Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 26 October 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

We know the old saying, “If it bleeds, it leads” but look at the outpouring of love and support for Taneka McKoy Phipps, who first came to attention via a UNICEF Jamaica video on social media. The dedicated teacher said she noticed children playing in the street in her Kingston community though they would have been in school in normal times. She figured that their parents may not have had connectivity and decided that she would create  ‘community blackboards’ on various walls. Every weekday morning, she and assistants write up lessons on the walls. 

The video shows parents taking photos of the wall, and children copying the lessons in their exercise books. Mainstream media picked up the video, featuring Mrs McKoy Phipps, resulting in significant offers of assistance to the dedicated teacher.  There was a similar response to Keron King, Principal of the Little Bay Primary School who rode around on his bike to deliver worksheets to his students as they prepared for GSAT.

We have extraordinary teachers in this country, some who take up the role of parenting in cases when they discover incidents of child abuse. We hear many of those stories from successful Jamaicans who remember that one teacher who believed in them when even their family members were talking them down.

Several of our brilliant teachers have been doing the same abroad and I am proud that my  Convent of Mercy ‘Alpha’ classmate Dr Denise Aloma (formerly Wehby) was recently honoured by the South Florida Business Journal with the “Power Leader In Education” Award. A teacher of nearly 50 years, Denise taught at her Alma Mater before moving to South Florida where she served as teacher, Vice Principal and Principal since 2014 of the St Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale.  

Here and abroad, we hear stressed out parents recognising the effort and care required to instruct children as they struggle with Covid induced virtual learning. We are also realising how poverty can keep our children in a cycle of desperation. We welcome the Government’s plan to install broadband islandwide, and the free-to-air programming offered by our television stations. There is also that age-old invention called the book – let us get our children reading more and become the best allies of their teachers. That alliance should include monitoring our children so they do not Google their way through homework. Remember, there is no quick fix to developing critical thinking and that is central to their future success.

Heritage Week Celebration

We met a brilliant Jamaican via a virtual session last week – Mrs Ann-Marie Howard-Brown, Senior Archaeologist and Curator at the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT). She was Guest Speaker at a National Heritage Week Celebration organised by IGT for students at their After-School Advantage Programme centres at various homes islandwide.

Mrs Howard-Brown introduced us to the well-ordered society of Jamaica’s first inhabitants, the Tainos, whose history here was traced back to 650 AD. She noted that with their structure of government and their inventions, these were civilised people and therefore it was not Columbus who ‘civilised’ us. Indeed, she dubbed Christopher Columbus ‘Jamaica’s first tourist’.

We learned that they used the Lignum Vitae for medicinal purposes, and to create large canoes accommodating up to 50 persons that sailed to various Caribbean islands – cruises of olden days. ‘Tainos were biochemists’ she averred, as she described how they extracted the poisonous juices from the bitter cassava with well-designed devices, producing an edible staple.

Debbie Green, IGT Jamaica General Manager commented on Mrs Howard-Brown’s riveting style. Indeed, she held us with her passion for the subject and her sense of humour. We have a national treasure there at JNHT.

Outbreaks and Care Homes

Just when we felt there was a levelling of Covid Cases, we got the grim news that there was an outbreak of the disease at the Golden Age Home in Kingston and at the Mustard Seed Community’s Jerusalem Home in St. Catherine. Both residents and staff were affected and there are complaints of the carelessness of some Jamaicans who have come from abroad and are not observing health protocols. Imagine, they are stooping as low as bribing officials at our airports to not install the monitoring app on their phones.

Further, since last June, long before Covid, the CCRP seniors advocacy organisation has been calling for closer inspection of our care homes.  There was a report of gross neglect at a home in Portmore and when we investigated, we discovered that there were only two inspectors assigned by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to oversee care homes in the entire island.

In last week’s press briefing, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said he would be recruiting more health inspectors, but in the meanwhile, may we suggest that the very competent staffers at the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) be authorised to make comprehensive tours of these homes. The NCSC has offices in every parish and they do visit homes but are prevented to go beyond certain areas by the operators of these homes. Until the Ministry can have adequate personnel in place, we are asking that they prepare inspection guidelines for the NCSC and grant them full access to care homes.

