We gathered at Wray and Nephew in New Kingston for the Press Association’s Annual Media Veterans Awards. It was with some measure of dismay that I discovered that my younger colleagues, Simone Clarke, Marline Stephenson Dalley, Pete Sankey, Milton Walker and Rudolph Brown were now being honoured as veterans. Kingsley “Super T” Tomlinson from St. James was represented by Giovanni Dennis. Citations revealed their sometimes dangerous assignments, their ascent as media professionals and their steadfast integrity.
The short slogan for this year’s Journalism Week speaks volumes for our times: ‘Truth, Always’. With misleading AI videos, mischief-makers posting libelous remarks, hiding behind pseudonyms and the greasing of palms, truth is getting a battering. It is important to honour those who have always stood up for the truth.
Last Thursday, in association with UNICEF, journalists attended a timely workshop, “Ethical Reporting on Children”.
We await the Journalism Awards being presented after press time for this column. Congratulations to President Dashan Hendricks and his hardworking executive – it has been a successful Journalism Week.
Women’s Month
We have mixed emotions this Women’s Month. We grieve with the families who have lost their young children and a teenage son in tragic incidents. We take cold comfort from the conviction and sentencing of Jolyan Silvera who confessed to committing manslaughter, taking the precious life of his unarmed wife, Melissa – from the evidence, it smells more like cold-hearted murder.
We are looking forward to Professor Verene Sheperd’s distinguished lecture this afternoon on “Gender and Human Rights: The Role of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Violence.” Shepherd is Vice-Chair of the United Nations Committee dedicated to this subject. Prof Shepherd and Dalea Bean will launch their book, ‘Gender-Based Violence in the Caribbean: Historical Roots, Contemporary Continuities’ later this month.
The Food for the Poor Jamaica ladies gathered on Friday for a lively Women’s Day Tea organized by Marketing Manager Marsha Burrell Rose. It was a sweet reward for the diligent ladies who have been spending long, hard hours in their far-reaching hurricane relief programme.
Inspiring Dr Trevor Golding
As we listened to the tributes to Dr Trevor Golding at last week’s Thanksgiving Service, we heard the measure of a man whose generous embrace encircled family and friends and who was dedicated to excellence in his profession as a trailblazing radiologist. We appreciated that politics did not figure in his friendships as he had partnered with John Junor to create the popular ‘Paddington Posse’ and was a lifelong friend of Justice Patrick Robinson.
His brother, former Prime Minister Bruce Golding described the closeness of the three brothers as ‘three gungo peas in a pod’. It is interesting that as we age, the sibling bond grows even stronger, so there is a deep sense of loss with their passing. Even in the brief camaraderie we had at a ‘Jazz and Blues’ evening, Hubie and I experienced the warmth of Dr. Golding and his wife Shirley, their kindness and conviviality. Deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Trevor Golding. May his wonderful soul rest in peace.
Jamaica Highlights 