Northern Caribbean University (NCU) dominated the nominations of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce (MCOC) and on Saturday night January 14, 2011, at the MCOC’s annual awards banquet at the Golf View hotel, they copped the top media awards category. The NCU Media group earned the right to be called the stellar media provider from Manchester. Guest speaker at the event, Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Derby, director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) in addressing the august body, expressed his passion for service to Jamaica albeit the many challenging issues that the country faces.

Lt. Col. Derby brought mixed news for the residents of the central parish who perhaps had inclinations that an international airport was to be built in the parish.  He dispelled their expectations when he told them that due to the “dynamic” weather conditions and the lack of other necessary amenities an international airport would not be built here.  However, he went on to suggest that the development of an international airport at Vernamfield, in the neighbouring parish of Clarendon, would spell well for the parish. He singled out NCU for potential developments were his recommendations to be brought to bear.

Lt. Col. Oscar Derby makes a point during his presentation to the MCOC

“The air transport industry can be a significant driver of the economy. Airplanes are about sixty percent Information Communication Technology (ICT), and Mandeville has an institution that is a world leading developer in the field.” He continued, “Were this mission of developing an international airport in Clarendon to come to fruition, this ICT industry will be able to employ thousands of persons directly and indirectly. Manchester as a parish would flourish with the influx of development as investors could be easily drawn to the salubrious climate where they can make home.”

Head of the NCU's Media Group Everette Wiles (left) accepts the nomination certificate from Daniel Rommel

The head of the JCAA, was very coy in his response of presenting Manchester as a less than ideal location to establish a means of air transportation. The retired army officer gave the audience hope when he explained that the two existing international airports are not able to accommodate long haul and heavy duty passenger planes but  in order for Jamaica to open the air transportation industry on a wider scale, the establishment of an international airport in Vernamfield in Clarendon could materialize in that area.

“There are only about six countries that can be used as transit to the United Kingdom, USA, and Canada and Jamaica is one of the most ideal of the six. So to have long haul and heavy passenger flights coming through Jamaica, our international airport will need to be approximately 14,000 feet long and the two existing airports are not able to be adjusted for that requirement.”

NCU's President Dr. Trevor Gardner accepts a nomination certificate from MCOC past president Mrs. Jean Anderson

Lt. Col. Derby also banked on the practical idea of pipe line attachments from Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) to Vernamfield in Clarendon.  With the use of fibre optic lines also spanning the said route, the growth of the ICT sector as well as housing and local development will boom. He emphasized, “The air transport low cost concept should not be scoffed at as this does not mean less safety, but more so the contrary, as these providers tend to have more of a modern fleet of aircrafts.”

The Linguistic Departments at our tertiary institutions should also see a positive growth as the need for more Jamaicans being able to communicate in different languages increases. This will also play a major role in the development of our local economy.

NCU's Public Relations Officer Orville Morgan (left) accepts a nomination certificate from MCOC past president Keith A. Smith

NCU Media Group was the toast of the evening when that entity walked away with the Media Awards of the MCOC banquet which was sponsored by Money Masters. Head of the Media group, Everette Wiles accepted the award with a great sense of achievement. “In the short period of time, we have been able to impact not just the Manchester community but Jamaica and the Diaspora, in providing education and the NCU brand. We are humbled by this achievement and this only serves to remind us that we as a responsible media group have a lot to offer to the world,” he said.

The MCOC Annual Awards banquet is an event put on by the organization to recognise work done by entities and individuals throughout the parish for the previous year.