Rains bring tragedy and damage

The recent heavy rains resulted in a landslide at Shooters Hill in St Thomas, taking the lives of Romeo Leachman, and his 15-year-old daughter Sanique, a promising fourth former at Queen’s High School. 

Those of us who have been involved in construction projects know the various agencies from which we must get approvals before we can start. Why then are the authorities allowing so many houses to be built in some of the most dangerous locations? Our over 200 parish councillors should be tasked with touring their communities and reporting on dangerous start-ups. Then there is the issue of the extensive damage to our roadways, including some recently built. This begs the question as to how well they were constructed in the first place.

As usual, we saw piles of plastic bottles in the garbage washed up on streets and in gullies. Do Jamaicans know that our tap water is safe? If you believe something may be wrong after a weather incident, just a few drops of bleach can make it perfectly drinkable. I remember an American embassy staffer Joshua Polacheck noting that he never bought bottled water here, as Jamaica has great tasting tap water. We should stock up on bottled water for emergencies but in normal times, just refill your reusable bottles and give the gullies a break.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 19 October 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

It is difficult to accept that we will no longer hear those affirming pep-talks from the phenomenal Ena Wong Sam, who passed away recently after having a Covid-related illness. The founder of the popular distribution company Ena Wong Sam Limited at Norman Road in Central Kingston, she was a self-made woman with a heart of gold. She told us that each morning before the truck drivers for her company headed out, she would gather them together and pray for their safety on the roads.

A dedicated Justice of the Peace for St Andrew, Ena went the extra mile to support various educational programmes. At a summer camp in St Thomas sponsored by Chocolisto, one of her flagship products, she noted, “My passion is education. Many of the domestic problems that we are experiencing in Jamaica are simply because people cannot reason … and resort to violence … If we can assist them … we can save the lives of many of these children.”

The 87-year-old Ena Wong Sam was youthful in outlook and appearance. She encouraged her fellow women to be bold in their endeavours. “We are powerful!” she told the 51Percent Coalition movement. “We need to rise up!”

Her business associates remember her genuine interest in their progress. Wayne Chen noted on her passing, “A wise and wonderful lady who did many good works. She was always supportive of me over many years, generous with advice and in so many other ways.” Deon Edwards Kerr wrote, “I remember this lady being very gracious to my father while he was in business … on behalf of Benny’s Wholesale Mobay, grace and peace to the family of Ena Wong Sam.”

Ena Wong Sam taught us how to live – diligently, courageously, generously and honestly. May her great soul rest in peace.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 19 October 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

This Heroes’ Day let us hear it for family, teachers, neighbours, church family, club family, who are always calling, gifting, counselling. Let’s hear it for the frontline workers during these Covid times who are working double and triple shifts to keep us safe and healthy, even as they are in and out of quarantine for being in contact with Covid-positive folks.

Let our hearts be warmed by the five heroes from the Bay Farm Road area who rescued 12-year-old Mikaila Robinson who had fallen into the raging waters of the Sandy Gully after last Wednesday’s heavy rains. The men, who used a long rope to secure themselves, said it was difficult to keep their footing in the moving waters, but they had to try to save the child. Thank goodness, Mikaila was unhurt and the rescue went viral on social media, as we embraced this act of bravery.

Then there was the ‘Ray of Hope’ feature on Television Jamaica, featuring a young farmer, Jermaine Black from Charlemont, St Catherine, who after seeking in vain for employment decided to take up farming five years ago. “I am a proud farmer,” he declares. He started with one goat, and ended up with 27. He says while some do the nine-to-five, “Me go to the farm from Sunday to Sunday.”

As for too many other farmers, praedial larceny has been a plague for Jermaine. Now he has to tie his goats close to where he is working or lock them up. However, he refuses to give up. “I love farming and I love to take care of animals,” he says. Jermaine pleads to his fellow Jamaicans to invest in themselves and to persevere.

How will we nurture this courage in our people that they do not turn to cowardly acts of crime? Jermaine did enrol in a HEART programme, but he still could not get a job.  If someone had given him a care package it would have helped him for a week, but not a lifetime. There are enough agencies and universities in Jamaica to help us put hands, hearts and heads together to support our young graduates. Then we should promote their successes in media to attract and inspire unattached youth.

