Dear Editor,

At its recent Spring Festival to welcome the Year of the Rabbit, the Chinese Benevolent Association commemorated the 120th anniversary of its founding. Ironically, it was a Rabbit Year in 1891 when the founders envisioned an organisation to assist their countrymen to settle in a new country.

The majority of early settlers were poor, with little protection from the Chinese Government and were not well received by many Jamaicans. It was therefore important for them to form strong bonds among themselves to meet the challenges of those times. The organisation’s primary mandate at that time was to settle disputes among its members and to lend support to individual members with problems.

The CBA continues to lobby on behalf of the Chinese community to address the concerns of its members. The CBA provides the forum to air the community’s views and to assist in facilitating consultations with various organisations.

The association is responsible for the upkeep of the Chinese Cemetery on Waltham Park Road and its former headquarters at 129 Barry Street where the temple is located. The Old Age Home at 1 North Street provides care for elderly members.

An important element of its mission is the preservation of Chinese culture among its members and to sensitise the wider community to enable greater understanding between all parties.

In Chinese tradition, 60 years represent one life cycle. On the threshold of its third cycle the CBA will continue to build on the strong foundation left by past generations. The strength of the association is its ability to evolve to meet the needs of its members and the society, while ensuring that the vision of the founders is the beacon that guides all their deliberations.

Marcia Harford

marciah@cwjamaica.com