Canadian boxer Dave Leblond has set his sights on a possible rematch with Jamaican rival Tsetsi Davis.

Leblond defeated professional debutant Nico Yeyo in what many described as a disappointing “hugging match” in their Wray and Nephew Contender Series bout last Wednesday and is now hoping to meet Davis by the luck of the draw in the next round.

Leblond had lost controversially to Davis in the second match of the season and, after losing an “egregious judging” appeal, was recalled to the competition in place of countryman Ryan Wagner, who was not medically cleared to face Yeyo.

His trainer, Patrice Trudeau, said that he believes the public would be interested in seeing a rematch with Davis. He said their first encounter felt similar to the events of the movie Rocky 4, where Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone) was able to win over the support of hostile Russian fans who were cheering for the hometown favourite, Ivan Drago.

Trudeau compared Leblond to Balboa.

“We see it as a love story with the Jamaican fans,” Trudeau told The Gleaner. “Before the fight, we were live on Facebook telling Canadians that Tsetsi is a crowd favourite in Jamaica and we were comparing Rocky 4 with Tsetsi being Drago.”

Trudeau said moments before the fight with Davis, they faced direct hostility from fans but said that had changed during the course of the match.

“We had a guy come into the dressing room and tell Dave to his face: ‘You’re gonna get a whipping’, so we saw how much he was a favourite,” he said.

THE UNDERDOG

“But in the live video, I said ‘You know what? We’re gonna do just like in Rocky 4. Maybe we’ll make people start cheering for the underdog, the guy that’s a new fighter and has the fire in him to prove he’s a good boxer.’

“It was an underdog story. People were cheering for Dave more than Tsetsi at the end of the fight. We’re blessed, we’re really loved.”

The Gleaner reached out to Davis to get a response on how he would feel about a possible rematch, but he declined to speak.

Leblond said that if he does not get to face Davis in the competition, he would still welcome a chance to have a match later this year, even in Canada.

He continued that he hopes not to face another fighter like Yeyo, whom he described as “frustrating”, because of how much time he spent holding him to prevent being hit.

“It was impossible to have a plan against Yeyo,” Leblond said through translator Trudeau. “Everything we had set up was impossible to do because that guy just held on. That threw us off and, of course, it was frustrating.”

Trudeau said they have to now make a game plan in case they encounter another match like last week’s.

“We’re gonna work on something else. This fight was harder than Tsetsi. Tsetsi knows how to fight. This guy (Yeyo) was very difficult and unorthodox because he’s a young boxer.”

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20170515/leblond-wants-davis-contender-quarter-finals

MARSHA Burrell Rose is a woman on a mission.

The 44-year-old development and marketing manager at Food for the Poor (FFP) told All Woman that ever since childhood, she has had a desire embedded within her to help people.

Growing up in Portmore, St Catherine, and witnessing her mother’s unwavering service to others, she knew that her life would also be devoted to serving others.

“Our house was that house in the community where all the children would come, and no matter what it was, my mother always had something in her house to give to people. So it was embedded in us to always give back,” Burrell Rose pointed out.

And so, it came as no surprise that when she started her business, Restaurant Divine, alongside her husband Jomo in 2010, she made it her point of duty to give back to the homeless in Silver Slipper Plaza, Cross Roads, on Saturdays.

What is more, even after the business closed down some three years ago, they continued their service to the homeless.

“In the process we started Divine Intervention, a small outreach group where we would feed the homeless, not just with physical food but with spiritual food. We developed a friendship with these homeless people in Silver Slipper Plaza. So when the business closed, we decided we would still offer our feeding. We go to them and speak out about God. We saw these people in a different way. You see them on the road and drive past them every day, but when you speak to them you see the different personalities. From this interaction we knew we wanted much more for them,” she explained.

This led Burrell Rose to reach out to FFP, which gave her the task of raising funds locally to help people with housing and basic amenities.

