Former Miss Jamaica World, coach, mentor, volunteer and philanthropist Joan McDonald has been appointed the CCRP-Gallagher Wellness Ambassador. 

This was announced by Saundra Bailey, Chief Operating Officer for Gallagher Caribbean Insurance Brokers on Friday, December 11, 2020. 

As Wellness Ambassador, Ms McDonald will share information on the CCRP Comprehensive Group Health Plan designed by Gallagher and underwritten by Sagicor. She will also use digital and traditional media to engage members in discussions on wellness and lifestyle topics.

Ms. McDonald sees her new role as yet another opportunity to help others to “still live a wonderful life.” She notes that her work in a variety of fields in public service has enabled her to make connections between people, embracing “everything that has come my way.”

In August 2019, she was honoured with a Congressional proclamation from Yvette D. Clarke, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, at Jamaica’s 57^th Annual Black-Tie Gala in New York.

Gallagher Chief Operating Officer Saundra Bailey said, “We believe Ms. McDonald’s appointment will strengthen our partnership with CCRP. We know she will serve as a truly gracious and supportive ambassador and facilitator, who will ensure that CCRP members appreciate all the tremendous benefits of the health plans available to them. This can only be a ‘win-win’ for both CCRP and Gallagher and we very much look forward to working withMs. McDonald.”

A long-serving volunteer with CCRP, Ms. McDonald was the first to win the Miss Jamaica World competition when it was officially established in 1978. At the time, she was a dance teacher at Wolmer’s Girls’ School. 

She has established a successful career as an event planner and personal development coach, grooming contestants for Miss Jamaica World and Miss Jamaica Festival Queen and mentoring teen mothers. She has also worked as a

Branch Director with the Jamaica Red Cross, and with Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE). She is an active member of the Lions Club of Kingston.

Ms. McDonald is a Justice of the Peace, a trained facilitator for Restorative and Community Justice Practices, and a former director of the Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica. 

“My life is a wonderful kaleidoscope,” smiles Ms. McDonald. She maintains a positive outlook on life despite its challenges, always seeking to “add value” in relationships and bring people together. 

Gallagher has served the Caribbean for over 45 years, operating seven subsidiaries as the largest full-service broker in the region.

CCRP is a non-profit organization for persons 50 years and over, with a membership of over 10,000. It advocates for the empowerment, respect and protection of seniors. In addition to its Kingston head office, CCRP has three chapters in Central, Western, and Northeast Jamaica.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 07 December 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Born of Jamaican parents who had migrated to Britain in the sixties, Susan Pitter was inspired when she saw the lovely photos in the funeral programme of her Dad’s friend, to create an elegant publication, “Eulogy” for the Jamaica Society Leeds. The well-researched book includes the history of the “Windrush generation”, photographs and quotes donated by 76 families whose parents and grandparents had migrated to Leeds over two decades from the 1940s. Some were former RAF members who after the war, decided to settle down there.

Their stories tell of ambitious, decent, hardworking families who were activists and contributed to the development of their community. One nurse recalls that even as she was caring for patients, they were disrespecting her with racist remarks. Susan’s parents were an attractive couple, Hermerde and Enid Pitter (nee Neil) who hailed from St. Elizabeth. They worked hard to raise their four children, all of whom are successful professionals. ‘Eulogy’ is a valuable keepsake and all proceeds go to the Jamaica Society Leeds.

Susan quotes the late Professor Rex Nettleford in her book: “If you don’t find the time to document your own history, it is likely to be forgotten – or worse still, misrepresented.”

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 07 December 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Despite Covid, we had a memorable Disabilities Awareness Week. Please note that we should say ‘persons with disabilities’, not ‘disabled persons’ as we should put the emphasis on the person and not on the disability.

Last Thursday Special Olympics Caribbean announced that our world-famous swimmer Alia Atkinson will be their Champion Ambassador.  I have had the pleasure to work with Alia; she has always been passionate about uplifting her fellow Jamaicans.  

Alia, who said it was an honour to be so declared, will work closely with the excellent Lorna Bell, Executive Director of Special Olympics Caribbean to affirm the efforts of our Special Olympians. In reflecting on the Motto of Special Olympics, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”, she expressed her admiration for the Special Olympians’ courage.

Sports Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange said Alia would “help them to be proud of the value that they add to our society” and commended Lorna Bell and Special Olympics Jamaica Chairman Allie McNab for their dedication to their charges. “Let us all as Government representatives commit to creating a more inclusive and enabling environment for all,” she urged.

The event ended with a thank-you by my bubbly little friend, Special Olympian Kadian Ingleton. “Alia is a great motivation and inspiration for us,” she said.

