NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2023 18 R. DANNY WILLIAMS TRIBUTE Published October 28, 2015 GOOD MANAGEMENT and money were highlighted as two critical factors to effectively run a school. That was the declaration made by Sagicor Chairman R. Danny Williams, who was addressing the Camperdown Alumni Hall of Fame Annual Gala, held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston last weekend. Highlighting some achievements that have been made at his alma mater, Jamaica College (JC), over the past 10 years, Williams made an appeal to past students of the 85-yearold institution to be dedicated to the task of ensuring that the less fortunate have a chance at a solid education. “The resources given by the Ministry of Education are not enough. I don’t know what would happen if the school didn’t collect auxiliary fees. Children are experiencing some harsh conditions and they didn’t ask to come into the world. My simple message, therefore, is for persons to make a commitment to give back to the less fortunate and assist with development of your schools,” he declared. “If you are going to run a school, there are a few things that must happen. First, board members have to be chosen very carefully for their competence; no friend business,”he charged. “You have to get persons with special skills. You need lawyers, persons with financial skills, and people with good management experience. The same thing I need for the Sagicor board, or any other business, is the same thing needed to run a school efficiently.” Williams also indicated that a good vision is necessary to steer any school’s development. “I got a vision of what could happen at the school (JC) – not on my own – I got help from several other persons. A lot of people don’t realise that running a secondary school with 1,500 students is no easy task,” Williams said. “There has to be regular board meetings; two times a year is rubbish. Meetings have to be held at least 10 times for the year. It’s serious business. Unless you have that kind of commitment, you can’t achieve the objectives that the school is capable of. The students should be priority,” the chairman said. In the meantime, the late James Henry Brown, who was principal for the institution from 1968-1982, in addition to the 1982 Triple Crown winners, were inducted into the Camperdown Alumni Hall of Fame. Brown and persons who made the 1982 football team were recognised for their outstanding contribution to the development of the school, and were lauded for their unswerving commitment. ‘Give back to the less fortunate’ Managing Director of The Gleaner Company Limited Oliver Clarke (right) is presented with a special certificate in recognition of the ‘invaluable’ assistance given to the National Development Foundation (NDF) in achieving its target of $300,000 in donations in the first year of its operation. The certificate was presented to Clarke by R. Danny Williams, chairman of the NDF, at the NDF’s first anniversary and awards function, held on Monday, December 6, 1982. business. We have to look abroad. I have no doubt that we will expand the hotel arm, banking arm, make acquisitions if they are available – that has to be the vision for the future.” Sagicor Real Estate X Fund is a vehicle through which Sagicor invests in hotels and commercial properties. Its dealings are mostly local, but one of its hotels is located in Florida. Williams adds that Costa Rica is just starting to mature, focusing on the pension and group insurance business. What does retirement mean in practical terms for R. Danny Williams? “It’s time for me to take it a little easier. I am 83 in July,” he said. “Most people roll out before that time,”said the insurance veteran and business mogul who retired from executive positions about two decades ago. Williams still works “nine or 10 hours a day”, running his small office that administers what he admits is a“substantial”private investment portfolio of stocks, bonds and real estate; helping to raise funds for Jamaica College, where he was board chairman for 11 years, and has a led a fundraising and investment initiative to the tune of half a billion dollars. He plans to stay active in business and his private charity work. And, as director emeritus, he will continue to attend board meetings at Sagicor, as well at Jamaica Broilers Group, where he also wears the title of director emeritus, but he will be giving up his membership on the Scotiabank board. He has also relinquished chairmanship of the Alkali Group, but will continue to chair the pension fund board there. “In theory, I retired 21 years ago, (but) I am the sort of person who has to be occupied,” Williams said. “I am constantly expanding my personal investment portfolio and looking for safe investment opportunities.” He makes the case that he has to keep earning to take care of his family, which he reckons to be large, with five living of six children, 19 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, with two more on the way. It has been a long journey for Williams, who started selling insurance some 64 years ago on April 1, 1953. “My parents were not wealthy people. My mother was a dressmaker and my father was a clerk at Jamaica Public Service Company. I was always short of money and glad for opportunity to earn some extra dollars,” he said. He eventually got into the door at North American Life, at 26, where his work ethic, alongside his pursuit of academic studies, helped him up the corporate ladder. At the same time as he pursued his insurance career, Williams was also pursuing his own businesses. “Probably the best thing I did was marry the woman I married. My wife and my father took care of my personal businesses, including paying the bills and filing tax returns, income tax returns,” he said. Williams married Shirley Mair in June 1954. “My wife ensured that I made time for my family. She supported all my efforts made it easier for me to do all the things I had to do,” he said. huntley.medley@gleanerjm.com Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook (centre) chats with R. Danny Williams, chairman of Sagicor, at the Sagicor Pension Fund seminar at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on Monday, March 14, 216. FILE GUARD CONTINUED FROM 14
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