Excerpt from Lowrie-Chin Post published 02 June 2008

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Sharing this column on Hon. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart who passed away yesterday.

“Butch Stewart’s childhood was no easy street,” said the young voice on the call-in radio show. Jaime Stewart was 12 years old when she made her broadcast debut correcting a talk-show host’s assumption that her father was born into privilege. It was this challenging start as an early breadwinner for his humble Jamaican family, that helped mould Gordon “Butch” Stewart into today’s business titan.

Jaime, now a Director at Sandals Resorts Intl, reflects on her father’s unwavering ethics: “He makes decisions based on what is correct and then fights for them. This applies to the environmental issues with other properties. It all boils down to laws that have been broken. My Dad is a strong patriot and when it comes to his country, he will stand up and take the beating.”

Last Tuesday, hundreds of guests converged on a glittering Hope Gardens to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the ATL Group. In his trademark style, founder Butch Stewart shared the kudos with six ATL long servers who in turn paid tribute to their visionary leader. They had their own special stories about the man Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson saluted as “a guy who knows how to build a brand… a maverick (with) guts, determination.”

Long before branding became the hot marketing buzzword, Butch Stewart had slapped the Fedders logo on the side of his first luxury buy, a white Mercedes, much to public amusement. For him, it was simple: Fedders had helped him to buy his Benz and he was going to use his Benz to sell the brand. And how. Butch Stewart and his lean team became the talk of the middle and monied classes, as the folks you could call in the morning and know that by the time you had returned from the office in the evening, your home would be as cool as a Fedders breeze. ATL Technical Control Manager Errol Lee related the rush he was in during those early times, to deliver the instant gratification promised by his boss, resulting in three fender-benders.

It is this single-minded focus, that has seen Butch Stewart parlay a nine-man operation into the ATL Group of Companies that now employs over 10,000 persons throughout the Caribbean. The humble company has spawned the Sandals and Beaches chains, an automotive company and this venerable newspaper.

As Sandals Project Manager Betty Jo Desnoes tries to define the maverick style of Butch Stewart she describes a scene: “He gets a call, spins around in his chair, punches his calculator and gives an answer. Or he will call in about ten of us, listen keenly and quickly sum up. I have never seen anyone cut through the fog of indecision so quickly.”

In reading his marvelous book, “All That’s Good”, one discerns that the guiding force of the Stewart empire is the synergy of three basic Christian principles, faith, hope and love. Only a person of faith would have invested in the run-down Bay Roc Hotel in 1981, rapidly rolling out a gold-standard hotel chain that would cop the most coveted international tourism awards. ATL’s master plumber and jack-of-all-trades Aston “Plum-Plum” James remembers being told by his boss, “Plum-Plum, come take a ride with me. We’re going down to Montego Bay to look at something.” It was nine months before James returned to Kingston, leaving behind a shining restored property, Sandals Montego Bay.

And hope. Betty Jo remembers the devastating blow dealt by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 to the three Sandals properties in Montego Bay as well as two others being built in Ocho Rios and Negril. She said on hearing the news, “Mr Stewart…began galvanizing. He dispatched every truck he had and bought up every piece of lumber and nails.”

Butch Stewart decided that he would rebuild the properties even better and hastily called a press conference in New York to outline his plans. With their reputation on the line, every team member toiled ceaselessly, no one working harder than the boss himself. Hailed by travel writers as “a miracle”, the resorts were rebuilt and reopened three months after Gilbert in time for the beginning of the 88/89 winter tourist season.

Most obvious is the love. Former ATL Warehouse Manager Josephine Marshall who recently retired after serving the company for nearly 32 years recalls her trepidation in the seventies when people were selling out and leaving Jamaica. She said Butch Stewart called them into the boardroom to assure them that he was going nowhere and that their jobs were safe. “That’s why I stayed so long … Mr Stewart is a fantastic man!” she enthused.

Former ATL Branch Manager and now Sandals Projects Director Eleanor Miller remarked that Butch Stewart “never asked you to do something that he would not do himself … It’s very much a family environment.” The other 30-year veterans Larry McDonald, Phillipa Thomas, Carl Ennis and Checks Nichol all relate incidents of his quiet generosity: airlifts to Miami to get the best medical care, scholarships for children of team members, personal guidance and mentorship. This care is part of the ATL and Sandals culture, warmly extended to customers and guests.

But make no mistake; Butch Stewart has no patience for dishonesty. “There are only two things that will get you fired from this company,” says Betty Jo Desnoes, “lying and stealing. He won’t fire you for a bad decision and will even say a bad decision is better than no decision at all.”

Jaime Stewart recalls a business-imbued childhood where family vacations became trade show visits. “It was extraordinary, going to England, the ITB show in Germany. These were experiences that can’t be taught.” Jaime and her siblings share their father’s passion for the industry: “He lives, eats, breathes his work and makes room in his life for all those in his business,” comments Jaime. She says that growing up, her mother PJ “helped us to understand that he couldn’t be with us as much as he wanted because he had this huge commitment not only to us and customers but to his employees and employees’ families.”

