Joseph Issa on 2016 Independence Honours List

Popular Businessman Joe Issa On 2016 Independence Honours List Mr. Joseph John ISSA, popularly called Joe Issa of Mammie Bay, St. Ann, has been named for appointment as Member of the Order of Distinction�" in the rank of Commander (CD), for outstanding contribution to business development and philanthropy.

The award was conferred on the occasion of the 54th Anniversary of Independence, by His Excellency The Governor-General, the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Linton Allen ON, GCMG, CD, KSt.J, “acting in accordance with the Regulations made under Section 7 of the National Honours and Awards Act, and on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, MP,” according to a release by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS). The appointment to the Orders of the Societies of Honour took effect from Independence Day, Saturday, the 6th August 2016.

The hugely popular St. Ann resident could not be contacted for comments on his recent appointment, but a high-ranking employee of his Cool Group of companies said the award was “long in coming” and “fitting” due to his “huge contribution to business and philanthropy in the parish and the country.”

According to a North Coast Times article, Issa headed the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce for two years before resigning in 1999 and leaving a legacy of strong leadership and advocacy, but continues his work in the parish as a member of the chamber’s Past Presidents Advisory Committee (PPAC), advocating for a business-friendly environment, among other issues affecting the parish.

During his tenure, Issa was famously appointed by the islands 13 chambers of commerce to negotiate with the government to roll back a tax on businesses for street lights, which he successfully accomplished, thereby averting a clash between the authorities and members of the business community, who had threatened to march to the Jamaican parliament in opposition to the cess.

In 1995, Issa established the Cool Oasis gas station in Ocho Rios, which became the catalyst for the establishment of over 50 Cool-branded companies today, employing hundreds of workers. One of the companies, Cool Card, is believed to have created business opportunities for thousands of citizens in the parish and around the island.

Issa’s successful business strategies have been likened to those of colleague, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group of over 400 companies, and has played a leading role as a mentor of the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship �" the Caribbean based in Montego Bay, which has enabled the development of hundreds of young local entrepreneurs.

Issa, a multi-award winner locally and internationally for his business principles and strategies, is said to have played a meaningful role as a board member of several large companies including Supreme Ventures and First Global Bank. The numerous plaques on his office wall show the latest Corporate Award to Cool Corporation by the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce for his “outstanding service in good corporate principles and his involvement and support for civic and community activities.”

Through Cool Charities, a subsidiary of Cool Corporation headquartered in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Issa has rendered much civic assistance in education. The ‘Educate the Children Fund’ which he founded while at the London School of Economics (LSE) in the United Kingdom, helped raise over £3,000 to purchase Mathematics and English textbooks for students in Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.

Also, his ‘Global Education 2000’, which focuses on the physical improvement of schools, increasing literacy among young children and fostering better relations between schools and the communities in which they exist and their counterparts in the US, has benefitted several schools and teachers through exchange programmes.

Upon returning from university, Issa established what is now the Cool Charities/Holy Cross Scholarship Fund which, along with other educational programmes, the Observer newspaper described as “a cool half million a month to education.”

The scholarship programme, which started out targeting beneficiaries from the company, also includes a project called Computers 3000 Education Programme, which donates air conditioning units and computers to an educational institution, thereby giving more students access to the worldwide web, according to the newspaper.

Cool Corp, which is said to have pledged to continue demonstrating a keen interest in the future of young people, said it would continue to contribute $500,000 each month towards their education, the paper adds.