Farewell ‘Gentle Giant’ Domonic

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer 2nd October 2023

Women who were not even acquainted with Aloun Ndombet-Assamba poured out their sympathy when they heard that her only child Domonic Strachan had passed away suddenly last month. Those who knew Domonic referred to him as a 'Gentle Giant'. In a letter of condolence, a fellow parishioner at the Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Ocho Rios wrote of Domonic's warm hug, saying: "I felt enveloped with love and care." Domonic's friends told his mother that he was their 'rock', always there for his friends.

We regarded Domonic as an IT geek, setting up systems for various companies, especially before 2000 when everyone was fearful of the 'Y2K' virus. At that time, he was in his early twenties and had not yet attended Miami Dade College where he was a student leader. While Aloun was in the UK, serving as Jamaica's High Commissioner, her mother became seriously ill and required thrice-weekly dialysis. Domonic quit his business, as digital connectivity was then limited at the family's Moneague homestead, and with his aunt Eleanor Wood, assisted in caring for his grandmother.

It was then that he started his journey as an innovative farmer and a central figure in the Moneague farming community where he conducted meetings and shared research findings. Aloun said he used no chemicals. The wasp nests around the Grierfield Great House played a key role in keeping his crops pest-free. His rainwater harvesting methods supplied the house and the farm where he implemented drip irrigation. He was so passionate about influencing others about farming that his farm tours became popular among CCRP seniors and schoolchildren alike.

Aloun related that during the summer holidays, Domonic was keen on 'making memories' for his two young sons. "He always spent quality time with them but this summer he went even further, taking them to camp by a riverside in St. Mary."

We grieve with Aloun at the passing of her extraordinary son whose achievements belie his short 43 years. May his soul rest in peace.

Jean Lowrie-Chin 

Hurricane Beryl: not an easy road

Jamaica Observer column published Monday 15 July 2024

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

There is an outpouring of care in the communities hard hit by hurricane Beryl but recovery will be a long process. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries posted on social media: "One of the things that surprise people when they visit St Bess after Beryl is the extent of the damage. It's not one or two communities, in SW alone I have 15 communities that have been severely impacted. Not only houses but 2 clinics, 2 ECIs, 5 primary Schools, 1 High School."

There is similar damage in Westmoreland, Hanover, Manchester and Clarendon. It is heartening that local and international alumnae associations for Munroe College and the Mannings School have immediately begun fundraising activities to repair these historic schools.

Food for the Poor Jamaica, Jamaica Red Cross, Breds Treasure Beach Foundation, JPS Foundation and the Digicel Foundation have been busy on the ground and will welcome any help they can get. With the NCB Michael Lee Chin offer of matching funds, any amount donated to Breds will be matched by NCB. The American Friends of Jamaica, members of the Jamaican Diaspora and the US Embassy are also assisting.

Our utility companies have been facing hazards as they work non-stop to restore power, water and phone connectivity. Those of us in Kingston, St. Andrew and other parishes which largely escaped Beryl should recall the destruction of Gilbert and Ivan to understand what many rural areas are facing, trying to cope without power and water. It is hard to be without the basic utilities but compared to the Gilbert experience, significant progress is being made.

Our farms and roads will require billions of dollars for repair and rebuilding. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that 25,000 kilometres of roads, including 5,000 kilometres of main roads have been damaged and will require $10.25 Billion in funding. The $40 Billion Spark programme will help to cover road repairs, but also must be used for pre-existing dangerous road conditions.

JIS News has reported some good news: "Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, on Monday (July 8) announced that Jamaica's Tropical Cyclone Policy with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) has triggered a payment following the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

"Dr. Clarke said the Government received a Preliminary Modelled Loss and Policy Payment Report from the CCRIF, which stated that a payment of approximately US$16.3 million or J$2.5 billion would be made …On July 5, he advised that the Government initiated the process to access funds under a Contingent Credit Claim with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)."

We need to tone down the politicking and nitpicking. This is a time to put aside politics and to put our energy into bringing comfort to our suffering Jamaican family.

Focus on the elderly

As we at CCRP, the seniors advocacy organization, engaged with the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC), we learned from Executive Chair Cassandra Morrison that conditions for the elderly were dire. "St. Elizabeth looks like Ground Zero," she said. "Things are very bad for the older citizens."

