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Sustainability in Jamaica
Jamalco, Alcoa's operations in Jamaica, recognizes that community involvement and dialogue is essential to ensuring its operations both meet community expectations and help build sustainable communities in the region.
In 2007, Jamalco continued to engage its stakeholders through community councils established in all of its operating areas. These councils provide a forum for dialogue and ensure community representatives are informed of, and can have input into, decisions that affect their local communities.
During the first half of 2007, the refinery community council, a number of its member citizens associations, the parish council, the chamber of commerce, and the Clarendon Parish Development Committee received a presentation and provided feedback on the company's proposal to construct a new dry residue disposal area. Consultation culminated with a public meeting, held as part of the environmental impact assessment process for the proposal. As a result of feedback received, Jamalco has placed the proposal on hold while it reviews its methodology and facilities planning for bauxite residue storage in Clarendon.
Employment and economic development are priority issues for communities in Jamalco's operating areas, and the company continued its policy of giving priority to local contractors and residents for employment and training opportunities whenever possible. In May 2007, 343 male and female graduates, including 128 from the Jamalco/HEART Breadnut Valley Engineering Institute, and their families attended the inaugural graduation exercise for the HEART/Jamalco Strategic Workforce Development Project. Many of the graduates had been employed on Jamalco's phase 1 expansion project, dubbed the Early Works Program, at the refinery.
The company continued its focus on building community capacity through partnership programs. Funding from Alcoa Foundation enabled the Jamaica Agricultural Society to train 250 farmers and small poultry growers in a systematic approach to production that conforms to safety, quality, and environmental standards
A partnership between Jamalco, Alcoa Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Food For The Poor, HEART Trust National Training Agency, and the Mocho community has resulted in the development of the Mocho Community Greenhouse Training Centre. Construction on the training center began in March 2008 on reclaimed mining land in Mocho. The center will enable local farmers to complete a competency-based training program on how to construct and operate a greenhouse. With a market for produce already established, the "earn as you learn" concept will enable participants to profit from the produce they grow during training.
Jamalco also organized a workshop on basic accounting and bookkeeping for members of 18 local citizens associations to enable them to implement and manage a company-sponsored community beautification program. The program is aimed at building the capacity of the associations while encouraging volunteerism in the communities.
Hurricane Dean in August 2007 caused wide-scale damage to many houses and community buildings across the island. Jamalco responded to the needs in its operating areas by asking Alcoa Foundation to provide a US$100,000 grant to Food For The Poor, an international relief organization with roots in Jamaica, to replace roofs and repair community facilities damaged by the hurricane. The company worked with community members to identify priorities, and Food For The Poor spearheaded re-roofing and other repairs. Fifteen buildings, including basic and primary schools, health and community centers, and a post office, have been repaired. Jamalco and community volunteers helped clean and paint the buildings once repairs were completed.
The annual Alcoa Month of Service activities in 2007 also focused on providing relief for victims of Hurricane Dean. Jamalco volunteers partnered with non-governmental organizations, such as the Red Cross and the Lions Club, to carry out several activities. These included clearing debris deposited by the storm on Welcome Beach, a popular recreational spot in Clarendon; collecting and distributing clothing, food, and hurricane relief supplies to residents of Savannah Cross, a community badly affected by the hurricane; painting a health center; and visiting a boys' home to paint the canteen and interact with the wards.
Jamalco also donated books to 10 schools in Clarendon to assist in developing their students' reading skills in support of the Ministry of Education's drive to achieve an 85% literacy rate among primary school students by the year 2015. The new textbooks are sourced in the U.S. by Brothers Brother Foundation, and Alcoa Foundation and Jamalco underwrite the cost of shipping, handling, storage, and distribution. The book project is in its nineteenth year.
Jamalco continued its assistance to the Southern Region Health Authority by funding a doctor and extra nurse to attend the Raymonds Health Clinic each week. The company also helped obtain an Alcoa Foundation grant to purchase a fully equipped, state-of-the-art ambulance for May Pen Hospital, the largest health facility in Clarendon. The new ambulance will help reduce response time to attend to accidents and the waiting time to transfer patients to other health facilities.
Case Studies
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Employees & Sustainability
"Sustainability means using resources so that the environment is not depleted."
Claudette Harris
Staff Systems Analyst
"Sustainability is taking into account the social, environmental, and cost factors and using those elements to ensure that our natural resources are not depleted."
Latoya Palmer
Industrial Hygienist
"Sustainability means to me that we can be here for the long haul and continue to make an economic contribution to the society, but leaving the society intact for future generations."
Adlai Robinson
Acting Production Manager
"Sustainability means having this continue for as long as possible as the word sustain implies—keeping it going."
Paul Walcott
Local Area Network Coordinator
"Sustainability is the ability to maintain something that you have. The system you have in place to do this must be practical and make sense."
Debbie Ann Fagan
Alcoa Business System Coordinator
"Sustainability means putting in place plans to use resources to ensure that there is continuity in whatever area you want to sustain."
Kayode Titus
Information Services Technician
"To me, sustainability means something that can be maintained and something that has continuity, not just a one-off situation and not something for the moment or today."
Rhena Gregory
Industrial Relations/Human Resources Administrator
"Sustainability means to me that the plant is able to operate efficiently and effectively, meeting its objectives and being able to meet the various environmental, health, and safety standards."
Dajan Beckford
Engineering Intern
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Jamaica Country Page
Learn more about Alcoa's presence in Jamaica
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