On March 22, 2002, business mogul Michael Lee-Chin’s family gathered at the Ministry of Finance at National Heroes’ Circle to witness him purchase the National Commercial Bank (NCB). The family had come full circle from the 60s when Lee-Chin’s father was denied a job as a teller at a major bank in Jamaica because of the colour of his skin. The factors that made the NCB acquisition possible 20 years later, would frame Lee-Chin’s acceptance speech at the 28th PSOJ Hall of Fame ceremony.

Lee-Chin joins an illustrious group of inductees which include Thalia Lyn, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Richard Byles, and Glen Christian. Several Hall of Famers, as well as family, and friends, joined Lee-Chin at the Jamaica Pegasus ballroom last Thursday, for an evening of celebration.

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“It is my absolute pleasure to be here with you all at the induction of a truly remarkable Jamaican who has blazed a trail globally to become one of Jamaica’s most globally famous, successful citizens who has remained true to his Jamaican roots… There are three characteristics that we look for in a Hall of Famer: Successful entrepreneur, demonstrate strong and inspiring leadership, and solid character. Mike without a doubt, displays all three in abundance,” said PSOJ President Keith Duncan in his opening remarks.

Lee-Chin’s brother Wayne Chen led the evening’s proceedings, sharing childhood memories at intervals. “We didn’t have a lot of toys, but we had a lot of books,” said Chen as he detailed how a young Lee-Chin would look through books and magazines, eager to figure out which careers were the highest earners.

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The evening included dinner — a three-course meal created by the Pegasus culinary staff — and entertainment by Dwight Richards. But Lee-Chin’s formal induction remained the main event.

Born in Port Antonio, Lee-Chin is a son of the soil. After high school, he worked on a cruise ship before being accepted into the civil engineering programme at McMaster University in Canada. After a year in school, the freshman ran into financial difficulties, and wrote to then prime minister of Jamaica Hugh Shearer requesting a scholarship. His request was honoured and Lee-Chin went on to complete his studies. He returned to Jamaica to work with the Government as a civil engineer before going back to Canada to explore a career in finance.

The scholarship granted to Lee-Chin has indeed paid dividends for Jamaica! The NCB Financial Group has created wealth and continues to be a primary corporate contributor to Jamaica’s tax revenue base. Additionally, the NCB Foundation has donated over $2.4 billion to philanthropic causes.

In his acceptance speech Lee-Chin said there were several factors that made it all possible. “Govern your life by framework; it will prevent you from making decisions that are emotionally based… Success is a function of the 3 Ps: Predict, Plan, and Passion. His most recent execution of the 3 Ps, he said, was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) and Lee-Chin’s Portland Holdings Limited to address the world’s climate and health challenges.

The billionaire businessman says he predicted the need for clean energy. “Every country has or will have a carbon net-zero aspiration, but few have the soultions,” the visionary explained. He says he predicted the need, made a plan, and now has bragging rights as the first private sector company to sign an MOU with a nuclear company. No idle boast!

The 28th hall of fame ceremony wrapped with “Grammy kid” Koffee taking the stage.