Giving is Joy - truth!

PROComm/Stella Maris Foundation scholar, medical student Tricia Campbell (second left), receives a symbolic cheque for $200,000 towards her tuition from Jean Lowrie-Chin (centre), managing director of PROComm, recently. Looking on are (from left) Janielle Jackson, manager, Stella Maris Foundation, Frances Beard and Hubert Chin, company directors.

A surprise visit by world swimming Champion Alia Atkinson
to our PROComm Scholars Christmas get-together brought so much joy!

Even as a much smaller business, my company,  PROComm launched a Scholarship Fund in 2001 to benefit children living in the Grants Pen Area.  The first scholar,  Etmour Williams is now a University Grad and marketing manager.  He recently visited with our current scholars.. You can imagine our delight when world record swimmer Alia Atkinson dropped in! (see photos above).

With Lady Allen and Aloun Assamba at a CCRP event
at King's House.  

We also founded, operate and sponsor CCRP (the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons) - our sponsorship to date is over J$15 million.  Read more about this at    http://lowrie-chin.blogspot.com/2017/01/ccrp-founded-to-honour-my-mother-other.html. 

Earlier this year,  we made a special presentation to a Medical Student from the Grants Pen area.. See photo above and report from the Star below.

From the Star.. Feb 2016

Tricia Campbell, a fourth-year medical student at the University of the West Indies, Mona, was the recent recipient of a scholarship cheque for $200,000 towards her tuition, from PRO Communications Limited and the Stella Maris Foundation. The official presentation of her scholarship cheque was made to her on Friday, February 19 at PROComm, 2 Phoenix Avenue, Kingston 10.

Campbell has been excelling despite numerous challenges she has faced over the years. She has also volunteered with numerous projects coordinated by the Stella Maris Foundation. It was for these reasons, her outstanding academic performance, and more, that she was chosen for this donation. During the last four years, Campbell received small grants from Stella Maris. This is her largest scholarship cheque to date, which she said she was extremely grateful for.

The cheque was presented by Jean Lowrie-Chin, managing director, PROComm, and members of the board of her company. Just two days before this presentation, PROComm's founding director, Maisie Lowrie, passed away. The PROComm directors dedicated this grant to her blessed memory.

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We have learned that in reaching out,  God keeps Her-His promise of returning our kindness many times over. 

Season's Blessings! 

Jean Lowrie-Chin 

Please pray!

Message from my friend Anne...  

Today at 9 pm, Pope Francis calls everyone around the world no matter where you are, nor the creed or religion to a moment of meditation or prayer for peace in Syria and the rest of the world. The whole planet united in prayer For peace.

If you can forward it, please join us in urgent prayer, because the radical Islamist group has just taken Quaragosh, Iraq's largest Christian city. Where there are hundreds of Christian men, women and children who are being beheaded. It is asking for prayer cover. Please take a minute and pray for them. Pass the message to all your contacts, do not cut the chain.

We have been asked to pray, please pass it on to others. Eur-lex.europa.eu eur-lex.europa.eu

Getting the Peace and Goodwill we need

Observer column published 19 DEC 2016

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

A family lighting Advent Candle at
Stella Maris

  Christmas is a big deal in Jamaica. However humble we may be, we are ‘drawing’ our sorrel, sprucing up our homes and sending cards by mail or internet to our loved ones. Church folks are now in the final week of Advent as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, and focus on the message of ‘Peace and Goodwill’ that this historic event heralded.

Our Awareness Walk against Domestic Violence
at Hope Gardens

However, for many Jamaican families, their joy has been extinguished by evil thugs who have been murdering, raping and robbing the innocent, with no regard for age or gender. In recent weeks, the scourge of domestic violence has become even more painful. Two organizations, WeChange and the 51Percent Coalition, with the support of UN Women and the USAID, organized an Awareness Walk last Sunday at Hope Gardens to discuss this dangerous trend. Some 50 women and men formed groups to discuss such issues as street harassment, financial harassment, and various other areas of concerns. 

One gay young woman from an inner-city community said she was gang-raped and became pregnant. She went ahead and had the child, whom she loves dearly. She related to us that one of her attackers told her that she was lucky, ‘because if the don never dead you would get shot long time’.

Those who created these monsters, who are now beyond their control, should be hanging their heads in shame. They must make amends: fund scholarships for social workers so we can have them on the ground in these communities, start volunteer groups of mediators to detect family issues before they escalate. At the Stella Maris Foundation (SMF), psychology majors were invited to man a counselling post at our headquarters, a mutually beneficial project as they could extract data and anecdotal evidence for use in their theses. We saw a marked decrease in domestic violence because of this, and we are happy that Omar Frith, once SMF CEO is now at the Social Development Commission where he can introduce such a programme on a wider scale.

As churches celebrate the arrival of Christ, the life of Jesus is the template for their mission.  Beyond the Christmas treats and gift-giving, we need to examine how we can make a lasting impact on our communities. While I appreciate the efforts of colleagues on the National Prayer Breakfast Committee, and we have continued to support their publicity efforts, let us hope that their next event will be held at Emancipation Park.

