‘May Pen is open for business’

MAY PEN, Clarendon — Mayor of May Pen Joel Williams has described the establishment of the Global University of Medical Sciences (GUMS) in the parish as a major endorsement of the town’s investment potential and a signal that “May Pen is open for business”.

Williams made the declaration as local and international medical and dental professionals gathered in May Pen on August 1 for the opening ceremony of the university, which is being operated by Dr Christopher Ogunsalu and is which is expected to revolutionise dentistry in Jamaica through its focus on advanced medical and dental education.

“I think this is one of the biggest endorsements, because I’m using the word endorsement deliberately, and it is to tell the rest of Jamaica that May Pen is open for business,” Williams told the Jamaica Observer.

“We’re going to continue to do everything in our power to make sure that we take a part of the economic cake of Jamaica. We have the infrastructure. Where we don’t have it, we will be putting it [in place],” he said.

Williams said he was pleased that Clarendon has attracted an investment of this nature, arguing that the development could generate economic activity well beyond the university.

The mayor described GUMS as an “agent of change” and a major investment rooted in the municipality, pointing to employment generated during construction and the potential for increased economic activity once the institution becomes operational.

“Development of this magnitude creates a ripple effect that benefits an entire parish,” he said, adding that the opening was significant “not only for Clarendon, but by extension for Jamaica”.

Williams linked the development to broader efforts to position May Pen for investment while advancing Jamaica’s Vision 2030 goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

He said the municipality was working to create an environment “where development can flourish, where institutions can grow, where businesses can succeed, and where communities can prosper”.

The mayor pointed to improvements already being undertaken in May Pen, including the refurbishing of the town centre, work in the market district and the expansion of public Internet access.

Williams told the Observer that the Universal Service Fund assisted with Internet connectivity across sections of the town, including the market and town square.

He also anticipates that the university will create opportunities for property owners and other businesses as students, educators and other professionals, including people from overseas, begin travelling to or residing in the area.

“As mayor, I remain committed to ensure that Clarendon continues to attract investment, improve lives, strengthen our economy and enhance the quality of service available to our citizens,” Williams said during the ceremony.

He expressed hope that the university would remain in the parish for generations as a symbol of “excellence, innovation and service”.

Williams said developments such as the university could help establish May Pen as a destination for investment and specialised services.

“I am very pleased and proud that the parish is now being recognised in this kind of way, and this is a big way of endorsing May Pen today,” he said.

“Going onwards, it is going to be more exciting.”

The opening attracted medical and dental professionals from Jamaica and overseas, including global president of the International College of Dentists Dr Julio Rodriguez and Professor John Suzuki, former dean at Temple University’s Dental School in the United States.

In his address, Rodriguez said the establishment of the institution presented an opportunity to strengthen medical and dental education in the English-speaking Caribbean.

“Today is not just a celebration of your institutional achievements, but also of yours and our collective experience,” Rodriguez said.

He urged those involved to continue embracing innovation and emerging technologies to improve patient care, while describing education, service and positive change as values shared by the international dental community.

Suzuki, who has worked across both medicine and dentistry during his academic career, also pledged his support to the institution and its programmes.

“I’m here to offer my support to Dr Ogunsalu, who invited me, and also to the Global University of Medical Sciences for their outreach and for their magnificent programmes, which I plan to help support,” Suzuki said.

“Congratulations to the Global University of Medical Sciences for launching this wonderful programme,” he added.

A message from Professor Kenneth Judy, read during the ceremony by Dr Ogunsalu, described the university’s establishment as the culmination of years of work to secure acceptance and financial support for the project.

“A significant milestone has been reached,” Judy said in the prepared message, noting that there had been “many obstacles along the way”.

The ceremony also included the unveiling of sections of the university complex.

Among them was the Legacy Building Dental Hospital, unveiled by Rodriguez, as well as the Professor Ken Judy Building, which houses the Dental Polyclinic and administrative facilities. The latter was unveiled by Suzuki in recognition of Judy’s contribution to dentistry and dental education.

The Caribbean Implantology Training Institute was also highlighted during the tour, with a section dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Carl Misch, an internationally recognised figure in implant dentistry.

Officials indicated that contracts have been awarded for additional refurbishing of the facilities, with work expected to progress ahead of January.