Month: August 2023

Montego Bay Jamaica (MBJ) Airports Limited affirms commitment to optimum safety.

The management team of MBJ Airports Limited, operators of Sangster International Airport (SIA), have addressed the recent temporary closure of the runway due to construction-related activities. The decision had been made within the framework of their Safety Management Systems, designed to prioritize the safety of all operations.

Montego Bay Airports Limited (MBJ)

As is the norm in the aviation industry, steps have already been taken to conduct a thorough review of the circumstances. MBJ Limited has given the assurance that the safety of all passengers, airlines, and stakeholders involved in airport operations, remains their utmost priority. They have expressed their appreciation for the understanding and patience of all stakeholders. MBJ’s safety systems and procedures have maintained a flawless record of runway safety.

MBJ Limited has expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, for their vigilance, commitment and concern for the aviation industry’s welfare. They thanked their airline partners, some of whom resumed operations on the same afternoon when the issue was resolved, demonstrating their commitment to the success of operations at MBJ and to Jamaica. They acknowledged the exceptional coordination efforts of key stakeholders in the tourism industry, particularly the Jamaica Tourist Board and members of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), whose collaboration played a pivotal role in minimizing disruptions.

MBJ announced that the runway extension project has reached a major milestone as the extended runway is now open and operational. With the introduction of a Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at both ends of the runway, this further enhances the safety of aircraft operations at SIA.

For the past two decades, MBJ Airports Limited has consistently invested in SIA’s development. During the pandemic, their commitment to airport improvement and expansion continued with the expansion of the Departures Area. Currently, they are implementing transformative projects as part of their significant investment programme. These projects encompass a comprehensive upgrade and expansion of the check-in area, outbound security, immigration hall, and landside roads. The redevelopment aims to enhance throughput, increase parking capacity, and further elevate the passenger experience.

“Sangster International Airport stands as the gateway to Jamaica and a cornerstone of the nation’s infrastructure. The airport continues to be a recognized leader in the Caribbean,” stated Shane Munroe, CEO of MBJ Airports Limited. “We remain dedicated to maintaining this reputation by continually investing in facilities and advancing the quality of the passenger experience. By working collectively, we are confident that we will overcome challenges and create an even more robust, secure, and welcoming aviation ecosystem for all.”

                                                                                                                                                                   

Brilliance and courage in Budapest

Jamaica’s Danielle Williams takes ussies with fans as she celebrates after winning the women’s 100m hurdles final.  Contributed photo: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC.

It was an amazing week for our Jamaican athletes and their fans as we ran, jumped, and hammer threw vicariously with them at the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships.

At the time of writing, Jamaica is second to the US in the points standings, with Kenya in third place. In medal standings we are fourth behind the US, Canada, and Spain. What a performance by our team, with gold medals from Danielle Williams in the women’s 100m hurdles, young Antonio Watson in the 400m event, and Shericka Jackson in a World Championships record of 21.41 seconds in the women’s 200m. We copped silvers from Hansle Parchment in the 110m hurdles, Wayne Pinnock in the long jump, Shericka Jackson in the 100m and the women’s 4×100 relay.

Antonio Watson
Contributed photo: Naphtali Junior.

It was in the women’s 4×100 relay that Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce once again showed her grit. We noticed that she was not moving with her usual rhythm towards the end of her second leg to hand over the baton to Sashalee Forbes and at the end of the brilliant silver-medal run was not seen. We learnt later that she pulled a muscle in her right knee and had gone to get medical attention. What a champion she is! Track and field analyst Bruce James noted that the reflex action in such emergencies is to drop the baton and hold the injured limb but that mothers respond differently. “Mothers are amazing,” he enthused. “Shelly is amazing.”

We congratulate Shelly-Ann on her bronze in the 100m and the other bronze winners Rushell Clayton in the 400m hurdles, Tajay Gayle in the long jump and the men’s 4×100 relay. All team members deserve kudos because points are awarded up to eighth place, depending on the event, and it must have been their never-say-die attitude in the face of some of the biggest stars that took us to number two in the points tally.

Shericka Jackson
Contributed photo – Naphtali Junior

Can Jamaica shine too?

