Sub-Committee Membership

Licence Sub-Committee, Divestment Committee    

Last Place of Employment

Gold Cup Coffee Company Ltd.       

Experience in Coffee:

Mr. Gentles has approximately 16 years experience in coffee, which includes farming

Other Qualifications:

He has a BSC.(Hons.) in Agronomy from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; a Diploma in Irrigation and Extension from the Ruppin Institute in Israel, and a Certificate for Training in Merchandizing in the Retail Trade

Brief History:   

After receiving his Agronomy degree from the University of the West Indies Mr. Gentles began developing the Family farm, which eventually became a 80 acre farm and one of the largest nurseries for the Production of Coffee Seedlings in the Island. He was selected as Champion Young Farmer for 1992, 1994 and 1995. He also established the Gold Cup Jamaica Blue Mountain® Brand and operated the Website for Amber Estate coffee, one of the premium brands operated by Gold Cup Coffee Company.

Outlook for the Jamaican coffee industry:

Mr. Gentles acknowledges that the industry faces a number of challenges, but believes that the leadership of the Board and collaboration with the Coffee Dealers along with the Government are equal to the task of designing solutions and plotting a peath of prosperity in the Industry after a most challenging period of five (5) consecutive hurricans and tropical storms in four years. He adds that the Board intends to revitalize the industry by encouraging investments in the growing of coffee.