Growth & Jobs | From aspiration to access

There was a time in Jamaica’s not-too-distant past when owning assets such as a car was more than a convenience. It was a public marker of stability and success, one that remained out of reach for the majority.

Growing up in rural communities between Portland and St Mary, veteran trade unionist, Leonard Sewell, remembers that reality clearly. Back then, car ownership, in particular, was rare but it was something he dreamt of achieving one day. In those days, people who owned cars were in a class by themselves.

“When I was growing up in Highgate, it was the established families, the ones with recognised ‘brand’ names who owned cars. There were two families that had motor vehicles that didn’t even want their children to talk to us or walk with us from school,” he recalled, noting that those early experiences shaped his outlook on work, discipline and progress.

Decades later, Sewell achieved that dream but for him this personal achievement reflected determination and persistence rather than status or seeing himself as better than others.

“Owning a car now makes me feel like I’m a rich guy in Jamaica because what I paid for my car today, they would have paid like $25,000 for their vehicle,” he said. “When I go to my district now, the people say to me, ‘Mr. Sewell, we feel pleased’.”

Getting to this point, however, was not easy. As a young man, Sewell left school at a time when economic opportunities were limited and upward mobility uncertain.

“After leaving school, I learnt bodywork at an autobody shop, but I couldn’t get along with the welders, so I asked my father to help me get a job at Highgate Food Products where I worked for a number of years,” he shared.

He became a permanent staff member at the factory on February 1, 1988, moving up the ranks from machine operator to senior departmental operator, a supervisory role, within three years. However, in 1996, he was made redundant during a company restructuring.

“During 1992 to 1996, I was a union delegate. After I lost my job that same year, the union brought me on as an organiser, and that’s where my trade union career took off,” he shared highlighting that his involvement in the industrial relations movement has since placed him at the centre of national conversations around workers’ rights, fair wages and financial inclusion.

“As a trade unionist, I lobby for workers. I’m involved in contract negotiations; if employees are unfairly dismissed or suspended illegally, I handle that too. I’ve worked with employees in construction, agriculture, health, postal services, security, education, utilities,” he noted, adding, “It’s good when you can help people in this fashion. Sometimes it’s not about the money, it’s about helping others.”

Sewell has owned multiple cars since his professional setbacks and for his 61st birthday, he made his biggest upgrade yet to an SUV, financed through a JN Bank unsecured loan. He had accessed the loan digitally via the JN Financial Group’s ONE JN Passport app. The ONE JN Passport, available in the app stores and online, enables users to provide their personal information once to the JN Group, then use it multiple times to access financial services, such as JN Bank unsecured loans, credit cards or everyday transactional and regular savings accounts. In time, it will also offer access to the services and products of other companies in the JN Financial Group.

“It was so easy and economical,” he said pointing out how the app made things quicker by cutting out the usual paperwork, long wait times and back-and-forth with the bank. “I would encourage others like me, looking for financial support, to go to JN Bank because JN is the people’s bank.”

A long-standing JN member, Sewell said his latest vehicle fits perfectly with his lifestyle, while helping him meet his professional demands, especially on off-road terrains.

“If I’m going into the cane fields or the banana fields, I don’t have to worry because it’s really a good vehicle. This vehicle enhances my everyday movement and living,” he said.