As we listened to the Citations for Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman and Dr Christine Fray at the Annual Soroptimists of Jamaica Awards event we were moved by the achievements of these dedicated women.

Recipient of the prestigious Stella Gregory Award, Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman serves as Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, holding the highest-ranked military position in the country and creating history as Jamaica’s first woman Chief of Defence Staff.

Wemyss Gorman has many firsts: the first female officer to serve at sea in the JDF, the first woman to attain the rank of Commander, the first and only woman in Jamaica to attain Flag Rank—’an honour reserved for those holding the rank of Rear Admiral or its equivalent and above’. She began her military studies at the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College, gained a master’s degree with distinction in National Security and Strategic Studies from The University of the West Indies, Mona, and later graduated from the United States Naval War College.

We learned from the Citation, “Vice Admiral Wemyss-Gorman [reflects] the highest standards of leadership, excellence, and strategic management. Her visionary leadership led to the establishment of the Caribbean Maritime Military Training Centre, through which hundreds of officers locally and regionally have become proficient in Military Maritime Operations.”

“Her influence extends beyond national borders,” it continues. “She serves as Jamaica’s representative to the International Seabed Authority, acts as a Maritime Boundary Negotiator, and is a leading voice in bilateral defence partnerships with major defence organizations in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Canada.”

In her reply the JDF Chief of Defence Staff remarked that “Courage is not confined to the battlefield,” as she noted that the legendary Ena Collymore-Woodstock returned to Jamaica after serving in World War II and became Jamaica’s first woman Resident Magistrate. She introduced the high-ranking women JDF members who cheered her at the Soroptimists event. They chanted along with her, her favourite advice: “I believe how you do anything, is how you do everything.”

“Whether we serve in uniform or in civic life, we are united by duty and resolve to leave our country and institutions stronger than we found them,” she declared.

Fellow honouree Dr Christine Fray, recipient of the Grace Allen Young Award believes “Every moment is researchable.” The Associate Professor in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Technology, Jamaica, has investigated Jamaica’s major health challenges: obesity, chronic noncommunicable diseases, sports nutrition, gender-based violence, and our resulting socio-economic conditions. Motivated by her research, she is a co-founder of the Jamaica Association for Professionals in Dietetics and Nutrition (JAPINAD), which upholds excellence in the practice of nutrition and dietetics.

Her citation notes, “She has co-authored pivotal studies examining the mental health impact of child abuse, the prevalence of domestic violence in Jamaica, and the economic burden of chronic diseases. She has highlighted the troubling reality that child sexual abuse remains pervasive within Jamaican society, perpetuated by social and cultural norms that inhibit disclosure and normalize harm… Dr. Fray has dedicated significant scholarly effort toward prevention and systemic change.”

The citation noted that, “in collaboration with None in Three, a global research centre focused on the prevention of gender-based violence, she has supported innovative, evidence-based approaches. This includes the development of an educational anti-violence video game called “Gabby,” which is grounded in real-world research, and helps to raise awareness about child sexual abuse …”

In her reply to the gathering, Dr Fray admits to breaking down in tears after interviewing abused children. Their trauma can bring a lifetime of pain without early intervention.

Keynote speaker at the event Professor Opal Palmer Adisa made an uplifting presentation, celebrating Louise ‘Miss Lou’ Bennett’s perspicacity on Jamaican women.

As we arrived at the Montego Bay Campus of the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD) last Thursday, we saw gatherings of students communicating soundlessly, with lively hands and expressions. This was the 67^th Annual General Meeting of the organization, founded in 1958 by Rev. Willis Ethridge and his wife, Mildred from Ontario, Canada. CCCD Chair Carol Robertson shared that the couple was joined by Paula Montgomery, the first Deaf American missionary, and they set up a school for the Deaf in Manchester with eight students.

Now CCCD has four campuses: in Kingston at Cassia Park Road, the over 100-acre Jamaica Deaf Village in Manchester, Knockpatrick – also in Manchester, and Granville, Montego Bay. There is a staff of 105, serving 140 students. Acting Executive Director John Meeks noted that with approximately 54,000 Deaf individuals in Jamaica, it was important that more deaf children be enrolled at the three teaching campuses, which offer boarding facilities.

The Montego Bay and Manchester campuses were hard hit by Hurricane Melissa. Thanks to CCCD USA led by Ben Buekema and volunteers, operations resumed within weeks. Meeks noted: increased enrolment, increased job and internship placement – 86% success rate; 4H participation and achievement, high rate of certification in skill training courses/areas; continuation of spiritual focus – students and staff lead devotional exercises.

The meeting welcomed the news that a Deaf Police Youth Club would be established at the Montego Bay campus, and there is already one senior student who hopes to become a Police Officer. Last year, Jamaica’s first deaf Justice of the Peace was commissioned.

The education of our deaf children cannot be over-emphasised. This column has related the life story of Jamaica-born Claudia Gordon who became the first black deaf attorney-at-law in the USA. She said there was a deaf woman in her Cascade district of St. Mary who was called ‘Dummy’ and her mother moved to New York to access deaf education.

We have written about the rise of DeafCan Coffee Company from the Cassia Park Campus, piloted by Blake Widmer. Their mentor, Kent Mogler observed that of the 45 full-time employees, only two are hearing, showing the potential of our deaf once they are educated and guided by strong faith.

Every single presentation at the AGM acknowledged the guidance Christian beliefs which undergird the work of the CCCD. Financial executive Claudia Morgan-Senior spoke of God’s providence which had pulled them through both hurricanes – Beryl and Melissa. Board Directors Robertson, Beukema, Mogler, Patti Stoudt, Lola Wright, Pastor Sheldon Burkett and Troy Chambers channel this faith in CCCD’s leadership.

The Jamaica Deaf Village (JDV) was established by CCCD in 1984 to “serve as a safe place where Deaf adults and their families could live in community, attend worship, and find meaningful employment.”  Their website notes, “The three school campuses continued to run smoothly, and graduated class after class — but the Deaf graduating from high school still struggled to find employment. Employers did not have the time or resources to devote to learning to communicate with the Deaf, and did not hire them.”

“No job means no money, and no money means that, despite their education and potential, the deaf graduates were unable to provide for their own basic needs. Many turned to desperate means to obtain food, clothing, and shelter.”

Now, with farming, sewing and other projects, the JDV is self-sustaining. There has been ongoing training in tractor operation and the raising of small ruminants, though there have been setbacks due to praedial larceny. A HEART NSTA Trust Incubator project for crop production and rabbit rearing is now in progress.

John Meeks noted, “Statistics state that 90% of all Deaf children have hearing parents. Of those hearing parents, 80% have a very limited sign vocabulary or never learn to sign at all. Sadly, a large percentage of Deaf children do not have access to ASL/JSL and have very poor language models at home and in some cases, at school.”

If you have a deaf child or know of any in your community, please visit the CCCD website at https://www.cccdjamaica.org/ to give them a chance to achieve their full potential.