PAULO FERREIRA ENCOURAGES DIGICEL KICKSTART ACADEMY PLAYERS TO CHASE THEIR DREAMS ( - Chelsea FC and Portugal legend shares his football experience with the boys at the Digicel Kickstart Academy )

Tuesday 28^th October 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica

Chelsea FC and Portugal footballing star, Paulo Ferreira, speaks to the players on the first day of the Digicel Kickstart Academy

Chelsea FC and Portugal footballing star, Paulo Ferreira, on his first visit to Jamaica spoke to the boys at the Digicel Kickstart Academy where he encouraged them to make the most of the opportunity and to do their best.

He encouraged them to stay focused and to take in as much as they can by saying; “Listen to your coaches, they are very good and will help you to improve your game. Also, make sure that you never give up, keep chasing your dreams. I remember watching my favourite players on the television in my village and saying one day that I would like to be playing at that level. So keep working hard and you can achieve greatness.” 

Paulo Ferreira has a bit of fun while playing a game of juggling during his visit at the Digicel Kickstart Academy

Paulo Ferreira was on island for the start of the Digicel Kickstart Academy which is being hosted in Jamaica for the first time. At the first training session, he shared his experience playing for Chelsea FC as well as some of the highlights of his career, including winning the Champions League title with Chelsea FC in 2011 as well as making it to the finals of the European Championships with the Portugal national football team in 2004. The boys were very excited to meet the two-time Champions League winner and got a chance to ask him questions – which he was more than happy to answer – much to their delight. 

Digicel Group Head of Sponsorship, James Wynne, said; “We are happy to have Paulo Ferreira and the Chelsea FC Foundation coaches here at the Kickstart Academy and I am sure the boys enjoyed meeting such a legendary player. Digicel continues to help to develop football at the grassroots level because we believe this will help to start them on the path to a possible professional career. Today’s professional players started out at grassroots clubs and were scouted from there and as such, we are developing young players technically at the earliest possible opportunity through the Digicel Kickstart programme.”

Team photo of the boys and Paulo Ferreira along with Digicel Jamaica CEO, Barry O’Brien

The Digicel Kickstart Academy sees 42 boys from across the Caribbean and Central America go through a week of intense training that will culminate in a final match between the Academy players and the Jamaica National under-16 team. This is the first time that the Digicel Kickstart Academy has been held in Jamaica at the historic Sabina Park – an important sporting venue in the region which is known for hosting world class cricket matches. During the Academy, it will play host to some of the brightest young footballing talents the region has to offer.

For more information please visit www.digicelfootball.com 

Paulo Ferreira and Digicel Jamaica CEO, Barry O’Brien, ask Digicel Kickstart Academy finalists and Jamaican schoolboy football stars, Jeremy Verley and Alex Marshall, about their first day of training

ENDS

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP 

Digicel Group Limited is a leading global communications provider with operations in 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 13 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams and individuals including the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt and Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel also sponsors the West Indies cricket team.  

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and its markets comprise: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Myanmar Nauru, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Vanuatu. Digicel also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barts in the Caribbean. 

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information.

FORMER CHELSEA FC AND PORTUGAL STAR, PAULO FERREIRA, TO ATTEND THE DIGICEL KICKSTART ACADEMY ( - Chelsea FC Ambassador to share his experience with the region’s aspiring young footballers )

Thursday 16^th October 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica

 

Soccer – Chelsea FC – Player of the Year Awards 2014

The 2014 Digicel Kickstart Academy is set to raise the bar even higher this year with the announcement that former Chelsea FC and Portugal footballing hero, Paulo Ferreira, will be a part of the programme when it kicks off in Jamaica later this month.

                                                                                                                   

Ferreira, who played as a defender for Chelsea FC for nine years during which time they accumulated a number of trophies, including the Champions League and English Premier League titles, will share valuable knowledge with the aspiring young footballers participating in the Academy.

Expressing his excitement at being a part of the Digicel Kickstart Academy, Paulo Ferreira said; “It’s a real thrill for me to be travelling to Jamaica for the Digicel Kickstart Academy and to meet some of the best young footballers in the region. In my career, I have been a part of many successful teams and have experienced the game at the very top level. The Chelsea Foundation has successfully worked with Digicel to create a clear development pathway for these young players and also for coaches across the region; this will ensure the next generation of footballers have an increased opportunity to progress onto the next level. I also know what it is like to be a young footballer with a dream and I hope that I can help the Academy footballers to realise their potential by sharing some of my experiences.”

 

Paulo Renato Rebocho Ferreira is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a defender. He was known for his versatility and ability to play on both the right and left side of defence.

Digicel Group Head of Sponsorship, James Wynne, said; “Football has a special place in the heart of communities right across the Caribbean and Central America and that is why Digicel has been investing in youth football development since 2007 through the Digicel Kickstart programme. To make a genuine lasting impact and continue to build on the success of Kickstart, it’s essential that we have a world class partner. Chelsea FC Foundation has consistently delivered the best standards of coaching and advice to the aspiring young footballers in our programme and this year we are delighted and honoured to welcome Chelsea legend, Paulo Ferreira, to Jamaica to launch our eighth Academy.”

Another first for the Digicel Academy is that this year it will be held in Jamaica – at the historic Sabina Park, home to some of the greatest sporting events in the region.

Sabina Park Holdings Limited Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Walter, said; “We are delighted to be hosting the Digicel Kickstart Academy in association with Chelsea FC at Sabina Park. It’s another prestigious event to be hosted at this historic stadium and testament to the international reputation of our venue that it complements the performance standards of Chelsea FC, one of the biggest football clubs in the world.”

