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Prime Minister Andrew Holness, today (June 28) said that the late Lascelles Chin was a true patriot and was the embodiment of a Jamaican who gave back to his country throughout his entire life in business and in service.

Holness was speaking at the funeral of the late business leader at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Kingston.

“Today I have the honour of paying tribute to a great Jamaican whose passion was the people of Jamaica. Lascelles Chin was a true patriot… His contribution to nation building was material, enduring, and of tremendous value. [His] passing represents an immense loss to our nation. He leaves behind a legacy of entrepreneurial success, monumental achievements and invaluable contributions to Jamaica and the people of Jamaica,” he said.

Holness shared some of the history of Chin and said that he embarked on an “extraordinary entrepreneurial journey from as early as 1956” which saw the transformation of Chin’s life and the lives of those around him.

“He would not allow that transformation to be his alone. He made sure that it transformed all around him and as far as he could touch. Armed with the unwavering determination to create positive change and uplift his fellow Jamaicans, Las would become one of the most renowned and conscientious business men to emerge from Jamaica. On the front line from humble beginnings behind the shop counter, he saw the struggles of the ordinary Jamaican. He never forgot that and he never lost the ordinary touch,” Holness shared.

“Thanks to his disciplined work ethic and keen business acumen, he founded the celebrated LASCO Group, a conglomerate that encompasses various industries. While making household staples and products accessible to more Jamaican under his visionary leadership, the LASCO Group realised growth and remains one of the leading brands in the Caribbean. [His] relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation has solidified the group’s position as a trailblazer in the Jamaican business landscape. His commitment to quality, integrity and customer satisfaction set the benchmark for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders in Jamaica,” the Prime Minister added.

Holness, who referred to Chin as a Jamaican business giant, humanitarian, nation builder, philanthropist, and friend, said that the business mogul’s generosity knew no bounds.

He highlighted that Chin consistently supported initiatives focused on education, healthcare, the environment, and social welfare.

“Through the LASCO/Chin Foundation, he would make one of his enduring and indelible marks on our society. He recognised and rewarded the best of three important categories of nation builders and workers – our nurses, teachers, and policemen, and he would do this every year for the last 20 years,” the Prime Minister said.

“It gave him such pride to highlight the strong work ethic and excellence of these public servants. He thought that this acknowledgement and reward would ensure that there would be this high level of excellence and this disciplined work ethic in our public service, Holness added.

The LASCO/Chin Foundation was also highlighted in that it, “spearheaded programmes for at risk youth and the most vulnerable in our society. In addition to all this, Lascelles devoted his time to other vocations that enabled him to make a positive impact on our beloved country. These included being the chairman of the chairman of the King’s House Foundation and the University of the West Indies School of Nursing advisory board.”

Chin’s work in philanthropy earned him numerous accolades and recognition throughout his illustrious career. In 1986, he was conferred with the honour of Order of Distinction (OD) in the rank of Commander Class for outstanding service to industry and commerce, in 2001, he was awarded the nation’s fourth highest civilian honour, the Order of Jamaica (OJ), in recognition of his outstanding contribution to entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

Las lived an exemplary and extraordinary life, and we may be comforted by this fact even as we grieve.

Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica

“Additionally, he was bestowed two honourary degrees, Doctor of Law and Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Technology (UTech) and the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) respectively. His passing leaves a void in the hearts of all who knew him. However, his remarkable achievements and his commitment to uplifting Jamaica will forever remain an inspiration,” the Prime Minister said.

“As we mourn his passing, the gov’t of Jamaica stands in love and honour with his family, the LASCO family, his colleagues and friends as we celebrate his life and contribution. Las lived an exemplary and extraordinary life, and we may be comforted by this fact even as we grieve. May his memory and extraordinary legacy be a balm on our broken hearts.The entire country is proud pf your life and your work,” he said.

No time to waste on perfection

In a tribute from his children, Chin was remembered for his kindness, compassion and love for Jamaica.

“Today, as we present and in spirit reflect on the life of our late father, we are filled with bitter-sweet mixture of emotions. His passing has left a void in our hearts, but we would like to celebrate the incredible person that he was. There are many beautiful things that we could say about our father. What stands out the most is that he had a heart built on kindness and compassion for humanity,” said one of Chin’s daughters, Lisa Watts.

“He built a company upon those values with an end goal of benefitting Jamaicans and showing love for people. Dad’s love for his country and his unwavering generosity earned him a special place in the hearts of the Jamaican people,” she added.

Another daughter, Marie Chin, shared her father’s 70:30 principle and life motto.

She said he was an optimist who lived by the motto, “if the decision is 70 per cent right and 30 per cent wrong, I’m going with it. We cannot waste time on perfection.”

With hard work and dedication, greatness is possible

On the part of his grandchildren, they shared fond memories and spoke of the impact their grandfather has had on their lives.

One memory in particular referenced Chin’s drive for continuous improvement.

“We recall the moments he would eagerly talk about iCool and the newest improvements he was introducing to the company. In these conversations, he taught us that with hard work and dedication, we can achieve greatness in any endeavour we set our minds to,” they said.

“These memories will forever shape our character and influence the way we navigate the world. His joy, sense of humor, love of life and people, as well as his unwavering commitment and generosity to Jamaica are unparalleled and beyond compare. We are immensely blessed to have had the privilege of knowing you, loving you and being loved by you. Know that we hold you dearly and that the legacy will continue to live on through the love and values you instilled in us,” they said.

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