Providence has been in the mix. In April CCRP had booked $500,000 worth of care packages from Food for the Poor, our biannual outreach to needy elders. We shared the work of CCRP with Sandals Group Executive Chair Adam Stewart in January and he asked us to be in touch with the Sandals Foundation for assistance. Before Beryl developed, we wrote to the Foundation CEO Heidi Clarke and Kayla Innis, requesting bed linen and towels. Would you believe that they gave us 100 sets of each item, ready for collection just as Beryl hit?

It was such a large donation that the NCSC representatives who collected them had to bring two cars. A grateful Cassandra Morrison said they had been able to source mattresses for the elderly but no linen. She remarked on the timeliness of our gifts.

I received a call also from Charmaine Daniels, CEO of the Digicel Jamaica Foundation. "We're heading to St Elizabeth in the morning and we will reserve care packages for the elderly." The NCSC St. Elizabeth Officer, Marieck Hendricks Morgan, was right on hand at the Black River High School to collect them.

Food for the Poor has been lauding the many donors who have come on board and made a call for volunteers to pack out food and personal care items. We made an appeal to CCRP members and they immediately came on board. They have been assisting at the Food for the Poor Jamaica facilities over the past weekend.

Jamaica no longer on "Grey List"

Jamaica Observer Business Writer David Rose wrote an excellent piece entitled, 'Explainer: Why is Jamaica leaving the 'grey list' important?' For us to be dropped from this 'grey list', less serious than the 'blacklist' by the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is welcome news, particularly for the financial and business sectors. FATF has stringent standards for anti-money laundering (AML), anti-terrorism financing (ATF) and proliferation financing (PF). The definition of PF is "the act of providing financial services or funds to people or groups that may use them to develop, purchase, or spread chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons. It can also include the use of related materials, such as technologies and dual-use goods, which have both civilian and military uses."

Rose wrote, "The biggest implication from being on the 'blacklist' comes from the potential loss of correspondent banking from international partners. Correspondent banking is what allows for a country like Jamaica to purchase oil, import goods and ability to interact with the rest of the global financial system."

We are proud that the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) and the Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA) redoubled their efforts to close any loopholes for corrupt practices. The BOJ noted in a statement, "This action has significant positive implications for the country's reputation in the international financial community. The development will enhance confidence among investors and trading partners thereby improving Jamaica's economic potential."

The JBA enthused, "The Financial institutions played a pivotal role in the achievement of this result and the country's compliance with 37 of the 40 FATF recommendations. The industry will continue to work with all key stakeholders to ensure ongoing compliance to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism."

Biden Age Debate

Being connected to a seniors organization, we are watching with interest the debate over whether President Joe Biden at 81 years old, is a suitable candidate for the upcoming November US presidential election. This became a hot topic after the debate with former president Donald Trump, which saw Biden stuttering and seeming to lose his train of thought. In the weeks before the debate, Biden has made several trans-Atlantic flights to participate in conferences and seemed tired. Meanwhile a New York Times reporter alleged that they counted 26 lies in Trump's presentation.

Despite Biden's statesmanlike hosting of the NATO Conference last week, campaign funders, some of his fellow Democratic representatives and influencers like George Clooney have called for him to step away from the candidacy. Biden has been defiant in his response at last week's press conference, and last Friday gave one of his best speeches at a Detroit Rally to rousing applause.

We wait to hear if the funders will reconsider and if the polls will have a more positive prediction for Biden. There is fear that the so-called 'Project 2025' created by Trump advisors could cause radical change to the country's Constitution and the return of internment of minorities. Even for us who do not live in the US, the tension is palpable. We watch and wait.

France Coke Launches first Novel

Following on her first book of Poetry, 'Intersections' and her memoirs as a decades-long teacher at Kingston College and their  School's Challenge Quiz Coach, 'The Spirit of Clovelly Park: Learning and Teaching at Kingston College', Frances-Marie Coke recently launched her first novel, When Banana Stains Fade: A Jamaican Family Saga of Adversity and Redemption.

Her novel is described as "a delectable literary treat, rich in atmosphere, and brimming with compelling characters, this novel transports us between old and new Jamaica, exploring two worlds that will strike familiar chords in all who care about social issues and uncomfortable truths that dull Jamaica's allure."

Please visit Frances' Facebook page and website for information on her launch events which have been gathering steam in the US and 

PHOTO Captions

1)     CCRP's Noel Chin and Errol Howlett deliver 500 care packages funded by the organization to Desmond Hayden, representing the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC).

2)     Generous gift of 100 sets of bed linens and towels from the Sandals Foundation being collected by NCSC Head Cassandra Morrison from Moran Johnson.

3)     Charmaine  (right) CEO of the Digicel Foundation presents one of many care packages to NCSC St. Elizabeth Officer Marieck Hendricks.