But there was a great sadness in Butch Stewart’s life, the loss of his son Jonathan to a motor vehicle accident in the 90s. “A lot changed when Jon died,” said Jaime. “Dad became even closer to his family and more spiritual. Now, wherever he is traveling, he goes to Mass every Sunday and on his way he will call us to find out if we are planning to go.” She reflected that he also lost his father and brother in recent years and is very emotional when he prays. “This is why he wears dark glasses in church,” explains Jaime, “he hardly ever has dry eyes when he is worshipping.” The shades were very much in evidence on Wednesday, when Butch Stewart and his staffers attended a 40th anniversary service in downtown Kingston conducted by Father HoLung, who lauded Butch Stewart’s generosity to the less fortunate.

Butch Stewart has stayed a tough course, taking every challenge as an opportunity and every employee as family. Prime Minister Bruce Golding has observed that he will be remembered as the man who revolutionized marketing in Jamaica, and enjoys the fierce loyalty of his staff. No doubt, the annals of tourism will also record him as the man who redefined the “all” in all-inclusive.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 21 December 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Our bumpy ride through St. Thomas was relieved by the parish’s beauty spots.  We passed Bull Bay, where we had enjoyed happy reasonings on the beach with Fred and Cynthia Wilmot of blessed memory. Three generations of Wilmots still continue their legacy of wholesome living, with an ever-expanding fan base of surfers worldwide. The Roselle Falls take your breath away and there are colourful fruit stands; this parish yields some of the sweetest fruit in Jamaica, matchless naseberries and mangoes.

The parish is home to our courageous National Hero Paul Bogle and we see his spirit reflected in the teachers and parents of special needs students, resolute that with the right testing and guidance, the children will one day be able to make their way in the world. We had met them at the opening of the opening of the Lyssons Centre of Excellence in 2017, and now we are back, because that school is at capacity and so the Digicel Foundation team has added a second special needs school in the parish, rebuilding the Pear Tree River Technical and Vocational School, the former Pear Tree River Primary School.

With a background of lush greenery, the school stands out with clean and colourful lines, created under the watchful eyes of the Foundation’s construction Manager Carnel Campbell. We are inspired by the enthusiasm of the Education Ministry’s Director for Region 2, Janet Brimm. She also was the Ministry’s coordinator for the Lyssons Centre of Excellence.  

On arrival ahead of our starting time, I am greeted by the Education Ministry’s PR representative Cheryl Smith, informing me that Minister Fayval Williams had arrived. We have attended several events with Minister Williams, and she is ever punctual. With constituency and Ministry duties, she manages to appear unhurried, graciously greeting us and pausing to speak to the teachers and commend the Lyssons students on their stunning art.

We have seen Minister Williams’ efforts during this critical year for education, meeting with stakeholders, implementing plans, engaging with media partners to ensure that our children would be able to continue their education. It is heartening that the Ministry has been ensuring that children with special needs are included in these efforts and that they will be providing the staff, furniture and continued maintenance of the Pear Tree River School. She noted that the special needs division at the Ministry also ensured that lessons are printed in Braille for blind children.

The art and craft items produced by the Lyssons students are exquisite. Miniatures of their paintings and papier mache sculpture would make great Jamaican souvenirs. Minister Williams agreed that she would speak with the tourism ministry on the matter. We hope that Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett will encourage our in-bond merchants to buy more of our fine local items instead of importing items stamped ‘Jamaica’ that are not made here.

Wherever we go in Jamaica, we are impressed by the professionalism and genuine care of our teachers. Rev. Remia Gordon, past principal and student of Pear Tree River Primary led us through meaningful Scripture Readings as she blessed the re-purposed school. Jacqueline Hendricks, Acting Principal of Lyssons Centre of Excellence navigated the programme with good humour.

It was great to meet the youthful Eastern St. Thomas MP Dr Michelle Charles. Hers is literally a hard road to travel but she does have a great deal of political experience in her family to assist her in making the lives of the long-suffering citizens of St. Thomas more tolerable. As I remarked to her, St. Thomas is a hidden treasure. The parish is becoming increasingly popular for folks who work in Kingston and when resilient infrastructure is in place, it will be set to thrive.

Five lives for a bike?

A 96-hour curfew was declared by National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang in Central Clarendon last Friday after a week of terror in which five persons have been shot dead and several others injured.  He noted that there had been an upsurge of gang warfare in the area.

Jamaica Observer staff reporter Horace Hines quoted the Minister: “I have been informed by the security team that this entire episode of killings has come about because of a dispute over a bike, which reflects the level of literal depravity in the behaviour of some of these elements out there.”

Several family members have fled the area for fear of their lives. We keep asking,

‘How did we come to this?’ Well, we are here now, so let us work on how we can emerge from this darkness. I am encouraged by folks like Dahlia Harris, willing to install cameras in their communities linked to ‘Jamaica Eye’ so there can be quick response and video to identify criminals more readily. We are relieved that there is now a facility that will allow witnesses to remotely participate in identification parades.

Meanwhile, remember that children who do not know love, cannot show love – the social aspect of crime fighting requires a vigorous plan involving church, community, civil society and Government.

Tankweld’s 50^th Anniversary

With a small bank loan, John Greaves and David Bicknell founded the steel fabrication business Tankweld in 1970 and grew it into an industrial giant which has implemented most of Jamaica’s major pipeline projects. The second generation, Chris Bicknell, Bruce Bicknell and Rusti Zacca expanded into steel distribution and in 2006, invested in the Rio Bueno Wharf with a 500,000 square foot warehouse. Chris Bicknell, Chairman and Group CEO notes, “Today our network sits on four solid pillars: the Rio Bueno Port facility, innovative shipping solutions, two million square feet of mechanized warehousing making us the only building material supplier able to store all our stock under cover, and the largest fleet of modern heavy-duty trucks.”