I remember years ago, a young fisherman came to the Daily News office and shared with us that he had been arrested for robbery after yielding to the urging of young friends. He had served his time and was now trying to get funds to buy fishing equipment. We collected the funds for him and he thanked us tearfully. A few weeks later he arrived with some of his best catch to share with us. If we want to heal our country, we must stop judging people after they have paid their debt to society and try to give them a chance. Sandra Ramsay, head of the Food for the Poor Prison Ministry, can tell you about the grateful Jamaicans whose fines are paid every Christmas and Easter for their prison release. They return to their families, resolute to create better lives for themselves.

In each of us dwells a hero who will spare the time to help a child or a parent struggling with virtual classes, take an elder for a check-up, or simply call a Covid-weary friend. Kudos to young Pastor Carrington Morgan of City Life Ministries in Southside, Kingston. He became concerned about the elderly folks in the community who felt isolated because of Covid, so he contacted the Digicel Foundation, asking for simple ‘banger’ mobile phones. Now they can be in touch with him to share prayers of comfort.

Several Jamaican businesses are in a heroic struggle for survival as they try to save jobs. Island Grill’s Thalia Lyn explained on the news that most of her employees are single mothers, the sole breadwinners for their household. Please plan with curfew hours in mind and try to support our businesses as we balance life and livelihood.

Tree planting success

We recently attended the virtual awards presentation for the Caribbean Tree Planting: Empowering Youth Climate Action held by the Clinton Global Initiative and the CariPhil Alliance. Jamaican Mary McLaughlin, the visionary founder of ‘Trees That Feed’ is working along with 13 Youth Ambassadors in the Caribbean.  She noted that nearly one-third of the target of one million trees had been planted over the past year in the following territories: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Dominica; Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Croix, St. Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.

Additionally, the Haiti Small Holder Farmers Alliance led by Thony Loui had planted 300,540 trees. The Timberland company has been a sponsor of the Haiti project.

Congratulations to the young winners of the “It Starts With a Seed” competition: Copeland Smith of the Bahamas, Taniek Williams, Jamaica and Abner Sauveur, Haiti. These Covid times have reminded us of the importance of food security. Let us plant ‘trees that feed’ and give ourselves healthy local alternatives to imported over-processed foods.

On October 23^rd and 24^th from 8pm EST, Digicel hosts the One Love Together concert featuring dozens of extraordinary performers from across the Caribbean, Africa, Asia Pacific and beyond.

In celebration of Digicel’s relaunch as a Digital Operator and Better Together brand positioning, these musicians will take to D’Music’s virtual stage for a weekend of entertainment and charity. Streaming live via D’Music, the concert will also be shown on Facebook Watch and Digicel’s social media pages, giving viewers a range of options for this digital experience.

Looking to show that Digicel and its customers are better together, viewers tuning in to the One Love Together concert will be encouraged to make a small donation in lieu of a concert ticket. These donations will go towards bridging the digital divide by providing children in need with tablets and internet access. Contributions can be made via Paymaster: http://www.digicelgroup.com/onelove. 

Digicel Chief Marketing Officer, Peter Lloyd said: “Universal access to a good education has never been more important. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen a massive swing towards online lessons in all of our markets, with virtual classrooms quickly becoming the norm. We are looking to bridge the digital divide, by raising awareness and funding to provide children with tablets, devices and internet access in our more vulnerable communities.”

Hosted by ZJ Sparks from Jamaica and Barrie Hype from Saint Lucia, the concert will feature reggae royalty Stephen Marley along with other musicians, including Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, J Boog, Pato Ranking and Patrice Roberts.

Peter added, “To watch the concert, simply download D’Music or check out our social media pages and get ready for a big-night in! Actually – make that two! With so many amazing performers supporting, we’ve had to spread the love over two nights. And the excitement doesn’t stop there, because after the concert you can stream music from your favourite artistes through D’Music, watch the highlights on Digicel’s social media pages, and read the recap on Loop.”

Rhonda Bynoe is an avid player of The Barbados Lottery games, consistently playing since1995.
She didn’t imagine how lucky she would be when she purchased a Double Draw Spot 6 ticket with the Multiplier, resulting in increased winnings of $125,000.

“Double Draw is my favourite game.  I play every draw and normally play the same numbers, but this time I chose a Quick Pick with the Multiplier”, expressed Ms. Bynoe.  The lucky Double Draw ticket with numbers 02, 04, 07, 21, 25, 30 for Draw #25833, was purchased from The Barbados Lottery Retail Agent at Millar’s Bar, St. Barnabas, St. Michael.

