Tears and hope for VCB
When news broke that there was a doping allegation against Jamaica’s beloved Veronica Campbell Brown, the country went into collective mourning. VCB is our “Golden Lady”, her legendary career started when she was sixteen — triumphing as a member of the girls’ 4×100 relay team in 1996 at the CAC Junior Championships in San Salvador. She has won 22 gold medals, 15 silver and 3 bronze. She is the most decorated Jamaican athlete in our track and field history.
In one of the many “VCB discussions” last week, attorney-at-law Sandra Phillips remarked that the athlete was beloved “because she always gives 150 per cent”. How true — the moment VCB stands in her lane, we see a quiet determination, and when she takes off, every sinew in her body strains to give its utmost. We agreed that her dignity, her stately demeanour made her a credit to our country, a great role model for our youngsters.
I remember live-blogging as we lined up to see the 200m women’s final in Beijing in August 2008. “Is this Veronica’s night?” I asked. Several screams and heartbeats later I was able to blog, “It WAS Veronica’s night! Gold again for Veronica in the 200m!! She won in tremendous style – smooth and strong! Kerron Stewart took the bronze!” — lowrie-chin.blogspot.com/2008/08/it-was-veronicas-night.html
The next day, the China Daily’s report was headlined, “Veronica keeps Jamaica on top: Campbell Brown bolted out of her blocks and immediately gained on Felix. She powered through the first 50m and had the psychological nudge on Felix coming around the bend. She was 2m clear of the field, with Stewart neck and neck with Felix for second spot. But no one could catch Campbell Brown whose fluid style saw her coast through to the finish line.”
These are the reliable, winning ways, of VCB — joyfully invading our consciousness. This is our tried-and-true sister, the one in whom we are truly pleased.
You can imagine, therefore, the tear-filled Twitter timelines and Facebook pages after the doping allegations surfaced. Most of us refused to believe that she would deliberately do such a thing, though there were the hard-hitting realists who told us to give up on our dreams. Sadly, there were also some very ugly comments in the vein of “now we know why those Jamaicans keep winning”.
It was with measured relief that we heard the opinion of IAAF Deputy General Secretary Nick Davies last week. Observer writer Paul Reid confirmed with him that he had said to an overseas reporter: “We can acknowledge that there is a case, but also take the opportunity to urge a sense of perspective… this seems, from evidence, to be a minor doping offence, according to our rules, so we want to remain realistic in our reaction, pending the conclusion of the case.”
For us, VCB is family, and we should continue to show our appreciation for the pride and joy she has brought us. We pray that the outcome will be just a small blip on her legendary run for our country.
Courting the Diaspora
If attendance were the only success marker for the recent Diaspora Conference, we would all be clicking our heels. However, I have heard too many disillusioned comments from participants of previous events to be too effusive. We have been assured by JAMPRO via social media that state minister for foreign affairs, Arnaldo Brown, will be announcing a timetable for deliverables as proposed/resolved at the conference.
We should congratulate corporate Jamaica for their wonderful displays, showing their overseas counterparts that, we who have stayed and invested, are forging ahead.
Since we are a small island, notwithstanding our large footprint, let us use the data we have gathered to focus on the most promising areas of endeavour. JPS CEO Kelly Tomblin said “Usain Bolt experiences” would wow our visitors — now that’s an idea to run with. Similarly, who wouldn’t want to be on a virtual stage, singing along with Bob Marley? In the area of health tourism, Jamaica’s features are legendary. The waters at Milk River and Bath Fountain have been tested and found to be richer in minerals than the most famous ones in Europe. I know for a fact that there is a group of Italian investors invited by their Jamaican friends, who visited the Milk River Spa and sent a proposal to the government some years ago to do a multimillion-dollar transformation. They are yet to receive a response.
It all goes back to the question of governance. Where is that proposal and the so many others that have been carefully researched and prepared? Why have they been transformed into dust collectors on someone’s desk? These are the life-and-death economic questions that need to be asked now.
But we cannot lay all the blame at the feet of ‘govament’. We have to look deeply inside ourselves to see how we can sharpen our game. Interestingly, I believe that the reason we are foundering in this brave new world is that we have shunted aside the best and wisest of previous times — our seniors and retirees — who could instruct and mentor our younger workers. Seniors are willing to learn the new technology and will combine this with their experience to ensure that legacies and values are preserved.
As we bask in the Diaspora glow, let us remember the fine returning residents who have re-established themselves in their homeland and may be interested in investing in our plans if we are interested in investing some time with them. There are diamonds in our backyard; let us mine them.
Bishop Burchell McPherson
The busloads of Jamaicans that converged on Montego Bay recently were testimony of the love of many for the humble, spirit-filled new Roman Catholic Bishop of Montego Bay, Most Rev Burchell McPherson. They could not miss the episcopal ordination of their priest and colleague at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. The column by colleague Michael Burke on Bishop Burchell gives a fascinating history of his Catholic journey (see www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Bishop-elect-Burchell-McPherson_14078632).
We learn that this Jamaican non-Catholic teen attended a summer camp in his home district of Hall’s Delight in rural St. Andrew and, in spite of his cooperation at the camp, declared that he was not interested in converting. He eventually did, and was asked to manage the St Pius X parish in Olympic Gardens in the late 80s. We enjoyed inspiring and light-hearted meetings with young Burchell McPherson as fellow members of the Pius X outreach committee led by the indomitable Sister Grace Yap.
Later Bishop Burchell served as the Chairman of Food for the Poor Jamaica and, despite his pastoral duties, worked closely with the management and staff for many years in his service to the poor. He is now a member of the International board of Food for the Poor in Florida.
Bishop Burchell demonstrates the importance of being an authentic Jamaican — no pretence, no airs, just a servant of God’s people, radiating God’s compassion. This is a modern priest who has cellphone numbers for everyone; so when you call him, he answers you by name with no hint of impatience. This is a priest with a marvelous sense of humour and hearty laugh. Please visit the Sts Peter & Paul Facebook page to see highlights of the ordination courtesy of the tireless Rachael Mair Boxill https://www.stspeterandpaulchurchja.com/Photo%20Galley/Ordination/Ordination%202013.htm.
We will miss him in Kingston, but know that our friends in Montego Bay will warm to their new bishop in very short order. We offer him hearty congratulations and continued prayers for this high calling.
lowriechin@aim.com
