Observer column for MON 21 Dec 2015
by Jean Lowrie-Chin
The shining stars of the recent ‘Respect Jamaica’
campaign are young people from some of these very communities, who have been
dubbed ‘Respect Ambassadors’, and last Monday they proved how well the title
suited them. Recruited and trained by the Respect Jamaica team, supported by 30
leading corporations, we were refreshed by the passion and creative activities
of these young people, ages 18-25.
Neville Charlton emerged Ambassador of the
Year. Neville founded the Positive Organization, a non- profit organization
that aims to empower and energize
Jamaicans to believe in their ability to drive positive change, and
volunteerism. He
currently mentors youth residents of the Tivoli Gardens Police youth club.
Young Jherane Patmore won
the Project Award for her resolve to ‘Kick out Gender Based Violence’. She
helped to organise a public forum addressed on gender based violence in the
Caribbean and engaged social media supporters with the popular hashtag
#KickOutGBV.
The quiet but determined Joel Lee Bishop, is
champion Volunteer. Her work with the Positive Organization and the Respect
movement, has seen her championing the youth vote at the Y-Klick National Youth
Summit and leading a beach clean-up at Robin’s Bay, St. Mary.
Dynamic Chad Morgan told us that, “No matter
how much you are doing, you can still do more.” The UWI international relations student copped the Commitment
Award for mentoring members of Duhaney Park Police Youth Club and helping to
coordinate an educational and empowering field trip for 50 male students of the
Cockburn Primary and Junior High.
Tina Renier of Barbary Hill in Lucea, Hanover
received the Shining Star award. I heard this articulate UWI student giving a
powerful motivational speech about the programme at the Launch of FiWi Jamaica
at UTECH in August of this year. Elton
Johnson is developing into a social media star, and copped an award for his
activity. His Yuh Zeen! blog
promotes progressive-thinking and national development. A Montego Bay resident,
Elton presides over lively Twitter chats, especially as he promotes the youth
vote.
The ardent, yet respectful manner of these young persons is
in direct contrast to the tone of our leaders on the campaign platforms. There is nothing wrong with the drama, and
well-chosen musical selections as these add colour to campaigning; however, we
have to draw the line when the campaigner descends into disrespect.
Political tribalism promotes disrespect for
those who may not agree with one’s choice of party, and our young people are
subject to insults and worse if they happen to live on the ‘wrong’ side of the
street. Disrespect is the motto of the garrison, where citizens are seen as only
two-legged votes. As our top corporates dedicate
their millions to the Respect campaign, let us hope our political leaders will
make the effort to stay respectful, even as they enjoy the cut and thrust of
representational politics.
The
51% Coalition and The Workplace
We had an amazing “Tea and Talk” with the 51%
Coalition last Tuesday, as we delved into the topic, “Our Understanding of
Human Rights and how it applies to our Work”.
We realised that there were issues of gender, politics, sexual
orientation, and ageism at the workplace.
In my contribution, I mentioned that many of us are so acculturated that
we don’t even realise the negative attitude we may have towards certain persons.
It was a star-studded evening: Chairman
Merline Daley, discussion leader Joan French, Nikki Sewell Lewis, Linette
Vassell, Judith Wedderburn and Nicole Williams shared the programme and helped
us crystallise the issues. Rev Marjorie
Lewis and Carrolle Narcisse were invaluable to our group, led by Tanesha Caine.
We realised that gender-based violence had
become so ingrained in our society, that we were at danger level. We acknowledged that sexual harassment at the
workplace continues to haunt many. Women who have to be balancing raising
families and pursuing careers are suffering from a serious type of poverty:
TIME poverty!
We also discussed the issue of ageism –
judging co-workers as “too young” or “too old” for a job without objective assessment. In the case of sexual orientation, it
appeared to be unanimous that as long as this did not interfere with an
individual’s productivity, it was absolutely none of our business.
We concluded that we should be more aware of
our biases so we can conquer them, that we should use hard data instead of
rushing to judgment, and that we should step up as advocates for a more
respectful and open-minded approach to our workplace colleagues. Now isn’t that a great New Year’s resolution?
Hard-working
JPs
We enjoyed the St Andrew JPs Annual Awards
where we saw so many great achievers who still make the time to serve as
Justices of the Peace and Lay Magistrates.
I remember the strict Lay Magistrate training led by retired Justice
Noel Irving – as bright as we thought we were, Justice Irving would punch holes
into our arguments. We made a
presentation to Retired Custos Marigold Harding who was a model of efficiency
and generosity. Our recently retired
Custos Donna Parchment-Brown was very supportive during her short stint, as she
retired after it was announced that she would be serving as Jamaica’s political
Ombudsman.
Later in the week, we happened on a large
operation at the Kingston Bookshop Headquarters, led by Kingston Custos Steadman
Fuller. He, fellow JPs, KPH SMO Natalie Whylie, Town Clerk Robert Hill and
several other members stage an annual treat for the families of prisoners in
the Tower Street Correctional Centre.
They also made special packages for the ‘abandoned prisoners’ – Custos
Steadman explained that these are men who have not seen one relative since they
were locked up. “Some suffer from
depression,” he explained. “So we are trying to reach out to them.”
Special
love for our seniors
We collected scores of gifts from members of
CCRP (Caribbean Community of Retired Persons) and delivered them to the
grateful hands of residents of the Golden Age Home. The collection was made at
our annual social, serenaded by the smooth Boris Gardiner. Boris and his wife Andrea are so warm, yet
professional. Boris had many encores as
our members declared him “Better than ever!” The ever-generous Michael Fraser
and Sagicor and our perennial sponsor, PROComm, made it a memorable afternoon.
Then we attended a Mass on Saturday,
conducted by Archbishop Charles Dufour at the beautifully renovated Chapel at
the Ozanam Home on Mannings Hill Road.
The insightful Archbishop asked us to visit the elderly residents before
we left. What an inspiring exercise –
the smiles, the sharing – we enjoyed the company, and salute Hazel Burnett, who
received an award for 25 years of service to Ozanam
Season's Greetings to you all, dear readers!
No comments:
Post a Comment