMU Deputy President, Professor Ibrahim Ajagunna – two of the foremost researchers in Logistics and Port Management in the region.

In addition to conducting research projects, Professors Pinnock and Ajagunna will lend their considerable expertise to providing strategic and leadership support for the KWL during the engagement which is scheduled to last from May 2018 to April 2021 and is open to being renewed.

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Feb 07
1

Dr. Grantley Stephenson Professorial Chair launched

By | CMU News

A new Professorial Chair has been launched at the Caribbean Maritime University, CMU, in partnership with Kingston Wharves Limited, KWL.

The Dr. Grantley Stephenson Professorial Chair in Logistics and Port Management was launched at a ceremony at KWL Wednesday afternoon.

Dr. Stephenson is the Chief Executive Officer of KWL – a key partner of the CMU.

The Chair will be held jointly by two of the foremost researchers in Logistics and Port Management in the region – CMU President Professor Fritz Pinnock and CMU Deputy President, Professor Ibrahim Ajagunna.

Commenting on the rationale behind the launch of the Professorial Chair, the KWL CEO said “Kingston Wharves is pleased to partner with the CMU on this very important undertaking. This step is in keeping with our pioneering role and deep interest in Jamaica fulfilling its potential as a logistics destination and leading in the growth of the industry regionally. ”

He added, “we firmly believe that any moves we make to develop Jamaica as a logistics hub, must be underpinned and guided by research and empirical data that will inform how we build.”

Dr. Stephenson also praised the CMU and Professor Pinnock in particular for working to deepen understanding  and helping to drive exploration of the wealth of opportunities in the sector.

For his part, Professor Pinnock observed that “Logistics and Port Management represent critical aspects not just of the Jamaican economy, but indeed the regional economy and the CMU is impressed by the bold step taken by KWL, under the leadership of Dr. Stephenson, to support research in this area,”

In addition to conducting research projects, Professors Pinnock and Ajagunna will lend their considerable expertise to providing strategic and leadership support for the KWL during the engagement which is scheduled to last from May 2018 to April 2021 and is open to being renewed.

Professors Pinnock and Ajagunna have written and published over 75 industry-related peer reviews and international journal articles in multiple languages including French, Spanish, German and Chinese.

 

Nov 23
3

CMU snags new partner in Galillee International Management Institute, Israel

By | CMU News

The thrust towards internationalization intensifies, for the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), as it added Galillee International Management Institute (GIMI) to its list of international partners through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. GIMI is a leading international institution in Israel that offers maritime, port and security training, as well as, training in higher education administration, to officers at the highest levels in various countries worldwide. CMU in similar fashion produces maritime officers up to managerial level and other land-based professionals in the allied and related sectors such as logistics and shipping, engineering, customs, freight forwarding, security and immigration.

The aim of this partnership is to formalize a working relationship for the expansion of training programmes in the areas of maritime, port operations and security management, counter terrorism and non-proliferation of mass weapons. CMU is uniquely positioned to advance this partnership because of its capacity to support the development of such programmes through its centres of excellence, namely the Centre for Security, Counter Terrorism and Non-Proliferation (CSCTN), and the Maritime Training Centre (MTC). The first, CSCTN, recently graduated approximately 40 specialized security professionals within Jamaica’s Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Unit and the latter, MTC, is the premier centre for customized maritime training.

The collaboration directly supports the shared objective of creating a co-branded Centre of excellence on the CMU campus that will facilitate both declarative and procedural knowledge facilitation in Security, Counter-Terrorism and Non-Proliferation. It will also complement the enhancement of the internationalization approach to curriculum development, the development of study abroad opportunities, interest and awareness in tandem with development planning systems; and provide assist and support in the development of bilateral agreements between the Governments of Israel and Jamaica.

Nov 13
4

US philanthropist to establish leadership centre at CMU

By | CMU News

 US philanthropist Jim Luce is to set up a new centre at the Caribbean Maritime University, CMU, to train Jamaicans in leadership and related skills.

The agreement to establish the Centre was signed on Monday, November 12, 2018 between Mr. Luce and the Minister of Education, Youth and Information Sen. Ruel Reid at a brief ceremony at the Terra Nova Hotel in St. Andrew.

The James Jay Dudley Luce Leadership Centre will operate both face-to-face classes as well as online modules. Mr. Luce who has also been appointed as an Adjunct Professor at the CMU said he was humbled by the opportunity to collaborate with the University.

“I was excited when the Jamaican Minister of Education Hon. Ruel Reid asked me to join the Faculty of the Caribbean Maritime University as Adjunct Professor.”

The Centre will offer a range of academic degrees from Associate to Doctoral and will include English as a second language (ESL) component for non-native speakers.

For his part, CMU president, Prof. Fritz Pinnock said the partnership would improve the leadership skills for student on campus.

“This partnership with Jim Luce and support from the James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation establishes a partnership that will positively impact the well-being of our students,”  Prof. Pinnock said. “It will further accelerate progress in providing a platform for leadership excellence, enabling our students and Jamaicans at large to reach further heights in fulfilling their potential.”

The J.Luce Foundation has established a scholarship fund for CMU cadets and collaborated with Marietta College in Ohio in The United States. A US 1.5 million-endowment fund is being established as the Marietta College Luce Leadership Scholarship.

The Foundation is a New York State Corporation, with dual objectives to offer grants and ‘spotlighting’ to individuals and organizations bettering humanity in the fields of the Arts, Education, and Orphan Care.