Now at FFP for three years, Burrell Rose, in her role as development and marketing manager, has led the charge in building over 100 homes through one of the main projects, which is the 5K Run/Walk, which she helped to implement.

“We’ve built over 100 houses since the inception of the 5k. The main focus of the 5k is twofold — to show what we’re doing at FFP and to raise funds. The aim is to build awareness and get help in the form of funding to build over 100 houses each time,” she said.

Burrell Rose also pointed out that she often gets emotional about her job, especially when she sees how uncaring some people are about helping others in need.

“I can’t understand how someone can take up $100,000 to buy a carnival costume, but can’t take up $1,200 to register and donate for a race. I get very emotional when I have to beg people to sign up for a race. It’s for us! Yes, it’s FFP, but when you go to the hospitals and you lie down on the bed, it’s a bed that FFP donated. When you need a wheelchair for your mother, it’s the same thing. Some of these people who have money, they send their children to the top schools and we’re the ones that help to fund them. It touches everybody!”

She added: “I get very emotional about my work because I see it every day — we get the phone calls, persons want to kill themselves because they have kids and can’t care for them. Some of us will say, ‘Why should I help a mother with five kids who knows she doesn’t have the money?’ However, understand that you have the mentality to think about that, but she doesn’t. She’s just seeking a way to get out. It is two different Jamaicas. I tell people all the while, don’t compare your life or your mental thinking with others, because you don’t know what it is like. When you work here it’s no longer a job, you’re on a mission,” Burrell Rose explained.

Also a devout Christian, Burrell Rose said she is committed to doing everything to the honour of God and keeping God as the centre of her life. Coupled with her role at FFP, she also pointed out that on the last Saturday in every month, her family still visits Silver Slipper Plaza to share food and the word of God.

“My husband and I are committed to doing this, and we bring our daughter who’s seven along with us in order to let her see the other world that’s out there and be grateful for small mercies,” Burrell Rose said.

She is also passionate about premature babies and giving support to mothers who have delivered such children.

“Having a premature baby has shifted my thoughts and how I am today to be grateful to God for life. That was an experience that drove me closer to God and I started a Facebook group called Support for Mothers with Premature Babies, because having gone through it, I want to be there for persons who had the same experience,” she said.

Burrell Rose lives by the reminder that without God you’re nothing.

“On this mission I want people to see the changes in me and ask what is it I’m doing, and I can say it’s God. I want people to know God and I must be able to tell them about God without actually saying it,” she declared.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/all-woman/marsha-burrell-rose-_98370?profile=1606

FORTY poverty-stricken families will have the comfort of new two-bedroom houses from Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica later this year, thanks to donations committed thus far by individuals, companies and others during the charity organisation’s third annual 5K Walk/Run held on May 13 at Emancipation Park in St Andrew.

At the Walk/Run event, Andrew Mahfood, chairman of FFP-Jamaica, announced that the charity intends to construct 100 houses in total from the event’s proceeds, and that they are grateful for the 40 houses already committed.

“When you hear us say that we want to build 100 homes, that’s just a drop in the bucket. We need to build 10,000 houses because there are tens of thousands of Jamaicans who we have seen and are now on our waiting list, who are desperately in need of houses,” Mahfood said.

Mahfood strongly believes the goal of constructing 100 houses from the event will be achieved as individuals and organisations are still committing to the 5K.

Approximately $46.5 million was raised from the first 5K Walk/Run in 2015 and $53 million in 2016, with over 100 houses built.

“No charity can survive without the support system of their nation,” Mahfood said.

“We are happy that individuals, the private and public sectors, groups from all 14 parishes, members of our diaspora, and people living outside of Jamaica decided to support us through contributions, pledges and donations through the Internet.”

Marsha Burrell Rose, marketing manager, said that National Bakery, Jamaica Public Service, National Commercial Bank, ReMax, Black Ink Marketing and Event Solutions Limited, CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank, Red Stripe, Running Events, Rototech, Supreme Ventures, Zoukie, Hi-Pro and Coldwell Banker have committed houses from corporate Jamaica. Other donors include Yohan Blake and Michael Hylton.

