Category: News

 

The Supreme Ventures Foundation’s Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education, Youth & Information for the upgrading of fire safety equipment in children’s homes across the island is gaining momentum with the completed installation of new equipment in six homes, including two in the Mustard Seed Community.
So far, under the programme, equipment has been installed at six facilities — Yadel Home for Girls in Old Harbour; Strathmore Place of Safety in Spanish Town; Reddie’s Place of Safety in Kingston and Homestead Place of Safety in Stony Hill, St Andrew.
Two homes within the Mustard Seed Community, Sophia’s Place in Gordon Town and Mahoe Drive, have been fully installed with work on the Gift of Hope facility in Spur Tree, Manchester to begin shortly.
Under the MoU, which has a cap of $40 million over three years, 50 children’s homes will receive new fire safety equipment and supplemental training by the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

 
The agreement was signed between the SVF Chairman, Peter McConnell and then state Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Floyd Green, earlier this year in the presence of critical stakeholders the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) and the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB).
The programme was launched by the foundation approximately one year to the date of the tragic fire at Walker’s Place of Safety that claimed the lives of two children.
SVF Director Heather Goldson says that after donating $10 million to the rebuilding of the Walker’s Place of Safety, the foundation sought to take more long-term steps to address the issue of fire safety in children’s homes which gave rise to the MoU.
“Children in State care are a key mandate for our foundation, so we feel compelled to assist in whatever way we can to improving the well-being of this vulnerable group. The spate of deadly fires in recent times prompted an in-depth assessment of the homes across the island to identify gaps in the fire safety preparedness, equipment and training. We want to play our part in improving this situation,” she said.
Goldson noted that while some of the homes already have fire equipment and underwent training by the Fire Brigade, there is the need to modernise and upgrade the systems that exist, as well as to reinforce the training of administrative staff and housemothers.
“We applaud the efforts of the government agencies and the Fire Brigade for what they have done so far, and we are humbled to be able to step in and boost their efforts, improving the systems and reinforcing the knowledge base of the housemothers and their teams. We visited Homestead recently and brought the Fire Brigade with us to meet with the housemothers there and they had so many questions about fire safety that were able to be addressed on the spot,” she said.
Work is slated to begin at four other homes — Elsie Bernard Home for Girls in Kingston; Maxfield Park Children’s Home; St Augustine Place of Safety and St Monica’s Girls Home. They are anticipated to be completed by the end of this year.
CEO of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) Rosalee Gage-Grey says the assistance the programme offers comes at an opportune time.
“We are so grateful to the Supreme Ventures Foundation for stepping in at this time with a multifaceted programme that acknowledges that training is just as important as the fire alarm system itself. Fire safety is critical for every child and even more so for children in State care and this programme seeks to create a network of stakeholders working to ensure their preparedness in a fire emergency,” she said.
 
Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/supreme-ventures-foundation-s-fire-safety-mou-steps-up_179303?profile=1373
 

 

Supreme Ventures’ $277 million Lotto jackpot winner, B. Campbell will be smiling all the way to the bank this Christmas with the largest jackpot in two years and the third largest in Lotto history under his belt.
Campbell, who came to the SVG headquarters to collect his winnings dressed up as Santa Claus, secured the bag with winning numbers 03, 11, 18, 21, 29, 32 for draw #1619 on Saturday, October 12.
He said the numbers for his lucky ticket were randomly chosen in a rush.
Campbell said he does not have a formula for choosing his numbers other than purchasing several tickets for each draw.

Over 10,000 Jamaicans won small prizes from the draw, with Campbell being the sole winner of the jackpot with a ticket bought at Snoopy’s Wholesale and Gaming in Belfield, St Mary.
Campbell, who has purchased Lotto tickets since the game was introduced to Jamaica in 1994, says he always thought that he would win one day and is grateful for the windfall.
“Good money is hard to come by, clean decent money is hard to come by, so when you come into a good assistance like this you have to give God thanks,” he said.
The Lotto winner, who continues to buy his favourite SVG games, Lotto and Super Lotto – even after his lucky strike – says he checked his numbers in the paper days after the draw.
He revealed: “I was in the town and I bought the paper and saw the story about a St Mary winner and wonder why no one came for it. Then I said ‘wait, den mi nuh buy mi ticket?’ So, I sat down and checked the numbers and when I realized I won I said, ‘Praise God’.”
Campbell, who says he is still excited about the win, plans to use the funds for investment in business and real estate.
SVG Vice President, Marketing, Communication & Sponsorship, Gail Abrahams says the Group is ecstatic that a player has won.
“This is the third time that the Lotto jackpot was over $200 million, and we are happy that we have a winner for this mega jackpot. This is a life changing win and we are so happy that our winner came forward so quickly to collect the jackpot,” she said.
Winners of Supreme Ventures games, particularly the Lotto and Super Lotto games, have 90 days to come forward with the winning ticket in order to begin the process to claim their multimillion-dollar jackpot.
 