One of the benefits of being Chair of the Digicel Jamaica Foundation is seeing the efforts made by those who are physically and mentally challenged. They bring joy and pride to their families when they excel in educational programmes, tailored to their needs.  On Friday, we visited the Genesis School for Special Needs on South Camp Road where the initial enrollment has more than doubled. Principal Angela Bowen-Stewart said 70 percent of the students are online and keeping up with their lessons. We saw a demonstration of the modified wash stations in special needs schools by the Foundation. The ever-upbeat Alphanso Cunningham, Paralympian Gold Medalist was on hand to give his own words of praise at the well-kept grounds and classrooms.

Paralympians are persons with physical disabilities while Special Olympians are persons with intellectual disabilities.

We welcomed the news that Senator Dr Floyd Morris, Jamaica’s first blind Senator, has been elected to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Rising from the despondency of becoming blind as a teenager in St. Mary, he made his way to Kingston where he enrolled in classes at the Jamaica Society for the Blind and qualified to study at UWI Mona, continuing to gain masters and doctoral degrees and now lectures at and heads the UWI Centre for Disability Studies. His autobiography, “By Faith, Not By Sight” is an inspiring read.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 07 December 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

So here we are suddenly in December – nearly nine months of practically living online, looking forward to a ‘drive-out’ like a child in a car-less family. Most of us cannot wait for the month to end and to see the back of 2020. But for some of us, this unbelievable year has given us 20-20 vision. We are re-imagining our aspirations, questioning our priorities.

One introvert I know celebrated it, saying he welcomed the excuse to not socialize. Mothers working virtually found themselves torn between office interface and helping their children cope with online school. Delivery services seem to have got a nice bounce with thank-yous being posted to QuickPlate, 7Krave, Pekkish and CutdiLine. The reduction of curfew time by one hour to 10pm seems to have served businesses well. You have to search hard to find parking in the plazas, including the new one on Constant Spring Road. Remarkably remittances have increased.

We have to give thanks that Jamaica made its way into the digital world so that we can continue our operations. Millenials have come into their own during this time, launching YouTube channels, creating and selling products online and synergizing social media platforms. We are watching business gurus emerge – as they say, pressure creates diamonds, and some are shining bright.

Brittany Singh’s online school is getting fine reviews, and parents are thanking their lucky stars that an incredibly young Gordon Swaby dared to start EduFocal. Kadeem Petgrave’s and Simier Lansend’s EducaTours allows you to explore interesting Jamaican places without leaving your home.  Our pop stars have not taken a breath; we just heard the resonant ‘Hands Up’ by Beenie Man produced by Dominic McDonald’s Troublemekka Music and Koffee has gone international, representing Mastercard and H&M.

We are banking online and discovering it was not as difficult as we thought and we are grateful that Zoom and Microsoft will record our meetings so we can create good notes.

However, with about 30 percent of students not having connectivity, the JTA has reported that primary school children are falling behind in their studies and they are anticipating the same for high school students. We understand that some students are experiencing mental health issues and worldwide health authorities are concerned that the fallout from Covid will be mental health crises. Rise Life Management is a good resource, so please do not hesitate to reach out to them.

As we try to tough out this pandemic, let us find time to connect with family and friends, to play games with our children and to worship together, whether in person or virtually. We understand that a vaccine may be arriving in Jamaica in March of next year – just in time for Easter when we can celebrate a ‘resurrection’ of gatherings and a new appreciation for the family and friends we have been missing.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 30 November 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Like most Jamaicans, they may have gone to church, then returned home to prepare lunch, then sat with family to eat and relax. This may have been the scene when gunmen invaded the home of 81-year-old Iciline McFarlane, murdering her and her two grandchildren 10-year-old Christina and six-year-old Mishane McFarlane two Sundays ago. National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says that investigations reveal that this was a contract killing, apparently ordered by a gang leader allegedly in search of a connection to the family.

We ask ourselves, how can anyone look at an elderly woman and two little children and mercilessly end their lives? What makes their hearts so cold, their minds so warped? Even as we call for justice, we have to get to the root of the series of horrific acts over the past week, the most recent being the murder of Mandeville businesswoman Marcia Chin-You, hailed as a community supporter.

Ironically, we are now observing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), from November 25 to December 10, November 25 being the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW).

We have to be playing advertisements warning young girls that it is not natural for adult men in a household to be sexually abusing them. Several hospitals have reported that since the start of the pandemic they have seen more cases of abuse. Imagine, these big men who should be out in the yard planting food for their family, are inside molesting young children. I remember the play ‘Sleeper’ by Trevor Rhone, dramatizing the laziness of men in a household and the mute acceptance of their women. Towards the end of the play, we saw the son taking up the same habits of the father.