Leahcim Semaj, basking in the glory of our athletes, posted questions that this column has been asking since 2008: “What if … Jamaica, as a nation, replicate the model that we have successfully used to become world-class in athletics in other areas of national life? Do we have the will? Is there the leadership?” I believe the key question is: Do we have the will? We have quality people in our Houses of Parliament and in our Cabinet, but it continues to be a puzzle as to why some are so slow to step up and deliver. We hear complaints about low productivity in areas of public service but in this day of high tech there must be ways to measure this.

On a positive note, our team members who attended a forum held by the Norman Manley International Airport last Friday, said that Opposition spokesman on transportation Mikael Phillips hailed Minister Daryl Vaz for speedily addressing the issues which now fall to his portfolio.

That same day Vaz saw to the off-loading of 50 new buses for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company. Jamaicans with disabilities will be happy to hear that these vehicles have been modified to accommodate those with mobility issues. We have ministers who can hold their own anywhere in the world and we can only hope they are not being held back by the internal political tensions that occur in both parties.

This is what we value in the world of athletics: When you are out there on the track or in the field, no one can try to hide your achievements. When you submit yourself to testing no one can accuse you of unethical behaviour. Although she was not selected for the 4×100, Elaine Thompson-Herah posted on social media: “Well done, ladies (heart emojis). One side Jamaica (flag emoji).”

A coalition for good

People have scoffed at Economic Programme Oversight Committee Chairman Keith Duncan’s call for a coalition of political parties to tackle the hard challenges that the country must overcome. This is because we are so steeped in this hostile political environment that we refuse to look towards the “One Jamaica” of which Thompson-Herah speaks.

As we tackle this crime monster, which has now resulted in the second firebombing, we refuse to accept that our political representatives could be so callous as to refuse to come together and agree on crime-fighting solutions.

Naomi “Miss Sweeney” Gocul, a senior citizen beloved by her neighbours, lost her life because of the cruel injuries she received from the Gregory Park firebombing. Jamaica’s senior citizens are the bedrock of their communities and the most faithful voters, there should be no question about finding the ways and means to protect these goodly Jamaicans.

Our netball star Latanya Wilson and her family were burnt out in the Central Kingston firebombing. How can this be her reward for flying our flag so high? Many of our athletes come from very humble communities, it is cynical to have time for them only when they bring us glory but have little care for the conditions under which they live.

May the achievements of our hard-working athletes inspire us to turn a new page for Jamaica. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Norman and Cecile Jarrett enjoy themselves at a CCRP party.

Happy 100th, Norman Jarrett!

CCRP, the advocacy organisation for seniors, has been joining forces with the National Council for Senior Citizens to celebrate the 100th birthdays of Jamaicans.

Yesterday we made a special presentation to CCRP 2017 Living Legacy Honoree Norman Jarrett, who was born on July 27, 1923.

He is a passionate activist for the improvement of literacy among Jamaica’s young students and established the Norman and Cecile Jarrett Literacy Improvement Programme with his wife, fellow educator Cecile, in 2011. Through this programme, the Jarretts work with primary school students in the downtown Kingston area to improve their literacy. The project has been embraced by the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Kingston, of which he is the chairman of the Human and Spiritual Values Committee.

Jarrett’s career as a teacher began in 1941 at Annotto Bay Elementary School as a pretrained teacher. After graduating from Mico Teachers’ College [now The Mico University College] he served as an all-age school principal for 20 years and at another school for nine years.

He was music coordinator and teacher at Papine High School for three years and spent the following 18 years as the training coordinator at the Jamaica Industrial Corporation and as an inspector and travelling officer with the Factories Corporation of Jamaica.

As a perennial volunteer, Jarrett has taught music at the Church of the Transfiguration Basic School for 30 years and he served as the full-time organist at Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church for 22 years. The spry Jarrett still finds time to play the organ on a part-time basis in several churches around Jamaica, The Bahamas, and Canada. Among his many awards, he has received the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service in the fields of music and education.

Happy 100th Birthday to a great Jamaican, Norman Jarrett, and congratulations to his supportive wife Cecile and other members of their caring family.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is the executive chair of PROComm and CCRP. 

Source: Jamaica Observer https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/brilliance-and-courage-in-budapest/

A week of hope and suffering

It was a week of hope, starting with Yasus Afari’s Jamaica Poetry Festival which sparkled with the classic poetry of Professor Edward Baugh, the youthful voice of octogenarian Boris Gardiner, and a surprise performance by our renaissance Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett.