 

 

The Greatness and the Grief

Jamaica Observer column published Monday 29 April 2024

by Jean Lowrie-Chin 

So there we were over the past fortnight celebrating the greatness of trailblazer Joyce Archibald, master blender Joy Spence and former Poet Laureate Mervyn Morris, then getting our pride ripped by the violence visited upon our children. Again we ask, how do we knit together the qualities of greatness into a safety net for our troubled children?

At the celebration of Joyce Archibald's 90^th Birthday, I heard numerous stories of this corporate wonder, one of the first women senior executives in the insurance industry. Lesline Chisholm shared that her first job was with Life of Jamaica, where Joyce was her boss. Lesline lived out of town and had difficulty commuting to work. She said Joyce offered to have her stay at her home and treated her like a daughter. Another man remembered how she interviewed him for his first job and mentored him throughout his life.

The multitalented Joyce served as chair of her Alma Mater, Convent of Mercy Alpha, for over two decades. She also chaired the boards of Cinematograph Authority, St Richard's Primary and was Secretary of the Our Lady of the Angels Prep board. Her daughter Attorney-at-Law Jo-Anne Archibald shared that her mother was "an excellent dancer, singer and actress. She won national drama awards and was Miss Ena in 'Dulcimina'," that riveting radio drama series.  She noted that Joyce was devoted to charitable works, serving Maxfield Park Children's Home and the Stella Maris Prison Ministry for years.

Our IWF Jamaica Forum toured the Joy Spence Appleton Estate experience last week. Yes, the experience is named after the world's first master blender, a former lecturer, who after a stint at Tia Maria decided she wanted to join Wray & Nephew. She audaciously sent them her resume, was first turned down and then called back, bringing glory and untold wealth to the company.  She is a legend, declared by Fortune magazine 'most influential woman in food and drink'. Joy remains humble and engaging and credits her success to her coach master blender Owen Tulloch, whom she succeeded.

My Mervyn Morris moment: there was I, a rookie writer at the Jamaica Daily News, when my great Professor from UWI congratulated me on one of my poems and told me that he had read it in his selection of Jamaican poetry at a UK event. Professor Morris has mentored and affirmed countless aspirants.

No wonder then that there was standing room only when the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ) unveiled a bust of Prof Morris, created by Kay Sullivan, last Sunday. Velma Pollard gave thoughts on his latest collection, 'Last Reel' followed by his reading of his rich, relatable work. Ian Randle, who had vowed that he would not publish poetry said this was his 15^th Mervyn Morris publication. It was an impeccable event, thanks to emcee Fae Ellington, NLJ Chair Joy Douglas and National Librarian Beverley Lashley, who recognized the significant initiatives of her predecessor Winsome Hudson, and Special Programmes Director, Royane Green.

So much greatness, yet so much grief. Dr Lucien Jones, unfailing advocate for road safety, shared his mixed emotions in his weekly blog, as he reflected on Alicia Keys' song 'Fallin': "A song which as it got into my head, reflects my, perhaps our, relationship with my beloved country, Jamaica land we love. That we keep 'fallin' in love, best place on earth, nowhere no better than yard, only to be heartbroken. Again! For, what beast, what rage in the heart of a young man could cause him to stab another youth. Kill him, and now end up in jail charged for murder! What beast, what rage in the heart of a man born of a woman, and made in the image and likeness of God, propels, once again, (people fraid a dem) a gunman on a bike, to train his deadly weapon on two schoolchildren, kill one and injure the other?"

Jason McKay wrote about the 'gang family' where unattached youths are controlled by so-called 'dons'. How do we get to them before the gangs encircle them? When our children sing, "I am a promise, I am a possibility," they are looking to us to nurture their dreams, so that one day they can be celebrated like Archibald, Spence and Morris.

'Think Like a Hacker'

An 'ethical hacker' can save the very existence of a company and so we listened with interest to    Rory Ebanks, keynote speaker at the fourth Rickert Allen Lecture sponsored by NCB and held at the UCC last week. In his lecture titled 'Think Like A Hacker', Ebanks, Director of Cybersecurity at Symptai Consulting, opened our eyes to the risks we face in the digital space.  

"Every 39 seconds there is a successful attack … that means for every single day that's over 2000 successful attacks. 92% of that malware has been delivered through e-mail. Malware is malicious software," he explained.  He warns that we should not click on attachments or suspicious links if we do not recognize the sender.