Why we must go #beyond16days

Letter from Emma Lewis 

via Joan 'Joy'  Grant Cummings 

OUR WORK CONTINUES PAST THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM, AND IN JAMAICA FOR EXAMPLE WE MUST BE RELENTLESS.  LOOK AT THIS ONE POSTING FROM, EMMA  to A NUMBER OF US IN THE 51% COALITION  IN JAMAICA:

Dear Sisters:

While writing a blog post the other day, it struck me that women and girls are victims - day in, day out it goes on. From five months to 84 years old. Here is a short and incomplete list from the past week ONLY:

• Jeneta Gordon (Miss Jenny) was raped and murdered by a man who climbed in her bedroom window. She was 84 years old. Bell Rock, St. Catherine.

• Alexia Brown was shot dead in Porto Bello, St. James, with her baby daughter in her arms. The 5 month-old girl later died in hospital.

• Chrissy Vaughan, 31, was shot in the head as she tried to drive away from a party in Bogue Village, St. James where gunfire had broken out
• Lena Powell (73) and her daughter Lisette (44) died in a fire in Craighead, Manchester after shots were heard. The police suspect arson/murder.

• Then, this morning about 5 minutes away from our house, the police blocked the road because of a crime (murder) scene. This was the reason: 
  

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20161210/man-flees-after-allegedly-beating-ex-girlfriend-death#

• Here's another: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20161210/jealousy-blamed-murder-point-hill-woman
  

"Irate lover."

I have not mentioned the 14 year old girl who was raped and then carried in the same police car as her rapist…who then "escaped" from the police station.

- Emma Lewis @Petchary 

Caribbean Development Activist Women's Network
Women's Resource and Outreach Centre [WROC] 
51% Coalition - Women in Partnership & Empowerment
Telephone: (876) 342-6940
E-mail: braceletsofjoy@gmail.com

Skype: Gracum591

Dennis Lalor’s clarion call

Hon Dennis Lalor OJ - Jamaica Observer Photo

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column| by Jean Lowrie-Chin | 12 December 2016

Business leader Dennis Lalor has sounded the call for integrity and commitment.  The private sector Hall of Famer gave us a first-hand account of Jamaica’s recent economic history at the 40^th Anniversary Luncheon of the PSOJ held last Thursday. He described the downturn in the economy towards the end of the sixties as “the rot of ages”, one that left Jamaica’s economy limping from administration to administration.

After the creation of the PSOJ in 1986 there was intensive dialogue with Government officials as they discussed a way out of Jamaica’s economic slump.  Mr. Lalor’s PSOJ presidency coincided with the second Manley administration of 1989. “What is not publicly known,” he said, “is that a few of us had established a joint PSOJ-PNP working group, while the PNP was in Opposition … a similar initiative was started with the [then] JLP Government but the constraint of government inhibited progress.”

“In fact,” he continued, “the PNP 1989 manifesto included much of these agreed policy positions reflecting the shift, or ‘evolution’ as Prime Minister Manley would describe it.”

This evolution saw the liberalisation of the of the country’s foreign exchange regime, as the former had resulted in “the corruption and illegality of the public and private sectors.” He noted that Prime Minister Manley saw the benefit of his government’s relationship with the PSOJ, and included them in his first meeting with President Bush in 1991, “to demonstrate his rightward political shift… However Mr Manley’s deteriorating health intervened, and the shared policy vision gradually faded, followed by a crisis in the financial sector.”

Mr Lalor’s account of the extensive, data driven voluntary activity of Jamaica’s finest business minds, indicate the unremitting focus of our private sector leaders on Jamaica’s economic well-being. It grieves me that PNP representatives were absent from the signing of the partnership agreement last week, because it contained the word ‘prosperity’.  Social media lit up, with folks asking if we should desist from wishing each other “a prosperous New Year”, for fear of being labelled.  

Dennis Lalor’s contribution to nation-building has seen the steady growth of his ICWI insurance company, his leadership of several other private and public sector organisations, and his King’s House Restoration initiative. He closed his presentation with a clarion call: “It is never too late. And as the country moves forward with its growth agenda, it would be advantageous to also embark on a moral re-awakening, stressing respect for law and order, life and property, commitment to each other, community and country and above all, being able to distinguish between right and wrong, and the determination to do the right thing.”

William Mahfood - LOOP Photo

We use this opportunity to applaud the PSOJ presidency of William Mahfood, one of the kindest, wisest Jamaicans I know, to congratulate the new President the innovative P.B. Scott, and to commend the great work of the PSOJ team, under the keen leadership of Dennis Chung. Happy 40^th Anniversary!

Salute to Errol Lee

His having been recently honoured as a distinguished media veteran,  this is a good opportunity to salute the generous, multi-talented Jamaican, Errol Lee, who recently was elected Lion Club's Vice District Governor for the Caribbean.  

The Knox College, UWI and Thompson Television, Scotland graduate is also well known as the leader of the Bare Essentials Band which was formed in 1971 and has been a presenter and lecturer at various tertiary institutions.  Errol Lee has been a familiar voice in Jamaica media starting with JBC, then JBC-TV, JIS-TV, Power 106 and Newstalk. 

His philanthropy embraces Kingston YMCA, the Heart Foundation, Alpha Institute, Jamaica Cancer Society and the Lions Club of Kingston Sight Project. 