Yasus had us chanting phrases such as “poetry can nyam!” – his response to his mother’s criticism of his career choice – and “mek it ‘tan deh” to those who would misappropriate people’s money.

This year’s festival, the 13th, was dedicated to legends Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett Coverely, Harry Belafonte, and Kahlil Gibran. Their biographies set the stage for the event, challenging us to bring excellence to the stage.

Ten-year-old Jazmin “Jazzy J” Headley wowed us with a grown-up This Woman’s On Fire! and a capella Impossible Dream for an encore. We understand we will see her on the Hollywood big screen next year- she deserves it all – this child who raised a grand sum for the Jamaica Society for the Blind the show’s charity.

Professor Baugh had the audience in awe with his memories of Portland, his birth parish, and chuckling along with Carpenter’s Complaint about “that mawga foot boy” who passed him by, despite building his father’s house, to give the making of his late father’s coffin to “that big belly crook who don’t know how him ass from a chisel”. At the end of his performance we were on our feet with sustained applause.

Boris Gardner gave us the story of his world-famous song, Every N****r is a Star. He said it was the theme song for a movie of the same name which failed after two nights at the Carib Theatre. Then a few decades later he got a call from Kendrick Lamar who introduced his album with the song’s chorus, which racked up 5 million in sales. But that was not the whole story. Seven years ago he got a call from a top Hollywood production house that wanted to use a song in a movie, that movie was Moonlight, which won eight Oscars, including Best Picture of the Year at the 2017 Academy Awards. Those are amazing royalties for the king of Jamaican balladeers.

Minister Bartlett took the opportunity to share a publication in which he contributed, discussing Jamaica’s creation of a tourism resilience programme in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I presented it at the UN, ” he said, “and before I was finished the endorsements were coming in from other countries. And at the end, 94 countries were signatories for what Jamaica has given to the world.”

Hats off to all the performers -it was an honour to share the stage with (in order of appearance): master drummer Calvin Mitchell, poet Ossie Gee, singer Sotera, Prof Clinton Hutton, Dr Emerson Henry, and Ras Jaja.

The Soft Side of Law Enforcement

It was a morning of joy last Thursday when the Jamaica Constabulary Force, in collaboration with the Jamaica Defence Force; Jamaica Fire Brigade; Jamaica Customs Agency; Department of Corrections; and the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency handed over $4 million to Special Olympics Jamaica, collected during the three months of running with the Special Olympics Torch in the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) throughout every parish of Jamaica.

Lead representative of the Caribbean LETR, Senior Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, reminded us that our law enforcement agencies have been dedicated to this project since 1986, raising tens of millions of our Special Olympians.

JCF’s head of the Community Safety and Security Branch, Assistant Commissioner of Police Charmine Shand, and Senior Superintendent Natalie Palmer Mair have given sterling service to the LETR over the years.

The video of the law enforcement officials starting each parish race shoulder to shoulder, then joined by citizens of every walk of life shows the genuine good-heartedness of Jamaicans of our special needs community. Special Olympics of Jamaica (SOJ) Chair Aldrick McNab and Executive Director Coleridge “Roy” Howell thanked the organizations profusely for the boost to SOJ’s funds.

In turn, our Special Olympians have made Jamaica proud in the World Games, the most recent of which was in Berlin, where our United Team won the World Cup and gained 18 medals. On a personal note, it was wonderful to see Jamaica Customs Agency Comissioner CEO Velma Ricketts Walker as we consider ourselves daughters of our mentor Sister Mary Benedict Chung. In true Convent of Mercy “Alpha” of spirit, she vowed that she loved a challenge and was looking forward to contributing even more to next year’s LETR.

Maui Tragedy

The scale of the tragedy of the Maui fires kept growing over the past two weeks, and news reports showed the historic town of Lahaina literally burnt to the ground. The stories of families recused from the ocean, the only place they could flee, were harrowing. We understand that some Jamaicans live on that island, and though they lost property, they are safe with family members in another area of the island that was spared.

The death toll at press time was 114, but Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives have estimated that over 1,000 people are unaccounted for. There has been criticism of the emergency management agency for not having sounded warning sirens earlier and also of the power company for not shutting down power lines. However, others believe that the speed of the fire, driven by hurricane winds, would have been inescapable.

Relief efforts have been compassionate, with citizens being given hotel accommodation for seven months and promises of assistance to rebuild their homes and businesses. Such tragedies are sobering reminders to small island slates like Jamaica that disaster preparedness requires knowledgeable professionals and well-informed citizens to maximise our safety.