He said that the average ransom demanded by hackers is US$4 million, so that hundreds of companies which have been hacked have had to go out of business. Hackers can be terrorists or thrill seekers, and members of your own staff who already have access to your system. "Even your neighbor could be a hacker - maybe they don't want to pay for Wi-Fi and they try to break in and get free Wi-Fi."

He warned about hotel and airport wi-fis as well.   "Open Wi-Fi is a very prime example of how hackers can target everyone."  Cloud based attacks are also on the increase. Here is how Ebanks says we can mitigate risks: use strong passwords (Jamaican language is hard to crack); use two-factor authentication; conduct security awareness training; perform back-ups, encrypt and test them, update devices and applications; practice email hygiene.

We also received sound advice from Dane Nicholson, NCB, Otis Osbourne, UCC and Superintendent Warren Williams, JCF. It was an excellent event, thanks to UCC President Prof. Colin Gyles, Keneia Mattis, Director of NCB Foundation and Belinda Williams NCB Corporate Affairs head. Congratulations to Octasha Sterling, this year's Rickert Allen Scholar and an outreach star in her own right.

Bankers meet with CCRP

At last year's CCRP annual general meeting, a resolution was passed that the organization which advocates for seniors, should meet with the Bankers' Association of Jamaica (JBA) to air our members' grievances. These include non-functioning ATMs, long waits even at times set aside for seniors, fear of scams and excessive bank fees, inefficiency and new measures.

CIBC, NCB and Sagicor have hosted several events to assist our members in understanding digital banking but there are seniors who are unable to manage digital transactions due to connectivity and other factors. We thank the JBA representatives for meeting with us online and suggesting a face-to-face discussion, which should assist in the resolution of these issues.

Photo captions:

Joyce Archibald

Joy Spence

Mervyn Morris

Rory Ebanks

 

Best of the West lead UTECH

Jamaica Observer column published Monday 15 April 2024

 

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

 

It was a mellow afternoon last Thursday as we listened to the life stories of the two Jamaicans who were installed as Pro-Chancellor and President of UTECH, Aldrick 'Allie' McNab and Dr Kevin Brown. Both are graduates of high schools in Montego Bay, Cornwall College and Herbert Morrison Technical High, respectively.

 

Allie McNab is known as a top footballer, broadcaster, founder of Visual Vibes, Chairman of Special Olympics Jamaica and senior consultant to Minister 'Olivia' Babsy Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. However, we discovered that he had a Champs Gold Medal for 100 metres in 1966, a record which stood for several years. He shared that as 'country boys' both he and the 'Munronian' who won the Silver never received a scholarship, while the Kingston students who placed after them did. Nevertheless, his football talent took him to the US where he gained degrees in management and graphic arts and was one of the founders of MLS Football.

 

McNab rarely speaks about his voluntary work, so few knew that he had been representing successive Prime Ministers on the Board of UTECH since 2007 and had served on various committees there over the past 17 years. His appointment as Pro-Chancellor was therefore a natural progression for a man whose entrepreneurial success and other achievements will see UTECH well served.

 

In his address Allie McNab declared, "We wish to send a message to all of Jamaica. UTECH is open for business; we are the country's only fully owned university; you own us. So it is our responsibility to take good care of your sons and daughters. We take this responsibility very seriously indeed as we help to hone their skills to navigate an ever changing and challenging world."

 

In his address, Dr Brown spoke of his humble beginnings and after introducing his mother Barbara Campbell a retired postmistress, he said, "I must talk about my late grandmother and matriarch Mabel Campbell, a phenomenal woman who I miss dearly. A lady who lived in rural Hanover, a place called Dias and she was a mere market trader … she said to my mother, 'I am in the market but this is not for you. Education is going to take you out of this.'"

 

His mother kept the education mantra going – with young Brown committed only to school, the library and cricket at Herbert Morrison. This served him well. After graduating from UTECH in mechanical engineering, he earned a Ford Motor Scholarship to the University of Nottingham where he earned both master's and PhD degrees in the same field. He held senior posts with Rolls Royce and received special recognition from the company recently, among several other prestigious awards.

 

Dr Brown paid tribute to Dr Alfred Sangster, first President of the UTECH and his successors. He thanked outgoing Honorary Treasurer the phenomenal Shirley Tyndall for her service to UTECH. He lauded our 'magical' teachers and acknowledged the union leaders at UTECH. As he noted that he was the first UTECH graduate to become its President, Dr Brown became tearful, bringing guests to their feet with loud applause.