Having previously won $15,555 a few years ago, a very happy
Ms. Bynoe informed that she plans “to clear off some bills and debts”. She will definitely continue to play and advised other players to, “Keep playing, your chance to win will come.”

Shelly Ann Hee Chung, Site Manager at The Barbados Lottery, warmly congratulated Ms. Bynoe on her Double Draw win. “We do admire
Ms. Bynoe’s dedication in playing with The Barbados Lottery, especially her favourite Double Draw game” she said. “We encourage each player to not only try their luck with Double Draw, but to also take the chance of increasing their winnings up to 5 times the amount with the multiplier,” she reiterated.

The Barbados Lottery Double Draw game draws take place four times a day, Mondays to Saturdays, live at 12:25 pm, 4:45 pm, 6:53 pm and 9:00 pm. Tickets cost only $1 each and are available at The Barbados Lottery Independence Square Retail ‘Flagship’ Store and retail agents islandwide.

Proceeds from The Barbados Lottery games, including Double Draw, support the many sports, youth and cultural programmes provided by beneficiaries: The Barbados Cricket Association, The Barbados Turf Club, The Barbados Olympic Association and National Sports Council.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 12 October 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Last Friday, we attended a stakeholder’s workshop organised by the Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW) where various organisations discussed their programmes to assist our seniors and the less fortunate during this pandemic. We were surprised that a Statin-MOHW survey showed that 75.7% of the Jamaican people did not perceive their community as being at risk for Covid-19.  Clearly, many of us are in denial, but the statistics speak for themselves. A table revealed that while it took 151 days to arrive at the first 1,000 cases of Covid in Jamaica, it has taken only 6 days for the last 1,000 cases to emerge. Dr Simone Spence urged us to “treat everyone as if they are positive.”

The concentration of cases in certain areas of Kingston & St Andrew and St Catherine is a warning.  The spike is real and the deaths are devastating. Many of his patients are mourning the excellent Dr Lenworth Jackson who passed away from Covid last week.

Thank goodness, there are several organisations who have been giving amazing service to our people. The NCSC led by Cassandra Morrison has been at work islandwide, counselling, assisting with health aids and care items. Saffrey Brown, head of the Council for Voluntary Social Services (CVSS) says the organisation has distributed 50,000 masks and 71,000 care packages.  They are collaborating with the Jamaica Council of Churches to set up food kitchens in communities.

Lois Hue, Deputy Head of the Jamaica Red Cross has been increasing their ‘Meals-on-Wheels’ programme for indigent elderly and handicapped persons, even as they also continue to distribute care packages and sanitizing items.

CCRP has contributed $500,000 to Food for the Poor for the preparation of care packages for the elderly indigent, and these were distributed with the assistance of the Police Community Safety Division. The organisation also received a considerable amount of foodstuff from the Digicel Foundation which was distributed to churches and infirmaries islandwide. Mrs Vilma McDonald reported that the Lions Club of New Kingston have continued their outreach to the elderly, also delivering food packages for them.

The PSOJ’s programme for outreach, led by President Keith Duncan has seen top companies stepping up to give millions, and a recent video aimed at the diaspora features a Go Fund Me page so that Jamaicans everywhere can contribute.

R. Danny Williams Autobiography

Congratulations to the legendary R. Danny Williams on the launch of his autobiography ‘I Tried To Make A Difference’. The title reflects Danny Williams’ humility as those who know him, know the huge difference he has made in business, philanthropy and mentorship. It was amazing to see this patriot, this force of nature, at work when he raised funds in record time for the building of the UWI Hospital Intensive Care Facility. As the Founder and President of Life of Jamaica (now Sagicor Life), he changed the face of the insurance industry in Jamaica, creating thousands of successful careers in the field. Danny Williams and Shirley, his wife of 65 years inspire us to give of our best to family and country.

All proceeds of ‘I Tried To Make A Difference’ will go to the R. Danny Williams Endowment Fund, to benefit the students of his beloved Alma Mater, Jamaica College. Copies of the book can be purchased at Sigma Secretariat, Ground Floor – R Danny Williams Building, 28-48 Barbados Avenue.

