Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, April 12, 2021
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
Jamaican Masterchef, Collin Hylton with Executive Chairman of PROComm Limited Jean Lowrie-Chin during a tour in Norway where he trained members of the Deaf Can Coffee team.
Jamaican master chef Colin Hylton passed away suddenly last week. His enthusiasm for his art took us on journeys of wondrous flavour. His Guilt Trip Restaurant was popular for his unending range of exquisite cakes. His culinary adventures were world-class and his joie de vivre contagious. Heaven must be a delicious place now.
We explored Norway with Hylton and fellow master chef Anthony Miller on their prize-winning trip from the Norwegian Seafood Council. In the rough seas of Saltsraumen, Hylton and Miller managed the boat on their own, caught the fish, and prepared triumphant dishes outdoors in a snowfall.
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, April 12, 2021
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
As one would expect, there were all sorts of remarks on the messages of condolence sent to Queen Elizabeth II by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and Prime Minister Andrew Holness on the passing of her husband for 74 years. It was the right and proper thing to do, whether we believe that Jamaica should become a republic and have our own head of State or not.
In 1966 when the prince attended the Commonwealth Games here, my sister Fran and I, mischievous teens, decided to call him. She dialled the number of his hotel and handed me the phone. I asked for the prince and was shocked when he took the call. I abruptly said, “Goodbye!” but he asked me my name and thanked me for my stuttered welcome to Jamaica.
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, April 12, 2021
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
Photo: The Gleaner – The La Soufriere volcano
We extend our sympathy to Caribbean neighbours in St Vincent, where nearly 15 per cent of their population— 16,000 people — have been dislocated by the terrifying La Soufrière volcano.
Residents are dealing with heavy ashfall as well as small hail-like stones. The ash cloud has travelled as far as Barbados, where the national airport had to be closed for a part of the weekend due to poor visibility.
Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves tearfully thanked neighbours in Grenada, as well as Antigua and Barbuda, for offering to take Vincentians into their homes.
Our own Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has been in talks with Gonsalves offering our assistance.
Food For the Poor has airlifted emergency supplies to St Vincent for the evacuees and has been liaising with partners in Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and St Lucia, who are housing the Vincentians. Donations for this cause can be sent via http://www.foodforthepoor.org/vincent.
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, April 12, 2021
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
Day after day, her fellow teachers joined with the police in their search for Nattallie Dawkins, who had gone missing on March 30.
A video of her singing as she started a virtual class showed us a woman who had joy in teaching, having served the profession for over 20 years.
Her car was located — one of the thugs trying to make a quick cheap sale was killed. As a result of keen police action, four individuals are now in custody.
As we get news of so many people going missing, we are on edge about the safety of our family members. Let us try to link with friends when going on the road.
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer Column published Monday, April 12, 2021
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
THE Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 vaccine roll-0ut continues islandwide this week. Meanwhile, the anti-vaccine WhatsApp messages continue to make the rounds. Those of us who know of the agony of this disease should make a special effort to convince others to take it. Explain to them the “long COVID” condition, in which symptoms can persist for months.
Last Wednesday and Thursday saw a total of 30 COVID-19-related deaths. In a country of three million people, this is an alarming number. It has got to the point at which most of us know someone who has succumbed to the disease.
Teachers, immigration officers, workers in the hospitality industry, and now media workers are eligible for the vaccine. Thank goodness media colleague Dashan Hendricks is fully recovered, Dionne Jackson-Miller is recovering, while Dr. Orville Taylor is struggling with this debilitating virus.
I keep hearing of the courtesy and kindness of our health workers at vaccination centres. A senior who was vaccinated at the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre (MAWC) at The University of the West Indies (UWI) remarked on the keen attention paid to the seniors by Professor Denise Eldemire Shearer. I was not surprised, as she has sought relentlessly to protect our elderly.
The Ministry of Health’s website ( http://www.moh.gov.jm) has an efficient registration system. Younger folks have been helping seniors to register, and the age eligibility has been lowered. Please assist a senior in getting the vaccine, whether by registering them or by giving them a lift to the clinic.
Monday, 12 April 2021 – Kingston, Jamaica. Digital Operator, Digicel Group, today announced its donation of US$500,000 worth of much-needed items to support the urgent relief efforts in St. Vincent & the Grenadines caused by the Le Soufriere volcanic activity.
With thousands of people evacuated from the red zone and housed in shelters and significant ash fall resulting from the explosive eruptions of La Soufriere affecting the entire island, the situation is developing and deteriorating.
Leveraging its global reach and supply chains, Digicel will work with the Government of St. Vincent & the Grenadines to identify immediate needs – as well as procuring and shipping items identified as urgently needed in these early stages by the National Emergency Management Organisation.
Commenting on the assistance, Digicel Group Chairman, Denis O’Brien, said; “With our priorities being helping to keep people safe and keeping them connected, it’s at times like these that our natural instinct is to want to do everything we can to help. As a company, as a team and as the Digicel family, we are here for the people of St. Vincent & the Grenadines and ready to help in a meaningful way.”