Gregory Park Suffering

Natural disasters are heart-rending, but disasters wreaked by criminals against their fellow Jamaicans are infuriating. Now over 80 people are homeless because gang members firebombed their homes in the early hours nine days ago. Young children and the elderly have been injured in these fires, while one young man has lost his precious life.

I ask again, as this column keeps asking: What is the role of the Office of Disaster Preparedness (ODPEM) in such cases? These same designated shelters should be opened and a central operation established involving willing organizations, such as Food For the Poor and the Jamaica Red Cross, so that citizens can be housed and fed while permanent housing solutions are pursued.

Member of Parliament Alando Terrelonge has been working assiduously to bring relief, but it cannot be left on one person’s shoulders when there is so much to be done.

All Eyes on Budapest

Let’s cheer on Team Jamaica as they give of their best in Budapest! Medals there will be as our top athletes arrive with season’s best records. May they remain in good health throughout the World Games. Gratitude to our coaches, sports medicine experts, and organisers. Go Jamaica!

Jean Lowrie-Chin is executive chair of PROComm and CCRP.

Source: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/a-week-of-hope-and-suffering/ Observer column published on Monday August 21, 2023.

Our elders deserve to live in peace

CCRP, an advocacy organisation for seniors, has condemned the cruel firebombing of a community in Gregory Park which has claimed the life of 72-year-old Naomi Gocul.

Gocul, lovingly called Miss Sweeny, was seriously injured and hospitalized after the brutal attack which left another resident dead. She succumbed to her injuries Tuesday, leaving her community and others grieving and distressed.

Neighbours remembered her kindness while Member of Parliament Alando Terrelonge recalled that she was a devout Christian.

“The CCRP is demanding justice for Gocul and the victims of this heinous act. For a woman of such faith and generosity to face such horrific suffering is a sad commentary on the level to which some of our citizens have sunk.

“Our elders are constantly in fear, some facing extreme loneliness-especially those who live in violence-prone communities. Our elders deserve to live in peace, after many years of service to their communities, families, and organizations, but instead, they are facing gang violence and marginalization, amongst many other daily struggles,” said the advocacy group.

“We at CCRP are saddened by this tragedy and call on supporting stakeholders to create a safer environment for Jamaica’s vulnerable elders,” it said.

Source: Jamaica Observer | published Thursday August 24, 2023

Corporate Hands | PEP donates medical equipment, supplies valued at US$6,000 to Black River Hospital

Chief Executive Officer for the Black River Hospital, Diana Brown-Miller (left), accepts a donation of medical supplies and equipment from Parottee Enrichment Project’s (PEP) executive board member, Marilyn Bennett, during a handover ceremony on August 17. The organisation donated approximately US$6,000 worth of equipment and supplies to the facility.

Corporate Hands | 80 students to get Jamalco scholarships for 2023-24 academic year 80 students to get Jamalco scholarships for 2023-24 academic year

From left: Jamalco Managing Director Austin Mooney makes a presentation to scholarship recipient under the company’s Education Assistance Programme, Deanna Rosetta Samuels, during the August 16 presentation ceremony at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Clarendon. Sharing the moment are Managing Director of HEART/NSTA Trust Dr Tanesha Ingleton and Jamalco Human Resource Manager Christopher Buckmaster.

Corporate Hands | Fire-ravaged Musgrave Market gets $2.5m from NCB Foundation

Anthony Tyrell, father of two and vendor for over 15 years, shares a friendly smile with Kayon Morrison, branch manager for NCB Port Antonio, as she purchases local produce outside the fire-ravaged Musgrave Market. Tyrell is one of over 200 vendors displaced by the recent fire. NCB Foundation contributed $2.5 million towards the rehabilitation efforts of the market.