 

In commenting on the changing needs of students, he noted, "This is the generation that wants it now … this is a generation that wants flexible education, education-on-demand so we have already agreed that we will start to give them stackable credentials, before they even get to the final year."

 

In addressing Education and Youth Minister Fayval Williams, he said, "This is a big challenge for us to upgrade our infrastructure. We have already started to do that Minister. We have many courses now aligned to the technological changes that are happening including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and much more."

 

Both McNab and Brown acknowledged the support of their wives, children, extended family and close friends who filled the UTECH auditorium. My husband Hubie was happy to share in the occasion, a proud CAST graduate in mechanical engineering.

 

World Bank lauds EPOC 

 

Chief economist for Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank, William Maloney, last week lauded the role of Jamaica's Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) as the Bank forecasted a 2% growth of the Jamaican economy.

 

"Jamaica continues to be incredibly impressive in their management of external debt," he noted in a voice clip on the Nationwide News website. "The consensus mechanism that they developed, the EPOC several years ago that brought … the major interest groups in the economy together with the goal of managing the fiscal deficit and managing the debt levels, has worked extremely well and generated consistently declining overall debt levels which I think in the long term will lead to more dynamic growth."

 

With its published quarterly reports, the Keith Duncan chaired EPOC has tracked Jamaica's economic performance, noting the good, fair or deficient performance in every sector. EPOC had also held 'Pon the Corner' exercises where Duncan would lead discussions in layperson's language promoting understanding and participation among Jamaicans of all walks of life. We thank the volunteers on the EPOC for their dedication to our financial well-being.

 

Water problems

Jamaica is experiencing a drought, but our problems could have been minimized with better water resource management over several administrations. Our schools and resort areas are of particular importance. The cries of the caretaker at the Negril Primary School over the theft of the school's water tank resulted in prompt assistance from well-wishers.

Let us hope that we can look at permanent solutions, harnessing resources from the many springs with which we are blessed and making rainwater harvesting a way of life for Jamaicans.

Congratulations Claudia Gordon!

This column has lauded the accomplishments of St. Mary born Claudia Gordon, the first black deaf woman attorney-at-law in the US. Gordon has been a passionate advocate for special needs and a regular visitor to the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf in Jamaica.

Last Tuesday, US President Joseph R. Biden designated Gordon as Chair of the National Council on Disability (NCD). This is an independent, nonpartisan federal agency that advises the President, Congress and other federal agencies on disability policy. The former Vice-Chair, she succeeds Andres Gallegos, Esq, who passed away last year.

In accepting her new post, the White House release quoted Gordon: "I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the country in this capacity as chair and look forward to continuing our journey of increasing accessibility and inclusion in all walks of life. I also plan to continue and build on the policy endeavours of our late Chair Gallegos during his tenure to elevate the importance of addressing health disparities of people with disabilities and securing their equal access to quality health fair healthcare to the forefront of policy progress."

Let us remind the parents and families of deaf children that they can attend the residential schools of the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf in Kingston, Manchester and St. James. A mind like that of Claudia Gordon's would be a terrible thing to waste.

Photos:

Claudia Gordon

Aldrick 'Allie' McNab

Dr Kevin Brown

 

Statement: Press Association Calls for Immediate Rollback of Judge’s Decision Barring Media from Silvera Case

Press Association Calls for Immediate Rollback of Judge's Decision Barring Media from Silvera Case

 

 

January 26, 2024: The Press Association of Jamaica views with alarm the judge's decision to bar members of the media and the public from observing proceedings in the Jolyan Silvera murder case based on the use of her "discretion." We call for an immediate reversal of this decision, unless there is a compelling explanation and justification. If that is the case, the public must be informed what this is.

 

In Jamaica's constitutional democracy the principle of "open justice" is extremely important, that, is the principle that any member of the public should be free to observe court proceedings, except in exceptional circumstances. This serves as oversight for the judiciary and helps maintain public confidence in the justice system.

 

This is a high-profile murder case involving a former member of parliament, who is therefore a politically connected individual. It is critical that this case be open to public scrutiny to help maintain confidence in the justice system in general, and in the conduct of this case in particular. 

 

The Supreme Court's own media protocol says "The Judiciary of Jamaica recognizes the role of the media in facilitating greater access to justice thereby enhancing public confidence in the justice system" and that "In Jamaica, court hearings are, with a few exceptions, open to the public and may be reported on."

 

No reason has been given why this case should be an exception to the open justice principle. We see none, and believe that in fact, this case is a prime example of one which must be carefully scrutinised by the media and the public. We therefore call for an immediate reversal of this decision. 

