The U.S. Embassy, Kingston is pleased to announce the start of the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) 2025 Grants Program. The application process involves two rounds: In Round 1, we will collect project ideas in the form of concept notes, due Friday; January 10, 2025, to kingstongrants@state.gov. In Round 2, short-listed applicants with promising ideas will be invited to submit full project applications, due in April 2025.
Eva Lewis is a Director of Citi (Jamaica) with 36 years of experience in the Jamaican Banking industry. Eva currently holds the position of CCO and BCMA Head of Citi Jamaica leading a team of 56 employees. Eva has played substantive and, in some cases, lead roles in many large signature transactions executed by the Citi Jamaica franchise. Eva joined the Bank in 1987 and throughout her career with Citi Jamaica has held the positions of Country Treasurer and Corporate Finance Head. Eva was appointed Citi Country Officer effective March 31, 2017.
Eva currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and the Jamaica Bankers Association as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. She is also a director of AMCHAM Jamaica. Eva is a member and a Past Chair of the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) a Sub Committee of the United Way of Jamaica and is also a member of the International Women’s Forum (Jamaica chapter) which focuses on supporting and developing leadership in women globally. Eva is also a director of the board of the Edna Manley Foundation for the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica and sits on the Advisory board of CorpCare an ESG advisory consulting company.
Eva is a St. Lucian National and holds an MBA from Temple University, Philadelphia, and a BSc. (Hons) in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Eva is married to Allan, and they have 3 daughters.
Vice President & General Manager, Caribbean — Excelerate Energy
Verona Carter is a seasoned business strategist and communications leader with over two decades of expertise spanning finance, energy, tourism, and private equity. As Vice President & General Manager, Caribbean with Excelerate Energy (EE), she leads commercial strategy, stakeholder relations, and regulatory engagement across the region.
Ms. Carter was part of the leadership team that engineered the May 2025 divestment of New Fortress Energy Jamaica — a landmark US $1.055 billion acquisition by Excelerate. In her current role, she oversees the company’s assets and infrastructure, cultivates strategic partnerships, enhances brand visibility, and navigates complex governmental and stakeholder landscapes.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Carter played a key role in founding Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMBGL) and contributed to the communications effort during Marriott International’s US $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Within Marriott’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio, she helped launch marquee brands including Ritz‑Carlton, BVLGARI, EDITION, and AC Hotels. She also led global communications for Marriott’s Luxury & Lifestyles division and spearheaded expansion efforts in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Among her notable achievements, Ms. Carter successfully managed the public launch of the region’s first Combined Heat and Power plant in Jamaica, organized CEO-level summits such as the World Economic Forum and Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, co-created the Marriott International’s Luxury Council, and developed high-impact corporate philanthropy strategies focused on community development and national growth
A recognized subject-matter expert on the Caribbean, Ms. Carter holds a leadership presence spanning public affairs, brand strategy, policy, and stakeholder management. She serves on Jamaica’s Energy Council, and is an alumna of Kensington College of Business, London.
Karoline Smith serves as the General Manager of Sol Jamaica SRL, Texaco Licensee a prominent organization in the oil and gas industry. With over 20 years of leadership experience spanning Petroleum Marketing & Sales, Customer Service, Hospitality Management, Public Relations, and Human Resources, Karoline is a dynamic, innovative, and people-oriented professional with a passion for excellence.
Karoline joined Sol in July 2013 and has held key roles, including Retail & Promotions Manager, where she was based in Barbados and oversaw Sol’s network of service stations under the Esso and Sol brands. She also spearheaded the successful launch of the Shell & Pennzoil Lubricants brands across Sol’s Western Caribbean markets, showcasing her expertise in brand development and market expansion.
A proud alumna of Titchfield High School and Cornell University, Karoline has cultivated a strong academic foundation that complements her professional achievements. Beyond her corporate responsibilities, she is an active contributor to the business community, serving on the Boards of the American Chamber of Commerce, Jamaica where she once chaired the Energy and Renewables Committee, and The Jamaica Association of Petroleum Marketers (JAPM).
Karoline’s commitment to service extends to her involvement in the Lions Club of New Kingston, an international charitable organization. Her dedication has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellow award for humanitarian services, as well as awards for Lion of the Year, President of the Year, and Leo Advisor of the Year.
