True Example Of An Enterprising Caribbean Immigrant
By Paulette Austin
Howard Dunn has established himself as an entrepreneur par excellence in the Bronx, New York as well as in Rose Hall, Montego Bay , Jamaica. Mr. Dunn migrated from Jamaica to the USA in 1967, drove a yellow cab, owned his own medallion and in 1985, decided to apply for a bank loan in order to establish his own limousine service. With a sense of vindication, he told Carib News that he was initially turned down by two banks, until eventually, he sought and was able to secure a loan from the US Small Business Administration (SBA).
Working out of his home, he started a limousine service catering to weddings, proms and corporate accounts. According to Mr. Dunn, the name he adopted for his business “Montego Bay Limousine Service” has served him well over the past 20 years. He advertises in the yellow pages and has been able to build up a solid client core base.
True to the name of his operation, Mr. Dunn’s Investments have extended into Jamaica, an initiative which grew out of his urge to establish a retirement home there. Instead, he constructed an 11 room villa from a former sugar cane plantation house, which serves as a Bed & Breakfast or may be offered for rental to a large group. Nestled in the hills of Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Dunn’s Hideaway Resort boasts a taste of the culture and flavor of Jamaica and the rooms are graced with a magnificent view of the countryside.
Mr. Dunn related with pride how his villa has appealed to the needs of some of his clients from the US who crave for an authentic Jamaican retreat. The Villa also serves a wedding and tour center, enabling Mr. Dunn to take advantage of the Clientele mounting their wedding celebrations on the Island. To this effect, his Villa offers a package including the services of a Priest and a wedding party in national costume. In addition to an Internet website, he takes advantage of the promotional work undertaking by the Jamaica Tourist Board and magazines such as focus. He operates a limousine Service, an extention of His New York operation, out of the villa at Rose Hall Jamaica, and once his US Clientele make bookings at his villa, he adds free airport pick-up service. Based of his experience to-date, he intimated that, “although the villa was built with foreign tourist in mind, I am amazed at the influx of locals who come to stay at the villa in their wish to get away from the city to a tranquil retreat.
Mr. Dunn also spoke of the community Service he has extended to the area of Rose Hall by promoting fundraisers and of his involvement in support of a soccer team for many years. In, fact his name has been subsmitted for the honor of becoming a Justice of the Peace in his Country. He is also a Notary Public here in the US.
As Jamaica Celebrates the 42 nd Anniversary of the country’s Independence, one cannot help but be proud of the fact that Mr. Howard Dunn exemplifies one of the enterprising and persevering Jamaican immigrants who achieved success through dint of hard work.
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