 

Contact: 

Former President George Davis, 876-509-7738

Former President Dionne Jackson Miller, 876-276-6599

 

 

"

 

 

--

"A Free Press, Oxygen of Democracy"

The courage to persevere

Jamaica Observer column published 15th January 2024

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

This year comes with promises and problems, but two events last week reminded us that courage and perseverance will make it a successful one. Last Monday's opening of the $6.2 billion plant in Montego Bay by Butch Hendrickson and last Tuesday's celebration of Denis O'Brien's Digicel journey are lessons in relentless perseverance.

At the Launch of the National Baking Company's new factory, the 94^th Birthday of patriarch Karl Hendrickson was also celebrated. Karl Hendrickson started his career at his parents' bakery in Magotty. He studied at Jamaica College and McGill University in Montreal where he met his beautiful wife, Nell. They returned to Jamaica and bought the premises at Central Avenue where they set up National Baking Company and started their family: Lori-Ann Lyn, Gary "Butch", Kevin and Cathy Kerr.

With the guidance of their parents, the four embarked on their own entrepreneurial voyages. Lori-Ann with CB Foods; Butch with the expanded, retrofitted National Baking Company and the Coconut Bay Beach & Spa Resort in St. Lucia, Kevin with the Pegasus, Courtleigh, Yummy and other hospitality interests; and Cathy with Holiday Inn, Palms at Negril among other initiatives.

Every parent will ask, how did Karl do this? He explained that he and Nell identified his children's strengths and guided them to make the best of them. Butch recalls that his Dad would make his business experiences fun trips for his children, a process of the discernment of their own potential.

This also includes his social consciousness which has seen his children as indefatigable supporters of outreach programmes including early childhood and UWI STEM education, Missionaries of the Poor, Sister Mary Benedict's Laws Street Trade & Training Centre, Food for the Poor and other great causes. The first project I worked on with Karl Hendrickson was the former Primary Health Foundation as he believed that by strengthening primary health care, there would be a reduction in NCDs and less pressure on our hospitals. Now we are hearing the same pronouncements from the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

We have seen Butch Hendrickson shut down his National Baking plant so the entire staff could pack over 2,000 schoolbags for early childhood institutions at the beginning of each school year. Then off went the trucks throughout Jamaica to deliver the bags. Butch and his close friend Glen Christian also built the multi-million model basic and primary school at Union Gardens. National's "Bold Ones of Manufacturing" saw over 30 companies selected for marketing packages and having their ads emblazoned on their trucks. The company is currently funding the building of 12 houses. Indeed he has declared to his staff, "Work hard and make the money because you know I plan to give it away!"

Celebration for Denis O'Brien

The Digicel Jamaica Foundation has been run with the same spirit of nation building for the past 20 years. Even as the telecoms business became more competitive, their Patron Denis O'Brien insisted on investing US$45M to fund education, special needs, community development and environmental protection. The focus on special needs was inspired by O'Brien's chairmanship of the Special Olympics World Games, the first of its kind held outside the US. At the Tuesday celebrations at the AC Marriott Hotel, Special Olympics Global Chair Tim Shriver recalled O'Brien's leadership of one of the most spectacular events of its kind.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness lauded O'Brien for his landmark investment, making telecommunications possible for the humblest Jamaican. In turn O'Brien thanked the Holness Government, specifically Audley Shaw for inspiring the building of their global headquarters on the Kingston Waterfront. He paid tribute to the Patterson Government for being "the architects of the telecoms liberalisation in 2000 in Jamaica… Jamaica's inspired liberalisation policy was then copied by nearly all countries in CARICOM and regionally."

Videos and short messages marked the milestones of O'Brien's impact in the Caribbean, Central America, Papua New Guinea and islands in the South Pacific. His dedication to the development of Haiti was noted by former US President Bill Clinton and actor Sean Penn. The Digicel Haiti Foundation has built 192 schools in Haiti, rebuilt the Iron Market and assisted survivors of the 2010 earthquake.

Here in Jamaica, the Digicel Foundation has created or significantly expanded 12 special needs schools, transformed the Alpha Institute, the St. John Bosco Vocational Training Centre, several Mustard Seed residences and Bethlehem Home for the Missionaries of the Poor. During Covid, the Foundation donated thousands of tablets to schools for online learning and has been steadily creating smart computer centres in schools throughout Jamaica.

