Breaking the Silence: NCBFG CEO’s $500K Grant to Domestic Violence Survivors
23 Dec 2025
Kingston, Jamaica – December 23, 2024: For Robert Almeida, CEO of NCB Financial Group Limited (NCBFG), addressing domestic violence isn’t just a responsibility – it’s a chance to drive meaningful change. As part of N.C.B. Foundation’s 2024 Grant a Wish initiative, Almeida selected Through the Learning Curve Jamaica (TLC) as the recipient of his $500,000 donation.
Led by retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Novelette Grant, TLC provides essential support to domestic violence survivors through workshops, advocacy and assistance designed to empower victims to help them rebuild their lives.
“Home should be a safe haven, but for far too many women, it’s a place of fear,” said Grant. “We give them the tools to break free and reclaim their futures.”
Shining a Light on an Invisible Crisis
Domestic violence has long been an overlooked crisis in Jamaica. Before the Domestic Violence Act of 1996, there were no laws to protect victims, and abuse was often dismissed as a private matter. “Victims had nowhere to turn,” Grant reflected.
In the early 2000s, Grant was among 12 specially-trained officers tasked with transforming how Jamaica’s police force responded to domestic violence. At a time when fewer than 20% of police officers were women, Grant distinguished herself as a leader, championing a holistic approach to tackling the issue. Her efforts expanded the programme to include social workers, faith leaders, Justices of the Peace, and healthcare professionals—key frontline responders for victims.
“Domestic violence doesn’t stop without intervention,” Grant said. “Without proper tools, victims are trapped in a cycle of abuse that ripple through families and communities.”
From Victim to Advocate: Stories That Inspire
Grant’s commitment to this cause is deeply personal shaped by her experiences as a young officer. She recounted one of her first cases – an 80-year-old woman beaten by her 83-year-old husband over suspicions of infidelity. “I had just left training school, and I thought, ‘Shouldn’t they be giving me advice?’” she said. With no established protocols at the time, her only recommendation was to separate the couple. The case underscored the urgent need for systemic intervention for Grant. “Age doesn’t stop domestic violence,” Grant noted. “These cycles persist unless we act.”
The ripple effect of change
Almeida also shared his perspective on the far-reaching impacts of domestic violence, reflecting on how a safe upbringing can shape one’s life trajectory. “If I had grown up in a household with domestic violence, every aspect of my life might have been completely different,” he said.
Highlighting TLC’s work, he added, “Helping one person creates a ripple effect that can transform families, communities, and even nations. The power of that one act of kindness is immeasurable.”
Grant echoed this sentiment, connecting domestic violence to broader societal issues. She recounted a case where a teenager’s inappropriate behaviour towards a peer spiralled into gang violence. “When you examine the root of violence in our society, you can almost always trace it back to the home,” she explained.
A mission of hope
Though retired from active policing, Grant’s dedication to violence prevention remains steadfast. Inspired by childhood memories of victims seeking refuge in her family home, she founded TLC to offer both hope and practical tools to those in need.
A call to action
For Almeida and Grant, this is more than philanthropy – it’s a fight for a safer and better Jamaica. “The trauma may be invisible,” Almeida said, “but the change we create doesn’t have to be. Tackling issues like domestic violence is essential to building a stronger nation.”
With initiatives like Grant A Wish, NCB and TLC are turning compassion into action, reminding survivors that they are not alone – and that change is possible.
-END-
