Ding Dong talks ‘money sense’ in GraceKennedy finance series

November 04, 2022
Kemar ‘Ding Dong’ Ottey speaking at the recent launch of GK Money Sense.
Kemar ‘Ding Dong’ Ottey speaking at the recent launch of GK Money Sense.

As a youngster, Ding Dong used to collect empty bottles in and around the park in the Nannyville community where he was raised. He said it was a necessity "fi sell fi help make up me lunch money".

"People see all the fame and glory now, but a never so it always be. I came up from humble beginnings, but a strong mind and will, as well as ambition, brought me to different parts," said the dancehall entertainer at the recent launch of the GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG) Adult Financial Empowerment Programme, GK Money Sense.

Speaking to THE WEEKEND STAR, he added that, "This bokkle selling start from bout age nine and then as a teenager, fresh out of high school, me start work on construction site. I earned like $2500 pon a site work, but at the end of the day, me used to save at least $500 outta it."

A GraceKennedy brand ambassador since 2018, Ding Dong, whose given name is Kemar Ottey, has continued to shatter glass ceilings as one of Jamaica's sought-after dancehall entertainers, and now, with his role as the lead host of the financial literacy masterclass series.

Starting November 13, the public will learn about budgeting, saving, insurance, financial security, and more, over an 18-week period. The master classes will be made accessible on GKFG's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The Rich Walk artiste said that having a focused financial mindset and work ethic has helped him to climb up the entertainment industry's ladder of success in what many perceive as an unconventional way. Ding Dong credited his grandmother for providing early financial advice and instilling that 'one cocoa full basket' mentality. He said that he is excited to impart this knowledge, and to "explain word fi word inna street terms so dem can understand because sometimes how we publicise information is too technical".

MONEY MANAGEMENT

"My granny always seh, 'Son when you work, as yuh get paid, the first thing yuh do is buy a good meal', and I've being doing that from ever since. As time go on, I realise she nuh just mean food, but that yuh haffi take care a yuhself in all areas. There's a lot this generation does not understand about money management. Firstly, we live in a Third-World country, and there is still a lot of us who don't travel [so]) we adapt to things late. But, I want to help our country [get] up to speed to where the world is headed," he said.

Ding Dong said that since his affiliation with GraceKennedy, he has learned much about money.

"I was one a dem who get stuck on the old-time style of living, afraid of bank and credit cards. But when yuh start travel on a plane and cyaa even buy food because you don't have a card, you will learn. Yuh coulda have $1 million inna yuh pocket, when you go someplace abroad dem not even accept physical money," Ding Dong continued.

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