"There are so many young people who could use your help and advice. You can identify one young person who has shown some promise or who just needs help...and personally guide and support them," he told the audience at the Jamaica Pegasus. "Our country is filled with so many children who are talented who just need some encouragement... and a little help. Find one in a primary school or high school and make that commitment....with your help, that child can develop into a productive citizen of Jamaica," he said, pointing out that there are additional benefits for corporate Jamaica.

"Corporations that have a keen awareness of their social responsibility are likely to have better relationships with their customers, with the leaders in their community and with its employees - and all are important to the well-being of the company, and its longevity," he added.

Mr. Perkins also handed over a donation of $500,000 to the Salvation Army to assist the Haiti Relief Initiative. The funds, he says, were contributed by Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited and PanCaribbean team members who felt compelled to play their part in assisting the group. PCFS, a member of the Sagicor Group, is one of the island's leading financial institutions with an admirable reputation of solid corporate governance. Through the most recently formed Sagicor PanCaribbean Foundation, the Group has increased its aim of improving the lives of Jamaican children in the areas of health, education and sports.

Over 60,000 Jamaicans receive assistance from the Salvation Army each year through a range of programmes that include providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, and shelter to the homeless.