It was moving to sit with a group of Jamaican friends who had migrated to Canada in the '70s, and listen to their heartfelt concern for their homeland. They have such a passion for this country, that they are constantly raising funds for various causes here. If we understood how much snow they have to dig, how many icy sidewalks they negotiate to earn the money they send here, we would be better stewards of their donations.

Their decision to leave was not an easy one. Now they are well settled in gracious Canada, and eager to do their part for Jamaica. So I'm pleased to say that the room was full last week at the Alpha Academy fundraiser in Toronto (thank you, Josie, Loraine, Karen, Annie, everyone). They are naturally concerned about crime here, and I did not have the heart to tell them that last weekend's murder tally was unbelievably high and included a small child.

Returning home, viewing from above the Jamaican landscape, so green and sedate, it was hard to believe that such evil could lurk amongst our graceful mountains. Where does it come from, this wicked streak in our populace, and how can we scrub it clean? I shared with my friends in Toronto that at our home and office, we take the usual security precautions, but we found that there was one sure way to make ourselves safer, and I had the proof.

Take a look at the Stella Maris Foundation in Grant's Pen, co-founded 10 years ago by Monsignor Richard Albert and one of Jamaica's most brilliant attorneys, Peter Mais. In those first years, we had to hold adult education classes outside of the community because there were so many "no walk" zones.
The citizens grew to realise that we had no hidden agenda. In our initiatives and interaction, they saw that we were interested solely in "doing what Love requires" (our motto).
We became a haven for counselling, training, day care, homework assistance, conflict resolution, and referrals for employment and health. The USAID, the Japanese Embassy and HEART-NTA gave tremendous support. Philanthropist Daphne Hewett and the Digicel Foundation jumped in to help us secure a solid building, the former home of Bryad Engineering. It was a fitting location, as previous owners the late Dickie and Bev Adams had also given much to the community.

With growing demand for IT Training, NCB Foundation doubled our capacity so we now have two shifts. Lois Sherwood of Burger King initiated a papier mâché co-op several years ago and residents are now earning from their lovely craft items. We now have an Early Childhood Education certificate course. We have so far graduated over 400 certified students, nearly all of whom have found employment. They are off the corners and on the job!
During gas demonstrations in recent years, buildings in the area were damaged, but the foundation was left untouched. One toughie confessed to our wonderful young manager Omar Frith, "When we think 'bout what you do for us, we couldn't trouble you." We couldn't trouble you. Now that is security.

Running the foundation takes money, and most of our recurrent expenses are paid from the collection plate of our church, but we dare not be weary. Only last Thursday, the tireless Anne Marie Tulloch Thomas hosted a dinner for her friend Lorna Fyffe who wants to set up a Friends group in Florida.

And so, even as we hope that government's new approach to crime fighting will work, we should understand that we will never be truly safe until our gangs have been denatured. We should not underestimate the significance, therefore, with the provision of high school tuition and free health care in our public hospitals. This should lessen dependence on the dons and in time, our children will understand that their sugar-water "treats" are mere appetizers for the deadly poison of gang initiation.

Now to reach their uneducated parents! Those of us who have been privileged need to get busy, so we can create success stories like those in Grant's Pen and other areas such as Hannah Town, Kencot, Rose Town and Fletcher's Land. Residents of these communities have been attending parenting courses and now feel more equipped to keep their children out of gangs. There are parents who have signed up for adult education programmes with their children. Even as Education Minister Andrew Holness rightly warns that delinquent parents must be held accountable for their negligence, we have to accept that our poverty-stricken women have been trapped in a vortex of abuse and dependence that leads to their aberrant behaviour. The judgement is on us who can help them to break free, but will not.

Democracy and survival

If anyone doubted the importance of the work done by former director of elections Danville Walker and the EOJ team, in giving us a gold-standard electoral system, they should take a good look at the post-cyclone tragedy of Myanmar, where cruel dictators are preventing the free passage of aid to their suffering people. Jamaica does have sound response systems, born of a functioning democracy with checks and balances respected by both sides of the House and keenly watched by our free press.

A philosophical Danville told me on Thursday that although he does not feel it is equitable that Jamaicans with US passports are singled out while a native of a Commonwealth country could hold his former post, he had not planned "to be director of elections for the rest of my life". "I expected that the day would come for me to leave, especially after 11 years," he said, "so it is not difficult for me to make peace with this situation. I have had a rewarding tour of duty and very pleasant memories."

They lift us up

Remember these three names: Kemesha Kelly (St Jago High), Shaniel Walters (Wolmer's Girls) and Roxroy McLean, student and reporter. They rapped with the WLI Advocacy Committee last Wednesday and we all agreed that they lifted our hopes in Jamaica's young people.

Kemesha is president and Shaniel first vice-president of the National Secondary Schools Council. The WLI (Women's Leadership Initiative) Advocacy Committee led by Judge Marlene Malahoo Forte is exploring with the students ways to address reports of disturbing behaviour in our secondary schools. These are articulate, intelligent young people who will no doubt become fine leaders. Jamaica may be down, but with Kemesha, Shaniel and Roxroy, we are certainly not out.

lowriechin@aim.com
www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com

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