He is married to PR guru and social activist, Lorna Lee and together they have not only been great parents, but also have mentored many others.

- Jean Lowrie-Chin 

Butch Hendrickson’s Shining Year

Jamaica Observer column for MON 12 DEC 2016

By Jean Lowrie-Chin 

Butch Hendrickson at Little Leaders Launch - with
his wonderful 'cheerleader' Sister Benedict Chung,
Founder of the Laws Street Trade Training Centre

The 'Little Leaders' Mobile

Last Sunday the Jamaica Observer held its first ever Corporate Philanthropy Awards event; it was uplifting to hear the achievements of the eight nominees but indeed we can now declare 2016 " The Year of Butch Hendrickson".  It is due reward for a captain of industry who has never sought to promote himself but instead has invested millions in the promotion of others.  His Bold Ones of Manufacturing series have empowered over 30 small manufacturers who have ascended to new heights. His generous Crayons Count has evolved into the Little Leaders Programme, an islandwide project in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to promote not only literacy and numeracy, but also critical thinking.

His "Jamaican Made Christmas" had the Jamaica Pegasus Ballroom abuzz for the second year, with small and micro businesses participating free of charge, and enjoying booming sales beyond their expectations. His close alliance with that inspiring philanthropist Glen Christian, and the quiet giver Melanie Subratie, has resulted in that sparkling model, the Union Gardens Infant School.

Butch Hendrickson with a representative of Mustard Seed at
Jamaican Made Christmas.  He is a longtime
supporter of the organisation.

The other outstanding nominees sprang to their feet at the announcement of Butch Hendrickson's name. They included Digicel Chairman Denis O'Brien, who remarked that this award could not have been given to a more deserving person.  With the Gleaner Honour Award presented in January (see story below), The Hummingbird Philanthropy Award presented by the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) in October, the PSOJ Hall of Fame induction later that month and now the Business Observer's Philanthropy Award, we can say that Butch Hendrickson is being acknowledged finally for his many years of silent support of myriad causes.  Sr. Mary Benedict Chung, founder of the Laws Street Trade Training Centre has averred that she does not know how her institution, which supports so many in downtown Kingston, could have survived without the kindness of Butch.

"Giving back is both a passion and a mission," Butch noted. "It is a personal choice to which I am firmly committed because I believe that it is simply the right thing to do. And my National Family knows my mantra: Make profit, because I am going to give it away."

He continued: "At National, we do not regard our passion to give back as an incidental by-product of our business.  It is the core value of our business. It is what gives purpose and meaning to our productivity and success. We know that if you feel right about what you do; if you feel inspired and motivated by what you do, then you must be doing the right thing."

He shared the Award with his team: "None of our philanthropy would be possible without our team's determination to excel, not only in terms of productivity, but in attitude, social awareness and loyalty. And so, to them, and our customers, this recognition is really yours, and I humbly accept it on your behalf."

We salute this phenomenal Jamaican, whose footsteps we should try to follow, even as he followed those of his pioneering parents, Karl and Nell Hendrickson.

Gleaner Honour Award: Gary 'Butch' Hendrickson - Creating A Better Future

Published:The Gleaner |Thursday | January 21, 2016 | 12:00 AM

With an admirable zeal for early-childhood development, Gary 'Butch' Hendrickson, managing director of Continental Baking Company, has decided to make it his mission to help steer Jamaica towards a flourishing future by positively impacting today's budding generation.

"If you can prepare someone for the future in grade school, then on to primary, then secondary school and on to college, then already you have set the foundation for a future of unlimited possibilities," Hendrickson shared.

"It has been generally accepted that age three to eight is the most important learning stage in a child's life, and more and more you see a shift towards putting greater emphasis on early-childhood development. I am quite heartened by that, and I intend to do all I can by making available the necessary resources so that the trained persons in that field have what they need to positively impact early-childhood development."

Putting his money where his mouth is, last year, Hendrickson partnered with Glen Christian, chief executive officer and chairman of Cari-Med Ltd, for the pioneering $175-million Union Gardens Infant School project.

First Public-Private Project

Located in Delacree Park, St Andrew, the state-of-the-art early-childhood institution is the first public-private partnership project, executed and funded through the efforts of several stakeholders, including: The Cari-Med/Kirk Distributors Foundation; The CHASE Fund; National Baking Company Foundation; Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF)/EU Poverty Reduction Programme; the Seprod and Musson foundations; Sandals Foundation; Stewart Industrial; Kingston Wharves Limited; The Tank-Weld Group; Delta Supply Company Limited; Jamaica National Building Society; Advanced Integrated Systems Ltd; Corrpak Jamaica Limited; General Accident Insurance Company Jamaica Limited; Food for the Poor Jamaica; Courts Jamaica; The Gleaner Company Limited; JPS Foundation; National Water Commission; and PROVEN Management Limited.

Modelled off Christian's brainchild, Evelyn Mitchell Infant School/Centre of Excellence in Top Hill, Clarendon, Union Gardens Infant has stepped up a notch, creating an early-childhood institution unlike any other.

"Hands down, the Union Gardens project is the most exciting one I have done. I think it will change the way children will go to school," said Hendrickson.

