"When I semi-retire, The Palmyra offers everything I am looking for."
A True Spirit Of Jamaica
Even after leaving Jamaica as a child, Margaret ‘Rose' McKitty-Lanam has always felt a strong connection to the island. Following the building of a successful health care business in the US, this hard working, fun-loving lady continues to show her devotion to Jamaica through several social and charitable projects. Committed to using her vast knowledge in the medical field to make a difference to the isle's inhabitants, Rose plans to semi-retire in style at The Palmyra Resort & Spa.
It is almost a lifetime since Margaret ‘Rose' left the parish of Trelawny and moved to England with her mother as a little girl. After successfully completing her training as a registered nurse in London, Rose packed her bags again in of search of more opportunities in the ‘City of Angels', California. Quoting Rose, "Moving to Los Angeles took me a step closer to achieving my dreams - and I had a lot of them at the time."
Adventurous and unafraid of hard work, Rose has now lived in Los Angeles for over 30 years and remained in business for just as long. Combining her background in the medical field and her natural ability to relate to people, this shrewd, enterprising woman started a ‘Home, Health and Hospice' business, later diversifying into ‘Homes for the Elderly and Disabled'. Today, the entrepreneurial lady with the enthusiastic and bubbly personality has over 200 employees in her service throughout the Los Angeles area.
Around the start up of one of the early Reggae Music Festivals, Reggae Sunsplash, Rose found her way back to Jamaica as part of the team that was bringing medical care to the festival. Following her first homecoming, she started concentrating on improving women's health care needs on the island. Hence, it was a given that she would become a founding member of the Jamaican Awareness Association of California (JAAC) in 1987. Explains Rose, "The primary objective of the organization (JAAC) is to make a difference in the quality of life of underprivileged Jamaicans. JAAC is particularly dedicated to the advancement of the health and educational systems in Jamaica."
Actively involved, Rose still remembers the first two students from St. Elisabeth and Kingston who were chosen for JAAC's first scholarship program. Through her work with the JAAC, she has many wonderful reasons to return to Jamaica throughout the year, one of the highlights being an Annual Children's Gift Giving Party the generous business owner hosts around Christmas time. Explains Rose, "I love Jamaica and want to give back by helping in any way I can."
With a rekindled love for Jamaica and her people, Rose is once again growing roots in the country she left at the age of nine. And despite her love of work, she is also dedicated to her family. With a daughter and a son, she loves to enjoy life, "Where better to do so than here in Jamaica!" she says. And judging by her social calendar, which is filled with the Jazz & Blues Festival in January, the Caribbean Golf Classic International in June and Reggae Sumfest in July, Rose has found the perfect spot to enjoy the fruits of her labor together with the people closest to her.
In 1994, Rose acquired a small hotel and restaurant in Trelawny, a purchase she laughingly calls "a fluke". She knew the property and had stayed there many times. Remembers Rose, "I particularly remembered one visit to the Fisherman's Inn in 1991, how beautiful and peaceful it was sitting by the poolside with a drink, overlooking the lagoon, enjoying the breeze, the sea and simply enjoying life." A few years later, someone called her in LA and told her the property was for sale. Being a true Jamaican entrepreneur, the rest is history and the property is now destined to be part of her grandson's legacy. She explains, "I would love to give him the opportunity to take over Fisherman's Inn when he comes of age - he still is a little boy."
With a discriminating sense for opportunities and a passionate love for Jamaica, it doesn't take Rose long to seize the moment. She decided to become an owner when she was first introduced to The Palmyra real estate opportunity at the 2005 Jazz & Blues Festival at Cinnamon Hill. "It was mainly because I saw it as an opportunity to enjoy a relaxing lifestyle in a private and secure environment," she says.
The Palmyra is also a perfect fit for her family. Thrilled about the quality of beachfront living and the 30,000 sqft ESPA, Rose can't wait to improve her handicap at the three championship golf courses within a one-mile radius of her new home in the sun.
She is also looking forward to the activities, the restaurants, the entertainment and the Jamaican food. "When I semi-retire, The Palmyra offers everything I am looking for; beachfront living, spa and golfing - and it's only 10 minutes from the airport, which is important as I return to the US for personal and business reasons fairly often."
