The last thing you will find many people doing is working for free and they will not be caught giving anything away. Such people will occupy positions in society but will leave no memorable marks when they depart, and they are often forgotten as quickly as they were known.
One exception to the general rule that people are not normally selfless and committed to making a difference in the lives of communities at both the business and social levels, is Ocho Rios businessman Joe Issa.
Issa rose to prominence when he created academic history at university abroad, carved an impressive career and began establishing charities to help fund a book-buying programme for under-privileged Jamaican school children.
His popularity soared when he established his own business, became more involved in sponsoring community sports and founded more charities to provide a wider variety of assistance to school children and their classrooms.
With all his business innovations and charitable initiatives, Issa was elected unopposed to the presidency of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce, which advocates for the business and social interests of the parish. When, two years later he decided not to seek another term he left a huge void for his successor to fill.
The influential body routinely meets with businesses in the parish to discuss issues affecting them and to find solutions. Issa was said to be good at that; he was always anticipated and welcomed and his views highly accepted and favored.
The islands 13 chambers of commerce also take collective positions on issues of national interest and it is at this level that Issa would play his most critical and memorable role by representing the body in a dispute with the government.
As a qualified national mediator with more hours of training under his belt than is required, Issa has been successful in previous mediating roles, such as in the disputes between taxi drivers and coaster buses, hotels and craft vendors, as well as between the island’s major cruise ship ports.
With all this experience, Issa successfully averted a faceoff between the government and the islands chambers of commerce, which had threatened to march to the House of Parliament if it refuses to roll back the tax on streetlights that businesses would have to pay.
Businessman Joe Issa Points To Jamaica’s New Economic Policy Direction https://joeissahelping.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/businessman-joe-issa-points-to-jamaicas-new-economic-policy-direction/
Joe Issa – Cool Cards, a success story https://joeissasuccess.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/cool-cards-a-success-story/
‘If IMF is Right’: Joe Issa Says Looming Global Troubles Could Wrong Jamaica’s Continued Growth http://myblogsonjoeissa.blogspot.com/2017/11/if-imf-is-right-joe-issa-says-looming.html
Joe Issa Backs Government to Improve Diagnostic Capability and Treatment for Viral Infections https://www.playbuzz.com/winstonm10/joe-issa-backs-government-to-improve-diagnostic-capability-and-treatment-for-viral-infections
Joseph Issa Reveals New Strategy to Reduce Crime: Build More Prisons! https://winstonssite.wordpress.com/2018/01/29/joseph-issa-reveals-new-strategy-to-reduce-crime-build-more-prisons/
Cool Group Saddened by Untimely Passing of Brian George of Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Shiv556/1912985/
Cool Lubes Continues to Hold Market Share Despite Venezuela Woos – Joe Issa https://medium.com/@motein34/cool-lubes-continues-to-hold-market-share-despite-venezuela-woos-joe-issa-db886c68502b
Joe Issa Hails USF’s $6.5B Investment to Expand Jamaica’s ICT Sector. https://marchon44.wordpress.com/2018/01/06/joe-issa-hails-usfs-6-5b-investment-to-expand-jamaicas-ict-sector/
Joe Issa – Make Entrepreneurship the Centerpiece of Jamaica’s Education System https://dryapples.wordpress.com/2017/12/22/joe-issa-make-entrepreneurship-the-centerpiece-of-jamaicas-education-system
Joe Issa Supports Call for Smartphone Impact Research on Kids https://funandmusicinjamaicajosephissa.wordpress.com/2018/06/13/joe-issa-supports-call-for-smartphone-impact-research-on-kids/
Joe Issa – St. Lucian Politician Implements “The Issa Initiative” 14 Years Later https://joeyissajamaicaalltheway.wordpress.com/2018/06/18/joe-issa-st-lucian-politician-implements-the-issa-initiative-14-years-later/
“Joe Issa Envisioned the Chinese Coming to Jamaica’s Rescue?” https://www.playbuzz.com/fridwhite10/6b6090c1-joe-issa-envisioned-the-chinese-coming-to-jamaica-s-rescue
Joe Issa Breaking Vicious Circles through Education, Imagination https://myblogsonjoeissa.blogspot.com/2017/10/joe-issa-breaking-vicious-circles.html