"It is unique in the quality of the layout, the offerings, style, the entire set-up is child-centred. It is quite unlike any basic school in Jamaica, a concept very unique and target-specific for children. What we did was find out best practices and apply and improve on that."

Construction for Union Gardens Infant started in January 2015, and was completed nine months later, just in time for the new school term.

Built to accommodate 150 students aged three to six, among the features of the school are: astro turf playground, an administrative block, three-classroom modules with each module having its own bathroom, child-built bathrooms, library, auditorium, wired for solar powering, unlimited water supply, rainwater harvesting for irrigation and potable water storage, two meals per day, a full-service canteen, school bus pick-up and drop-off, among other features.

"It has been well received by the students and parents, and hopefully in five to seven years, we will see the end results of that in the GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test) results. We will continue to improve on each model, and hopefully replicate it across Jamaica in all the parishes. Ideally, we would like to build one each year," he said.

"Frankly, if I could rid Jamaica of one social ill, it would be illiteracy. In fact, if I were to go into full-time voluntary service, early-childhood development would be it, because it is the most effective. I don't believe in a situation where you have to fix a problem down the road; I would rather avoid that by having a good base to begin with. Helping children to get a really good start means a world of difference to me," he said.

"With my children, I try to give them as big an advantage as possible, and I am trying to do exactly the same with all the children I possibly can across Jamaica. It really can't hurt to give them the best head start that you can."

LIFETIME OF GIVING

Through the invaluable humanitarian projects of the National Baking Company Foundation, headquartered on Half-Way-Tree Road, St Andrew, the man known for his heart of gold said giving back is both a passion and a mission.

"This is one of the reasons I get up in the mornings. I look forward to the next project of giving back to Jamaica with a challenge. I have a love for philanthropy unlike any other," Hendrickson stated.

In fact, from as far back as can be remembered, the Hendrickson family and Continental Baking Company have been synonymous with altruism in Jamaica.

Hendrickson shared that he was first introduced to benevolence by his grandmother.

"I grew up seeing my grandmother packing bags every Christmas to give to the needy and we all had to help her. I didn't understand it then, but I suppose that was the first time I saw philanthropy in action. And she always had a smile on her face when she was doing it," he said.

"In fact, I can't think of a time when my family and the company were not giving back in one form or another to one cause or another."

Among the many charitable projects the foundation is involved with are: Crayons Count, Mustard Seed Communities, Missionaries of the Poor, St Patrick's Foundation, Talk Up Youth, and Bustamante Hospital for Children.

Last year, they also partnered on The Bold Ones of Manufacturing, to help small companies grow.

Hendrickson said giving back is a personal choice, which doesn't make him more special than anyone else, "it is simply the right thing to do".

With a roar of laughter, he said, "Emotionally, it is very gratifying, and thankfully, not particularly challenging from a financial standpoint, because the challenge to senior management here is quite simple: Make profit because I'm going to give it away."

He added, "The reality is that our philanthropy is made possible only by our profits. If the company wasn't profitable, we couldn't give away as much. I feel that I am, and by extension, my family, are so blessed, God has been good to us, and we have a responsibility to give back. The Jamaican consumers have been so good to our business, and we consider it a privilege and an honour to give back to them."

In Pursuit of Joy - Joy Spence honoured

Master Blender Joy Spence flanked by husband Emile
and JWN Chairman Clement 'Jimmy' Lawrence

'In Pursuit of Joy’ was the witty title of last Thursday’s event held by J. Wray & Nephew Limited to honour Joy Spence, the first woman Masterblender in the world.  

Master of ceremonies Beverley Anderson-Duncan took us on a wondrous journey through Joy's life of excellence.

The Toasts were led by none other than Most Hon Juliet Holness MP and wife of the Prime Minister.  Who better to laud the multi-tasking Joy Spence, as they both have been exceptional at work-life balance, a great example for their fellow women.

Master of Ceremonies
Beverley Anderson-Duncan

Most Hon. Juliet Holness MP
toasts Joy Spence

The brilliant, humble Joy Spence was a chemistry whiz, who after graduating from UWI returned to her alma mater Holy Childhood High School, to teach the subject.  One of her former students, Dr Novelette McKnight, now a lecturer in Chemistry at UWI, said it was Joy Spence who made the subject so exciting, because of her creative methods of teaching.

After gaining her Master’s Degree with record breaking marks, Joy crossed over from academia to manufacturing at J.Wray & Nephew Limited, rising to the position of Director of Quality and Technical Services, from which she retired earlier this year.  However, her prized position as the company’s Masterblender continues, and will actually be escalated next year as noted by Wray & Nephew Chairman Clement ‘Jimmy’ Lawrence, and outlined by Gruppo Campari Global Brand PR Manager (Rums), Catherine McDonald.

Wyvolyn Gager, first woman Editor-in-Chief
at the Gleaner toasts Joy Spence

Gruppo Campari Global Brand PR
Manager (Rums), Catherine McDonald

The most moving moment of the event was the tribute by Joy’s daughter Tracy-Ann, who spoke about her mother’s unending generosity and her ability to serve both family and workplace fully. Congratulations Joy Spence – well deserved!