All funds committed by these individuals and organisations were matched equally by FFP-Florida.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/40-homes-to-be-built-by-food-for-the-poor-this-year_98852?profile=1373

As we heard the crack in Zoleka Mandela’s voice, describing her pain and that of other parents who have lost their children in road crashes, we pondered on the reason for the careless behaviour on our roads. We note statistics revealing that some 115 deaths on our roads and many more seriously injured.

“Worldwide, more young people are killed on the roads than from any other cause of death. Each day 3,000 children are killed or injured on the world’s roads,” said the regal Mandela.

Convener of the the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) Dr Lucien Jones has brought the passion of his Christian ministry to bear on his work. This combined with the business wizardry of Earl Jarrett resulted in the visit of Mandela and FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile — translated International Federation for Motor Vehicles) racing superstar Jean Todt. Last week, UN Global Road Safety Week, they joined with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, UNICEF Jamaica Country Representative Mark Connolly and Road Safety Ambassador Yohan Blake in a special appeal to stop the madness on Jamaica’s roads.

“The scale of this crisis is bad enough. But what is perhaps even more shocking is how little is being done to prevent it. We have the solutions, but too often they are not being put in place. The measures we need to save lives are simple: safe crossings for kids going to school; sidewalks to separate pedestrians and the vulnerable from vehicles; enforcement against drunk driving; and action on speeding.

“Action on speed is the focus of this fourth UN Global Road Safety Week, and it is a great example of exactly what needs to be done. With effective policing and measures such as road humps and traffic calming we could save hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide each year.

“We’re facing a man-made epidemic and we have the vaccine — we’re just not using it. Can you imagine having a vaccine for a killer disease and not using it? Imagine leaving children to face illness or death and not acting. Yet this is really what we are doing. In failing to use the low-speed vaccine around our schools we are failing our children. It is their lives at stake.

“I’ve seen it in my own country. In my work with the Global Initiative for Child Health and Mobility we launched a project in one of South Africa’s poorest communities — Khayelitsha in Western Cape.”

Her words are familiar to our local situation: “In Khayelitsha you see the kids by the road each morning. Little ones, five- and six-year-olds, with their brothers and sisters, terrified to cross the road as the traffic bears down on them at 80 km/h.

“Early in the morning you see them trying to cross in the dark, taking their lives into their own hands. You don’t need to search too hard for what needs to be done. The answer is quite simple. Our children, our little ones, hundreds of them walking to school each day, should not face traffic at more than 30 km/h.

“Faster than 30 is a death sentence,” she emphasised. “For the sake of our children, low speeds are non-negotiable. It’s not just my own country; the story I witnessed in Khayelitsha is one repeated each day around the world. Millions of children are facing this horror every single day and we are failing to protect them.”

Mandela’s 13-year-old daughter Zenani was killed by a drunk driver in June 2010, and so she commented, “When the policies are not in place, it’s our families and our children that suffer.”

She evoked the courage of her grandfather: “I take inspiration in the life of my grandfather, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. We would all do well to listen to his words. ‘We must not despair. We must not accept defeat. We must not forget that it is in our power to change the world.’ ”

In response, Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted, “There is no amount of enforcement that is going to be as effective as behaviour change,” and urged the more frequent use of the Agent Sasco and Tessanne Chin road safety music video. He pledged, “We are committed to using all the utilities at our disposal to reduce road crashes by 50 per cent by 2020.” He has been an engaged NRSC chairman, and so we are optimistic. Everyone can take the pledge to #slowdown and #savelives.

JEF’s ‘Pathway to Prosperity’

There was a dynamic buzz at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, May 4-6, 2017, generated by the Jamaica Employers’ Federation annual Business & Workplace Convention, chaired by Wayne Chen, with the theme: ‘People, Purpose, Growth… The Pathway to Prosperity’. Jamaicans were once again challenged to leverage our countless attributes to lift the country to a place of power in the world. Large or small, companies are learning that our contribution to community development is a must for our mutual survival.

