Jamaica on a journey to a new beginning
Visiting professor paints rosy picture of country’s future
CANADA-BASED JAMAICAN Professor Dr Kingsley R. Chin, renowned spinal surgeon, inventor and author, is of the view that Jamaica is on a journey to a new beginning, fuelled by social and economic innovation.
He was speaking at the recent Jamaica-China Friendship Association’s National Day Dinner, held in the Talk of the Town, Jamaica Pegasus hotel. The event was in celebration of the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 42nd anniversary of the Jamaica China Friendship Association.
Among the special guests at the event were Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, patron of the Jamaica-China Friendship Association, and Lady Allen; Ambassador to Jamaica of the People’s Republic of China Tian Qi, who raised a toast to Jamaica; and Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck.
While Dr Chin’s presentation looked at the history of the country’s formation and challenges, he pointed out that it is ultimately the responsibility of the national leaders to be catalysts for change and to convert those changes to innovations in order to spark a new beginning for Jamaica.
Through investments, philanthropy and The LESS Institute, Dr Chin has been making an impact on Jamaica by supporting education, youth development opportunities and bringing world-class healthcare to the island.
In his presentation, Dr Chin highlighted the influence and impact the Chinese-Jamaican business owners had on him growing up on the island, through his introduction to such values as love for work, the need to save, invest, and be productive.
“The role models I had fuelled my desire to be an entrepreneur, so I could employ others and contribute to the growth of a healthy economy in Jamaica,” he told his audience, which packed the Talk of the Town.
He has over 10 years’ experience as a CEO and managing partner of KIC Ventures, which he founded in 2005, and has raised and deployed over CAD$190 million in capital in the healthcare and technology industries in Canada.
Dr Chin, whose celebrated career spans over 28 years, is internationally renowned as an expert in minimally invasive spinal surgery and a pioneer in new medical techniques and devices. His extensive career as a published author, includes 45 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 14 book chapters and 11 review chapters, and the book