Paulo Ferreira Bio:

 

Paulo Ferreira in action

 

Paulo Ferreira moved to Chelsea from Porto in 2004 and went on to spend nine years at Stamford Bridge. Signed by Jose Mourinho during the manager’s first spell at the club, the right-back went on to make 217 appearances for the Blues, acquiring a number of trophies along the way.

A solid, consistent performer, Ferreira was a key member of the side which won the Premier League title during his first season at the club. After helping the Blues record back-to-back title triumphs in 2006, Ferreira played the full 120 minutes as we won the first FA Cup final to be played at the new Wembley in 2007, beating Manchester United 1-0 after extra-time. His versatility and reliability enabled the Portuguese to fill in at both left-back and centre-back when the need arose, and he featured regularly towards the end of the Double-winning season of 2009/10. On its way to winning the Champions League in 2012, Ferreira produced a typically assured performance when he was selected for the quarter-final first leg against Benfica, while he was named on the bench for the final in Munich.

Ferreira's final appearance for the club was as a late substitute against Everton on the final day of the 2012/13 season, when he brought the Europa League trophy onto the field after the final whistle, and received a wonderful ovation from the Chelsea supporters.

ENDS

ABOUT DIGICEL

Digicel Group is a leading global communications provider with operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After 13 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the presenting partner of the Caribbean Premier League. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

JEAN LOWRIE-CHIN APPOINTED AS NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE DIGICEL FOUNDATION

October 2nd 2014

Effective 1^st October 2014, Mrs. Lowrie-Chin succeeds Lisa Lewis who completed her five-year term and gave great leadership to the Foundation which has partnered with several organisations to invest in community development, education and special needs – as well as conceiving and executing its own projects in those areas.

Jean Lowrie-Chin brings her wide experience in community outreach and partnership building to the role. As chairman of the Stella Maris Foundation, she initiated its successful HEART/NTA partnership and led a fund-raising drive to purchase its headquarters. She is a trustee of the St George’s College Endowment Fund, The Rose Leon Memorial Trust for the Women’s Political Caucus and the Grant’s Pen Foundation. She serves on the board of Food for the Poor Jamaica, is a member of the Medical Council of Jamaica and is founder/director of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP).  She has received several awards, the most recent of which is the CVSS/United Way 2013 Marion Ballysingh Award for Outstanding Volunteerism.

The Digicel Foundation exists to empower people and communities and was founded by and is run under the patronage of Digicel Group Chairman, Denis O’Brien. Since its inception in 2004, the Digicel Foundation has completed 382 projects with an overall investment of JM$1.9 billion and positively impacted the lives of over 400,000 Jamaicans in the areas of education, special needs and community development. In addition, the Digicel Foundation, in tandem with Digicel Jamaica, donated JM$112.6 million to the establishment of a cardiac and ICU centre of excellence at the Bustamante Children’s Hospital – a project which is well advanced.

Jean Lowrie-Chin commented; “I am delighted to be joining the Digicel Foundation and helping to build on the great achievements of the last ten years. Together with the dedicated board, management and staff of the Foundation, I am looking forward to continuing to develop our significant partnerships with international and local organisations to support programmes which have improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans.”

Outgoing Digicel Foundation Chairman, Lisa Lewis, said; “I am proud of the work done by the Digicel Foundation team.  Its passion for making a real difference in our schools and communities is second to none.”

Commenting on the appointment, Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, said; “Over the past ten years, the Digicel Foundation has excelled under the inspiring guidance of the previous two chairmen, Harry Smith and Lisa Lewis. We have every confidence that Jean Lowrie-Chin will continue on this path of excellence, as we continue to invest in sustainable projects and promote respect for Jamaicans from all walks of life.”

GRACEKENNEDY GROUP ACQUIRES AN ADDITIONAL 50% OF SHARES IN EC GLOBAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, ST LUCIA ( - Company’s holdings now at 80% )

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

The GraceKennedy Group has announced the acquisition of an additional 50% of the shares in St. Lucian company, EC Global Insurance Company Limited (“EC Global”), bringing its shareholdings to 80%.  The group first acquired its 30% shareholding in EC Global in 2004.

According to GraceKennedy Financial Group Limited (“GKFG”) CEO, Courtney Campbell, “In pursuing our vision of becoming a Global Consumer Group in Foods internationally and in Financial Services regionally, we have been keeping a keen eye out for companies which can help us to achieve this goal. Our history with EC Global has been good, and by now becoming the majority shareholder, we are excited about the prospects that taking our investment in this business to the next level will bring. We anticipate significant collaboration between EC Global and our other existing Insurance businesses and look forward to reaping the rewards of this investment.”

EC Global is a licensed general insurance company in St. Lucia, previously owned jointly by GKFG and Eastern Caribbean Financial Holdings Limited (“ECFH”). The additional 50% shareholding acquired from ECFH brings GKFG’s holdings to 80%.  ECFH will retain the remaining 20% and remain a partner in the business.

Group CEO, Don Wehby, stated, “We have been very strategic in how we go about achieving our vision, and we are happy with the strides we are making and the pace at which we are going.  We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial collaboration with ECFH over the years, and we know that this will continue as we move forward in this new capacity.”

He added, “We are also excited about potential opportunities in Jamaica and plan to make significant investments in the financial services and food industries locally.  One of the areas I have asked my team to look at through our newly established entity, GK Capital Management Limited, is our participation in the venture capital industry recently announced.”

This is the second acquisition for the company since the start of the year. In July,     GraceKennedy entered into an agreement to purchase the operating assets and business of La Fe Foods Inc., including its brand.  The integration of La Fe, the top Hispanic Brand in the frozen food category in Northeast USA, has been going well.