Deeply family-oriented and guided by her Christian faith, Karoline is an active member of her church’s Guest Experience team. She draws strength from her favorite verse, Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
In her personal time, she is dedicated to philanthropic endeavors, finds relaxation in watching television, and seeks inspiration through reading motivational and uplifting literature.
Karoline exemplifies a blend of professional excellence, community service, and personal integrity, making her a respected leader in her professional and personal life.
Stephen Price is Vice President & General Manager for Flow, Flow Business and C&W Business in Jamaica. He is also Chairman of the Flow Foundation.
An experienced Operations Director and Sales Distribution Strategist with more than 20 years in the telecommunications industry, a track record of success in capturing market share and delivering on P&L performance growth, Stephen has been leading the 1200+ team at the Jamaica arm of Liberty Latin America since 2017. His dedication to ensuring sustainable business performance and futureproof operations has resulted in bold changes to both brands since the start of his tenure.
Under his leadership, the company has made significant strides to enable almost island-wide access to telecommunication services, with emphasis on bridging the digital gap in rural communities.
Stephen’s vision is to power Jamaica on a fully-fibre, high-speed network and as such, he launched
Project Blue Home as a proactive approach to network rehabilitation and modernisation. His commitment to industry development has also brought renewed focus to Western Jamaica for the delivery of improved mobile and fixed network performance to support the tourism, hospitality and business process outsourcing sectors.
Stephen is an advocate for stellar customer experience, an area he worked in early in his career, which has propelled him to bring about continuous operational optimisations, including faster install and repair times, and a better overall connectivity experience for residential and business customers. Additionally, he has overseen the introduction of superior customer value propositions to support and enable Jamaicans in their quest for progress.
Prior to his appointment to Country Manager, Stephen was Vice President of Retail Sales & Distribution where he led the island-wide expansion of the retail footprint and consistently improved in-store customer experience metrics. He successfully launched the first interactive in-store bill payment kiosk, which significantly reduced customer queues and wait times, leading to continued improvement in Net Promoter Scores – a key independent customer satisfaction metric. He was also a member of the leadership ‘quartette’ that introduced the ground-breaking mobile rate drop that disrupted the market in Jamaica.
Stephen has a strong record of service in the community which includes his role as a Director of the Cable and Wireless Charitable Foundation, his work as a Justice of the Peace for the Parish of St. Andrew and as an Ambassador for the Governor General’s I Believe Initiative. He is also a Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Jamaica (AMCHAM), a Director of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) and a former Commercial Director of ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2017 Inc.
A St. George’s College alumnus, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Technology and has completed the Cable Executive Management Programme through Harvard Business School Executive Education.
Stephen is married to former Senator and former Chief of Staff in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Imani Duncan-Price, and they have three children.
Paul is a Partner in the firm, Nunes, Scholefield, DeLeon & Co. Commercial Department. His clientele includes major telecommunications companies, mobile providers, lenders and borrowers and international banks. Over the years, he has specialised in telecommunications, pensions and superannuation funds as well as mergers and acquisitions representing both vendors and purchasers.
Paul is the Treasurer of the Chinese Benevolent Association of Jamaica (CBAJ) and a member of its Management Committee. He is a director of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ)’s National Crime Prevention Fund Limited, and a Director of Alligator Head (Jamaica) Limited. He is also a director of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM), and a member of the Finance Committee of AMCHAM.
Paul is a member of the Jamaican Bar Association (JAMBAR) and a contributor to the World Bank Doing Business Series and the AMCHAM Investment Guide. In addition, Paul is a member of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica.
Affiliation or membership of organisations including companies or charities
Email: ptai@nsdco.com
LL.B. – Bachelor of Arts – History, 1996 , LL.B. – Bachelor of Laws, 1999
LEC – Legal Education Certificate, 2001 , Euromoney Legal Training , Advanced Loan Documentation
Commercial Transactions & Advice
Corporate Governance
Compliance, Work Permits & Immigration
Employment & Labour Relations
Pensions and Employee Benefits
Structured & Project Finance
Telecommunications and Technology
Derrick Nembhard spent what can be considered as his formative years in London, England where he later studied at Kingston University, Surrey England and received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics.
On his return to Jamaica, he was involved with International Rice Company of Jamaica, a local enterprise that was set up in the early 1980’s as part of the country’s foreign exchange substitution policy. This company was later taken over by Comet Rice of Jamaica a subsidiary of American Rice out of Texas, USA.
Comet Rice of Jamaica later closed their operations at which time Mr. Nembhard took responsibility of the entity along with Jamaican partners and traded under the name Jamaica Rice Milling Company Ltd.