Digicel Virtual 5K

This ninth running of the Digicel 5K for special needs will take place virtually this month. A unique plan designed by Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis of Running Events will deliver you a ‘Virtual Bib’ after you register at their website so anyone here and abroad can now walk, run and wheel anywhere for special needs. When you submit your time online, you will be rewarded with a medal and certificate.

Since 2012, the Digicel Foundation has raised J$61.5 million to assist school renovations, provide scholarships to students with special needs.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 12 October 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Yes, we have many challenges, but we will not be defeated. This is because many Jamaican organizations are looking out for the less fortunate.  It is particularly moving to see the special focus that has been placed on the elderly during these Covid times. We had dancing and solid advice from top experts at a Wellness Forum during Seniors Week.

Dr Le’Anne Steele reminded us of the importance of exercise for both physical and mental health. What a joy it was to see a video featuring 80-year-old Mrs Gurlene Johnson, champion participant in numerous athletic events both locally and in the region. Holding trophies and decked in medals, she shared that she walks or runs up to four miles each day. She has no non-communicable diseases and is not on any medication. “To God be the glory,” she declares, thanking the Health Ministry and the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC).

Dr Sharon Dawson gave information on nutrition, highlighting the immunity boosters: fruit and vegetables, turmeric, garlic, red bell pepper, almonds, ginger, green tea, sweet potatoes and oily fish. She emphasised the importance of staying hydrated. We learned at another session that sometimes it is dehydration and not dementia that causes confusion in elderly persons. Let us remember also that blessed sunshine which gives us Vitamin D, one of the most important vitamins to build immunity and keep our bones strong.

Deputy Chief Nursing Officer Mrs Karen Nelson reminded us to monitor our health daily, to watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath and other symptoms of Covid 19.  We understand that some of the serious Covid cases resulted from delayed action in reporting such symptoms. She reminded us that masks should fit well, covering the nose and mouth. She said adequate sleep was important as this is when hormones beneficial to one’s health are released. She warned against too much alcohol and cigarette smoking. Mrs Nelson ended her presentation with a lively dance.

Dr Judith Leiba spoke on mental health, reminding caregivers, “Think of your own mental health before you help someone else.” She said a senior told her that prayer, exercise and fierce determination were her way of coping with these Covid times. She recommended the “Rs”: Reflection, Responsibility, Relaxation, Retooling and Rebooting, Recreation, Relationships and Resources. She urged participants, “Be aware of your emotions and be patient with yourselves.” She warned that although cleaning and sanitizing were important, we should be wary of obsessive behaviour.

Dr Leiba encouraged that we watch positive, humorous programmes. We know that with the Covid updates and news here and abroad, we can become stressed. Indeed, the morning I was to have surgery on my wrist, my blood pressure went up and after watching “Oliver at Large” on YouTube, it stabilized.  Laughter remains the best medicine.

Please check the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) YouTube channel for this excellent Forum.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 5 October 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Once more Covid-19 has reminded us that it is no respecter of persons. The most powerful man in the world, President Donald Trump has been hospitalized with the disease, and there are conflicting stories about his condition and the date on which he was tested. Let us keep in our prayers President Trump, Mrs Trump and indeed everyone who have been battling this terrible virus.

Unfortunately, citizens of the US received mixed messages regarding the wearing of masks and social distancing and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has noted that if this had been a nationwide mandate, the toll would have been about half of the over 200,000 persons who have succumbed to the disease. We expect that after this experience, President Trump will join the scientists in promoting the life-saving protocols to help flatten their dizzying curve.

We in Jamaica are certainly not out of the woods, and we must do better with following the orders of the Disaster and Risk Management Act. Even in the face of community spread, we are learning from a Jamaica Observer report that bribes were being collected at one of our airports in exchange for not installing the Covid tracker on the phones of persons being processed on arrival. Further, police officers have been attacked in Kingston and in St Ann when they tried to lock down parties being held after curfew. What a disgrace, in the face of our rising numbers of cases and deaths. I hope we can introduce an efficient ticketing system to penalize those careless people who are still refusing to wear masks.