Corporate Hands | Bellevue Hospital collaborates with Eunoia to exhibit clients’ artwork at ‘Mind Art’

Dominic Drysdale (centre), a former client of the Bellevue Hospital, shows off one of his drawings to (from left) Bellevue Hospital’s Jhnell Reid-Bowen, occupational therapy manager; Dr Diana Thorburn, board chairman and Suzette Buchanan, CEO; and Deborah Gordon, Eunoia founder and Miss Universe Jamaica 2023 second runner-up. They were in attendance at Mind Art – an exhibition put on to showcase past and present clients’ artwork in Oo Park at the Bellevue Hospital in Kingston. The event raised funds to support the hospital’s Occupational Therapy Department, which engages residents in creative and routine activities as part of their psychiatric care.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner | https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20230824/corporate-hands-bellevue-hospital-collaborates-eunoia-exhibit-clients-artwork

Japan Parliamentary Delegation Visit the South Jamaica Power Centre

Japan Parliamentary Delegation Visits the SJPC Plant: Takuya Kokawa (1st left), Associate, Marubeni Power International points out features of the South Jamaica Power Centre (SJPC) plant in Old Harbour, St Catherine to Hiroshige Seko (centre), Secretary-General for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the Japan House of Councillors and Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Members of the Japan House of Councillors, Iwao Horii (2nd left), Yasutada Ohno ( partially hidden), and Yasuyuki Sakai (5th left). Also present were H.E. Yasuhiro Atsumi (left), Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, Noel Watson (2nd right), Plant Manager, SJPC, Damian Obiglio (1st right), Senior Vice-President, Marubeni Power International and Leisa Batiste-Whyte (4th left), SJPC General Manager. The SJPC plant, which uses Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), has been operating at a world-class standard since commencing commercial operations in December 2019. It is 68 per cent more efficient and produces 59 per cent less emissions than the previous plant.

Japan Parliamentary Delegation Visits the SJPC Plant: Hiroshige Seko (4th left), Secretary-General for the LDP in the House of Councillors, Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry along with Members of the Japan House of Councillors, Yasuyuki Sakai (right), Yasutada Ohno (2nd right) and Iwao Horii (3rd right) on a tour of the South Jamaica Power Centre (SJPC) plant in Old Harbour, St Catherine on August 7, 2023. Accompanying them were H.E. Yashiro Atsumi (left), Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, Leisa Batiste-Whyte, SJPC General Manager (2nd left), Damian Obiglio (3rd left) Senior Vice-President Operations, Marubeni Power International, Noel Watson, (5th left), Plant Manager, SJPC and Takuya Kokawa (6th left), Associate, Marubeni Power International.

Inside the SJPC Control Room: Member of the Japan House of Councillors Yasuyuki Sakai (centre), discusses a feature of the South Jamaica Power Centre (SJPC) Control room with Hiroshige Seko (left), Secretary-General for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the Japan House of Councillors and Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Noel Watson, (right) Plant Manager, SJPC. They were on a recent tour of the SJPC in Old Harbour, St. Catherine with Members of the Japan House of Councillors, Yasutada Ohno and Iwao Horii and H.E. Yasuhiro Atsumi, Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica. Also present were Damian Obiglio (2nd left), Senior Vice-President, Marubeni Power International, Takuya Kokawa (partially hidden), Associate, Marubeni Power International and Leisa Batiste-Whyte, SJPC General Manager.

Japan Parliamentary Delegation Visits the SJPC Plant: Damian Obiglio, Senior Vice-President, Marubeni Power International, greets Hiroshige Seko, Secretary-General for the LDP in the House of Councillors, Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry along with Members of the Japan House of Councillors, Yasuyuki Sakai (right), Yasutada Ohno (2nd right) and Iwao Horii (3rd right)  prior to the tour of the South Jamaica Power Centre (SJPC) plant tour on August 7, 2023. Accompanying them was H.E. Yashiro Atsumi, Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica.

Japan Parliamentary Delegation Visits the SJPC Plant: Noel Watson (2nd right), Plant Manager, SJPC discusses key features of the South Jamaica Power Centre (SJPC) plant in Old Harbour, St Catherine to Hiroshige Seko (centre), Secretary-General for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the Japan House of Councillors and Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Members of the Japan House of Councillors, Iwao Horii (2nd left), Yasutada Ohno ( partially hidden), and Yasuyuki Sakai (5th left). Also present were H.E. Yasuhiro Atsumi (left), Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, Noel Watson (2nd right), Plant Manager, SJPC, Damian Obiglio (1st right), Senior Vice-President, Marubeni Power International, Takuya Kokawa (1st left), Associate, Marubeni Power International and Leisa Batiste-Whyte (4th left), SJPC General Manager. 
The SJPC plant, which uses Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), has been operating at a world-class standard since commencing commercial operations in December 2019. It is 68 per cent more efficient and produces 59 per cent less emissions than the previous plant.