Statements issued over weekend to allay fears

The Board of Barita has saluted its founder, Rita Humphries-Lewin, who departed in an apparently sudden move last week from the stockbrokerage and investment firm she founded 44 years ago.

Humphries-Lewin’s resignation raised questions in financial circles but  statements attributed to her and the board over the weekend sought to allay any concerns about the departure of Jamaica’s pioneering female stockbroker.

In a statement on the weekend posted on the website of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), the board of Barita said it appreciated the warm and gracious words expressed by Humphries-Lewin in her resignation letter, which was made public following Our Today‘s revelation of her sudden departure.

According to the board, “as the founder of Barita Investments Limited, Mrs. Humphries-Lewin is responsible for making Barita a household name in Jamaica. She devoted her life to building the company, which was born out of a desire to positively impact the lives of the customers, staff, shareholders and the wider society”.

The Barita Board recognised her pioneering contributions to the financial services industry, which it said are immeasurable, “making her one of the stalwarts of the industry and the business community in the Caribbean. Having established the first ever stockbrokerage in Jamaica, Mrs. Humphries-Lewin also holds the distinction of being the first woman to both chair the Board of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and lead a securities dealer in Jamaica”.

Breaking many glass ceilings

The statement by the board mentioned that Humphries-Lewin has broken many glass ceilings and stands as one of Jamaica’s most outstanding entrepreneurs.

“The Chairman, Board, management, and staff of Barita would like to use this opportunity to unreservedly express their thanks and appreciation to Mrs. Humphries-Lewin for all her contributions to the company,” the statement read.

In concluding, the board said the team at Barita remained steadfast in continuing her legacy and ensuring the continued growth of the business that she so carefully nurtured. Barita advised, through the JSE last Thursday, that Humphries-Lewin had resigned as a director for undisclosed personal reasons.

In 1977, Humphries-Lewin founded Barita Investments Limited, which today has the distinction of being the oldest stockbroking company in Jamaica. At the time of the take-over by Cornerstone Investments in August 2018, it was decided that Humphries-Lewin would remain on the board as a director for a minimum of six months to ensure a smooth transition.

She remained on the board up until last week.

Humphries-Lewin has been at the forefront of Jamaica’s stockbroking industry for over 45 years.