Poor parenting results in a lifelong handicap of no self-discipline and no work ethic. In the book, “The Road Less Travelled” by M. Scott Peck, he explores the downward spiral of such lives. These damaged human beings have no dignity, have no respect for themselves and therefore none for others. They become a plague on their families and their communities.

Law enforcement must go hand in hand with social healing as promoted by Dr Elizabeth Ward’s Violence Prevention Alliance and Horace Levy’s team at the Peace Management Initiative. Kudos to the creators of the ‘Jamaican Dadz’ YouTube series, Dennis Brooks, Marlon Campbell, Floyd Green and Garth Williams. How refreshing to see the joy they take in raising their children.

We can be part of this healing by participating in IDEVAW activism as recommended by Professor Opal Palmer Adisa, Director of the UWI Institute for Gender & Development Studies Regional Coordinating Office (IGDS-RCO). Some of these include:

December 2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery: the enslavement of Africans was an egregious and violent act. Hug yourself for surviving the violence and not passing it on. Read their Facebook post on Gender-based Violence (GBV) against women during slavery.

December 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Read their Facebook post on deaf women and GBV. Speak out about GBV against people with disabilities.

December 5 International Volunteer Day for Social and Economic Development: volunteer one hour of your day helping a woman or child who has been victimized and or provide them with a care package.

December 9 International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime: read their Facebook post on human trafficking in the Caribbean and share content.

Please try to participate. If you can change one heart and comfort one weeping soul, then you are a healer.

Disabilities Awareness Week

Today also is the beginning of Disabilities Awareness Week, with several activities being organised by the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI), to which the Digicel Jamaica Foundation will be lending its support. One that is special to me is the opening of the former Pear Tree River Primary school in St. Thomas which the MOEYI and the Digicel Foundation have transformed into a special needs technical-vocational school for students 13 to 21 years old. The school will be equipped to teach students life skills in Agriculture, Cooking, Sewing, Carpentry, Tiling and Data Entry.  This is in addition to the Lyssons School for special needs, which is now at capacity.

On Thursday, Special Olympics will host a webinar at which they will announce that one of Jamaica’s most outstanding athletes, the amazing Alia Atkinson, will be their Brand Ambassador.

Broken roads

The videos from Gordon Town and Irish Town are frightening – huge rocks careening down the side of the hills and blocking roads. After the recent heavy rains, the National Works Agency (NWA) has announced that it will take a trillion dollars to repair and rebuild these roads. PM Andrew Holness has explained that the Gordon Town road was initially a pathway to the coffee plantations and not really engineered to be a major roadway. The lure of those mountains has been irresistible and so a solution must be found to make these roads viable.

We note the National Integrity Action’s call for better governance of the NWA; this is even more important now that our strained budget may have to accommodate the astronomical cost of repairs. In the meanwhile, the authorities should take a second look at building applications for such areas.

Dry Harbour dilemma

It seems that PM Holness, anxious to create more jobs on our Northcoast where the pandemic has left thousands jobless, overruled the NEPA decision not to give a permit for limestone mining in the Dry Harbour Mountains on the North Coast. He explained that 70 guidelines were prepared for the operators and that if they were breached, he would order them to cease. However, with environmental experts weighing in on the side of NEPA, it seems that his decision may have to be reviewed. ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown’, especially in these tough times.

Covid Concerns

They call it ‘Covid fatigue’, these careless people who refuse to wear masks and break curfew. However, their fatigue is nowhere near that of our health workers who are doing double and triple shifts and putting their lives in danger, caring for Covid patients.

Recent numbers show a spike, with over 50 new cases being reported each day and four deaths each last Tuesday and Wednesday. Up to last Friday, 77 Covid patients have been hospitalised of whom eight are moderately ill and 7 are critically ill. Western parishes which had previously been doing well now have the highest rate of infections: Hanover, St. Ann, Westmoreland, St James and Trelawny.

As we balance life and livelihood, businesses are grateful for the additional hour before curfew during December as statistics show that up to 60 percent of sales are made during the Christmas season. Please shop local to help keep our businesses open and save jobs, always remembering to wear your mask and keep your distance.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 23 November 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie has given a stern warning: with 70,000 expected arrivals of Jamaicans for the Christmas holidays, we may very well see a Covid-19 spike in January. Oh no – we have been counting the days for 2020 to be over, please give us a break 2021! On the positive side, scientists are saying that if 95 percent of the population would wear a mask, we could get Covid under control and two vaccines should be available in a few months.

We Jamaicans have been fortunate that our leaders have not politicized mask-wearing, yet as we move around, we notice that less than half of folks are not wearing masks. Further we hear that people arriving from abroad think it is clever that they can dodge the authorities by breaking quarantine and gathering with friends at popular hangouts. It is beyond belief that there was a mob-killing of a police officer who tried to break up a party which was breaching curfew.