The company has done extensive outreach, supporting the Waterhouse and Arnett Gardens Football Clubs, a Homework Centre in Rio Bueno and the Seaward Primary and Junior High in Olympic Gardens. Food for the Poor (FFP) Jamaica Chairman Andrew Mahfood notes, “Their help with engineering, Board advice through FFP’s Vice Chairman Chris Bicknell, and support of our projects over the years has been nothing short of a company going above and beyond to ensure that those who need help, are helped.”

Farewell 2020

It has been a year of trials but finally it is ending. Stalked by Covid, we have experienced the heartache of mourning good friends virtually. We empathize with stressed-out frontline workers in health and security, and parents juggling jobs and virtual classes for their children. Then came the rains ruining roads and crops. Yet we give thanks that Government stepped up to give cash relief, the private sector financed thousands of care packages for the indigent and tablets for students, and special attention was given to our seniors.

Former Miss Jamaica World, coach, mentor, volunteer and philanthropist Joan McDonald has been appointed the CCRP-Gallagher Wellness Ambassador. 

This was announced by Saundra Bailey, Chief Operating Officer for Gallagher Caribbean Insurance Brokers on Friday, December 11, 2020. 

As Wellness Ambassador, Ms McDonald will share information on the CCRP Comprehensive Group Health Plan designed by Gallagher and underwritten by Sagicor. She will also use digital and traditional media to engage members in discussions on wellness and lifestyle topics.

Ms. McDonald sees her new role as yet another opportunity to help others to “still live a wonderful life.” She notes that her work in a variety of fields in public service has enabled her to make connections between people, embracing “everything that has come my way.”

In August 2019, she was honoured with a Congressional proclamation from Yvette D. Clarke, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, at Jamaica’s 57^th Annual Black-Tie Gala in New York.

Gallagher Chief Operating Officer Saundra Bailey said, “We believe Ms. McDonald’s appointment will strengthen our partnership with CCRP. We know she will serve as a truly gracious and supportive ambassador and facilitator, who will ensure that CCRP members appreciate all the tremendous benefits of the health plans available to them. This can only be a ‘win-win’ for both CCRP and Gallagher and we very much look forward to working withMs. McDonald.”

A long-serving volunteer with CCRP, Ms. McDonald was the first to win the Miss Jamaica World competition when it was officially established in 1978. At the time, she was a dance teacher at Wolmer’s Girls’ School. 

She has established a successful career as an event planner and personal development coach, grooming contestants for Miss Jamaica World and Miss Jamaica Festival Queen and mentoring teen mothers. She has also worked as a

Branch Director with the Jamaica Red Cross, and with Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE). She is an active member of the Lions Club of Kingston.

Ms. McDonald is a Justice of the Peace, a trained facilitator for Restorative and Community Justice Practices, and a former director of the Lay Magistrates Association of Jamaica. 

“My life is a wonderful kaleidoscope,” smiles Ms. McDonald. She maintains a positive outlook on life despite its challenges, always seeking to “add value” in relationships and bring people together. 

Gallagher has served the Caribbean for over 45 years, operating seven subsidiaries as the largest full-service broker in the region.

CCRP is a non-profit organization for persons 50 years and over, with a membership of over 10,000. It advocates for the empowerment, respect and protection of seniors. In addition to its Kingston head office, CCRP has three chapters in Central, Western, and Northeast Jamaica.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 07 December 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Born of Jamaican parents who had migrated to Britain in the sixties, Susan Pitter was inspired when she saw the lovely photos in the funeral programme of her Dad’s friend, to create an elegant publication, “Eulogy” for the Jamaica Society Leeds. The well-researched book includes the history of the “Windrush generation”, photographs and quotes donated by 76 families whose parents and grandparents had migrated to Leeds over two decades from the 1940s. Some were former RAF members who after the war, decided to settle down there.

Their stories tell of ambitious, decent, hardworking families who were activists and contributed to the development of their community. One nurse recalls that even as she was caring for patients, they were disrespecting her with racist remarks. Susan’s parents were an attractive couple, Hermerde and Enid Pitter (nee Neil) who hailed from St. Elizabeth. They worked hard to raise their four children, all of whom are successful professionals. ‘Eulogy’ is a valuable keepsake and all proceeds go to the Jamaica Society Leeds.

Susan quotes the late Professor Rex Nettleford in her book: “If you don’t find the time to document your own history, it is likely to be forgotten – or worse still, misrepresented.”

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 07 December 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Despite Covid, we had a memorable Disabilities Awareness Week. Please note that we should say ‘persons with disabilities’, not ‘disabled persons’ as we should put the emphasis on the person and not on the disability.

Last Thursday Special Olympics Caribbean announced that our world-famous swimmer Alia Atkinson will be their Champion Ambassador.  I have had the pleasure to work with Alia; she has always been passionate about uplifting her fellow Jamaicans.  