Joey Issa – Cool Cards Puts $126 m In Appropriation Framework https://dingdong2190.wordpress.com/2017/11/24/joey-issa-cool-cards-puts-126-m-in-apropriation-framework/
Joseph Issa Supports Marshall Plan for Caribbean Territories https://harrybrown6846201.wordpress.com/2017/12/29/joseph-issa-supports-marshall-plan-for-caribbean-territories/
Joe Issa Supports Holness’ Call for Debt-for-Policy Swap, Not Debt Forgiveness https://marchon44.wordpress.com/2018/01/06/joe-issa-supports-holness-call-for-debt-for-policy-swap-not-debt-forgiveness/
Joseph Issa Calls For New Law in 2016 https://junesblog174568824.wordpress.com/2018/01/19/joseph-issa-calls-for-new-law-in-2016/
Famous ‘Giving Pledge’: Well Known Persons Now Signatories, Could Change Relationship between Rich and Poor – Local Philanthropist http://myblogsiteonjosephjoeyissa.blogspot.com/2017/10/famous-giving-pledge-well-known-persons.html
Joe Issa Calls For New Law in 2016 https://marchon44.wordpress.com/2017/12/01/joe-issa-calls-for-new-law-in-2016
Joe Issa – World Has Love Affair with Jamaica, Country Responding with Many Improvements https://joeissainjamaica.wordpress.com/2018/06/21/joe-issa-world-has-love-affair-with-jamaica-country-responding-with-much-improvements/
Civic Leader and Philanthropist Joe Issa, has called for new legislation in 2016 to force homeless people off the streets and into special care facilities with appropriate rehabilitation programmes and for them to be treated with dignity.IMG_0762.jpg
“It cannot be overlooked that here we are with food to eat and place to sleep while another set of human beings live on the streets on leftovers in rubbish bins and sleep on sidewalks and open spaces on cardboard,” argues Issa, who has several charities to his name. https://joeyissaadvocates.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/joe-issa-calls-for-new-law-in-2016-to-force-street-people-into-shelter-treat-with-dignity/
Joseph Issa said Braco’s unique style — it’s fashioned after an old-fashioned Jamaican village, complete with town square —is a big selling point. “It’s like going back in time,” he said. “It’s like Main Street Jamaica; what Jamaica used to be in the 1920s has been reconstructed. https://joeyissadynamic.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/lido-resorts-in-jamaica-plans-to-make-more-room/
Just as resort guests can select where and when they eat, they also can select what they eat. Both resorts pride themselves on the variety and quality of their food see more here https://josephissadynasty.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/ackee-rice-fish-on-ice-jamaica-food-is-plenty-nice/
It was a family night for Issa properties, with Joey Issa visiting from Sans Souci Lido and Cargill Brown from Jamaica Jamaica. Read more here https://josephissameeting.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/social-scene/
Infrastructure Key to Success of Jamaica’s Education System – Joe Issa https://josephissacharity.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/infrastructure-key-to-success-of-jamaicas-education-system-joe-issa/
JOE ISSA: EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT SUPERCLUBS RESORTS https://joeissasuperstars.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/joe-issa-executive-vice-president-superclubs-resorts/
Infrastructure Key to Success of Jamaica’s Education System – Joe Issa https://josephissacharity.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/infrastructure-key-to-success-of-jamaicas-education-system-joe-issa/
Acknowledging that throughout the world there is at least one day on which people willingly work for free, and Jamaicans are no exception, Philanthropist Joe Issa, says Jamaica’s Labour Day tradition must be encouraged and preserved. https://josephissastaff.wordpress.com/2016/08/23/on-labour-day-joe-issa-salutes-staff-jamaican-workers/
Eucharistic Minister Hails Jamaican Mothers, Says They Endure More than Their Fair Share
https://www.launchora.com/story/eucharistic-minister-hails-jamaican-mo-rs-says
Joe Issa Says Happy Birthday to Queen Elizabeth 11
https://www.launchora.com/story/joe-issa-says-happy-birthday-to-queen-elizabeth-1
Joe Issa Expresses Condolences, Urges Caution on St. Ann’s Death Corridor
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Shiv556/1911450/
‘Merry Christmus’: Joe Issa Greets Staff, Customers in Stylish Jamaican Patois
https://joeyissastaff.wordpress.com/2018/01/04/merry-christmus-joe-issa-greets-staff-customers-in-stylish-jamaican-patois/
Jamaica Standing Strong on Tourism Pillars despite the Challenges – Joe Issa
https://joeyissabusiness.wordpress.com/2017/06/07/jamaica-standing-strong-on-tourism-pillars-despite-the-challenges-joe-issa/