MEET OUR FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
JOSEPH L PATTERSON is a husband, father, and patriot who, like you, loves his family, community and country passionately. Mr. Patterson's vision for Jamaica is to create a peaceful, beautiful, and prosperous country, where everyone enjoys equal opportunity, equal rights, and equal justice in a free, fair, and productive society.
His experience as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Social Entrepreneur, and Good Governance Advocate reveals his commitment to accountability, equal opportunity, and integrity. These are the driving forces that fuel his passion and dedication to replace the current system that benefits a few, at the expense of the many, to one that will reward everyone according to their own efforts and abilities.
EDUCATION
St. Andrew Technical High School
Graduated 1990 with a total of 13 subjects; served as Head Boy, Student Council President, Key Club President, Literary Club Editor, Junior Achievement Vice President of Finance, Debate Team Captain, and Valedictorian; earned a full scholarship to study Electrical Engineering at UTECH.
University of Technology (UTECH)
Studied Electrical Engineering and earned a distinction in Compter Systems & Programming (1993); was twice elected Debating Society President and served as Circle K President and Founded the Associate Investors Group that taught students how to successfully trade stocks.
University of Calgary
Earned a Bachelor of Accounting Science Degree (BAccS) 2001 part-time while working full-time and building a small firm to support my young family as a new immigrant to Canada; excelled at Economics, Finance & Systems.
Chartered Professional Accountant
Earned the CPA, CGA professional designations to practice accounting and financial management services; built a life as a finance professional in consulting, tax planning and controllership services affecting over 120 countries.
WORK EXPERIENCE
1
KINGSTON TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Teacher of Mathematics, Physics and Engineering for grades 9-11 students.
2
SUGAR COMPANY OF JAMAICA
Electrical Engineer and Assistant Manager of Instrumentation at Moneymusk Sugar Factory.
3
SCOTT THORNLEY & COMPANY
Junior Accountant at this Toronto-based design, marketing and advertising firm.
4
MOSAIC GROUP INC
Accounting Administrator at this retail and merchadising sales firm in Greator Toronto.
5
ART GALLERY OF TORONTO
Senior Business Analyst responsible for system design, development and implementation.
6
TADSB (SCHOOL BOARD)
VP of Finance and Administration for K-13 schools in Toronto, Canada.
7
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
Director of Financial Reporting and Controls for a northern territory; managed public accounts.
8
ADT CANADA
Finance Manager (Commercial Division); Led the System Design & Implementation team.
9
STEWARTS GROUP OF COMPANIES
Chief Financial Officer (Controller) and third in command for nationwide operations.
10
WACC GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL
Chief Financial Officer (Controller) accounting for NGO activities in over 120 countries.
11
OIKOCREDIT INTERNATIONAL
Chaired Supervisory Board; Risk & Strategy; Social Impact investing in Africa, Asia, Latin America & the Caribbean.
12
PCG INTERNATIONAL INC
Chairman with focus on small and medium enterprise investing for social impact.
13
PCG JAMAICA LIMITED
Chairman with focus on local small and medium enterprise investing for social impact.
14
YES JAMAICA FOUNDATION
Chairman & CEO of foundation that invests in young people to make them entreprenuers.
My Story
I was born to a single mother of three in the rough of Downtown Kingston. We lived in a small 12 x 12 room and had to share an external bathroom with others. My schooling began with my grandmother, Aunt Dez, who taught me to read newspaper headlines by the age of three. After Miss Johnson Basic School, I went to Dunrobin Primary. Having failed the Common Entrance (now GSAT) twice, it was clear to some that I didn't have what it took to succeed academically, so I was placed at Spanish Town Secondary. There I served as Head Boy, Student Council President, founded both the Science Club and Drama club in addition to leading the Quiz Team to its first National Championship while in the 10th Grade.
A special test gave me a second chance and I was admitted to St. Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) via its special trades program. Here, I was spotted by Principal, Isaac Henry, who transferred me from the “trades” to the “technical” side of the school. Here I served as Head Boy, Student Council President, Junior Achievement Finance Vice President, founded the Math Club, took Key Club to the USA twice and served as its president; won the Gleaner Article Writing Gold Medal and graduated with a full scholarship to study Engineering at the University of Technology (UTECH) which was then called CAST.
At UTECH, I was twice elected Debating Society President, served as Circle K President, and founded the Associate Investors Group which taught students to trade on the then-emerging stock exchange. The latter helped many students afford tuition, buy books, and pay their living expenses. The investment club included students from all disciplines.
At UTECH, I was twice elected Debating Society President, served as Circle K President, and founded the Associate Investors Group which taught students to trade on the then-emerging stock exchange. The latter helped many students afford tuition, buy books, and pay their living expenses. The investment club included students from all disciplines.
Charlet and I met in the eighth grade and vowed to marry each other after college. We have been married for over 27 years now and have three beautiful grown children of whom we are very proud. On her prompting, I migrated to Canada where I had some very humbling experiences. I went from being an Engineer in my own country to being unemployed for six months in Toronto before landing a job waiting tables and washing dishes for CAD 6.85 per hour at an upscale restaurant. At one point we were so broke we had to go on welfare. It was a most humiliating experience, but it motivated us to work harder to succeed.
Professionally, I became a Chartered Professional Accountant and would rise to CFO, CEO, and Chairman positions across the private, public and non-profit sectors, including Chairman of a large global Impact Investment co-operative based in the Netherlands. My work touched over 120 countries and I was fortunate enough to travel to and within Africa, India, China, Europe, North America, and the Caribbean. I also had the pleasure of building, buying, and selling a few businesses, as well as being the founder and CEO of YES Jamaica, a foundation, that aims to help young Jamaicans overcome unemployment as entrepreneurs.
In 2011, my family and I returned to Jamaica. Two years later, with the help of my wife, some friends, and perfect strangers, I founded the United Independents' Congress of Jamaica (UIC) intending to liberate Jamaica and Jamaicans from the destructive system of partisan politics and bad governance that has held us back as a nation for far too long. I wish to end the culture of corruption, poverty, and crime created by the two colonial parties and the system they embraced. It is my studied purpose to unite the nation around our common desire for a truly safe, free, and prosperous Jamaica.
I am not a career politician and I have never been a member of either of the two colonial parties, but I am fully committed and qualified to help us transform our nation from the unsafe, unclean and disorderly nation it has become, into the safe, clean and orderly Nonpartisan Constitutional Republic it can be.
This is not the usual empty campaign promise to win votes. This is change you can trust!
HAVE YOUR SAY!
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE UIC TODAY AND HAVE YOUR SAY ON OUR PLANS FOR JAMAICA
Do you have any questions?
Will you be running as a candidate in the local government elections?
Yes, I plan to be a candidate in the next local government elections in order to offer my people an opportunity for real change they can trust.
Will you run as a member of parliament in the general elections?
Yes, I plan to be a candidate in the next general elections in order to offer my people an opportunity for real change they can trust.
Are you related to PJ Patterson?
I am not sure. We share the same slave master's name, but I have never met him or taken the time to try an confirm if we are related by blood. In any event, whether we are related or not does not qualify or disqualify me from representational politics.
How do I become a member of the UIC?
You can become a UIC Member by signing up via this link: https://uicjamaica.nationbuilder.com/become_a_uic_member
When did you return to Jamaica?
I returned to Jamaica in 2011 to live in St. Elizabeth after living in Canada for a number of years.
Where can I learn more about the UIC's plans?
All plans for the UIC can be found on our website at www.uicjamaica.com and via the pages of my shadow cabinet ministers.