Alia, who said it was an honour to be so declared, will work closely with the excellent Lorna Bell, Executive Director of Special Olympics Caribbean to affirm the efforts of our Special Olympians. In reflecting on the Motto of Special Olympics, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”, she expressed her admiration for the Special Olympians’ courage.

Sports Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange said Alia would “help them to be proud of the value that they add to our society” and commended Lorna Bell and Special Olympics Jamaica Chairman Allie McNab for their dedication to their charges. “Let us all as Government representatives commit to creating a more inclusive and enabling environment for all,” she urged.

The event ended with a thank-you by my bubbly little friend, Special Olympian Kadian Ingleton. “Alia is a great motivation and inspiration for us,” she said.

One of the benefits of being Chair of the Digicel Jamaica Foundation is seeing the efforts made by those who are physically and mentally challenged. They bring joy and pride to their families when they excel in educational programmes, tailored to their needs.  On Friday, we visited the Genesis School for Special Needs on South Camp Road where the initial enrollment has more than doubled. Principal Angela Bowen-Stewart said 70 percent of the students are online and keeping up with their lessons. We saw a demonstration of the modified wash stations in special needs schools by the Foundation. The ever-upbeat Alphanso Cunningham, Paralympian Gold Medalist was on hand to give his own words of praise at the well-kept grounds and classrooms.

Paralympians are persons with physical disabilities while Special Olympians are persons with intellectual disabilities.

We welcomed the news that Senator Dr Floyd Morris, Jamaica’s first blind Senator, has been elected to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Rising from the despondency of becoming blind as a teenager in St. Mary, he made his way to Kingston where he enrolled in classes at the Jamaica Society for the Blind and qualified to study at UWI Mona, continuing to gain masters and doctoral degrees and now lectures at and heads the UWI Centre for Disability Studies. His autobiography, “By Faith, Not By Sight” is an inspiring read.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 07 December 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

So here we are suddenly in December – nearly nine months of practically living online, looking forward to a ‘drive-out’ like a child in a car-less family. Most of us cannot wait for the month to end and to see the back of 2020. But for some of us, this unbelievable year has given us 20-20 vision. We are re-imagining our aspirations, questioning our priorities.

One introvert I know celebrated it, saying he welcomed the excuse to not socialize. Mothers working virtually found themselves torn between office interface and helping their children cope with online school. Delivery services seem to have got a nice bounce with thank-yous being posted to QuickPlate, 7Krave, Pekkish and CutdiLine. The reduction of curfew time by one hour to 10pm seems to have served businesses well. You have to search hard to find parking in the plazas, including the new one on Constant Spring Road. Remarkably remittances have increased.

We have to give thanks that Jamaica made its way into the digital world so that we can continue our operations. Millenials have come into their own during this time, launching YouTube channels, creating and selling products online and synergizing social media platforms. We are watching business gurus emerge – as they say, pressure creates diamonds, and some are shining bright.

Brittany Singh’s online school is getting fine reviews, and parents are thanking their lucky stars that an incredibly young Gordon Swaby dared to start EduFocal. Kadeem Petgrave’s and Simier Lansend’s EducaTours allows you to explore interesting Jamaican places without leaving your home.  Our pop stars have not taken a breath; we just heard the resonant ‘Hands Up’ by Beenie Man produced by Dominic McDonald’s Troublemekka Music and Koffee has gone international, representing Mastercard and H&M.

We are banking online and discovering it was not as difficult as we thought and we are grateful that Zoom and Microsoft will record our meetings so we can create good notes.

However, with about 30 percent of students not having connectivity, the JTA has reported that primary school children are falling behind in their studies and they are anticipating the same for high school students. We understand that some students are experiencing mental health issues and worldwide health authorities are concerned that the fallout from Covid will be mental health crises. Rise Life Management is a good resource, so please do not hesitate to reach out to them.

As we try to tough out this pandemic, let us find time to connect with family and friends, to play games with our children and to worship together, whether in person or virtually. We understand that a vaccine may be arriving in Jamaica in March of next year – just in time for Easter when we can celebrate a ‘resurrection’ of gatherings and a new appreciation for the family and friends we have been missing.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 30 November 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Like most Jamaicans, they may have gone to church, then returned home to prepare lunch, then sat with family to eat and relax. This may have been the scene when gunmen invaded the home of 81-year-old Iciline McFarlane, murdering her and her two grandchildren 10-year-old Christina and six-year-old Mishane McFarlane two Sundays ago. National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says that investigations reveal that this was a contract killing, apparently ordered by a gang leader allegedly in search of a connection to the family.

We ask ourselves, how can anyone look at an elderly woman and two little children and mercilessly end their lives? What makes their hearts so cold, their minds so warped? Even as we call for justice, we have to get to the root of the series of horrific acts over the past week, the most recent being the murder of Mandeville businesswoman Marcia Chin-You, hailed as a community supporter.

Ironically, we are now observing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), from November 25 to December 10, November 25 being the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW).

We have to be playing advertisements warning young girls that it is not natural for adult men in a household to be sexually abusing them. Several hospitals have reported that since the start of the pandemic they have seen more cases of abuse. Imagine, these big men who should be out in the yard planting food for their family, are inside molesting young children. I remember the play ‘Sleeper’ by Trevor Rhone, dramatizing the laziness of men in a household and the mute acceptance of their women. Towards the end of the play, we saw the son taking up the same habits of the father.

