Balancing acts here and abroad

Excerpts from Observer column published 13 January 2020

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

As we looked at a line-up of members of the PSOJ executive at a recent press briefing, it was clear that the organisation is no longer what it was dubbed several decades ago: “Privileged Sons of Jamaica”.  Flanking President Keith Duncan were VP Mariame McIntosh Robinson, PSOJ CEO Makeba Bennett-East and Executive member Eva Lewis. Other members are VPs Jackie Sharpe and Jeffrey Hall, and Treasurer Vikram Dhiman.  Here we have the gender balance that has proved to be an important factor for the development of countries and organisations. 

We were encouraged that after the Jamaica Stock Exchange was criticized for their heavily male slate of speakers for their upcoming conference, two women were added, though a better gender-balance would have been desirable. This is a worldwide issue. Kasie Hunt, host of the MSNBC programme, ‘Kasie DC’ recently returned from maternity leave and while thanking her employers for generous benefits, noted that fellow her American women did not have it as good.  Indeed, she said that while men’s pay went up after they became fathers, women’s pay went down when they became mothers.

After many years in business we can say that the mothers on our team have been the most organised and professional.  Balancing home and office helps women to develop time-management skills. We also found that they took the least number of sick days.  Perhaps it is because mothers (and dedicated fathers too) adopt a healthier lifestyle after the arrival of their children. We are shortsighted if we believe it is an inconvenience to give parents time-off for PTA meetings and other important school activities.  Where will our country be if we in business do not encourage our workers to be good parents? A gender balance in leadership will bring better understanding of such issues.

The Sussex announcement

New mother, the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle has hinted at challenges as the first mixed-race woman to join the British Royal family in recent history.  Racist, time-wasting tabloids and the paparazzi whose hounding had led to the tragic death of Meghan’s late mother-in-law Princess Diana, have caused so much anxiety that it is no wonder that Meghan and Harry have announced their decision to no longer fulfil duties as “senior royals”.

If the racists keep hounding the Duchess, will her son Archie also be subjected to such insults? These concerns would make any parent seek solutions for a safe and peaceful family life.

Fae Ellington shared a column by author Afua Hirsch in New York Times, headlined ‘Black Britons Know Why Meghan Markle Wants Out’. Hirsch notes, ‘Both she and Harry appear to have gained crystal clear vision as to their reality. It’s no wonder the couple want to leave and — as the coded statement that they want to raise their son, Archie, “with the space to focus on the next chapter” seems to suggest — protect him from the bile to which they’ve been exposed.’

She writes, ‘Those who claim frequent attacks against the duchess have nothing to do with her race have a hard time explaining … the fact that she has been most venomously attacked for acts that attracted praise when other royals did them.”

Hirsch concludes, ‘Her treatment has proved what many of us have always known: No matter how beautiful you are, whom you marry, what palaces you occupy, charities you support, how faithful you are, how much money you accumulate or what good deeds you perform, in this society racism will still follow you.’ Very sad indeed.

Mending Hearts at Bustamante

Well do I remember that sunny day, nine years ago, when representatives of Digicel and the Ministry of Health broke ground at the Bustamante Hospital for the building of a Cardiac Unit to commemorate the company’s 10^th anniversary. In partnership with the National Health Fund, Chain of Hope, the Shaggy Make a Difference Foundation, Sagicor and Gift of Life, the facilities including the painstaking installation of a well-needed catheterization lab was finally completed in 2018.

It was great to catch up last week with Chain of Hope CEO Emma Scanlan whose organisation invites international medical volunteers to heal tiny hearts worldwide. Since 2018, 246 infants and young children have received free heart surgery, valued at over J$9 million each at the Bustamante Unit. The team which performed surgeries over the past week comprised the Unit Director, Jamaica’s own Dr. Sherard Little and medical personnel from UK, Guyana, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Canada and the United States.   

I have had the pleasure of sitting in the waiting area with anxious parents and sharing their relief when Dr Little emerged to assure them that the surgery went well, and their child would be restored to good health.  Emma noted that the children heal quickly, much to the delight of the dedicated doctors and nurses at the Unit.