Amazing Dr Donovan Calder

One of the proud moments at our Heroes' Day National Honours Ceremony, was to see Dr Donovan ‘Danny’ Calder being conferred with the Order of Distinction - Commander Class.  This brilliant, humble ophthalmologist and entrepreneur has made his family, friends and colleagues proud, witnessed by the large turnout at his celebration at the Jamaica Pegasus. 

As he traced his journey from Allman Town to his comfortable St. Andrew environs, he told us of those days when his family shared premises with several others, who though poor took pride in decent family life, Godliness and cleanliness.  “Poverty is not squalor,” he reminded us as he described the care the residents took in keeping their surroundings orderly, and their enduring mutual support.

The example of his parents is mirrored in the strong family he and his inspiring wife Diane have raised.  They run his business together, famous for the long waits of his patients who keep returning because once they get into his office at Tangerine Place, they become the only patient in the world for this gifted doctor.  Congratulations Danny and Diane!

Today is IDEVAW - Silent Protest for our Sisters!

Message from Jamaica AIDS Support for Life:

Dear Partners,

A consortium of NGOs including the AIDS Health Care Foundation (AHF), Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, Eve for Life, Family Planning Association of Jamaica, Woman Inc and J-FLAG/We Change invites your organization to participate in a  Silent Protest on November 25, 2016 in the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we ask for your renewed commitment, your voices and your support to Silent Protest 2016 as we take this call to action to another level. This public event is geared towards  raising  awareness and addressing the issues surrounding violence against women.

This year's Silent Protest, serves to reinforce the fact that we are here to stand in support and camaraderie on behalf of the many  women and girls who have experienced violence of any and every form. Singly we can do little but together we can do so much. We invite you and some of your beneficiaries to once again participate with us in this activity by joining us in protest .

Your involvement will certainly aid in the success of the Silent Protest.

We hereby request the participation of  25 persons from your organization.

The Silent Protest activity will take place around the Half Way Tree and its environs between the hours of 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. as follows:
-            1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
– Participants meet on the lawns of Police Officers Club, 34 Hope Road, Kingston 10 for briefing.
-          2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
– All participants will 'take to the streets' to canvass support from passersby about the initiative and share the importance of our protest.
-        4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
– Actual Silent Protest: During the protest participants will demonstrate their silence through various means e.g. tape the mouth, bear placards, stand in silence, stand motionless, etc.
-              5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
– Debriefing and partaking of meals at St. Andrew Parish Church Hall, Ellesmere Road, Kingston 10

Kindly indicate your intention to participate in the Silent Protest stating the number of persons attending (and t-shirt sizes) through return email by November 4th, 2016. Your timely response will allow for making adequate preparation to make the event a successful one.  Please see attached the shirts and the messages which they represent.

Anticipating your favourable response.

Thank you.

Kind Regards,
Donique Green
Peer Navigator
#Never give up on your dreams you may just be in reach.

Jamaica AIDS Support for Life
3 Hendon Drive,'
Kingston 20
☎ 925-0021/2  

      ext: 2232

@JASLtweets

Who fathered the babies of the Kellits high school Moms?

Below is press release from Hear The Children's Cry re alarming levels of teen pregnancy and school drop outs.
... A very serious matter indeed.

PRESS RELEASE                                                            November 20, 2016

How many of these statutory rape cases are being/have been investigated?
Jamaica is a country of laws, we must enforce these laws.
Government must actively address school girl/child poverty as an important root cause of teen pregnancy.
Serious strengthening of PATH Programme, realistically increased funding to CDA, OCA, CISOCA, and support for NGOs working in child welfare field urgently needed
The current de facto acceptance of underage pregnancy as the national trend is strengthening unacceptable inter-generational poverty.


Hear The Children’s Cry, in response to this Sunday Gleaner’s report of 20 Kellit’s High School girls dropping out of school over the past two years due to pregnancies, is calling upon the authorities to say who fathered the babies, and is asking what investigations have been done to bring these perpetrators of statutory rape to justice.

“Where are the fathers of these babies?” asks the leading child advocacy organization’s Founder Betty Ann Blaine. She continues, pointing out a number of alarming aspects to a situation which may well represent a national epidemic of significant proportions:

“What investigations have been, or are being done into these cases of impregnating underage girls? Can the Child Development Agency (CDA) say how many of these cases are even being investigated at all? Statutory rape is a crime under Jamaican law. It is not enough to say that the girls involved will not reveal the names of the baby fathers – the police are required to make investigations and to carry out the law. We cannot continue to live in a country where the laws of the land are not enforced. What is the point of having the Child Protection Act call for mandatory reporting of offenses against children by citizens, if reports of such cases are not investigated?

“We are also asking the Minister of Education to let the nation know whether the situation in Kellits is representative of the national situation. How many schools across Jamaica are facing such shocking numbers of teenage pregnancies? How widespread through our land is the tragedy of school careers interrupted or curtailed due to impregnation of under aged school girls? How many young Jamaican girls are being burdened with pregnancies when they should be completing their education and preparing for earning a decent living?”

Mrs. Blaine also points out the urgent need to deal with significant root causes, such as child poverty and lack of effective family support for those in the most dire circumstances, which must also be recognized and addressed as a national priority.