Farewell Keith Binns

Family and friends gathered at Boulevard Baptist Church last Saturday to say farewell to a wonderful gentleman, insurance expert Keith Binns. Karl Barth noted, “Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God, and so we can say that Keith graced countless lives with his special gift of laughter.” At the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons, Keith added his special sparkle to our events. We extend condolence to his wife Lurline and family. Rest in peace, dear Keith!

lowriechin@aim.com

http://www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/zoleka-mandela-8217-s-impassioned-plea-to-slowdown-savelives_98893?profile=1096

Prime Minister the Most Honourable Andrew Holness (centre) with an Open Letter, to which his signature is affixed. It urges action on reducing and enforcing traffic speeds to a level safe for children in Jamaica, as well as prioritising low speed zones in residential areas and near schools. The Prime Minister signed the Open Letter during a #SlowDown event hosted at his office on May 10. Also pictured at fourth left is United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, while at third right is Ambassador, Global Initiative for Child Health and Mobility, Zoleka Mandela. Students from Mona Heights Primary School (from left) are Rayanna Clarke, Shanoy Smellie, Ashantea Davy, Kindah Jonas and Anna-Lise Daley.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner, Monday, May 15, 2017 publication on page C12.

Forty poverty-stricken families will have the comfort of new two-bedroom houses from Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica later this year, thanks to donations committed thus far by individuals, companies and others during the charity organisation’s third annual 5K Run/Walk held on May 13 at Emancipation Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

 At the Run/Walk event, Andrew Mahfood, Chairman of FFP Jamaica announced that the charity intends on constructing 100 houses from the event and they are grateful for the 40 houses already committed.

“When you hear us say that we want to build 100 homes, that’s just a drop in the bucket. We need to build 10,000 houses, because there are tens of thousands of Jamaicans who we have seen and are now on our waiting list who are desperately in need of houses,” Mahfood passionately said.

Mahfood strongly believes the goal of constructing 100 houses from the event will be achieved as persons and organisations are still committing to the 5K.

Approximately, $46.5 million was raised from the first 5K Run/Walk in 2015 and $53 million in 2016 with over 100 houses built.

Mahfood said, “Food For The Poor Jamaica is extremely grateful for the support received. No charity can survive without the support system of their nation. We are happy that individuals, the private and public sectors, groups from all 14 parishes across, members of our diaspora and people living outside of Jamaica, decided to support us through contributions, pledges and donations through the internet.”

Marsha Burrell-Rose, Marketing Manager, FFP Jamaica, announced that: National Bakery, Jamaica Public Service, National Commercial Bank, ReMax, Black Ink Marketing & Events Solution Limited, First Caribbean Bank, Red Stripe, Running Events, Rototech, Supreme Ventures, Zoukie, Hi Pro and Cornwell Bankers, have committed houses from corporate Jamaica. Other donors include: Yohan Blake, and Michael Hylton.

All funds committed by these persons and organisations were matched equally by Food For The Poor Florida.

In 2015, approximately 842 houses were constructed by FFP Jamaica since its inception. While other houses were constructed by other Food For The Poor organisations in Latin America and Caribbean countries including Trinidad & Tobago, Honduras, St Vincent, Guyana, Haiti, Belize, Guatemala and Nicaragua.

Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organisations, started in Jamaica in 1938 with the objective of distributing food items through churches, but have now expanded to address housing, education, health care, prison ministry, agriculture and social outreach.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170515/40-homes-be-built-food-poor

“IT is not easy being a single parent, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”

Those were the words of Catherine Knight, office assistant at Jamaica National (JN) Foundation, when she openly spoke of how proud she was of her four children at the Digicel Foundation Mothers’ Day Brunch on Friday.

Knight was among five super moms in their own right, who were feted by the foundation for their dedication, hard work, commitment and never giving up as mothers.