Poor parenting results in a lifelong handicap of no self-discipline and no work ethic. In the book, “The Road Less Travelled” by M. Scott Peck, he explores the downward spiral of such lives. These damaged human beings have no dignity, have no respect for themselves and therefore none for others. They become a plague on their families and their communities.

Law enforcement must go hand in hand with social healing as promoted by Dr Elizabeth Ward’s Violence Prevention Alliance and Horace Levy’s team at the Peace Management Initiative. Kudos to the creators of the ‘Jamaican Dadz’ YouTube series, Dennis Brooks, Marlon Campbell, Floyd Green and Garth Williams. How refreshing to see the joy they take in raising their children.

We can be part of this healing by participating in IDEVAW activism as recommended by Professor Opal Palmer Adisa, Director of the UWI Institute for Gender & Development Studies Regional Coordinating Office (IGDS-RCO). Some of these include:

December 2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery: the enslavement of Africans was an egregious and violent act. Hug yourself for surviving the violence and not passing it on. Read their Facebook post on Gender-based Violence (GBV) against women during slavery.

December 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Read their Facebook post on deaf women and GBV. Speak out about GBV against people with disabilities.

December 5 International Volunteer Day for Social and Economic Development: volunteer one hour of your day helping a woman or child who has been victimized and or provide them with a care package.

December 9 International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime: read their Facebook post on human trafficking in the Caribbean and share content.

Please try to participate. If you can change one heart and comfort one weeping soul, then you are a healer.

Disabilities Awareness Week

Today also is the beginning of Disabilities Awareness Week, with several activities being organised by the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI), to which the Digicel Jamaica Foundation will be lending its support. One that is special to me is the opening of the former Pear Tree River Primary school in St. Thomas which the MOEYI and the Digicel Foundation have transformed into a special needs technical-vocational school for students 13 to 21 years old. The school will be equipped to teach students life skills in Agriculture, Cooking, Sewing, Carpentry, Tiling and Data Entry.  This is in addition to the Lyssons School for special needs, which is now at capacity.

On Thursday, Special Olympics will host a webinar at which they will announce that one of Jamaica’s most outstanding athletes, the amazing Alia Atkinson, will be their Brand Ambassador.

Broken roads

The videos from Gordon Town and Irish Town are frightening – huge rocks careening down the side of the hills and blocking roads. After the recent heavy rains, the National Works Agency (NWA) has announced that it will take a trillion dollars to repair and rebuild these roads. PM Andrew Holness has explained that the Gordon Town road was initially a pathway to the coffee plantations and not really engineered to be a major roadway. The lure of those mountains has been irresistible and so a solution must be found to make these roads viable.

We note the National Integrity Action’s call for better governance of the NWA; this is even more important now that our strained budget may have to accommodate the astronomical cost of repairs. In the meanwhile, the authorities should take a second look at building applications for such areas.

Dry Harbour dilemma

It seems that PM Holness, anxious to create more jobs on our Northcoast where the pandemic has left thousands jobless, overruled the NEPA decision not to give a permit for limestone mining in the Dry Harbour Mountains on the North Coast. He explained that 70 guidelines were prepared for the operators and that if they were breached, he would order them to cease. However, with environmental experts weighing in on the side of NEPA, it seems that his decision may have to be reviewed. ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown’, especially in these tough times.

Covid Concerns

They call it ‘Covid fatigue’, these careless people who refuse to wear masks and break curfew. However, their fatigue is nowhere near that of our health workers who are doing double and triple shifts and putting their lives in danger, caring for Covid patients.

Recent numbers show a spike, with over 50 new cases being reported each day and four deaths each last Tuesday and Wednesday. Up to last Friday, 77 Covid patients have been hospitalised of whom eight are moderately ill and 7 are critically ill. Western parishes which had previously been doing well now have the highest rate of infections: Hanover, St. Ann, Westmoreland, St James and Trelawny.

As we balance life and livelihood, businesses are grateful for the additional hour before curfew during December as statistics show that up to 60 percent of sales are made during the Christmas season. Please shop local to help keep our businesses open and save jobs, always remembering to wear your mask and keep your distance.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 23 November 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie has given a stern warning: with 70,000 expected arrivals of Jamaicans for the Christmas holidays, we may very well see a Covid-19 spike in January. Oh no – we have been counting the days for 2020 to be over, please give us a break 2021! On the positive side, scientists are saying that if 95 percent of the population would wear a mask, we could get Covid under control and two vaccines should be available in a few months.

We Jamaicans have been fortunate that our leaders have not politicized mask-wearing, yet as we move around, we notice that less than half of folks are not wearing masks. Further we hear that people arriving from abroad think it is clever that they can dodge the authorities by breaking quarantine and gathering with friends at popular hangouts. It is beyond belief that there was a mob-killing of a police officer who tried to break up a party which was breaching curfew.

We should be aware that over 90 persons are now in hospital here with Covid. Older persons are the majority of those who have died from the virus. As much as Grandma and Grandpa will be happy to see family returning from abroad, the welcome home hugs have to be replaced by blown kisses. There are many young people who are Covid-positive and asymptomatic. That one hug could be a death sentence for an elder so please restrain yourselves.