“There is no doubt that this situation – in which many school children need to seek help outside of their families to survive and to attend school – is being driven by grinding levels of poverty in the poorest communities,” she notes, adding, “Here The Children’s Cry is therefore calling on the Government to make immediate and realistic efforts to strengthen the PATH Programme and to improve or add to other effective support systems for needy children and families.  For example, we are calling for realistic increases in the budgets of vital child care bodies such as the CDA, CISOCA and the Office of the Children’s Advocate (CDA), as well as for more support for the NGOs working in the child welfare arena – all of which are seriously over extended and underfunded.

“Jamaica cannot continue to ignore or inadequately address vital social issues. The drastic increase in young school girls becoming pregnant and losing out on their education, and the rearing of yet another set of needy children will only worsen the continuation of intergenerational poverty and the escalating levels of crime and violence. This must be recognized as totally unacceptable by those who have undertaken to serve this nation. And they must commit to effective action without delay.”
end

CONTACT: Betty Ann Blaine, Founder, 294-8125 or 462-0628; 

Betty Ann Blaine
Founder/Convener, New Nation Coalition
Founder, Hear The Children's Cry
Founder, Youth Opportunities Unlimited

Tel:           (876)  294-8125, (876) 462-0628
e-mail:      bab2609@yahoo.com
                    info@nnc.org.jm
website:   www.nnc.org.jm               

Calm your nerves – Mr Trump won’t bite

Admittedly, this column was written before some controversial individuals started arriving at the Tower of Trump, regarding appointments to high office.  Still, we watch and pray!

Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column for MON 14 November 2016

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

Those of us who had high hopes for Hillary Clinton were in a state of shock as we watched the results of last Tuesday’s US Presidential Elections roll in on our television screens.  Donald Trump has been declared President-Elect.

Knowing that if the US sneezes, Jamaica gets pneumonia, some expressed fear that development projects sponsored by the US in Jamaica would be affected.  However, we should remember the excellent programmes initiated by two excellent US Ambassadors to Jamaica who served under the Republican administration, Ambassador Sue Cobb and Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson. 

Ambassador Cobb, a brilliant attorney-at-law, launched a raft of significant projects in Jamaica, including the founding of the ever-growing Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI). After her tour of duty in Jamaica ended, she and her husband Ambassador Charles Cobb, have continued to sponsor scholarship programmes for Jamaican students and the annual Cobb Family Lecture Series at the UWI.  Ambassador Cobb’s successor, Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson also focused on education projects.

You may counter that Donald Trump known for his fiery utterances against immigrants, may have a different perspective on engagements with such countries as Jamaica. But think about it, various USAID projects in Jamaica have supported sustainable enterprise, resulting in job creation.  What better way to stem immigration to the US, by assisting developing countries to become more self-reliant?

We will not easily forget the racist attitude to some of Mr. Trump’s supporters and this may cause some amount of unease among the members of our families in the diaspora. However, President Barack Obama has given us a great example of how one projects a spirit of dignity and cordiality, as he did at Mr. Trump’s first meeting with him at the White House last Thursday.  The White House staff appeared grim as they awaited the arrival of Mr. Trump, but there was no negativity in the demeanour of President Obama. 

Many may be wondering if the world will become a more dangerous place because of this election result.  Surely, that should be motivation for us to make our little island of Jamaica less dangerous and more self-reliant.

NATIONAL JOURNALISM WEEK CHURCH SERVICE

News Release from the Press Association of Jamaica

November 16, 2016: National Journalism Week kicks off with the traditional church service, which this year is being held at Swallowfield Chapel on Sunday, November 20, at 10.45 am.

The overall theme for this year's Journalism Week, which will be celebrated from Sunday November 20 to Saturday November 26, 2016, is "Media Ethics and Modern Media".

"The church service has been a very important feature of Journalism Week over the years," says PAJ President Dionne Jackson Miller.

"We know all too well the importance of putting God first in everything that we do. That is part of the reason we continue to use this occasion to ask for God's continued guidance," Jackson Miller explains.

The church service will be followed by Monday's Forum and Panel Discussion, which is open to members of the public. This year's topic "Grief Porn': Journalism ethics in the media coverage of mourning" will focus on the globally significant issue of how media covers traumatic events. The forum will take place on Monday November 21 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, starting at 6pm. The US Embassy is partnering with the PAJ for this event.
The main speaker for the forum will be former veteran editor Kevin Z. Smith, deputy director of the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism. Smith is a former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists in the USA, and has been chairman of the group's Ethics Committee since 2010.

The forum will also feature local media professionals such as CVM TV's Managing Editor Irvin Forbes, Senior Gleaner reporter Erica Virtue, and Assistant Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission Karlene Salmon.

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"A Free Press, Oxygen of Democracy"

LIVE THE ‘NOW’ MOMENT!

HOMILY FOR THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY ( C ) by Archbishop Emeritus Donald Reece O.J.

Texts: Mal. 4: 1-2; 2 Thess. 3: 7-12; Luke 21: 5-9

Yesterday is gone, never to return! Tomorrow is yet to come; it may never come!  What's left for us?  The NOW moment!  That's all we can celebrate, the NOW moment! Would that we could be consciously focused to enjoy the NOW moment!   For that reason, the Apostle Paul writes: "Scripture says: 'At the favourable time I listened to you, on the day of salvation I helped you. Now is the favourable/acceptable time; this is the day of salvation'" [2 Cor. 6:2].  Psalm 95 also warns us: "Oh, if today [i.e., NOW] you hear his voice, harden not your hearts" [v. 7b].