The other mothers — Rosemarie Golden, security guard at Digicel; Rosemarie Fogo, clerk at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation; Joy Golding, office assistant at The Early Childhood Commission and Bernice Stewart Johnson, office assistant at GraceKennedy — stories are no different.

For each of them it took strength and courage, sometimes sacrifices, to ensure that their children received a solid education and made life better for themselves.

“It was a little difficult. I would have to get up at 5:00 am, get them ready for school, then get myself ready for work,” said Golding, mother of five girls. “Luckily, my boss was not so hard so I could ask for help. One of my girls is now an auditor, one is a teacher, one works with one of the Government ministries. They are all doing well.”

“My son is into farming. I had wanted him to be a lawyer or doctor, but a teacher said to me all the students can’t be that, so if your children are interested in farming don’t discourage them. Someone has to feed the doctors and lawyers. My daughter is now a teacher, and I remember when she was sent to Papine High people criticised her and she said she was going there to make a difference. She left with seven subjects, went to Mico then to UTech (University of Technology), and I am really proud of them,” Stewart Johnson said.

“My son now works in banking and he always said mommy is a single parent and she did what she had to so I have to step up now, and he has stepped up,” Fogo said.

Golden, on the other hand, shared that she has raised excellent children and is now mothering one of her four grandchildren, after her son’s girlfriend died 13 days subsequent to giving birth, due to an allergic reaction to medication.

Moreover, Saffrey Brown, general manager of the JN Foundation, commended the mothers and made special mention of Knight, who she said she met when she was 22 years old, and has admired her parenting skills since then.

“She was really involved in their lives. There was a centre in the community of Southside where she’s from and when they came home she ensured they went there and got all the help they could. It’s really about looking around for opportunities for your children,” Brown said.

Caroline Mahfood, executive director of the GraceKennedy Foundation, commended the mothers for their strength and resilience.

Meanwhile, Jean Lowrie -Chin, chairman of the Digicel Foundation, lauded the mothers for having the willpower to do their jobs and still raise their children, even when the circumstances seemed tough.

“All of us are inspired. You are nation builders. You were willing to sacrifice and go the extra mile so that your children could make it. We salute you and may God continue to bless you,” she said.

Along with the brunch, the mothers were serenaded by Elton Earlington, 2016 Digicel Rising Stars winner, and were catered to by Cafe Nita and served coffee by Deaf Can!, a social enterprise created to employ and empower deaf youth to believe in their God-given abilities.

The mothers left with packages from the sponsors which include GraceKennedy, JN Foundation, Digicel Foundation and the Early Childhood Commission.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/stalwart-women-lauded-at-stalwart-women-lauded-at_98711?profile=1373

“IT is not easy being a single parent, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”

Those were the words of Catherine Knight, office assistant at Jamaica National (JN) Foundation, when she openly spoke of how proud she was of her four children at the Digicel Foundation Mothers’ Day Brunch on Friday.

Knight was among five super moms in their own right, who were feted by the foundation for their dedication, hard work, commitment and never giving up as mothers.

The other mothers — Rosemarie Golden, security guard at Digicel; Rosemarie Fogo, clerk at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation; Joy Golding, office assistant at The Early Childhood Commission and Bernice Stewart Johnson, office assistant at GraceKennedy — stories are no different.

For each of them it took strength and courage, sometimes sacrifices, to ensure that their children received a solid education and made life better for themselves.

“It was a little difficult. I would have to get up at 5:00 am, get them ready for school, then get myself ready for work,” said Golding, mother of five girls. “Luckily, my boss was not so hard so I could ask for help. One of my girls is now an auditor, one is a teacher, one works with one of the Government ministries. They are all doing well.”

“My son is into farming. I had wanted him to be a lawyer or doctor, but a teacher said to me all the students can’t be that, so if your children are interested in farming don’t discourage them. Someone has to feed the doctors and lawyers. My daughter is now a teacher, and I remember when she was sent to Papine High people criticised her and she said she was going there to make a difference. She left with seven subjects, went to Mico then to UTech (University of Technology), and I am really proud of them,” Stewart Johnson said.