As for family dinners, I admit I am in a state – how can I face Christmas without preparing a feast for all the people I love so much? But I must accept that for their safety and ours, we have to stay in our bubble. Let us try to live to see another Christmas where we can finally get together. We can deliver Christmas treats to our loved ones and plan a Facetime or a Zoom Christmas get-together. Our family enjoyed a Zoom Mothers’ Day Brunch, showing off dishes and toasting each other.

JMEA President Richard Pandohie is appealing for a later curfew time over the holiday season, but that will only happen if right away, we work with our families and communities to mask up and keep infection numbers down. Come November 30, the PM will have to listen to the health experts before he reviews the hours.

Meanwhile, let us look at organizing ourselves to get out earlier to do our shopping. We were pleasantly surprised to know we could call ahead to Island Grill and skip the line to collect our order. Our CCRP shopper Charmaine has also organised with seniors to collect their purchases at various supermarkets if they call in their orders, and NHF will deliver prescriptions drugs to persons over 65.

We are sad to hear that the global death toll for Covid has passed 1.3 million and grieve with members of our Jamaican Diaspora and indeed our entire human family who are mourning their loss. Let us do our best to avoid becoming another Covid victim.

Boost for Special Needs

In previous years, thousands gathered in downtown Kingston for Jamaica’s first ever night run, the Digicel 5K for Special Needs. The company found a way around Covid, staging a virtual 5K last month and inviting the Jamaican Diaspora to join in. Last week, The Digicel Foundation was able to present a total of $7.5M to The Jamaica Association for the Deaf, The Jamaica Autism Support Association, Early Stimulation Plus, The Jamaica Downs Syndrome Foundation and the Promise Learning Centre.

In addition to the building and renovation of 10 Special Needs schools, the Foundation recently partnered with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information to establish two new schools for special needs – the Rosebank School (formerly Rosebank Primary) in St Mary and the Pear Tree River School in St. Thomas.

It is heartening to see the progress being made by special needs students when they have the right teachers and facilities to help them develop their skills.

Oliver Samuels honoured

Oliver Samuels, the only CCRP Living Legacy Honouree this year, shared his love for theatre and his dedication to those in need at a recent live broadcast from the PCBJ studio. He is celebrating his 50^th year in Jamaican theatre and shows no sign of slowing down. He describes cultural icon, Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley (Miss Lou) as his mentor. After a pantomime performance early in his career, he recalls Miss Lou asking him, “Likkle boy, where yuh come from?” He was thrilled when his idol told him that his recital of her poem “Love Letta” was the best interpretation she had ever heard. 

Oliver Samuel’s innate generosity and empathy with “ordinary Jamaicans” is a quality that has remained with him throughout his career. He has donated proceeds of his productions to several good causes. He has been a mentor for many young people – his own children, as well as many others he has “taken under his wing” and maintains that his children are his greatest blessing in life.

That call to Prince Phillip

As we watch Season Four of ‘The Crown’, the Netflix series on the British royal family, I recall the day that I had an actual telephone conversation with the Duke of Edinburgh. It was the summer of 1966 and the Duke and Princess Anne were in Jamaica for the Commonwealth Games. We were at home on holidays and we had read that the Royals were staying at the Olympia Hotel. Our parents were out, so this daring teenager decided that she would call the hotel and ask to speak with the Prince.

You can imagine my shock when the operator put me through, and I heard this lovely voice saying ‘Hello?’ My siblings can attest that I asked first if this was Prince Phillip, to which he answered ‘Yes’, then I asked if he was the Duke of Edinburgh and sounding a bit amused, he again said ‘Yes’. Well at that point I lost my nerve and said, “It was nice to speak with you Sir, good-bye.” He was kind enough to stop me, ask my name, and say it was a nice name. I was able to stutter that I hoped he would enjoy his visit and asked him to say hello to the Queen. He said he would, and we ended the call. Well you can imagine the breathless laughter with my sisters and brother. Our Dad, an ex-RAF man, was strict on protocol, so we were afraid to tell him. He finally learned about it a few weeks later and was delighted, only sorry we didn’t tell him earlier as he said he would have called the Gleaner to report it.

When my sister told her classmate, she tried to call Princess Anne the next day, but she didn’t have the same luck.

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 09 November 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

The streets of Philadelphia rocked last Saturday to the Toots Hibbert- Chaka Demus & Pliers classic “What a Bam Bam!” They were in high spirits, celebrating the Biden-Harris victory in the US General Elections. It was fitting to have our song  heralding the first woman in US history to be Vice-President elect – the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants.

The mood of Democrats was quite different on Election night, when the numbers seemed to be going Trump’s way. Political strategist James Carville came on MSNBC late that night with words of reassurance, telling viewers to “put away the razor blades and the Ambien – we are going to be okay.”

On Wednesday, as the mail-in votes started to be counted in the heavily courted ‘Blue wall’, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, the Democrats sensed victory.  It must have been a satisfying result for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who had been vilified by the President for her lock-down measures as she tried to protect citizens from the rapidly spreading Covid virus. The presidential insults appeared to be a dog-whistle for a right-wing militia group which was thankfully intercepted and members arrested before they could carry out their plans to kidnap the Governor. As news broke about the plot, it was stunning that the President continued to tweet insults to Governor Whitmer.