Our economic challenges

You know the saying, “If America sneezes, Jamaica gets pneumonia.” This is a hard truth for tourism,  as in last week’s press conference held by the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) chaired by Keith Duncan, we learned that in the April-June 2020 quarter, there was an 87.5% downturn in earnings from hotels and restaurants. Duncan noted that the projections are assuming an upturn in tourism for the 20-21 winter season. Indeed, I heard from a friend recently, who is planning to spend almost the entire winter in Jamaica, perhaps trying to escape the double jeopardy of flu season in Covid times.

As we see the fallout being suffered by restaurants, including fast-food concerns which employ thousands of Jamaicans, we would like to endorse JMEA President Richard Pandohie’s call to extend our curfew hours to 10 pm. Those two hours could make a world of difference for restaurants, supermarkets and other places of business.

It is remarkable that the ‘safe corridor’ designated by the Tourism Ministry has no Covid hot-spots. Recently Professor Peter Figueroa remarked that our hotels had been doing extremely well in observing protocols and encouraged the re-opening of attractions which had done likewise.

The EPOC conference had some good news as well, as tax revenues and remittances have increased. Let us pause and say a prayer for those brave Jamaicans who are on the frontline in the US, battling the disease, and ensuring that they send support for their families back home.

Duncan noted, “… if all of us as citizens diligently practice the infection control protocols and the GOJ continues its proactive and prudent macro-fiscal management, along with its efforts in managing the spread and the impact of the COVID-19 virus, we will give ourselves the best chance to see a sustained recovery of our economy, jobs and businesses over time.”

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 5 October 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Rheta Chen, beloved friend and fellow Associate of the Sisters of Mercy, tried to prepare us for her departure, telling us that she was at peace and ready after an up-and-down illness with cancer over several years. However when we heard of her passing last Thursday, we were devastated. If I were to describe Rheta metaphorically, I would say she was that morning sun that warmed and nurtured us. Perhaps it was her first career in nursing that made her so caring and empathetic. Later she decided to study accounting and gave her skills freely to the Sisters of Mercy.

Rheta’s strong sense of duty saw her ensuring that our Mercy Associates accounts were well managed and that when we attended meetings of the Chinese Cultural Association, we were refreshed. There was no sugar-coating of her opinions so we could depend on her for frankness and constructive criticism.

Rheta and her husband Professor Anthony Chen were an inspiring couple, ever supporting each other’s endeavours. They travelled the world together as Prof Chen, UWI Professor Emeritus of Physics, spoke at conferences on climate change and had co-authored a publication for the Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Vice President Al Gore.

We express deepest sympathy to Prof Chen, children Norman, Marsha and Gail and other family members for the loss of their beautiful Rheta Chen. May her great soul rest in peace.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 5 October 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

After three years in Jamaica, Jeremiah Knight ended his dynamic tour as the U.S. Embassy’s Counselor for Public Affairs on September 30^th.  We congratulate him on his promotion to Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.  His notable accomplishments during his tenure as the embassy’s head of Public Affairs include programmes for Women’s Empowerment, creating the Department of State’s local chapter of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs  and the Embassy’s Annual Women’s History Month Grant Pitch Competition that awarded over US$300,000 in grants.

Jeremiah also collaborated with the Branson Centre to host rap sessions under the theme ‘Journeys to Scale’, promoting the exchange of ideas between key business leaders in Jamaica and the US to assist local entrepreneurs in expanding their concerns.

At a virtual farewell get-together last Monday, media leaders, PAJ President George Davis, broadcaster and lecturer Fae Ellington and OPM Press Secretary Naomi Francis acknowledged Jeremiah’s promotion of investigative journalism, partnering with the Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network.

Jeremiah, whose grandfather hails from Jamaica, is passionate about education. He established the Embassy’s U.S. Exchanges Alumni Association (Jamaica) and organised islandwide school tours with US Ambassador Donald Tapia who has remarked on his joy in engaging with our beautiful Jamaican children.

He collaborated with bright young enthusiasts in a social media advisory group, created the Embassy’s Stakeholder Appreciation and Recognition Awards (SARA) and spearheaded the transformation of the Embassy’s Robeson American Center into a state-of-the-art technology space, facilitating specialized STEM clubs and a host of entrepreneurship programmes..

Despite his taxing schedule, Jeremiah found time to entertain his friends and colleagues with his amazing culinary creations, garnered from his worldwide postings and enhanced by his unique flavours.   

Walk good Jeremiah – you will be missed, but we are proud of your ascent in the US diplomatic service.