“My son now works in banking and he always said mommy is a single parent and she did what she had to so I have to step up now, and he has stepped up,” Fogo said.

Golden, on the other hand, shared that she has raised excellent children and is now mothering one of her four grandchildren, after her son’s girlfriend died 13 days subsequent to giving birth, due to an allergic reaction to medication.

Moreover, Saffrey Brown, general manager of the JN Foundation, commended the mothers and made special mention of Knight, who she said she met when she was 22 years old, and has admired her parenting skills since then.

“She was really involved in their lives. There was a centre in the community of Southside where she’s from and when they came home she ensured they went there and got all the help they could. It’s really about looking around for opportunities for your children,” Brown said.

Caroline Mahfood, executive director of the GraceKennedy Foundation, commended the mothers for their strength and resilience.

Meanwhile, Jean Lowrie -Chin, chairman of the Digicel Foundation, lauded the mothers for having the willpower to do their jobs and still raise their children, even when the circumstances seemed tough.

“All of us are inspired. You are nation builders. You were willing to sacrifice and go the extra mile so that your children could make it. We salute you and may God continue to bless you,” she said.

Along with the brunch, the mothers were serenaded by Elton Earlington, 2016 Digicel Rising Stars winner, and were catered to by Cafe Nita and served coffee by Deaf Can!, a social enterprise created to employ and empower deaf youth to believe in their God-given abilities.

The mothers left with packages from the sponsors which include GraceKennedy, JN Foundation, Digicel Foundation and the Early Childhood Commission.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/stalwart-women-lauded-at-stalwart-women-lauded-at_98711?profile=1373

Nico Yeyo missed a grand chance of defeating Team Canada’s Dave Leblond and launching his professional debut with a win on the Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum Contender boxing series ‘Best of the Best’ boxing card, at the Chinese Benevolent Association Auditorium in Kingston on Wednesday night.Instead, the Team Jamaica representative outwrestled his Team Canada opponent with persistent embraces over five rounds that saw two points deducted from him and one from Leblond.

Yeyo ended by losing the wrestling battle by a split decision after judges Lindel Allen scored the bout 47-45, Clifford Brown 46-46, and Jeremy Hayes 48-44.

Truth be told, the sixth fight of the Contender Series was a fiasco.

The disappointing clash encountered loud cat calls, with boos reverberating from the four corners of the auditorium from the large and disappointed crowd that turned out to see Leblond re-establish himself in the competition against fellow debutant, Yeyo.

Yeyo’s loss to Leblond enables Team Canada to now sit level on three wins with Team Jamaica after the completion of six of the eight fights at the first stage. The four-stage 16-fighters championship offers prize money of $3 million and the title of Jamaica’s Ultimate Junior Middleweight Contender.

Leblond, in his post-match response through an interpreter said: “Honestly, I was truly disappointed with the performance as I really wanted to give a good show. I was, however, unable to do so. We did not know what to expect from this fighter as we knew little about him and his style, which was a worrying factor.”

Yeyo said his main focus was to survive the rounds.

“My main focus was to ensure that I go the five rounds (as) the amateur rust is still in me. I did not settle, I was impatient, but it was a good fight for me. With this first fight out of the way, I will still continue to train while working on brushing up on my style,” he said.

The saving grace of the evening’s boxing entertainment was two amateur fights featuring two Canadian boxers against their Jamaica counterparts. Both fights brought the house to its feet due to the continuous furious action, with telling blows from the fists of the shorter Damon Williams of the JDF and the gangling Joshua Frazer from Canada.

Frazer, with the longer reach, took the first match, while Jonathan Hanson, competing in the middleweight division, reversed the decision against Canadian Jake Daoust with another three-round humdinger of a clash that opened the programme.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/leblond-wins-ugly-brawl-with-yeyo_98722?profile=0