Press Association Hails the Late Peter Abrahams

Portrait of Peter Abrahams by his late wife,  artist Daphne Abrahams - from Caribbean-beat.com 

RELEASE FROM THE PRESS ASSOCIATION OF JAMAICA 

Press Association Hails the Late Peter Abrahams' Contributions to National Development & Journalism

January 19, 2017: The Press Association of Jamaica is saddened at the passing of veteran journalist, author and commentator Peter Abrahams.

"Peter Abrahams was a brilliant, incisive and analytical writer, whose significant output in the areas of  literature and journalism marked him as a major contributor to Jamaica's national development over the decades," says PAJ President Dionne Jackson Miller.

"Many of us grew up listening to his news commentaries, which always cut to the core of the political and social issues facing the country, offered searing insight, and very often, suggested solutions and a way forward," she added.

His years as Chairman of RJR were exemplified by steadfast support for the newsroom and the journalists who worked there, and he earned many times over the respect, admiration and love of the employees with whom he dealt.

But Abrahams, South African by birth, who adopted Jamaica as his homeland, was also well known internationally, for his contributions to the black liberation struggles, especially through his writing.

"The fact that on the day of his death, at the age of 97, the Gleaner had published a letter by Peter speaking to contemporary issues facing the country is an indicator of how sharp and relevant he remained to the very end," Jackson Miller said.

"We were privileged to have had him with us for so long. There is much that journalists today can learn from Peter's example and work. We are fortunate that he was dedicated to documenting so many of his experiences, which will prove a treasure trove for students of political thought and journalism for years to come," she added.

Contact: Dionne Jackson Miller, 792-3550

"A Free Press, Oxygen of Democracy"

Jamaica can rise in 2017

by Jean Lowrie-Chin
published in Jamaica Observer column 9 Jan 2017

It is only January 9, and already the headlines here and abroad are challenging our resolutions for a peaceful and happy New Year.  Let us not be distracted from the work we must do, the part each and every Jamaican is called upon to play. 

The issue of crime is occupying our minds.  Betty Ann Blaine has pointed out that the monument to remember slain children has run out of space for the names! We keep saying that Jamaica is 99 percent good people, so here’s a reminder from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: “When good men remain silent, evil flourishes.”

We know there are credible representatives on both sides of the House.  Would they be courageous enough to join forces and be of one voice in promoting zero-tolerance for any association of their respective parties with so-called ‘dons’?

Would our JLP and PNP leaders have a different approach to crime if they were not surrounded by security officers who drive them everywhere in the cocoon of their high-end vehicles? Government Ministers in countries similar to ours walk, drive themselves around and go shopping with no security detail.  Why should the tax payers of Jamaica to pay so dearly for politicians’ safety when ours is compromised?

Our police officers are understandably under the microscope of oversight agencies, the media and the public, and several have been sanctioned for corrupt or unprofessional behaviour. However, we should commend Dr Carl Williams, who has retired as Commissioner of Police after thirty-three years of impeccable service, and welcome the appointment of the widely respected Novelette Grant as Acting Commissioner. We cannot expect her to work miracles if our leaders are not committed to building a more peaceful society.  Most of the 1350 murders committed last year were gang-related and many others resulted from domestic violence.  Clearly, programmes for unattached youth and wholesome family life require urgent attention.

As we continue to bombard the police with criticism, let us be reminded that the Police Youth Club, started over 90 years ago by a humble police officer, is the largest youth club in Jamaica. Let us also remember that the Torch Run for Special Olympics is a decades-old JCF initiative. Let us hear more about similar initiatives from our MPs and Councillors.

Last week, I called the ever-courteous Supt Daley at Kingston West for assistance to visit my parents’ graves at the Calvary Cemetery in downtown Kingston. When Constables McPherson and Stewart arrived, I was so struck by their youthfulness that I became protective of them, remembering how one of their colleagues was ambushed and killed just a few weeks before in the same neighbourhood. 

