BUSY SIGNAL LAUNCHES HIS “2020 HELPING HANDS” FOUNDATION!

 Top: Busy Signal

Center: Andre Gordon (left), brother of dancehall act Busy Signal, and wife Nichola (right) share lens time with DJ Amber at the function

 Bottom: (From right) Shahine Robinson, MP for North Eastern St Ann; Oral Heaven, St Ann Chamber of Commerce president; Mayor Desmond Gilmore; and Dr Dayton Campbell, MP North West St Ann, at the launch of Busy 2020 Helping Hands Foundation at the Jewel Dunn’s River Resort and Spa in St Ann, recently.—-

DANCEHALL artist Busy Signal launched his Busy 2020 Helping Hands Foundation at the Jewel Dunn’s River Resort and Spa in St Ann, recently.

The foundation is expected to buy critical medical equipment for the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital.

The event was attended by several St Ann stakeholders, including Desmond Gilmore, mayor of St Ann’s Bay; Shahine Robinson, member of parliament for North East, St Ann; Dr Dayton Campbell, member of parliament for North West, St Ann; and Oral Heaven, president of the St Ann Chamber of Commerce.

“I am really excited about this… this is a welcomed and timely intervention,” said Gilmore.

The St Ann’s Bay mayor said the hospital is located at a crucial point along the North Coast.

“This is something that we must all applaud, that we must all embrace,” said Robinson.

The NE St Ann MP said she is aware of the challenges the hospital faces and was happy the foundation saw it as a priority.

As its first project, the Busy 2020 Foundation will be buying an X-ray machine for the hospital. Busy Signal, whose name is Reanno Gordon, said the hospital will not be the only project to be undertaken.

“I always wanted to give back and I always wanted to do it on a wider scale. I always give back. I’ve donated computers to the Brown’s Town High School,” he said.

“We intend to have a very big show,” he said.

That show will be aimed at raising the majority of the funds to buy the equipment. He also called on corporate Jamaica to support the venture.

In the meantime, MP Campbell pledged $100, 000 towards the foundation’s first project. Campbell, who has worked at the hospital, said he too is aware of the challenges faced at the institution.

Leo Garrel, CEO at the hospital, said the foundation’s contribution will be well appreciated. He explained that the X-ray department gets approximately 30,000 patients yearly and so additional equipment will improve the waiting period at the facility.

“It’s good. Sometimes people forget us because of where we are located,” Garrel added.

— Renae Dixon