Similar projects are also being managed by the Digicel Papua New Guinea and Digicel Trinidad & Tobago Foundations. The Foundation's Global Chair Maria Mulcahy spends months commuting and directing Country CEOs Serena Sasignan, Sophia Stransky, Penny Gomez and Charmaine Daniels and chairs Josefa Gauthier, Desha Clifford and yours truly (serving my final year).

Denis took the time to congratulate all who had contributed to the Group since 2000, too many to mention here. However, we have to remark on the joie-de-vivre of Frank O'Carroll, investors Leslie Buckley, Lucy Gaffney and Seamus Lynch, the first CEO, the brilliance of the late Group CEO Colm Delves, David Hall's positivity, communications whiz Antonia Graham, spirited Peter Lloyd and financial guru Lawrence Hickey.

We can be proud of the experience and class brought by our fellow Jamaicans including Anthony Chang, Board Director, Lisa Lewis, Harry Smith, now Chairman of Digicel Jamaica, Ken Mason, Krishna Phillips, Donovan Betancourt and the late Heather Asphall who was dearly missed at the event.

Not ready to rest on his laurels, O'Brien has initiated the Repair Campaign which is vigorously pursuing monetary reparation for the plundering of Caribbean countries by our former colonial masters. Kudos to Gaffney for leading the charge and for the support of Sir Hilary Beckles and Professor Verene Shepherd.

O'Brien expressed gratitude to his wife Catherine for her support, caring for their four children while also participating in another aspect of their business.

On a serious note he said, "The Telecoms industry is in a difficult place right now and investors are pulling back. This is because the industry is being forced to meet higher and higher investment demands in network capacity both in LTE and fibre network to carry traffic for OTT's (over-the-top media services) such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Google, YouTube and Netflix and many others. This traffic carried free of charge represents 70% of network throughput. The ten largest Caribbean operators have come together to put forward a cost recovery plan to CANTO and CARICOM to force big tech to pay their way."

He thanked Daryl Vaz, Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport "for his leadership and support at a CARICOM regional level, in drawing other governments' attention to this serious issue with OTT's".

As he will be demitting the Chair, while still serving as a Director of the Group, O'Brien welcomed the new Chair, Rajeev Suri, noting that he is "highly talented [and bringing] new ideas and a proven international track record from his time as CEO of Nokia and Inmarsat." 

It has been an honour to serve and be inspired by both National and Digicel. Here's wishing them continued success and Denis O'Brien a happy and fulfilling semi-retirement.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV and CCRP

lowriechin@aim.com

 

Photo Captions

Denis O'Brien displays the story of his Digicel Journey. (Jlc photo)

Four generations of the Hendrickson Family celebrate patriarch Karl's birthday at the opening of the multi-billion National facility in Montego Bay. (Observer photo)

Blue skies beckon our visitors

Observer column published on 8 January 2024

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

 

The New Year greeted us with the bluest skies. No wonder then that we have had thousands of visitors fleeing the cold North over the holiday season. In fact, Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay recorded 5,267,820 total passengers in 2023, surpassing 2022 by 19.6 per cent. The traffic for December 2023 was some 500,000 and continued high passenger traffic is expected for January to March.

VIP Attractions' Club MoBay and Club Kingston lounges have been a favourite of visitors. Their dynamic CEO Shelly-Ann Fung-King who ensured a mix of charm and efficiency over the past 15 years will be leaving the company and a new CEO Tanya Beckford has been appointed. VIP Attractions Chairman David Hall thanked Fung-King "for her years of commitment and hard work to bring the company where it is today."

There are increasing cruise-ship arrivals in Jamaica. We met friends in Falmouth at 'Flava-Ville' restaurant at the pier. A rocking DJ kept a vibe going and the Jamaican menu items attracted a full house. Our African American friend who made the Falmouth stop shared an entry in his journal: "As I stepped out onto the balcony of the ship, there was my homeland and something in me was completely settled and at peace. All my senses felt at home in that moment."

American singer and actor Fantasia Barrino-Taylor who stars in the latest version of 'The Colour Purple' was recently interviewed by Variety magazine and asked about her favourite place to visit. Her response: "I love Jamaica. Oh my God! The food in Jamaica! I'm definitely gaining a couple of pounds. But I love to eat. I love to go to the clubs and dance all night. I just love Jamaica."

Sandals has thousands of repeat visitors at this, one of the world's first all-inclusive resorts where service has raised the bar for the international hotel trade. They focus on professional development, now managed by former UWI West Director, Dr Luz Longsworth.  It is this uncompromising focus on excellence which can make the tourism industry a ladder for professional achievement.

