Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published on Monday, November 7, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
The first fan letter I ever wrote was to Leonie Forbes after watching her play the mother in
Trevor Rhone’s ‘Old Story Time’. In her over sixty years on Jamaica’s stage she slipped
easily into a range of characters, riveting us with her every expression and movement on
stage. She inspired and mentored generations of broadcasters and actors. Indeed I was
surprised to see the comments of young journalists whom she would call when they
mispronounced words and would guide them until they got it right.
Leonie Forbes’ contribution to Jamaican theatre is immeasurable. Dahlia Harris recalled that
she was nervous at the thought of performing with Forbes but found her to be a patient
mentor. We felt the love when her theatre family staged Basil Dawkins’s ‘Hide Your
Husband’ on her 85 th Birthday in June. She was radiant with joy. As Jamaica opens up, the
theatre community can summon up her profound style to preserve our grand theatre tradition.
Members of the Chinese Cultural Association (CCA) would look forward to the presentations
of our former president Dr Kai Meng Lui. The well-travelled doctor who used traditional and
Chinese medicine to attract a host of faithful patients would ply us with fascinating stories
accompanied by great photographs. It was only after his passing at a memorial gathering that
we realized what a multi-faceted individual he was.
The loving husband, father and grandfather was a valued member of several organizations
including the Photographic Club, the Natural History Science Club, and the Jamaica Amateur
Radio Association. He was an energetic organizer of China tours and as colleague Winsome
Mowatt noted, “We just had to show up – Kai Meng took care of everything.” The tributes offered by his daughter Shu Yin Lui-Morgan and office attendant Jennifer Douglas spoke of a
caring family man and a humble doctor who chose to serve in Kingston’s inner city where he
felt no danger, only love from his patients.
Our condolences to their friends and families of Leonie Forbes and Kai Meng Lui; may their
souls rest in peace.
Jamaica Highlights 