For those who try to follow Christ faithfully—not just Christian by name, but in mindset and outlook—living the NOW moment is to be consciously aware of living life to the full.  Jesus tells us: "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full (or more abundantly)" [John10:10]. Therefore, we must view the NOW moment as the means of communicating to us the fullness of life which is eternal, a life with God.  Consequently, the components of the NOW moment would be thanksgiving or gratitude, repentance and prayer, perfect submission, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

My dear friends in Christ, when we try to live the NOW moment we begin to live life to the fullest.  We recognize the value of persons which we never saw before.  Like St. Francis we observe created things as we have never observed them before. As a consequence, our lives are enriched.  We live relational lives, other persons lives matter, the environment is cared for, and we see consequences to our actions.  The heart of this conversion is precisely this: God is in every moment of life. Remember what St. Paul reminded the Athenians: "In him (God) we live and move and have our being" [Acts 17:28]. Yes, God speaks to us in the NOW moment of our existence, for in Him we live this very moment.  And every subsequent moment is a NOW moment when we are consciously aware that it is in God, through His providential power, mercy and care that we "live and move and have our being."

It is within that context, fellow saints of God, that we look at the Readings of today's liturgy. Malachi sketches for us a people who have returned from exile, but who fail to live up to the covenant which requires righteous living in respect to God in terms of reverence, worship and humility.  Also lacking was the requisite just behavior in their relationship with neighbor in terms of goodness, just practices and charity. In short, the people have become arrogant. Malachi prophesies that the terrible day of the Lord will surely come to destroy those who have departed from God's law.  For those who "fear" (reverence) God, the day of the Lord will bring healing and deliverance.  Listen to what the prophet says, "Then once more you shall distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him" [Mal. 3: 18].  In other words, for those who live the NOW moment in serving God faithfully, there ought to be no fear and trembling.

The Gospel speaks to us of the destruction of the Temple and the devastation and persecution that will come to test Christians who faithfully follow Jesus.  The Saviour asks for calm and assures his people that they must rely on Him.   He says:

They will manhandle and persecute you…bringing you to trial before kings and governors, all because of my name. You will be brought to give witness on account of it. I bid you resolve not to worry about your defense beforehand, for I will give you words and a wisdom which none of your adversaries can take exception or contradict… By patient endurance you will save your lives."

I draw your attention to a particular line: "I bid you resolve not to worry about your defense beforehand."  This is a reminder to live the NOW moment, and not to worry "beforehand," for Christ and His Spirit are in the present moment to give strength and wisdom, if we but "listen to his voice and harden not our hearts."  Living in today's world may not result in actual physical persecution; rather, there can be psychological and verbal persecution in the home, at the work place and even in Church because of jealousy and envy.  With all of that you and I, dear friends in Christ, are called to live the NOW moment—to recognize God's mysterious working somehow, for "in Him we live and move and have our being." 

I propose to you that a conscious appreciation of the NOW moment in our lives will make us stand firm in faith during terrible or unfortunate occurrences that must accompany our human condition. This conscious living of the NOW moment brings about conversion of lifestyle. We may not experience what the Jews experienced in the destruction of their well-adorned Temple as foretold by Jesus—and which took place in the year 70 A.D—but there may well be a similar destruction of something we hold dear and can't seem to be without, or the loss of someone close to us, who was our significant other.  Whenever aspects of life crumble, do we forever live in the past to the extent that we cannot live life fully in this present moment?  Can we, people of faith, accept or cope with such unfortunate occurrences that we can say with Job: "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!"?

The NOW moment, be it fortunate or unfortunate, has within it something of the divine.  Only people of faith can recognize that special "something" because they listen not only with their ears, but also with their hearts that seek to love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind, and to love neighbor as themselves.  That's the bottom line of each and every moment of a Christian's life.  When that happens, you know that you are living the NOW moment.  Perhaps this is what St. Theresa of the Child Jesus meant when she used the term, "Sacrament of the moment," by doing all for Jesus out of love.

In conclusion, I leave with you a simple story of a young teenager living the NOW moment that drives away fear of what might happen.  Dominic Savio, along with his classmates were playing during the scheduled recess period. The question was asked: "If the Lord were to come to judge the world in another five minutes, what would you do?" One by one his classmates gave their individual answers: "I'd rush to the Chaoel and pray before the Blessed Sacrament;"  "I would kneel down and make an Act of Contrition to tell God how sorry I am for having sinned;" I would start praying the Rosary." Then it was Dominic's turn.  He said, "I would keep on playing!" Dominic was living the NOW moment of his life, which was to play.  It was the will of God for him to play, and in doing the will of God, there was nothing to fear. No wonder he became a Saint!

Would that you and I could grasp fully the beauty of the NOW moment, to live life fully in the Presence of God, every moment of the day, doing what our vocation demands of us: family members talking lovingly to one another; parents being more caring and loving to their children; children being more obedient to their parents and loving towards their siblings; employers being just to employees and treating them as brothers and sisters in Christ; employees not looking for short-cuts in doing their job, but doing it with pride to the best of their ability; pastors being sensitive to their parishioners; parishioners coming to Mass every Sunday on time so as to be truly recollected for the celebration of the miraculous Paschal Mystery; politicians, police, lawyers and business moguls shunning all manner of corruption—all being faithful to their calling and living the NOW moment! Then, fellow saints in Christ, we would be on the path of genuine sainthood to which we are all called through the NOW moment.