Jamaica Rice Milling was purchased in 2002 by Archer Daniels Midland, the parent company of Jamaica Flour Mills and Mr. Nembhard was asked to join the new company as its first Commercial Manager.
In January 2007 Mr. Nembhard was promoted to the position of Managing Director of both Jamaica Flour Mills and Jamaica Rice Milling becoming JFM’s first Jamaican MD in its 40 year existence.
Mr. Nembhard is married and has three sons and enjoys reading, hunting, watching and playing various sports.
Ian Garfield McKinley Forbes was educated at Jamaica College, Mico University College, University of the West Indies – Mona and University of Technology. He holds a Teacher’s College Certificate, Certificate in Management Studies and a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration (BBA).
Mr. Forbes retired from Sherwin Williams in January 2023 after serving as Managing Director for 21 ½ years. During his tenure, Sherwin Williams became the leading Paint and coatings company in Jamaica. He has over 30 years of experience in Sales & Marketing having worked at Grace Kennedy & Company Ltd., Jamaica Biscuit Company and Facey Commodity Limited. Mr. Forbes was also a member of the teaching profession having taught English and Physical Education at Jamaica College during the period 1979-1982.
He is presently Manager of the Manning Cup Football Team and member of the Track and Field Management Team. He presently serves as Chairman of the Sports Development Committee at Jamaica College. Mr. Forbes was the recipient of the Carlton Alexander Memorial Award in 1995 and the Carreras Sports Foundation Award in 1999. He also received the University of Technology Distinguished Past Student of the Year Award 2003.
Mr. Forbes is also the recipient of the Jamaica Institute of Management/Gleaner Company Manager of the Year award in 2012.
In 2013 he was conferred with the Order Of Distinction Officer Class (OD) and in 2017 Order Of Distinction Commander Classs(CD).He has been serving as a Justice Of The Peace since June 2008. He was sworn in as Custos Rotulorum For The Parish Of St.Andrew in January 2022.
Mr. Forbes is a member of the following boards: Jamaica College, Rotary Club Of Manor Park, United Way of Jamaica. He is the 1st Vice President of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association, Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Institute Of Sports, Past Chairman of the White Marl Primary School & Junior High and a trustee of the Jamaica Employers Federation.
Mr. Forbes is an active member of several clubs and societies. He is Past Vice-President of the Advertisers’ Association of Jamaica (AAJ) He is the 1st Vice-President of Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association. He is a certified International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) Track & Field Official who has managed several Jamaican Track & Field Teams to overseas meets, his most recent assignments being Assistant Team Manager to the Jamaica Team to the Olympic Games in Tokyo Japan(2020/21) and the 2017 World Championship in Athletics in London, England. He was also Assistant Manager of Jamaica’s Team to the 2009 World Championship in Athletics in Berlin, Germany and also the Assistant Manager of Jamaica’s Team to the 28th Olympiad in Athens, Greece in August 2004. Mr. Forbes was the Assistant Competition Director for the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) World Junior Track & Field Championship held in Jamaica July 16-21, 2002 and Manager of Jamaica’s Team to IAAF World Youth Track & Field Championships in Sherbrooke, Canada in 2003. He is a member of the Kingston Cricket Club and the Liguanea Club.
He is married to Lana and has two (2) daughters, Kimberley and Melissa, Grandaughters Isabelle and Madelyn and Grandson Noah.
Mr. Michael Subratie is the Executive Chairman of MJS Industrial Park Limited – Jamaica’s largest Special Economic Zone which currently employs over 5,000 workers.
Michael is also the Managing Director of T. Geddes Grant (Distributors) Limited as well as the Chief Operating Officer / Director of the Musson Group of Companies in charge of Musson’s manufacturing & trading business entities. Michael is a director of the Seprod Group of Companies where he focuses on Seprod’s property development.
Michael has served on several government boards including the Urban Development Corporation, Jamaica Urban Transit Company, Jamaica Railway Corporation, Montego Freeport Limited and the former Pegasus Hotel. He also sits on the board of the American Chamber of Commerce, and he is the Honorary Consul of Bangladesh.
On November 1, 2016, Michael was appointed as Dean of The Consular Corps of Jamaica. In his capacity as Dean, Michael represents over 47 countries that do not have resident ambassadors in Jamaica.