Source: http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/277-million-lotto-jackpot-puts-winner-holiday-spirit

Jamaica Gleaner – October 14, 2019
Up to last night, no one had come forward with the $277-million winning Lotto ticket since the numbers were read out Saturday night, but for whoever it is, senior portfolio adviser at Proven Wealth Limited Jason McPherson says financial discipline is key to staying rich.
Saturday’s winning numbers were 03, 11, 18, 21, 29, and 32, with bonus ball 37. The sole winner, who has up to 90 days to claim the jackpot, purchased the ticket at Snoopy’s Wholesale and Gaming in Belfield, St Mary. This is the third time in history that someone has won a jackpot of more than $200 million.
“If it wasn’t there before, they need to enable some financial discipline – live below their means and invest the funds in instruments that can give them income over time but can also provide some amount of growth. It could be a mixture of strong financial assets such as blue-chip stocks, investment-grade bonds, and real estate,” McPherson advised when contacted by The Gleaner.
The Gleaner was told yesterday by Supreme Ventures communications personnel that winners usually do not take long to come in.
“Usually within two to three weeks, definitely before [the stipulated] 90 days. Note that all a winner needs is his or her ID and the signed ticket. Make sure the ticket is safe and dry.”

-End-

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20191014/st-mary-has-new-277m-lotto-winner
Other Mentions
Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/St_Mary_winner_hits_$277-m_Lotto_jackpot
http://jamaica-star.com/article/news/20191014/lotto-jackpot-hit-st-mary

RUDDY ALLEN – Jamaica Observer – September 17, 2019
In continuation of celebrating 60 years of thoroughbred racing at Caymanas Park, Supreme Venture Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), the sole promoter of local horse racing recognised stakeholders and staff members for their long and fruitful service to the industry.
The presentation ceremony was held at the Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston last Friday evening (September 13). Lorna Gooden, general manager at SVREL, congratulated the awardees for their commitment to building the sport of horse racing in Jamaica.
“Jamaica continues to dominate the horse racing industry in the Caribbean and our horsemen are household names in the country with many achieving international acclaim.
“None of this would be possible without the dedicated men and women who have worked tirelessly over the decades and seeing them here this evening with us is a symbol of loyalty and camaraderie which implies a strong sense of belonging.
“Caymanas Park is fortunate to have a dedicated team whose many years of commitment and hard work has earned us respect as innovators and as a cultural mainstay among Jamaicans.
“To tonight’s (Friday) awardees, what each of you has contributed is nothing less than a shining symbol of your passion, dedication, and perseverance and may each of you continue to be a model for your peers and colleagues.
“Caymanas Park and SVREL sincerely thank you for your commitment. It has been a tremendous journey marked with memories that we will continue to honour and keep alive through Caymanas Park and its surrounding communities. Thank you for transformational work that you have done and continue to do as we celebrate 60 years taking horse racing entertainment into the future.
“Let us continue on this momentum of a strong and enterprising team spirit taking on new challenges and making full use of the opportunities that are presented to us. Congratulations once again to those who are being honoured tonight. And let me wish you a Happy 60th anniversary,” Gooden said.
Leroy Tomlinson, one of many trainers who were recognised, has been serving the industry for 31 years and is still going strong in the business.
“It’s very nice to get recognised in the racing industry, and yes, I appreciate it a lot and I hope that some more people can get recognised because there are still a lot of people down there [at Caymanas Park] that don’t get recognised, but for my award — I love it,” the 54-year-old Tomlinson told The Supreme Racing Guide.
He continued: “I will cherish this award. I have been in racing from I was 14 years old and that’s some 40 years ago, and I have no regrets choosing a profession in the sport. The Jockey’s Club gave me my first licence and many people in racing right now don’t know anything about the Jockey’s Club.”
Another trainer Gresford “Greasie” Smith, who has been in the business for 39 years, was beaming with joy after receiving his award. “Well, it is always a good thing that your industry recognises and appreciates the work that you have put in over the years. I am really happy to be recognised and at such a wonderful presentation function as the one tonight.
“I have been at Caymanas Park for 39 years and my career has been good. In any profession, you are going to have your ups and downs but for the most part, I think, I would do it again. I must thank Supreme Venture Racing and Entertainment Limited for this recognition and I will continue to do the hard work,” Smith said.
Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/article/20190917/ARTICLE/190919767/1511