Charitable organisation Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica donated 30 tablet devices to the National Education Trust (NET) in support of the Jamaican Government’s ‘One Laptop or Tablet Per Child’ initiative.
The donation, made on Tuesday (February 15), was made possible through a Canada-wide collaborative effort with the Jamaican Consul General in Toronto, office of the High Commissioner of Jamaica to Canada, Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations (AJAA), Food For The Poor Canada, and members of the Jamaican Diaspora who all came together to raise funds to source the tablets.
The ‘one laptop or tablet’ initiative, a project of the education ministry amid the negative impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, seeks to ensure needy Jamaican students have the tools to maximise learning in an increasingly digital environment.
Education Minister Fayval Williams, alongside State Foreign Affairs Minister Leslie Campbell, endorsed the partnership between FFP Jamaica and the Government.
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, February 21, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
Over seventy journalists were nominated for the Press Association of Jamaica’s (PAJ) 2021 National Journalism Awards which will be held on Saturday evening. The nominees are from virtually every media house in Jamaica, including the new Kalilah Reynolds Media.
People are always beefing about the media, mostly when we do not agree with what is said or written; however, let us be proud that Jamaica remains in the top ten countries for press freedom, made possible by our professional and probing journalists.
The Journalism Week Forum will be held virtually this evening on the topic “Balance in the Covid 19 pandemic: Should Anti-vaxxers Have a Voice?” A release from the PAJ states, “This discussion will focus on the ethics of media reporting in the context of what some regard as a dilemma – whether some views and opinions should be shut out of media. This has emerged as a significant problem during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as in other crises, such as climate change. It raises the issue of false equivalency, and freedom of expression.”
Congratulations to the PAJ led by President George Davis, which has weathered the pandemic, continuing to support and celebrate the achievements of its members.
Excerpt from The Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, February 21, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
The 25th Bob Marley Lecture entitled “‘The Harder They Come’:50 Years of Film Legacy” was presented by Justine Henzell, daughter of the novelist and film-maker Perry Henzell in conversation with Dr Rachel Mosely-Wood, Lecturer in the UWI Department of Literatures in English. Perry Henzell adapted the screenplay from his novel, loosely based on the story of the notorious Rhygin, a Jamaican outlaw of the fifties, and produced this classic movie, starring legendary Jimmy Cliff, with a soundtrack as riveting today as the first time we heard it.
Following in her Dad’s footsteps, Justine is an independent film producer, founding member of the Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA) and the Calabash Writers Festival. The conversation pointed to the increased production of local films by talented creatives. Kudos to the dedicated Justine, always more interested in making others shine but well deserving of this spotlight on her work.
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, February 21, 20221
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
(L-R) CEO of GraceKennedy Group, Don Wehby and TV host/Communications Specialist, Simone Clarke-Cooper on set during the virtual launch of GK100.
Photo credit: gracekennedy.com
The strong and steady GraceKennedy Group of Companies last week celebrated their 100th anniversary, growing from a distribution company to an innovative manufacturing, exporting and financial giant.
CEO Senator Don Wehby, in commenting on the company’s achievement, noted, “GraceKennedy’s story is one of resilience and longevity … From a little island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, to the world, a small Jamaican trading establishment transformed into a global consumer group with over fifty subsidiaries, serving millions of customers and employing thousands.” He referred to the Group’s core values of “Honesty, Integrity and Trust, and “the timeless words of our late great Chairman, Hon S. Carlton Alexander, ‘What is good for Jamaica is good for GraceKennedy’.”
The company’s philanthropic contribution through the GraceKennedy Foundation has been remarkable, with well-run homework centres, generous scholarship programmes, environmental projects and their enlightening GraceKennedy Annual Lectures.
Congratulations to Team GK – here’s to the next grand century!
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, February 21, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
We celebrate Jamaicans with Jamaicans living with disabilities, the long hard road to getting the Disabilities Act finally implemented. When we consider the talented and well-educated people with disabilities who are contributing to our national development, we look forward to the review of hiring policies by human resources managers in both the private and public sectors. When there is inclusivity, organisations blossom as their staff members collaborate and develop emotional quotient (EQ) now acknowledged as being on par with intelligence quotient (IQ).