Since that night of dismay in 2016 when Donald Trump defeated Hilary Clinton, the entire world has watched in fear at the weakening of NATO, the exit of the US from the Paris Agreement for climate change, the rise of right wing violence and racism in the US, the separation of immigrant families and the politicisation of the Covid pandemic. To hear a President mock his opponent for wearing a mask during a life-threatening pandemic was unbelievable.

The initial cases of Covid in Jamaica originated in the US, so we took it personally when we discovered that President Trump had known from January that the virus was worse than the flu and that it was airborne, yet told the American people that it was ‘just like the flu’ and that it would disappear in the spring ‘like a miracle’. To date, over 230,000 Americans have died from the virus, the highest number of any country in the world – there in the US with the best scientists by whom the Trump White House refused to be guided.

Despite catching the virus, the President continued to hold ‘super-spreader’ rallies across the country, which a study from Stanford University noted was responsible for over 30,000 Covid cases and 700 deaths. Meanwhile, President-Elect Biden’s team following CDC protocols, organised drive-in rallies with supporters applauding with honking horns.

One of the most caustic critics of President Trump is satirist Bill Maher who three years ago predicted that even if Trump loses the election, he would refuse to leave the White House. Trump had famously sued Maher for jokingly saying that he was fathered by an orangutan, and as if to twist the knife, Maher repeated the joke on Friday night on his ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ HBO programme. Maher’s was the first show to declare Biden and Harris the winners of the election, complete with a celebratory balloon release. Maher expressed his concern that with Trump’s threats of lawsuits to overturn the election results, he could stir trouble in the streets and may still yet refuse to leave. Let us hope that the will of the people, and the very well monitored vote-counting will be respected ultimately.

Biden’s support network

Former President Barack Obama was the most important campaigner for Joe Biden, and he seemed to have enjoyed stumping in several states for his former VP. With his sense of humour fully charged, he took down Trump for his criticism of the Biden campaign’s focus on Covid. “And what’s his closing argument?” asked Obama. “That people are too focused on Covid. He said this at one of his rallies. Covid, Covid, Covid, he’s complaining. He’s jealous of Covid’s media coverage.”

We are sure Obama had a cheerleader in his wife. In her bestselling autobiography, “Becoming”, Michelle Obama described her disgust with Trump’s racist ‘birther’ lies against her husband: “The whole [birther] thing was crazy and mean-spirited, of course, its underlying bigotry and xenophobia … But it was also dangerous, deliberately meant to stir up the wingnuts and kooks … Donald Trump, with his loud and reckless innuendos, was putting my family’s safety at risk. And for this I’d never forgive him.”

Biden had music greats to entertain his audiences including Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga and John Legend while Trump engaged rappers.

One of the most interesting political action committees formed to support the Biden-Harris ticket was the Lincoln Project, a group of Republicans who flooded social media platforms with videos and memes bashing the President and his administration. It is unfortunate that Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been criticising this committee that has wooed the Republican vote for her Party.

Another genius move was the partnership of three brothers, Ben, Jordan and Brett Meiselas to form MeidasTouch, in March of this year. Their motto is “Because Truth is Golden”. As the US Senate leadership hangs in the balance with a run-off of two Senate Seats in Georgia, they tweeted, “Our work isn’t over! We will spend every day moving forward working to flip both Senate seats in Georgia!”

Laughter with purpose

Jamaica’s own Sarah Cooper did her part, lip-syncing some of President Trump’s most outrageous moments, the most popular being ‘How to medical’ which got over 24 million views on TikTok and Twitter. The famous Helen Mirren joined her to recreate the Billy Bush video in which Trump laughingly discussed his sexual advances on women. Other leading late-night comedians never failed to remind us of Trump’s missteps.

Now the world breathes a sigh of relief and we wish Joe Biden and Kamala Harris many blessings in their efforts to reunite their country, to control the coronavirus and to energise the economy.

Congratulations Mark Golding

Here in Jamaica, there was another campaign raging for the leadership of the PNP. Both candidates Mark Golding and Lisa Hanna kept their promise personally to run a peaceful campaign though some of their supporters went a bit off track. Before he went into politics, Mark Golding served with us on the Board of Food for the Poor Jamaica so I got to know him as an altruistic Jamaican. Well contested Lisa Hanna and congratulations winner Mark Golding.  

CCRP Award for Oliver Samuels

We are looking forward to a celebration of Jamaica’s beloved Oliver Samuels on Wednesday afternoon live on PBCJ television, when he will be honoured with this year’s CCRP Living Legacy Award. Marking his 50^th year in theatre, Oliver has brought love and laughter to audiences here and abroad. His ‘Oliver at Large’ series reveals an artist with brilliant comedic timing. Oliver will share his journey in a conversation with Emcee Joan McDonald – it will be memorable.   

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published 02 November 2020

_{By: Jean Lowrie-Chin}

We celebrated our National Heroes and those five brave men who rescued a child from the raging waters of Sandy Gully in October. Last Thursday, we ended the month of heroes with news that Michael Henry, a fruit vendor from Allman Town, risked his life to save a neighbour from a burning house.

According to Jamaica Observer Staff Reporter Sharlene Hendricks, last Thursday evening a youngster shouted that his sister Jody-Ann Moncrieff was trapped in their burning house, and begged for help. Without hesitation, Mr Henry ran into the building and by the time he located the young woman, the fire had roared towards them. They ran to the back door which was locked, but he was able to kick it open and take Ms Moncrieff over a wall and to safety.