Winthrop Wellington has been celebrating Negril in his Throp Media series, featuring interesting interviews on his 'Throp' vlog on YouTube and Instagram. Wellington returned from the US to run his family business, Travellers Beach Hotel. His discussions with real estate experts reveal that Negril is one of the fastest growing resort areas in Jamaica, not only along the seven-mile beach but also the West End along One Love Boulevard.

Cedella Marley cuts ties with JFF

In a letter published last week, Cedella Marley announced her resignation as JFF Women's Football Goodwill Ambassador: "I must express my disappointment and growing concern with the turn things have taken in recent months. After the World Cup, I was under the impression that we all were committed to working together to build on that success. However, the ever-widening rift between the JFF and the team is very alarming. Numerous overtures to each of you to voice my concern and try to assist with a resolution, continue to be met with noncommittal, generic response."

The Bob and Rita Foundation also announced that it would cease funding the JFF partnership. Via the Bob and Rita Marley Foundations and other partners, Marley had raised US $2.7 million in support of our 'Reggae Girlz". Marley, described as the 'Fairy Godmother' of the Reggae Girlz assured them that she will continue her support with her Football is Freedom initiative.

Jamaicans shine abroad

Three Canadians with Jamaican roots have been appointed to the Order of Ontario for 2023: Gervan Fearon, president of George Brown College; retired internist, Dr. Herbert Ho Ping Kong; and poet Dwayne Morgan.

Fearon, of Jamaican parentage migrated with his family to Canada in 1968 and is president of George Brown College. He is the former dean of the Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education (named for the late Jamaica-Canadian business guru) at Toronto Metropolitan University and also served at Brock University, and Brandon University.

Dr. Ho Ping Kong has been lauded as a legendary diagnostician. The UWI Graduate in Medicine was the founder of the first division of Internal Medicine at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital. His book The Art of Medicine: Healing and the Limits of Technology is a best-seller. The University Health Network named an educational centre – The Ho Ping Kong Centre for Excellence in Education and Practice in his honour.

Morgan, son of Jamaican immigrants to Canada is a celebrated poet of the spoken word. He was twice the Canadian National Poetry Slam Champion and was a 2016 finalist for the Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts. In 2013, he was inducted into the Scarborough Walk of Fame.

Congratulations to my dear friend British-Jamaican Yvonne Wilks-O'Grady who was recently conferred with the Order of the British Empire by King Charles, in recognition of "her remarkable impact on the media landscape in the United Kingdom and Jamaica."

 

Yvonne's media journey in the UK includes Root Magazine, Voice Newspaper, The Weekly Journal, Pride Magazine, Readers Digest, TV Guide, New Woman Magazine, and Weekly Gleaner. In Jamaica she played a pivotal role in the transformation of Radio Jamaica into the RJR Communications Group. Yvonne is dedicated to special needs projects, inspired by her daughter Savannah who is on the autism spectrum.

 

Farewell Prof. Edward Baugh

 

Those of us who were lucky enough to have sat at the feet of Professor Edward Baugh will always have that voice in our heads, delivering his own and Walcott's lines. He was a generous mentor, reading countless manuscripts including my own, for which I am forever grateful.

 

We last heard him at Yasus Afari's Poetry Festival where Prof Baugh shared in verse memories of Portland, his birth parish. We delighted in "Carpenter's Complaint" about "that mawga foot boy" who passed him by, despite building his father's house to give the making of his late father's coffin to someone else. At the end of his readings, we were on our feet with sustained applause.

 

Prof Baugh's beloved wife Sheila was ever at his side, a warm and elegant couple. Our deepest condolences to her, daughters Sarah and Katherine and other family members. May his great soul rest in peace.

 

Our 50^th Wedding Anniversary

 

Hubie and I celebrated our 50^th Wedding Anniversary last month with family and close friends. Tony Lowrie was Emcee, our children Anita and Noel gave the welcome and Tony Chin raised the toast. Archbishop Kenneth Richards blessed the occasion, and our Pastor Father Richard Brown blessed the cake baked and decorated by Anita.

 

We were entertained by Leslie Chin who sang his own composition, Patrick Chin and a Hawaiian Dance by Valerie Chin Burman. Our friend Horace 'Natchy' Campbell who had introduced us, took us down memory lane recalling how we sang and worshipped together. We thank God for taking us to this milestone, and our loved ones for their outpouring of good wishes.

 

Jean Lowrie-Chin is Executive Chair of PROComm, PRODEV and CCRP.

 

lowriechin@aim.com

Photo from. The Visit Jamaica website