Michael is an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). Mr. Subratie holds both a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering with highest honor from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering from Purdue University. As the former Managing Director at CD Alexander since 2007, Michael maintains his status as a certified Real Estate agent from UTech in 2007.
Michael also specializes in new venture development. He has started several businesses including Hot Shots Limited, Jamaica Juice, Hurry Curry, Reefside Limited & most recently Mi Island limited.
In May 2021, Michael completed a General Management Program for senior executives at Wharton having completed the latest courses in Negotiation & Influence, Driving Growth through Strategic Partnerships, Corporate Valuation, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Mastering Innovation: From Idea to Value Creation.
Mr. Derrick Reckord has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of GraceKennedy Foods (USA) LLC since January 1, 2018, leading the successful expansion and growth of that business. Mr. Reckord joined GraceKennedy in 1987 as a management trainee and quickly established himself as a senior manager within the Group. During his time with the Company Mr. Reckord has been instrumental in developing and growing GK’s business in the US. Prior to his latest appointment he served as Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations on the acquisition of the La Fe business in 2014.
Derrick has built a sterling career in international marketing and trade and was instrumental in developing GraceKenedy’s export business in the Caribbean, Africa, the USA and Europe in his former role as General Manager of Grace Foods International/Grace Exports. During his tenure, Grace Foods International became one of the most successful businesses in GraceKennedy and enjoyed many public recognition.
Derrick was educated at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA where he gained a Bachelor of Arts (High Honors) Degree in Economics and Columbia University in New York, where he obtained his Masters in Business Administration. He is an avid golfer, and a member of the Weston Hills Golf Club in Florida
Ann-Dawn Young Sang is a performance-driven, self-motivated, C-Suite Executive and out-of-box leader, with over 25 years of experience in the fields of Executive and General Management, Accounting, Financial and Business Development. She maintains a solid record of success throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, working for multinational conglomerate companies driving revenue growth; consistently exceeding profit targets; identifying and introducing new business opportunities, and cultivating strategic partnerships globally as the lead negotiator with Heads of Government, States, CEOs, and other influencers.
A dynamic and savvy leader, Ann-Dawn is the Founder and CEO of AYS Global Consults Ltd., a consulting firm that provides business advisory services to its clients in the areas of strategic development, business plans, operational improvements/restructuring/change management, executive coaching, project services, to name a few of the services offered. She also assists and works with SMEs in taking thoughts/ideas through development and process to successful execution.
Deeply committed to people, service and nation-building, she serves as the President of the American Chamber of Commerce Jamaica Chapter, where under her leadership, the chamber signed its first MOU with the U.S. Embassy. Ann-Dawn also sits on the Board of several private sector companies and non-private sector institutions, such as the National Education Trust (NET), Jamaica; Chair of HiLo Advisory Committee; Transformed Life Church- Audit Chair; Rotary Club of Manor Park (Immediate Past President) Jamaica and she is also a member of International Women’s Forum (IWF) Jamaica. She has spoken in various capacities at several International and local conferences on a variety of topics.
Ann-Dawn also previously held the role of President & CEO of Supreme Ventures Ltd. – the first female to hold that office. Over the course of her tenure, she oversaw the growth of the company, restructuring, rebranded and streamlined its operations. Prior to that, she served as the Regional Vice President with responsibility for the Caribbean region and the US Virgin Islands, at International Gaming Technology (IGT), one of the world’s largest gaming technology companies. Her distinguished 16+year career with IGT saw her being promoted to several senior C-Suite positions demonstrating her tenacity and strong skills set. She pioneered several programmes and initiatives, as well as secured a number of long-term U.S. multi-million dollar contracts in several countries; implemented several strategic growth strategies that resulted in the generation and maintenance of healthy profit growth year over year within the countries and businesses under her portfolio.
Ann-Dawn holds a Masters’ Degree in International Business and Finance from Fordham University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Finance from The New York Institute of Technology. She has completed several Executive Management Programmes, including The Global Strategic Management course at the Harvard Business School, Executive Programme. Ann-Dawn also holds the CPA designation and is a certified Scrum Master. She is married for 24 years and has two children.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Vice President & General Manager, Caribbean — Excelerate Energy
Verona Carter is a seasoned business strategist and communications leader with over two decades of expertise spanning finance, energy, tourism, and private equity. As Vice President & General Manager, Caribbean with Excelerate Energy (EE), she leads commercial strategy, stakeholder relations, and regulatory engagement across the region.