“Please stay in your vehicle and keep an eye on us,” I suggested, but they insisted on walking through the very challenging terrain, staying with us as we prayed. (Our mother had insisted on being beside our father who had passed away in 1977, when Calvary cemetery was a much better place.)  The young constables were on a 12-hour shift, and said that depending on the demands, this can stretch to 14 hours.  While we sit in our comfortable couches raining accusations on police, let us spare a thought for these young officers who are creating a courageous barrier between us and the gunmen. Respect is due.

Some gripe, others grow

The happenings of 2016 challenge us to step up.  The brilliant scientist, English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author Professor Stephen Hawking, wrote an article published in the UK Guardian, headlined “This is the most dangerous time for our planet”.  

“Whatever we might think about the decision by the British electorate to reject membership of the European Union and by the American public to embrace Donald Trump as their next president,” he wrote, “there is no doubt in the minds of commentators that this was a cry of anger by people who felt they had been abandoned by their leaders.”

He described these disaffected voters as “the forgotten … a reminder that we are at the most dangerous moment in the development of humanity.” He called on world leaders “to acknowledge that they have failed and are failing the many.”

“With not only jobs but entire industries disappearing, we must help people to retrain for a new world and support them financially while they do so,” he urged. “If communities and economies cannot cope with current levels of migration, we must do more to encourage global development, as that is the only way that the migratory millions will be persuaded to seek their future at home.”

This brings to mind Jamaica’s nurses who must migrate in order to earn a decent living.  We have been bandying about the phrase, “health tourism” for years, but doing little to make this a reality, one that could provide higher salaries for Jamaica’s internationally respected nurses. 

Professor Hawking believes we can create this better outcome: “We can do this, I am an enormous optimist for my species; but it will require the elites, from London to Harvard, from Cambridge to Hollywood, to learn the lessons of the past year. To learn above all a measure of humility.”

Humility.  The ‘know-it-alls’ know little if the world is in such a terrible state.  How was that Fort Lauderdale shooter bearing arms legally, after his troubling confession to the authorities a few weeks before, that he was hearing the voice of Isis in his head? And here in Jamaica … why are we still selling so many foreign made souvenirs to tourists when talented lives are going to waste?  Why is solar energy still so expensive when tax incentives could ease our need for oil?  Why does the justice system seem to ‘remember’ certain criminals and ‘forget’ others?  We all need to humble ourselves to learn from the best practices of others.

 How will our little country weather the vagaries of world politics? A letter from our newspaper Chairman, Hon. Butch Stewart, speaks of his warm relationship with US President Elect Donald Trump and his expectation that Jamaica will continue to enjoy the friendship of the new US Administration.  This is encouraging, but we should not be over-expectant of anyone’s munificence when we are indeed very blessed in our own natural assets.

It is encouraging that there are three organizations focused on Jamaica’s economic recovery, which benefit from the voluntary work of exceptional business, union and civic leaders. They are the Economic Growth Council (EGC) chaired by Michael Lee-Chin, the Public Sector Transformation Oversight Committee (PSTOC) chaired by Danny Roberts and The Economic Policy Oversight Committee (EPOC) co-chaired by Keith Duncan.  Duncan succeeds Richard Byles to whom we are indebted for his dedicated co-chairmanship with BOJ Governor Brian Wynter, for oversight of the four-year IMF economic support programme which came to an end in November.

Jamaica can rise, not because of any single political entity, but because of the collective resolve of our dedicated patriots.  Join them by being resolute about your own personal commitments – together we can make this our best year ever.

lowriechin@aim.com

Food For The Poor Frees 313 Nonviolent Offenders in Time for Christmas

The following release is posted in FFP's newsroom.