“We take our responsibility as a provider of critical national infrastructure very seriously. Ably and energetically led by Fanta Williams, our CEO for Digicel St. Vincent & the Grenadines, our Business Continuity Management teams are mobilised on-island and across the Caribbean and our focus is on ensuring our network serves the needs of the people at this critical and unsettling time – and that we come through this together.”
Joseph Mahfood, a founder member of Wisynco Group died on Thurday, April 8, 2021.
Chairman of Winsynco Group, William Mahfood says his late father cherished the work he did with Food For The Poor, more than all the other achievements during his lifetime.
According to William, his father Joseph (Joe), who died on Thursday from cancer, had a special place in his heart for Food For The Poor Jamaica, which was founded in 1982 by brothers Ferdinand, Sam, Joe and Robin.
“The most important thing and he would look at me sometimes and he would say that probably the most significant role that he ever played, in his entire life, was at the beginning and the foundation of Food For The Poor,” William said of Joe, who was also one of the ‘founding ‘fathers’ of Wisynco.
“He would always say that he felt that that was the true crowning glory of his achievement,” William said.
According to William, Food For The Poor has assisted tens of thousands of families in Jamaica and hundreds of thousands in Haiti by building houses for them to occupy.
Apart from the construction of houses, the charity has donated food, school and medical supplies for people in need in the Caribbean and Central America.
“He would say that that is the proudest achievement of his entire life – the ability to give back to the people of the Caribbean and especially Jamaica,” William said.
Joe and his three brothers started West Indies Synthetic Company Limited in 1965, manufacturing Ironman rubber water boots. Sam, who was the chairman, was also in charge of building and expanding a market, with Joe responsible for the business’s manufacturing segment.
William said that Joe went to France approximately four months earlier and had acquired the production skill for the rubber water boots and returned to Jamaica, with the technical know-how and the first machine to establish the factory.
Wisynco’s manufacturing facility based in Lakes Pen, St Catherine
The son said that his father was dedicated to building the company.
“He was there, I remember as a child, at nights, all times, at day and on weekends as they were building the business. He was a true industrialist. He believed in manufacturing as one of the main areas for economic opportunities for the country, so he continued to invest and expand the manufacturing base at Winsynco,” William said.
William said his father Joe and late uncle Sam allowed him and cousin Andrew, who is the current CEO of Winsynco, to transition into the company’s leadership by offering mentorship.
According to William, he and Andrew were able to learn the fundamentals of the business from Joe and Sam and used those lessons to bring new strategies and ideas into the organisation, which Joe was very fond of.
“He was constantly giving us advice on areas of production, engineering and those kinds of things. It was always good, sound advice,” William said.
Several Jamaicans, including Prime Minister Andrew Holness, have expressed deep sadness at Joe’s passing.
“Joe was no doubt a standout Jamaican who has made a sterling contribution to our country both as a businessman and a philanthropist. Joe was a truly great Jamaican, his rich legacy will live on,” Holness said.
According to William, his father was a true nationalist and also family oriented by raising his children with good values, ethics and morals.
“We (children) saw a man that is so principled in everything that he did. He had a tremendous love for his country. When we were growing up as children, he used to take us all over Jamaica. I knew every single corner of Jamaica from west to east, south to north as a child growing up,” William said.
William said although his father was the descendant of a Lebanese, Joe would decline suggestions to visit Lebanon, telling those who tried to convince him that Jamaica is his home.
He said his father’s love for Jamaica, prevented him from visiting other countries for vacation, as he preferred to spend time on the island.
William said the family is trying to cope with Joe’s death.
“When you lose a man who has been such a huge impact, it is hard, it is difficult, but the good thing is that he was a man of faith and he left enough time for us to really spend quality time with him towards the end of his life and so we enjoyed that,” William said.
During his working years, Joe was a member of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association, which is now the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
Jabbor Kayumov, CEO of Digicel Jamaica, hands a food package to Ann Marie Fearon of Special Olympics Jamaica.
The Digicel Foundation has pulled together $2 million in supplies to assist vulnerable groups ahead of the third consecutive weekend lockdown aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Jamaica.
Among the groups to receive items from the foundation’s April 8 distribution are those with special needs, the elderly, single mothers, and those who are currently unemployed.
CEO of Digicel, Jabbor Kayumov, applauded the foundation and its volunteers for continuing their efforts to feed the nation during this time of economic slowdown.
In March 2020, Digicel Foundation launched its COVID-response under the name Operation SAFE Mode. The initiative saw the foundation sanitising public spaces, launching a public advocacy campaign, feeding approximately 2,662 families and enabling over 1,500 students to access online classes through the provision of SIM-enabled tablets.
The foundation has worked closely with local outreach organisations to ensure that they impact a large cross-section of the population.