When asked about his action, Mr Henry explained, “I couldn’t do anything else because I know it’s a life. So mi just tie mi handkerchief round fi face and just move.”

Such stories of bravery remind us that nobility exists in every part of our society, so we should never be quick to judge people because of their address. Indeed, what we should do is to see how we can help this brave-hearted Michael Henry to develop his fruit stall into a sustainable business. He has the spirit that will overcome whatever challenges he may face.

Seniors ‘get a new life’

Heroes come in many forms. Imagine a busy entrepreneur Robert Scott, aware of the financial challenges of retirees, taking the time to call our seniors organization, CCRP, to offer a complimentary workshop for members. Entitled, “Get a new life – turn your skill into an income,” the registration for the event was so overwhelming that he readily agreed to host a second one.

Mr Scott gave us the example of “Ms Smith” who retired after working many years in a dry-cleaning business. In a consultation with Mr Scott, she realised that she could leverage her wide experience in fabric knowledge and care into several endeavours: teaching, writing a care manual and consulting both locally and internationally.

He recommended the ‘Upwork’ website. This is said to be “an upscale version of ‘Fiverr’ – an open marketplace for posting jobs and connecting with freelancers that offers more safety regulations for payment exchanges and more professional standards.”

He offered strategies for building credibility, including joining business associations, public speaking appearances, strategic alliances and use of both traditional and social media to build one’s brand. “Be prepared for a variety of opportunities to make your pitch,” he advised.

Small or medium businesses (SMEs) which may not be able to hire full-time staff should consider hiring retirees on a part-time basis.  From companies who have, we get reports of their vast experience, their discipline and their sound ethics.  Robert Scott, whose company is StartTrade Jamaica reminded our members that the internet opens opportunities for jobs anywhere in the world. He invited members to them to call him, volunteering further assistance. For us, Robert Scott is a hero for seniors – he opened their eyes to exciting new opportunities, for which they were all very appreciative.

Diplomatic dynamo HC Peters

Outgoing Canadian High Commissioner (HC) Laurie Peters began her tour of duty in Jamaica in September 2017, and has played a significant role in the promotion of commercial, scientific, educational and cultural exchanges between the countries, undoubtedly bolstering Canadian presence locally and regionally. An outstanding aspect of her work in advocacy and international diplomacy was her advancement Canada’s feminist foreign policy by championing commitments for gender equality, peace, and security.

HC Peters directed Canada’s continued support of Jamaica’s response to COVID-19 through its health, economic growth and education activities. Since the outbreak, Canada has provided over $75 million (CAD 500,00) in support of the health and development sectors.  Most recently, Canada made available an additional $482 million (CAD$4.7 million) for Jamaica towards the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRF) premiums. She spearheaded a new $20M Canada-Caribbean Resilience Facility at the World Bank to provide Jamaica with timely technical assistance and emergency funding in the aftermath of a disaster.

Other highlights of her tour was swift hurricane response in the region, immigration activities including the Seasonal Agricultural Worker’s Program (SAWP), programmes promoting peace, security and justice, skills training to access the ‘green’ economy, and Canada’s long-standing defence partnership with Jamaica. In the area of multilateral cooperation, she supported the roundtable held by PM Trudeau with four small island developing states (SIDS) leaders including PM Holness during the 2019 G7 Summit.

HC Peters gave special focus to programmes in education, and in April last year, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between UWI and Brock University to establish the Canada Caribbean Institute which will “harness academic expertise to help address important regional topics and foster intercultural understanding.”

In spite of her demanding schedule, HC Peters was ever gracious and approachable. We thank her for her meaningful support and advocacy, and wish her continued success in the service of her great country.

Farewell generous Joseph Duany

At last Friday’s Thanksgiving Service for advertising and racing personality Joseph ‘Joe’ Duany we learned even more about his remarkable 82-year-life. Educated at the Jamaica School of Art, Joe Duany impressed his employers at Pearl & Dean with his vivid billboard creations. He later formed one of the most successful outdoor advertising companies, Signtex and invested in some of Jamaica’s legendary racehorses. His friend Clovis Metcalfe shared that after Joe survived a life-threatening illness, the doctors at the Florida Hospital where he was treated dubbed him ‘Miracle Man’. Joe gave this name to the only Jamaican bred racehorse to have won an international event. Another personal experience led him to name his Triple-Crown winner, ‘I’m Satisfied’.

Joe’s boundless generosity was gratefully recalled by family and friends. I remember when I started my business with a sparsely furnished office, Joe surprised me with a delivery of chairs, and when I asked him to donate a welcome billboard for Pope John Paul’s visit in 1993, he created an exquisite rendition. He told me joyfully that the goodly Pope spotted him after an event and surprised his official party by stepping away to have an extended conversation with him. Whether for business or outreach, Joe applied the same passion for excellence, mentoring his children and staff to uphold his high standards. He was the recipient of the prestigious Media Personality of the Year Award from the Advertising Agencies Association of Jamaica.

Joseph Duany’s son Raul gave a moving remembrance of his father, declaring this man of compassion, authenticity and love as his role model. Our deepest sympathy to his wife Hyacinth, children Raul, Alicia, Tiana and other family members. May his great soul rest in peace.