Link to release:http://www.foodforthepoor.org/newsroom/news/food-for-the-poor-frees-nonviolent-offenders-before-christmas-122116.html

Bitly link: http://bit.ly/2hHN42

 COCONUT CREEK, Fla.   Just in time for Christmas, 313 former inmates were home with their families to celebrate, thanks to generous donors of the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor. For 18 years, the charity has secured the release of nonviolent offenders in Guyana, Haiti, Honduras and Jamaica by paying their accumulated fines at Christmas and at Easter.

Hundreds of the poor, including women, in the Caribbean and Latin America are imprisoned for minor offenses because of their inability to pay their jail fines, even though the amounts are minimal.

"These prisons can quickly become a black hole of despair, especially for someone locked up with murderers because they do not have the money to pay a fine for a minor offense," said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. "Every year, we look forward to paying the fines of nonviolent offenders for Christmas. We are reminded in the Holy Scriptures to be merciful. We are truly humbled by the privilege of providing that mercy as a gift of a second chance."

From the prisons in Cap-Haitien, Fort-Liberté, Grande Rivière, Hinche, and Port-de-Paix, Haiti, a total of 195 people were liberated, including 18-year-old Malaica.

The young woman who works as a domestic worker is the mother of a 7-month-old baby. With money extremely tight, Malaica needed to buy food for her child and borrowed 15 Haitian Gordes (22 cents USD) from a friend. When Malaica could not repay the loan, that friend and a group of young women confronted her at her home demanding repayment. Malaica was arrested and imprisoned because she didn't have the money to repay her loan or the jail fine.

Malaica said she's extremely thankful to Fr. Jean Fils Chery who insisted on her release, because she didn't have anyone to care for her baby. Food For The Poor paid her fine and also provided her with a 100-pound bag of rice and other items.

"It's hard to comprehend anyone going to jail, let alone to prison with hard-core inmates, over 22 cents. The Food For The Poor-Haiti staff hears stories like Malaica's all the time. The majority of the people in the prisons are there because of the theft of an animal for food or for things of little value. Sadly, if that person cannot come up with the money, a night's stay in jail can quickly turn into months or even years," said Mahfood.

Also, for the second time in Food For The Poor's 18-year history of its Prison Ministry Program, Haiti has allowed nonviolent offenders locked up in the Prison Civile de Port-au-Prince to have their fines paid by the charity. Sixty-eight men have been liberated from the country's national prison.

The Food For The Poor Prison Ministry Program is helping to transform lives. Since the program's inception in 1998, the charity has assisted in freeing, training and reintroducing nonviolent prisoners back into their communities as productive citizens.

In Honduras, 18 nonviolent offenders were released from their prisons. Eight men from the Privados de Libertad Para Conmuta Penitenciaria and 10 men from the Pastoral Penitenciaria in San Pedro Sula, which included 30-year-old Orvin.

Four years ago, Orvin had moved from the rural tropical rainforest of Mosquitia to the city of San Pedro Sula in search of work to provide for his wife, children and his mother. It didn't take long for Orvin to realize there wasn't much opportunity for an unskilled rural laborer in the city. He said he became depressed, started to drink and got caught up with the wrong crowd.

He was picked up by the police for a minor violation and spent five months in the Pastoral Penitenciaria because he did not have the money to pay his jail fine. But in Orvin's case, his sentencing turned out to be an unexpected blessing.

"It's very hard to survive in a place like this, but while here, I learned how to make sandals. Now I have something to do once I get my freedom," Orvin said. "I am thankful for this program, because it has allowed me to return to my family."

Orvin, along with the rest of the men released, were provided with clothing, toiletries, food and a copy of the Holy Bible.

In Jamaica, 21 nonviolent prisoners were released from their cells. Four women were freed from the Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre, which is the only prison for women on the island, four men from Richmond Park, one man from Tamarind Farm, two men from Tower Street and 10 men from the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre.

That group of 10 men included a 63-year-old bus driver, who was placed behind bars on Dec. 1, 2016, for not wearing the required bus uniform. The man had two options for the offense, pay a fine of JA$32,000 ($246.15 USD) or spend 60 days in prison. Since he could not afford the fine, he opted to be jailed.