Ms. Carter was part of the leadership team that engineered the May 2025 divestment of New Fortress Energy Jamaica — a landmark US $1.055 billion acquisition by Excelerate. In her current role, she oversees the company’s assets and infrastructure, cultivates strategic partnerships, enhances brand visibility, and navigates complex governmental and stakeholder landscapes.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Carter played a key role in founding Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMBGL) and contributed to the communications effort during Marriott International’s US $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Within Marriott’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio, she helped launch marquee brands including Ritz‑Carlton, BVLGARI, EDITION, and AC Hotels. She also led global communications for Marriott’s Luxury & Lifestyles division and spearheaded expansion efforts in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Among her notable achievements, Ms. Carter successfully managed the public launch of the region’s first Combined Heat and Power plant in Jamaica, organized CEO-level summits such as the World Economic Forum and Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, co-created the Marriott International’s Luxury Council, and developed high-impact corporate philanthropy strategies focused on community development and national growth
A recognized subject-matter expert on the Caribbean, Ms. Carter holds a leadership presence spanning public affairs, brand strategy, policy, and stakeholder management. She serves on Jamaica’s Energy Council, and is an alumna of Kensington College of Business, London.
Eva Lewis is a Director of Citi (Jamaica) with 36 years of experience in the Jamaican Banking industry. Eva currently holds the position of CCO and BCMA Head of Citi Jamaica leading a team of 56 employees. Eva has played substantive and, in some cases, lead roles in many large signature transactions executed by the Citi Jamaica franchise. Eva joined the Bank in 1987 and throughout her career with Citi Jamaica has held the positions of Country Treasurer and Corporate Finance Head. Eva was appointed Citi Country Officer effective March 31, 2017.
Eva currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and the Jamaica Bankers Association as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. She is also a director of AMCHAM Jamaica. Eva is a member and a Past Chair of the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) a Sub Committee of the United Way of Jamaica and is also a member of the International Women’s Forum (Jamaica chapter) which focuses on supporting and developing leadership in women globally. Eva is also a director of the board of the Edna Manley Foundation for the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica and sits on the Advisory board of CorpCare an ESG advisory consulting company.
Eva is a St. Lucian National and holds an MBA from Temple University, Philadelphia, and a BSc. (Hons) in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Eva is married to Allan, and they have 3 daughters.
Allison Peart is the Managing Director of A. Peart Advisory Services in Jamaica, bringing over 30 years of extensive experience in public accounting. Her career began in Toronto with KPMG’s audit practice, where she specialized in Financial Institutions. She later joined EY’s International Tax Practice, gaining valuable experience in Toronto and New York before being tasked with establishing EY’s practice in Jamaica, where she served as Managing Partner for a decade.
A graduate of the University of Toronto, Allison holds a major in Chemistry and a minor in Commerce. She is a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant, with a wealth of expertise in audit, management, and advisory services. Her career has seen her set up tax structures in various jurisdictions, including Canada, the US, the Caribbean, Hungary, and Luxembourg.
Allison has been a significant contributor to the profession’s development, having facilitated Part I and Part II of the In-Depth Tax Program on Canadian Taxation for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Canada (CICA). She also presented the CICA In-depth Part III International Tax Course in Canada. In recognition of her contributions, she was selected as one of sixty-nine members out of 100,000 to receive the prestigious Fellow designation from CPA Ontario in 2017, the highest honor in the profession.
Her client portfolio spans a wide range of industries, including retail, distribution, manufacturing, mining, banking, insurance, and hospitality, across regions such as the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, the US, and Europe. Allison has also played a pivotal role in tax reform in Jamaica, serving on various committees, including the Matalon Tax Policy Review Committee. She worked closely with the IMF to create a Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica and the Tax Administration of Jamaica to enhance collaboration on tax matters.
Allison is also a recognized voice in the media, providing tax commentary on radio and television in Jamaica. She has moderated and presented at numerous high-profile seminars, including those organized by the American Chamber of Commerce, the US State Department, CPA Canada, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, and the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
In addition to her professional achievements, Allison is deeply committed to community service. In 2014 during her tenure as the President of the Rotary Club of Kingston, she led the construction of Jamaica BizTown, a mini-city designed to teach financial literacy and work readiness to Grade 5 students, impacting over 15,000 students annually. She also conceptualized and assisted the University of the West Indies in developing a work-study Co-Op program for accounting students, ensuring they graduate with valuable work experience.
Memberships & Affiliations