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Massy United Insurance Ltd., officially entered the general insurance market in Jamaica with the official launch of its branch there last Wednesday. Massy United Insurance Ltd. is among the top five Regional Property and Casualty Insurance Companies in the Caribbean operating in nineteen territories in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. MUI has established a strong reputation for customer service and responsiveness and this along with our A.M. Best A- (Excellent) rating, for thirteen consecutive years, has positioned the company to be a formidable force in the wider Caribbean.
The Jamaican operation, which has been in business since last November, is headed by Winsome Gibbs, a chartered insurer, who will also oversee the company’s operations in the Cayman Islands.The company hosted an event to formally launch the Jamaica office which was attended by executives of Massy from Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados, the local General Insurance Industry and affiliated business partners. The Honourable Dr. Nigel Clarke, Minister of Finance and the Public Service along with Randy Graham – MUI CEO and other MUI and Massy executives, cut the ribbon to officially open the MUI office in PanJam Building, 60 Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston.

Massy Stores distributes over 70,000 free reusable bags regionally in its #NoPlastic drive

Massy Stores is conscious of how our actions impact the environment. Across the region, we promoted the use of environmentally friendly reusable bags by introducing a nominal fee on single use plastic bags to share the responsibility, with our customers, of reducing the distribution of plastic in the environment. To date, utilization of single-use plastic bags has reduced by as much as 60%-90% across our stores.

The #NoPlastic initiative also included a more focused drive to recycle waste. In Trinidad and Tobago, we partnered with Kansmacker International to install reverse vending machines at key locations. These machines enable the proper disposal and recycling of plastic and glass bottles, as well as aluminium cans and reward customers with Massy points. Similarly, in Barbados, a recycling trailer was installed at one of our largest supermarket locations to facilitate recycling of plastics, aluminum cans and glass bottles. In St. Lucia, we also offered Massy points to customers who surrendered plastic and glass waste at the weekend recycling pop-up depots located outside our stores. Through the pilot phase of the project 5.3 metric tons of waste was recovered.

Massy Stores has also been reducing the use of Styrofoam packaging across our regional operations. While the legislated ban in Guyana and St. Vincent & The Grenadines has already ensured the complete elimination of Styrofoam in those territories, our other regional operations have voluntarily begun the transition in this direction. Sourcing appropriate biodegradable packaging is a process already in train.

Education and collaboration continue to fuel the change in the communities we touch across the Caribbean.

Sidebar Quote:
“We acknowledge that we may not get the desired end-result in one day. Full implementation across all territories and across all 49 locations will take time. We can only achieve this goal through a phased approach as there are many aspects involved. We remain committed to doing our part, sharing best practices across the region, listening to our stakeholders and collaborating with our diverse, valued customers to be A Force for Good.”
-Thomas Pantin, Chairman, Retail Line of Business, Massy Group

Gallery Description 

On World Earth Day (April 22, 2018), Massy Stores announces its deepened commitment to reducing the distribution of plastic bags at all Massy Stores locations across the five countries in which it operates – Barbados, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago –  *to reduce the negative environmental effects of plastic waste in the Caribbean.

In order to mitigate the dangerous effects of plastics on the environment, research has indicated that two solutions can be used, i.e. increase the manufacturing of biodegradable plastics and continuously engage in recycling.   

Massy Stores has used both initiatives to reduce the negative environmental effects of plastic waste and has begun to procure biodegradable bags. The company has also partnered with recycling companies, such as Plastikeep in Trinidad and Tobago, which focuses on the collection and exportation of plastic waste.

As the world tries to solve its dependency on plastics and counter major environmental effects, Massy Stores has taken great strides to find a permanent solution to reduce plastic waste and its demand for plastic bags.  Thomas Pantin, Executive Chairman, of Massy’s Retail Line of Business said, “W e started to take a closer look at the negative impact of plastic waste a few years ago. As a responsible, leading retailer we are determined to play a role in the reduction of waste. Along with citizens of every Caribbean country in which we operate, we are collectively accountable for actions which impact the future of the Caribbean.”

Mr. Pantin continued, “We started this journey by procuring bags made of a biodegradable plastic, but it is imperative that we take a stand to reduce our overall consumption of plastic, which is why we introduced a campaign to help end ‘double bagging’.  Our focus is now on encouraging customers to bring their reusable bags, with the intention to phase out the demand for plastic bags.  International No Plastic Bag Day which is observed on July 3, will be used to activate a number of promotions across the region to support this change.”

The decision to reduce plastic waste is part of the company’s broader commitment to find ways to operate more sustainably and become more environmentally friendly. Across the region, Massy Stores has begun changing its lighting systems to LED to reduce energy consumption.  In Barbados, at the Sunset Crest and Warrens locations, solar (photovoltaic) systems have already been installed. Frere Delmas, Country Manager, Massy Barbados said, “We have even started to reduce consumption of paper by utilizing paperless statements for customers who use Massy Card Credit Cards.” 

In St. Lucia and St. Vincent, Massy Stores has already switched to ozone-friendly gas to fuel the air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. Additionally, Massy Stores in both territories has replaced Styrofoam packaging with biodegradable product packaging. In Barbados, the removal of Styrofoam packaging is at 65% implementation, and in Trinidad and Tobago, pilot programs have started with full implementation expected in the latter half of 2018. 

Mr. Pantin said, “We acknowledge that we may not get the desired end-result in one day.  Full implementation across all territories and across all 49 locations will take time.  We can only achieve this goal through a phased approach, as there are many aspects involved. We remain committed to doing our part, sharing best practices across the region, listening to our stakeholders and collaborating with our diverse, valued customers to be A Force for Good.”