"I have a daughter attending university, and college expenses are quite costly, but I want to give her a better life. This is why I didn't have the funds to pay the fine," said the newly released man. "It has been hard in prison, especially when you think about not having the freedom you are used to. Being on lock down is not easy."

When the man found out that Food For The Poor had paid his outstanding fine for his early release, he went on to say, "I feel good! I didn't have it to pay and to know that people who don't know me would just do this for me, it makes me feel really good inside. Hearty thanks to Food For The Poor."

Immediately upon release from the different prisons, the former inmates were escorted from their cells to a room and later to that prison's chapel where they were each greeted by Food For The Poor staff who provided them with food, supplies and encouragement.

Eleven men were freed from Guyana's notorious prisons in Georgetown and New Amsterdam. The men were taken to the Food For The Poor-Guyana office where they were treated with a simple lunch and a copy of the Holy Bible and other books. They also received travel money and hampers filled with food and personal care items.

Each man was given the opportunity to express his gratitude for a second chance at freedom in a phone call from Georgetown, Guyana, to Mr. Mahfood in Coconut Creek, Fla. Sayad, 37, who was sentenced to three months for stealing, was beside himself with gratitude during the call.

"I am very happy to be out of prison to be with my wife and family. I am very thankful to you for paying this fine for me. I am really, really thankful," said Sayad.

To support Food For The Poor's Prison Ministry Program, checks payable to Food For The Poor can be mailed to 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Fla. 33073. Please include reference number "SC# 74122" to ensure your donation is correctly routed, or make an online donation at www.FoodForThePoor.org/prisoners.

"Words do not convey the gratitude we have for our loving donors and staff who have not lost faith on a segment of people who are often forgotten or written off as a lost cause. Thank you," said Mahfood.

Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor primarily in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Wanda Wright
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6079
wandaw@foodforthepoor.com

CCRP - founded to honour my Mother & other mentors

With my beloved Mother Mrs Maisie Lowrie
who inspired the creation of CCRP 

After celebrating the 30th Anniversary of my company, PROComm (PRO Communications Limited), I decided to create and sponsor an organisation to honour my parents, Maisie and Joscelyn Lowrie, and other senior mentors.  Thus was born CCRP (The Caribbean Community of Retired Persons), launched in April 2010.

CCRP is a non-profit membership organization for persons 50 and over, retired or preparing for retirement. 

It is operated out of the offices at PROComm and funded by both the company and my own private funds, over J$15 million to date.

CCRP Board Director Mike Fraser
who advocated for our CCRP-Sagicor
Health Insurance

When our sister-company, PRODEV embarked on the development of the Phoenix Central professional complex, I ensured that the comfort of our senior members was considered in the design of the building. Thus there is an elevator with grab bars, large enough to accommodate a wheelchair. The Jamaica Suite comfortably seats 150 persons for our meetings as well as other activities, and the elevator goes to our finished rooftop where our members enjoy games evenings and fetes.

We are working to make the organisation self-sustaining, and are grateful to Sagicor for offering a Major Medical Health insurance for Seniors, and our over 60 discount partners.

Distinguished Line-Up of 2016 CCRP Legacy Awardees
At right is Honorary Chair Professor Hon Denise
Eldemire Shearer

The main goals of CCRP are: 

• To ensure that retired persons are allowed to contribute to national and regional development as we acknowledge their vast resource of expertise, and experience.

• To provide services to enhance the lives of retired persons and their families in the Caribbean community.

• To serve as a unified voice for its members.

• To be a powerful lobby group for national and regional issues, particularly those related to retired persons.

Headquartered at PROComm's offices, Phoenix Central, at 2 Phoenix Avenue, CCRP has established links with similar organisations in the Caribbean and in the Diaspora. 

For more information, please visit our website at www.ccrponline.org

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.

------------------------------------------------------------------

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!