Chairman of Digicel Jamaica Foundation, Mrs. Jean Lowrie-Chin (right) and Television Producer, Sharon Schroter (left) are pictured here with Paralympics Gold Medalist, Mr. Alphanso Cunningham.
Last year the Digicel Jamaica Foundation created a series of videos on Jamaican companies who hire persons with special needs. We always think of our Paralympics Gold Medalist Alphanso Cunningham in the context of sports, but we saw that he is a diligent employee at the Sir John Golding Centre’s prosthetics operations. We learned in a Jamaica Observer feature by Josmar Scott, that Digicel’s human resource executive Daveanna-Kay Reid who uses a wheelchair started as a ‘POWER intern’ with the company seven years ago. The company belongs to the ‘Valuable 500’ group of companies worldwide who practice the ‘Power Intern Programme’. Daveanna-Kay oversaw the retrofitting of the Digicel global headquarters in downtown Kingston to accommodate people with special needs.
Kudos to Dr Floyd Morris, Jamaica’s first blind senator and Head of the UWI Centre for Disabilities Studies, Dr Christine Hendricks, Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD) and UNICEF, who have advocated assiduously for the Disabilities Act. UNICEF supported in the islandwide registration of persons with disabilities (PWDs), which gives them access to a range of helpful benefits accessible through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The JCPD, has cited the main objective of the Disabilities Act as “encouraging all Jamaicans to recognise and accept the principle that PWDs have the same fundamental rights as any other person.”
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published on Monday February 21, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
How exciting to hear the Beijing Winter Olympics commentator enthuse that Jamaica ‘punches above her size’ as we watched our Four-Man Bobsled Team whizzing down and around the icy course on Friday evening.
The 2022 Jamaica Winter Olympics Bobsled Team Photo credit: CBSNews.com
Last week, the cheery Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian raced down the course in the Women’s Mono-Bob event, and vigorously waved the Jamaican flag post-race. We are grateful to President of the Jamaica Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, Chris Stokes for persevering despite several administrative headaches and to the Sandals Group for their valuable sponsorship.
Last Thursday, our ‘Reggae Girlz’ triumphed over Bermuda 4-0 in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship Qualification round at our National Stadium. We had travelled to France in 2019 to see our Girlz play in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and it was sheer joy to see that goal from Havana Solaun against the highly ranked Australian team in Lyon. We were a happy crew with a few surprises – vuvuzelas were banned but somehow this sweet quiet lady in the group produced one when the goal was scored and didn’t we make noise!
We noted a quiet young Jody Brown giving her all in the games. What a joy to see her developing into a strong player, scoring the first goal for Jamaica, and now a valuable member of the Florida State University team, winners of the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Soccer College Cup.
Of course, the queen of the field was Kadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, who scored the last two goals, after being unjustly deprived of a penalty. Shaw is now a celebrated member of the Manchester City Women’s Football Team, scoring a hat-trick against Leicester City last October, to take her team into the FA Cup Semis. In that post event interview, she remained humble: “It’s a team effort. I’m scoring the goals but if it wasn’t for my team, it wouldn’t be possible.”
We remember what a hard time the Girlz had getting funding for the World Cup, and the dedication of Cedella Marley in obtaining support for them. We hope they will not be facing the same difficulties with the Jamaica Football Federation this time around.
A group of the Suttons farmers showcasing some of the items received as part of the project.
As part of a Food for the Poor Jamaica project, farmers in the Suttons area of Clarendon have been provided with training in crop production, best practices and farm business management to include plant nutrition, integrated pest management, harvest/post-harvest, record keeping.
This was done in partnership with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and Newport Fersan Jamaica Ltd.
Each farmer has the potential to produce 3,000 lbs of sorrel from two crop cycles annually. The sale of the sorrel will be a significant income generator for the farmer who can earn an income of more than $1.2 million annually.
