JAMAICA received a huge Christmas present last week with the triumph of our own Tessanne Chin on NBC’s The Voice, the first time anyone outside the US had ever won the competition. What made Tessanne so special was not just her singing, but her warmth and authenticity. We saw her in a whirlwind of NBC and ABC engagements, and were proud every time she appeared.

We heard the murmurs when she mentioned the condition of Jamaica’s roads, but TVJ did a masterful job of showing some of our gutted roads as they reported on her spontaneous, good-natured comment. We saw roads that had plants growing out of their deep cracks. Those rural folks who can barely get their crops to market, those taxi drivers who pay interminable repair bills, must have been grateful to our truth-telling Tessanne.

And so, Tessanne has sprinkled our Christmas with the stardust of her magical voice and sweet personality, making us proud of our country and reminding those top politicians that they should think again before they defend lyrics that incite violence. It is providential that we should have this clean, sweet victory when such a debate on the anti-gang law was taking place. As politicians recall their oaths of office, they should embrace this opportunity to uplift their people, using examples like Etana, Marcia Griffiths, Beres Hammond, Shaggy, and Tessanne to show artistes that they can succeed without resorting to gutter lyrics.

After the challenges of the past year, we can reflect on the message of hope that Christmas brings. This faith-lit prophecy is from Isaiah 9: 6: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

It is in this spirit that we lavish love on our family and as many others as we can. What memories we have of the simple Christmas gestures that brought us joy. For me, it was riding up the escalator in Times Store on King Street, when I was about eight years old, with my Dad. He took me over to the book section and, to my delight, told me I could choose any book I wished. In those budget-conscious times, we borrowed books to read from the library and returned them. So having one’s own book — not a textbook — was an amazing treat.

Then, regardless of how careful she was with menu planning the rest of the year, my mother would be shopping, baking and seasoning in the weeks before Christmas. Her sewing machine buzzed constantly, as she transformed “pound cloth” into lovely curtains, cushion covers and new Christmas outfits for her children.

At church, we rehearsed Christmas carols — the commanding O Come All Ye Faithful, the stirring ‘Oh Holy Night’ and the ecstatic ‘Joy to the World’. Midnight Mass was a feast for the senses: the music, candlelight, incense, Bible readings brought us to the comforting realisation that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” — John 3:16

Sam Sharpe — a Christmas model for leaders

In his Internet ministry last week, Dr Lucien Jones wrote: “The main reason why Sam Sharpe is my favourite national hero is that he taught black people that, because Christ died for them, no man had any right to enslave them. The most liberating message that mankind has ever heard. That all men under God are equal.”

We understand that our members of Parliament have been given $75 million from the public purse to offer some relief to the poor over this Christmas season. Let us hope that they will make their outreach fair and meaningful, inspired by Sam Sharpe.

It is in this spirit of liberation that Food For the Poor has paid fines for the release of some non-violent offenders so they can be reunited with their families this Christmas. In addition to organising the release of a total of 37 inmates from three prisons in Jamaica, they are also assisting 15 persons in Guyana, 10 in Haiti, and 22 in Honduras.

Gift-Giving this Christmas

As you ponder what to get your loved ones for Christmas, here are some suggestions:

You can purchase a beautiful Food For the Poor Gift Card at Liguanea Drug & Garden or Loshusan Supermarket, donating school furniture in honour of the recipient. So if your child’s cupboard is already cluttered with too many clothes and toys, why not frame them the Fiona Godfrey-designed gift card to remind them that they are participating in making life better for a less-fortunate child?

For a bit of mobile “bling”, swing by Sancia Templer’s new store Cellairis at Manor Park — the layout is ultra-modern and the staff alert and helpful.

Fay Pickersgill recently launched her book, Falmouth, lauded by no less a person than former Prime Minister P J Patterson. “It is a fascinating and picturesque tale from the earliest years of Martha Brae, the main seaport of Trelawny,” he noted. “It also resonates with affection for a special nation — Jamaica, the land and her people.”

Dr Henry Lowe and Professor Errol Morrison also launched recently a near-encyclopedic publication entitled Ganja – the Jamaican and Global Connection. The book reveals what guest speaker Minister Phillip Paulwell described as “a plethora of uses” for ganja, already recognised in Canada and Israel. It is estimated that Jamaica could earn $2.5 billion annually from ganja-based nutraceutical products. Reap from this reading!

For poetry lovers, there is Prof Edward Baugh’s new collection of poetry, Black Sand, the reading of which by Dr Jean Small brought some to tears at the launch. We also recommend Chef Dr Pamella Powell’s collection of over 160 authentic Jamaican recipes, Sweet Runnings.

Happy 80th Birthday, Merrick Needham!

Today Merrick Needham celebrates his 80th birthday. My remarkable friend and mentor gave up a prestigious post with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London to serve his country. How blessed we have been to have in our midst this authority on protocol who continues to share so generously. Here’s to you, Merrick, blessings for many more.

Please be careful on our roads, dear readers. Have a safe and merry Christmas!

lowriechin@aim.com

www.poetry-lowrie-chin.blogspot.com