Let's not worry unnecessarily, as some do and get ulcers and cancer in the process, about the "Day of the Lord!" Rather, live each day fully as faithful people who are God-conscious and Jesus-centred, for the Lord is revealing Himself at every moment of the day.  That, my dear friends in Christ, is living fully the NOW moment for the greater honour and glory of God!

  +Donald J. Reece
  13 November 2016

Jamaica adopts “decent work” convention

Members of Jamaica Household Workers Union were joined by supporters from UN Women for their celebration of the adoption of the ILO Decent Work Convention 189

Excerpt from Observer column published Nov 7, 2016
by Jean Lowrie-Chin

Last Wednesday morning Shirley Price, Founder & President of the Jamaica Household Workers Union led a jubilant band of members and supporters at a victory march around Emancipation Park, celebrating the announcement of Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the United Nations in September that Jamaica would be a signatory to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189, also known as the Decent Work Convention for Household Workers. 

Among the distinguished participants were Hon. Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender Affairs, Entertainment & Sport; Executive Director of the UN Women, Madame Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Regional Director, Ms. Luiza Carvalho and Jamaica’s own Pat Francis, lead coordinator of the United Nations secretary general's high-level panel on Women's Economic Empowerment.

It has been a long road for Shirley Price and this column has been supporting her valiant efforts.  ILO Convention 189 details the rights of domestic workers who have far too long, been disrespected and abused.  We can be proud that there are Labour Laws in Jamaica which provides some level of protection but the implementation of this convention will uphold the rights of the nearly 60,000 household workers in Jamaica.  Here are some of the imperatives of signatories to ILO C189.

-         freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

-         Each Member shall take measures to ensure that domestic workers enjoy effective protection against all forms of abuse, harassment and violence.

-         Each Member shall take measures to ensure that domestic workers, like workers generally, enjoy fair terms of employment as well as decent working conditions and, if they reside in the household, decent living conditions that respect their privacy.

- Each Member shall take measures to ensure that domestic workers are informed of their terms and conditions of employment in an appropriate, verifiable and easily understandable manner and preferably, where possible, through written contracts in accordance with national laws, regulations or collective agreements.  in particular. This includes: normal hours of work; paid annual leave, and daily and weekly rest periods; the provision of food and accommodation, if applicable

US Elections – the world holds its breath

This column was published on Monday, November 7 - the next day, Donald Trump won the US Presidential Elections. 

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

At the time of writing this column, the polls reveal that the Hillary Clinton/Donald Trump race for the US Presidential candidacy has tightened, with the ABC/Washington Post poll giving Secretary Clinton a three-point lead. As we review the history of the two candidates, we are puzzled that Mr. Trump surpassed his Republican rivals – such men of note as Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida and Governor of Ohio, John Kasich to emerge as the candidate.  We believe that Hillary Clinton was the obvious choice for the Democratic Party –  Michelle Obama has joined her on the campaign trail, declaring that she is the most qualified person to have ever aspired to the US presidency, emphasising, “Yes – more than Barack, more than Bill.”

How then did Mr. Trump emerge as the Republican candidate? Let us remember that the media plays a very important role in creating our role models and forming our opinions.  In his younger days, Trump had movie-star looks and in his more mature days he made himself into a television star by creating “The Apprentice” series. 

“The Apprentice” had an avid audience and so he made a lasting impression              particularly on perhaps a less intellectual segment of the population who would have spent more time in front of the tube and less time reading. 

Add this to the loss of jobs among less-educated white folks in certain states and the increasing diversity of the American population which perhaps has awakened latent racism.  From social media, we learned that there was widespread resentment towards the Obamas among folks who could not countenance a black family in the White House. 

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has pointed out that a prominent African-American face on the Trump stage is promoting his own cult, actually - God2.com, as Mr. Trump’s audiences are largely the white working-class.  Despite the Access Hollywood video and the many women who have come forward accusing Trump of sexual harassment, he remains firmly in the race -  the white male leader whom we are acculturated to accept unconditionally.

Like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton would make history if she is elected President.  Indeed, she has already made history as the first woman Presidential candidate.

However, as the French say whenever there is an issue, “cherchez la femme”.  This means that regardless of the issue, people are always looking for a woman to blame.  Despite her admission that she made a mistake in using her personal email for classified correspondence, some refuse to forgive, while Mr. Trump can get away with his shocking behaviour on camera and some very disturbing allegations of sexual harassment. It seems a woman needs to be on the path to sainthood to be accepted as a leader, regardless of her phenomenal achievements. The international community may be impressed that she is so experienced, articulate and has been an advocate for children from her very early years.  Such is the trial of women the world over, as we still hammer at that glass ceiling.

Tomorrow we will learn whether the people have decided to choose the movie-star over the star for advocacy and service to country.  In a democracy one must respect the will of the people and in making their choice, the US electorate will signal to the world their priorities or their prejudices.