“We’re working closely with our community-based and Special Needs groups to reach persons who are having a difficult time providing for their families,” explained Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Foundation. “It’s important that we provide aid to ensure that these persons can safely and comfortably abide by the new regulations while still caring for their loved ones.”
Among the organisations to benefit from the Digicel Foundation’s most recent food distribution are: Special Olympics Jamaica, Early Stimulation Plus, the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons, Forward Step Foundation, Youth with a Vision, Best care Foundation, Jamaica Society for the Blind, Jamaica Autism Support Association and Jamaica Association for the Deaf.
Entertainer Richie Spice (centre) hands over items to the Rock Hall Primary principal while Miguel ‘Steppa’ Williams, Community Development Manager at the Digicel Foundation, looks on.
The Richie Spice Foundation is giving back to the community of Rock Hall with a donation to the ‘Groovin My Girl’ singer’s alma mater – Rock Hall Primary.
In a handover on April 7, the singer presented eight tablets, one laptop and music equipment to the school’s principal. The donation was made possible through a partnership with the Digicel Foundation.
“I born and grow in Rock Hall, my siblings went to the Rock Hall All Age as it was them time,” explained Richie Spice. “I am the fruit and this is my root and Digicel Foundation help I man to set the Foundation once again with music and tablets for the youths.”
The Digicel Foundation has identified connectivity as a major issue for students in Jamaica, with a large push to provide devices to those in need. So far, the foundation has distributed over 1,500 SIM-enabled tablets to students.
“The Foundation continues to assist students with connectivity and devices,” said Miguel ‘Steppa’ Williams, Community Development Manager at the Digicel Foundation. “This partnership with the Richie Spice Foundation is one of technology and music, as we seek to positively engage our children and our communities. Indeed we are better together, together we stand.”
In March 2020, the Digicel Foundation launched their Operation SAFE Mode campaign to ‘Sanitise, Advocate, Feed and Enable Students’ during the pandemic. The Foundation intends to reinvigorate this drive in 2021 as they continue to assist persons during the pandemic.
Excerpt from the Jamaica Observer column published Monday, March 29, 2021
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
Thirteenyears ago Jamaica went into collective grief after news came that 11-year-old Ananda Dean, who had been missing for two weeks, had been brutally murdered. Both her mother, Nordia Campbell, and her aunt Tamika Campbell fainted when they learned the terrible details. It was after this chilling event that the Ananda Alert was established, demanding immediate police action when a child goes missing.
On the first anniversary of the disappearance of 20-year-old The University of the West Indies student Jasmine Dean, last month, her father sounded empty and exhausted, relating his sleepless nights and his anguished calls for justice.
The unrelenting missing persons announcements fill us with dread, as often the worst news follows. Only last week accounting clerk Khanice Jackson went missing after leaving for work on Wednesday morning. On Friday news came that her body had been found near the Portmore Fishing Village. The police now have a suspect in custody.
Meanwhile, the courts are in the process of sentencing Jermaine Miller, who is convicted of the murder of his former girlfriend, Nevia Sinclair, at her parents’ home last year. What is it about these men who will not allow a woman to go in peace if she wants to end the relationship?
WMW Jamaica (formerly Women’s Media Watch) has been warning, for years, about the danger of objectifying women in the disturbing lyrics of some dancehall music and music videos showing more close-ups of women’s body parts than of the women themselves. I understand that there are video games doing the rounds since the late 90s which give scores for seizing women and raping them. Now, can you imagine a boy playing this repeatedly until such a crime becomes normalised in his mind?
Our girls and women are in grave danger, not only here in Jamaica but throughout the world. We learned that President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan withdrew last week from the Istanbul Convention drafted in his own country in 2011, an international treaty to combat violence against women. It is understood that hundreds of women in that country are murdered with impunity each year by relatives, citing these as “honour killings”. Women gathered last week in London to mourn and protest the death of Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman who vanished earlier this month while walking home in Clapham, south London. The women interviewed by the British Broadcasting Corporation ( BBC) said they were in fear of their lives.
One of the most horrific crimes in recent days was a gunman’s attack on women in three massage parlours in Atlanta, Georgia. Incredibly, his lawyer is trying to offer as his defence that he is a victim of sexual addiction.
As women try to protect themselves, comedian Trevor Noah became very serious on the topic, demanding that men must take responsibility for their behaviour. He said they had no business commenting to women they do not know on their manner of dress or catcalling them. He called on men to respect and protect women.
While we call for men to be more responsible, women know this will not happen overnight. We hope we will be allowed to carry mace and pepper spray. Also, here is a tip I posted on Twitter that has gone viral. This is how you set up the SOS feature on your android phone:
– Go to Settings
– Click on Advanced Features
– Click on SOS and put in names of emergency contacts
– Then if you are in danger you press your power button three times and it sends a message and your location.
My friend Judith Lannigan McDonald says the iPhone has ‘Emergency SOS’ in settings so you click on that and proceed as above.
Jamaica Highlights 