It was a great day to be a part of the Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) on Wednesday, May 26, as the doors of a newly constructed multi-purpose centre were opened at MSC Jerusalem in Spanish Town. Previously, meetings and activities for the residents were held in a humble, 100-year old chapel. However, with 165 persons now living on the 8-acre property, which is leased from the Government of Jamaica, a larger space was needed. The Digicel Foundation stepped in with $16.5 million to build the Care Plus Centre of Excellence, which houses a kitchen, multi-purpose meeting rooms and a computer lab. The building will also serve as a fallout shelter for residents in the event of a natural disaster.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published Monday, May 31, 2021

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

It was a pleasure to introduce Scheed Cole, founder of 360 Recycle, to Prime Minister Andrew Holness last week. On behalf of the Digicel Foundation, Miguel “Steppa” Williams and I presented Cole’s ‘Grow Pots’ to the prime minister, who congratulated the creative manufacturer on the durability and finish of his work. Scheed explained that, at his Rousseau Road location, he and fellow artisans reuse packaging foam, paper and PET plastic bottles to create garden accessories and sculptures. His striking renditions of our national heroes can be seen at Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay.

We were grateful that Holness, who had been pressed for time, took so much interest in the work of 360 Recycle, reading through his booklets and assuring him of his personal support.

Last Wednesday, I took part also in the opening of a well-equipped multi-purpose centre sponsored by the Digicel Foundation at the Jerusalem Children’s Home on Windsor Avenue in Spanish Town. This is one of several homes in Jamaica operated by Mustard Seed Communities (MSC), founded by Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon. We surveyed the beautiful grounds where three buildings house 160 children, some of whom are HIV-positive and others who have both physical and mental challenges.

MSC International and local executive directors Fr Garvin Augustine and Darcy Tulloch-Williams hosted our group, which included Digicel Foundation CEO Charmaine Daniels and managers Carnel Campbell and Tiffany Grey. We were moved by the loving care and attention given to the children under the keen management of Suzette Dixon and Donna Reynolds.

Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, May 31, 2021

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

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A webinar in recognition of the UN Global Road Safety Week earlier this month with the theme ‘Streets for Life’ explored the complex issues surrounding road safety in developing countries such as Jamaica. The discussion, moderated by National Road Safety Council (NRSC)

Vice-Chairman Dr Lucien Jones, in partnership with the JN Foundation, focused on the ‘Love 30’ campaign to establish 30km/h speed limits in built-up areas.

The message from Prime Minister Andrew Holness, chair of the NRSC, was “Slow down and live!” He confirmed that the Jamaican Government “is giving serious consideration to the recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO) for policymakers worldwide to adopt the safe systems approach to reducing road traffic injuries and deaths.”

While endorsing the safe speeds component that offers protection for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, he referred to the “unacceptably high” numbers of deaths and injuries on Jamaican roads. The NRSC’s work in training motorcyclists and the long-awaited Road Traffic Act should have beneficial impacts. Prime Minister Holness also launched an appeal for increased grant funding for developing countries, where 80 to 90 per cent of road fatalities occur.

Road safety and child health advocate Zoleka Mandela, whom Dr Jones described as a “tireless campaigner”, made a passionate plea for Streets for Life – streets for people to walk, play and live. She stressed the need for urgent action as road traffic is the number one cause of death for 5- to 19-year-olds globally.

“We need to flatten this curve,” stressed director of the Mona Geoinformatics Institute (GIS) at The University of the West Indies Dr Parris Lyew-Ayee Jr, revealing that Jamaica is “heading in the wrong direction” in terms of road crash deaths — currently one death every 18 hours. He emphasised that targeted intervention is required, as improvements “will not happen organically”. The Mona GIS website includes a free database with detailed information on fatal road crashes at http://traffic-crashmap.monagis.com/.

Dr Etienne Krug, director of the WHO’s Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention, noted that the ‘vaccine’ for safer streets is “political will”. Indeed, it is! And so, we look forward to the implementation of Jamaica’s new Road Traffic Act later this year.

Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, May 31, 2021

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

Jamaicans are being swayed by the ignorance being forwarded on WhatsApp and even by some unenlightened pastors. Doctors have been spending a good amount of their time trying to convince their long-time patients that the COVID-19 vaccine is important to protect health. Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Dr Melody Ennis has appealed to those who are due their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to ensure that they keep the date. We need to count our blessings; there are Haitians anxious to receive the vaccine and here we are being urged to take what is available.

Another challenge is that elderly folks in rural areas who qualify for the vaccine are having mobility and transportation issues. Senior’s organisation Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) has been appealing to Members of Parliament to assist such individuals as they do on election day.

“Look at it this way,” advised CCRP board director and family physician Dr Owen James, “if you offer me a birthday cake but tell me that it is at Blue Mountain peak, I would be unlikely to get it and benefit from it unless I got some help to access it! And so it is with the vaccine; it may be at particular location, but without help I still can’t get this desired and essential medication.”

Dr James continued: “I urge Jamaica’s seniors to get vaccinated. COVID is particularly dangerous for vulnerable persons; for example, those with chronic medical conditions. Do not delay, get vaccinated, rather than get COVID! The life you save will be your own, and that of others.”

Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, May 31, 2021

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

Although the folks who arrived here for the Mocha Fest series of events may well have been vaccinated, they posed a threat to the unvaccinated staff members who served them and the Negril community in general. Even vaccinated individuals can carry the virus. Government and tourism officials have apologised, but really an event of that size should not have slipped through the cracks.

The outrage of the many Jamaicans in the entertainment and hospitality industry at the sight of videos on social media is absolutely justified. Throughout the island, small community dances bring earnings for DJs, cooks, vendors, and many others. The larger stage shows support scores of performers, event planners, rental companies, and technical personnel. For over a year their earnings have practically disappeared.

What a challenging situation for our Government. While the brickbats are raining on them for the Negril situation, let us acknowledge that their awareness campaign started months before many other countries, that our health workers have been stressed out as they try to deal with so many patients in critical condition, and that there have been reductions recently in the number of deaths and our positivity rate.

There is promise of a sizeable number of vaccines from the US and other sources. If citizens and hospitality workers in resort areas and members of the entertainment industry were vaccinated we would be happy to have such events as Mocha Fest, and to see the revival of the community dances and a later start to nightly curfew. Let us hope we can ease this distressing pressure soon.

Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, May 17, 2021

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

Like so many fellow Jamaicans, our family is mourning the loss of another relative — our cousin Una Gopaulsingh Kent, who passed away recently in Ontario, where she had made her home many years ago. She never forgot her beloved alma mater, described as “a blue blood and one of the founding members of the Manning’s Past Students’ Association – Toronto Chapter” by a schoolmate.

Kent was a veritable superwoman, an accountant in the hospitality industry, mother of five successful children, impeccably house-proud, and an active church member whose generosity touched family, friends, and even strangers. Rest in peace, dear Una.

Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, May 17, 2021

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

After a year’s absence, it was like a breath of fresh air to watch our talented athletes take to the National Stadium for the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Girls’ and Boys’ Championships last week. Despite COVID-19 setbacks we saw the brilliance which transfixes US college coaches, who scout for our top athletes at what is the biggest high school athletics championships in the world.

Remember that our athletes do not miraculously arrive flying around the track; they train early and long hours under the watchful guidance of their coaches and the nurturing care of their families. Congratulations to the winners — Jamaica College and Edwin Allen High School.

Champs is the cradle for our world-famous athletes. May they continue to fly our Jamaican flag high. Kudos to all who made this event possible; it was like balm for our pandemic-weary souls.

Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer Column published Monday, May 17, 2021

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

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Today (Monday, May 17, 2021) marks the beginning of the sixth UN Global Road Safety Week, which carries as its theme ‘Streets for Life’, calling for reduced speed in school zones and built-up areas. Taxi drivers, led by Egeton Newman, president of the umbrella group Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS), will participate in a call for safe streets tomorrow at the Hope, Waterloo and Trafalgar roads intersection in St Andrew.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), will lead a distinguished panel for a road safety webinar on Thursday, including children’s activist Zoleka Mandela; JN Group Vice-Chair and CEO Earl Jarrett; moderator NRSC Vice-Chairman Dr Lucien Jones; Dr Parris Lyew-Ayee Jr, head of Mona GeoInformatics; Dr Etienne Krug, director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention; and Saul Billingsley, executive director, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Foundation.

Up to May 11, we have had 168 fatalities, exceeding last year’s figures over the same 2020 period. The category with the most fatalities continues to be motorcyclists (56), followed by pedestrians (35). Sadly, there have been 10 child fatalities. Cutting speed is crucial if we are to reduce last year’s number of precious Jamaican lives lost (433).

Excerpt from the Observer Column published Monday, May 17, 2021

By Jean Lowrie-Chin

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Over 500 justices of the peace (JPs) showed up for a webinar hosted by Justice Minister Delroy Chuck on ‘Sensitization on Domestic Violence and Gender Based Violence’. It was heartening to hear the minister’s resolve that laws protecting our women from violence be strengthened.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange appealed to JPs to use their training in conflict resolution to support families in crises.

“Gender inequality continues to be a significant challenge,” stated Minister Grange, noting that the international focus on “gender architecture” was a welcome development.

We reflected on the #MeToo movement which emboldened women to speak out against their abusers, opening the floodgates for the conviction of well-known men from Wall Street to Hollywood.

Unfortunately, it is not that easy for women in our small country, where gender-based violence has been trivialised as “a man and woman thing”, and machete-wielding, trigger-happy partners have women living in fear.

Legal officer in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Georgette Grant enlightened us on current legislation on domestic violence, noting that Jamaica’s Domestic Violence Act was being reviewed, with Cabinet having approved the following amendments:

1) Definition of violence (Section 2): Domestic violence will now be defined as a type of abuse that includes:

(a) physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse;

(b) instances of abuse occurring in situations in which individuals use various other means, such as exposing intimate pictures of their former partners to the public to inflict reputational and emotional harm on the victims; and

(c) using third parties or accessories to inflict harm on the victims.

Senior pastor of the Upper Room Community Church Rev Ian Muirhead gave proposals to amend laws to protect from an abuse. He warned that partners (women and men) should never take lightly threats of violence or suicide, sudden outbursts of anger, shouting, hurting them or children and pets, excessive jealousy, being forced to have sex against their will, being blamed for their violent outbursts, and being kept away from their social circle. He attributed these to personality disorders and warned that escalation of threats can be lethal.

Among his proposals are the termination and refusal to provide gun licences to abusers, witness protection for women who report threats, psychological evaluation of abusers, a special desk at the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) for victims when the police fail to respond. He recommended that when a partner is at risk, and the abuser cannot be found, a report should be made to the police and the abuser be designated a person of interest, who should report to the police.

“Always be conscious of your own safety in all interactions involving an abusive person,” he advised. “Do not meet privately with a violence-prone individual. If you must do so, be sure someone is available close by in case you need help.”

He called for a greater role for restorative justice and a national communication plan for social and behavioural change regarding the abuse of women. His presentation will be made available to every JP, and we must share it as far and as wide as possible.

We congratulate The University of the West Indies Institute for Gender and Development Studies and the Jamaica Council of Churches who partnered to protest gender-based violence last Thursday. Somehow, it was identified as a People’s National Party (PNP) Women’s Movement initiative, as some of its members joined in the event, and was carried as such by TVJ, who apologised for their error the following day.

That wise gender activist Judith Wedderburn shared with us, her fellow members of WMW Jamaica: “Anyone, any individual or a member of a political party has the right to support such a protest against the very serious national tragedy of violence against women and girls. But they certainly cannot claim it to be theirs, nor should it be treated or reported as such. Nor should it be turned into a partisan matter if a group of women from one of the parties decides to participate in support of the action which is in defence of women and girls.”