In a significant achievement for transparency and good governance practices, the Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited (JBM) has secured second place in the category of Corporate Governance, Policies, Procedures and Practices at the 2024  Public Bodies Corporate Governance Awards (CGA). 

This marks JBM’s first year participating in the awards programme.

The Corporate Governance Awards, established in 2016 by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MoFPS) in collaboration with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), recognize excellence in corporate governance among public sector organizations. JBM’s impressive second place among the top ten contenders from a highly competitive pool of 156 government bodies.

JBM’s recognition reflects its dedication to implementing robust corporate governance practices. During the award evaluation period, Financial Year (2023/24), JBM actively strengthened their framework by introducing five new key policies:

1. Health and Safety Policy
2. Enterprise Risk Management Policy
3. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy
4. Internal Auditor Policy
5. Protected Disclosures Policy

These policies demonstrate JBM’s commitment to employee well-being, environmental responsibility, and ethical conduct across all operations.

“This is an excellent achievement as it recognises our enterprise-wide integrated policies, procedures which enhance our systems, efficiency and productivity,” declared JBM’s Managing Director, Donna Marie Howe. To be recognized with a second-place finish in our first year of participation is a significant milestone.

The awards ceremony took place on December 4, 2024, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. Over 250 public and private sector professionals gathered to celebrate excellence in public sector governance.

The CGA programme aims to elevate awareness and adherence to best practices in corporate governance within public bodies. Other notable awardees this year included PetroJam, Port Authority of Jamaica, National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Factories Corporation of Jamaica, EXIM Bank, and the National Health Fund, which emerged as the overall champion for 2024.

JBM accomplishment underscores the company’s commitment to international standards and alignment with this year’s awards theme “Fuelling Change for Global Impact”, even as the company continues to place a strong emphasis on environmental, social & governance (ESG) standards, responsible resource management and transparency in its industries, including mining. This recognition positions JBM as a leader within the public sector, setting a positive example for other government institutions.