3,000 RESIDENTS LIVING IN COMMUNITY
With the intervention of FFP and its donors, including Douglas Orane, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank and others who supported the organisation’s Farm-To-Table event back in 2019, it was a huge success.
The fundraiser featured produce from small farmers and fisherfolk who received assistance through Food For The Poor’s Agriculture and Fishing Programme. Funds from that initiative have been used to execute a multi-element support project in Suttons, which will enhance the capacity of farmers to better manage their farm, and to alleviate some of the hardships faced by the community members.
Almost smack in the middle of the island, Suttons is a small rural upland farming community, bordering the Coxswain, Wood Hall, New Longville and Rock River districts. There are approximately 3,000 residents living in the community.
The area – so named for 18th Century plantation owner and Speaker of the Jamaican House of Assembly, John Sutton – has a long history in agriculture, and farming activities remain the main source of livelihood for men and women in the area to this day. The area has limited scope for other industries or economic activities.
In recent times their farming activities have been impacted negatively as the region has been experiencing droughts and changes in climate conditions.
General unpredictability in the weather has had a negative impact on all aspects of life, from the productivity to the unavailability of water for domestic use. Also, the region’s location and the general inaccessibility of the terrain has made the provision of piped water almost impossible. The pandemic, and the attendant logistic and economic issues, have also been a factor.
Ten farmers were given the resources and skill sets to improve their farm, making it a more sustainable income generating activity. The farmers were provided with rainwater harvesting and gravity fed drip irrigation systems, complete with 1,000-gallon water storage tanks, to establish 1/2 acre of sorrel. In addition, they were supplied with the necessary farming inputs to maintain the crop at maximum productivity. Some of the inputs received were seedlings, pesticides, fertilizers and small tools and equipment. They have also received 50 fruit trees as part of Food For The Poor’s Tree Planting Initiative, geared towards reforestation and food security.
“Food For The Poor thanks our donors for assisting us in this vital work of supporting our farmers and contributing to the stability of our rural communities,” said Nakhle Hado, FFPJ’s director of agriculture and Fishing.
Suttons farmer Winston Williams (foreground) stands amid a patch of sorrel he is farming in the community.
Beyond the increased income and purchasing power, Hado notes, the project has the potential to create long-term development in the community; the farmers, being able to afford a better education for their children, which in turn increases the likelihood that they will enjoy better incomes in the future.Also, beyond the pure agro assistance, Food for the Poor has taken a multi-element approach, incorporating social intervention for some of the recipients found in desperate need, as well as the distribution of household, food and care packages. Some recipients will be submitted as potential housing recipients and the team is following up.
“These inputs are helping our fellow Jamaicans in Suttons to better provide for themselves and their families and to fill the ongoing need for quality produce as our commercial sector continues to seek to cope with the effects of the pandemic,” he said.
Most of the beneficiaries have been farming their entire lives and are also second and even third generation practitioners, often with little to no formal schooling. Howard Bailey, at age 41, has been farming from the age of 11, while Winston Williams, who is 55 years old, is also a 30-year farming “veteran”. Williams is the main breadwinner for his family, which includes three children.
For them, the project is a godsend and a strong support, as it provides the opportunity to overcome the limitations imposed by drought, unstable weather and the lack of market opportunities
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, February 14, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
Old but never cold, members of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) will gather on Zoom later today for “An Evening of Wine & Roses”, their Valentine celebration. We will have romantic poetry, delightful crooners and moving love stories. We will also be doing a bit of matchmaking, inviting our members to put their emails in the chat if they would like to hear from a new friend. Stay tuned to hear where this takes us.
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, February 14, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
Remember, if you have queries and corrections regarding your digital Covid vaccine certificate, there are Data Entry Clerks at most vaccination centres who can assist you with making corrections and creating the certificate. Meanwhile, please ensure that you keep your card in a waterproof sleeve – it may be important to have both when you travel to certain places.
Jamaica Highlights 