The Trust was launched in grand style in 1994 at the Medical Association of Jamaica Annual Awards Banquet.  The distinguished guest speaker was Professor Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Cape Town in South Africa.  On that memorable evening, Professor Ramphele congratulated the MAJ for launching the Medical Association of Jamaica Trust.  She said,

“It offers you an opportunity to contribute to the development of a new professional ethos which goes beyond the individual, whilst fully acknowledging the importance and dignity of the individual person. You stand on the threshold of exciting possibilities. The metaphor of standing at the threshold is an important one to reflect on for a minute. You can look back with pride on your past achievements, but also forward and outwards with hope for a better tomorrow. The threshold is also safe space, because it is neither outside nor inside, one’s choices of where one’s next step is, are wide open.”

Her metaphor of the threshold was a very apt one as very few of us could have envisaged the difficulties that would ensue. These are now well behind us and the Directors are now hard at work to continue to raise funds so that when approached, meaningful contributions can be made by The Foundation.