We should be aware that over 90 persons are now in hospital here with Covid. Older persons are the majority of those who have died from the virus. As much as Grandma and Grandpa will be happy to see family returning from abroad, the welcome home hugs have to be replaced by blown kisses. There are many young people who are Covid-positive and asymptomatic. That one hug could be a death sentence for an elder so please restrain yourselves.

As for family dinners, I admit I am in a state – how can I face Christmas without preparing a feast for all the people I love so much? But I must accept that for their safety and ours, we have to stay in our bubble. Let us try to live to see another Christmas where we can finally get together. We can deliver Christmas treats to our loved ones and plan a Facetime or a Zoom Christmas get-together. Our family enjoyed a Zoom Mothers’ Day Brunch, showing off dishes and toasting each other.

JMEA President Richard Pandohie is appealing for a later curfew time over the holiday season, but that will only happen if right away, we work with our families and communities to mask up and keep infection numbers down. Come November 30, the PM will have to listen to the health experts before he reviews the hours.

Meanwhile, let us look at organizing ourselves to get out earlier to do our shopping. We were pleasantly surprised to know we could call ahead to Island Grill and skip the line to collect our order. Our CCRP shopper Charmaine has also organised with seniors to collect their purchases at various supermarkets if they call in their orders, and NHF will deliver prescriptions drugs to persons over 65.

We are sad to hear that the global death toll for Covid has passed 1.3 million and grieve with members of our Jamaican Diaspora and indeed our entire human family who are mourning their loss. Let us do our best to avoid becoming another Covid victim.

Boost for Special Needs

In previous years, thousands gathered in downtown Kingston for Jamaica’s first ever night run, the Digicel 5K for Special Needs. The company found a way around Covid, staging a virtual 5K last month and inviting the Jamaican Diaspora to join in. Last week, The Digicel Foundation was able to present a total of $7.5M to The Jamaica Association for the Deaf, The Jamaica Autism Support Association, Early Stimulation Plus, The Jamaica Downs Syndrome Foundation and the Promise Learning Centre.

In addition to the building and renovation of 10 Special Needs schools, the Foundation recently partnered with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information to establish two new schools for special needs – the Rosebank School (formerly Rosebank Primary) in St Mary and the Pear Tree River School in St. Thomas.

It is heartening to see the progress being made by special needs students when they have the right teachers and facilities to help them develop their skills.

Oliver Samuels honoured

Oliver Samuels, the only CCRP Living Legacy Honouree this year, shared his love for theatre and his dedication to those in need at a recent live broadcast from the PCBJ studio. He is celebrating his 50^th year in Jamaican theatre and shows no sign of slowing down. He describes cultural icon, Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley (Miss Lou) as his mentor. After a pantomime performance early in his career, he recalls Miss Lou asking him, “Likkle boy, where yuh come from?” He was thrilled when his idol told him that his recital of her poem “Love Letta” was the best interpretation she had ever heard. 

Oliver Samuel’s innate generosity and empathy with “ordinary Jamaicans” is a quality that has remained with him throughout his career. He has donated proceeds of his productions to several good causes. He has been a mentor for many young people – his own children, as well as many others he has “taken under his wing” and maintains that his children are his greatest blessing in life.

That call to Prince Phillip

As we watch Season Four of ‘The Crown’, the Netflix series on the British royal family, I recall the day that I had an actual telephone conversation with the Duke of Edinburgh. It was the summer of 1966 and the Duke and Princess Anne were in Jamaica for the Commonwealth Games. We were at home on holidays and we had read that the Royals were staying at the Olympia Hotel. Our parents were out, so this daring teenager decided that she would call the hotel and ask to speak with the Prince.

You can imagine my shock when the operator put me through, and I heard this lovely voice saying ‘Hello?’ My siblings can attest that I asked first if this was Prince Phillip, to which he answered ‘Yes’, then I asked if he was the Duke of Edinburgh and sounding a bit amused, he again said ‘Yes’. Well at that point I lost my nerve and said, “It was nice to speak with you Sir, good-bye.” He was kind enough to stop me, ask my name, and say it was a nice name. I was able to stutter that I hoped he would enjoy his visit and asked him to say hello to the Queen. He said he would, and we ended the call. Well you can imagine the breathless laughter with my sisters and brother. Our Dad, an ex-RAF man, was strict on protocol, so we were afraid to tell him. He finally learned about it a few weeks later and was delighted, only sorry we didn’t tell him earlier as he said he would have called the Gleaner to report it.

When my sister told her classmate, she tried to call Princess Anne the next day, but she didn’t have the same luck.