JAMAICA’S bauxite industry, now sorely missed in sections of St Elizabeth and Manchester, has a history of significant contribution to the economic and social development of the country.

Although posing disadvantages, the nature of bauxite mining has brought the industry into intimate contact with hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans, particularly in the rural areas.

The process of land purchasing, resettlement of land vendors, mining and land rehabilitation, employment, shipping, production, vast local purchases, and fiduciary and legal transactions, involves face-to-face dialogue with Government, employees, unions, communities, and other stakeholders with varying degrees of interest in the industry.

It goes without saying, therefore, that there has always been a strong people factor at the heart of the operations, and it would have been the early contacts with small farmers that, first of all, shaped the comprehensive programmes that embraced large sections

of the population.

As an aside, it is interesting to note that one outcome of the early exploration days in the 1950s was the stunning collection of over 37,000 Taino artifacts unearthed by Dr Jim Lee, head of Kaiser Bauxite’s survey crew, which was presented to the University of the West Indies in 2002.

But, apart from the interest in the archeological and historical encounters which they enjoyed, the companies also exhibited a high degree of responsibility in carrying out their social obligations to their host communities. This was expressed largely through education, agriculture, health, youth development, culture, sports, and general community development.

As an example, the industry landscape across St Elizabeth, St Ann, Manchester, Clarendon, and St Catherine is literally dotted with schools, colleges (STETHS and Belair as a start), playfields, community centres, clinics, roads, skills centres, businesses, housing estates, and water stations that all bear the stamp of bauxite development assistance.

I recall that, over a two-year period 1997-99, Alpart built or renovated a dozen institutions, basic schools, community centres, playfields, and micro enterprise projects in the company’s immediate operating area. These are still operating.

Cultural support also played a prominent role in bauxite community outreach. It is not generally known that Jamaica’s celebrated Master Potter Cecil Baugh, OJ, credited Kaiser Bauxite with having given him encouragement and help in 1960 when he was asked to train young Jamaicans in craftwork and pottery.

In his biography Baugh reports that: “Mrs Edna Manley told me that Kaiser wanted to establish a ceramics project in Maggotty, and it was Kaiser that financed the project and provided clay from its property at Hodges Pen.”

The famous Lititz Mento Band led by the incomparable Theophillus ‘T’ Miller who thrilled audiences around the world from the 1940s until Miller’s death was beneficiary of Kaiser sponsorship.

Alpart’s former Public Relations Manager Keith Brown championed company sponsorship of the St Elizabeth craft industry in the 1970s, enabling national recognition for the high quality straw goods that can be found in that parish.

Alcan, Reynolds, Kaiser, Noranda, Alcoa, Alpart, have all been active sponsors of culture in their operating areas and employee, company and community events continue to benefit from the companies’ investment.

With all these good works in the bag, however, flashback to the 1980s when, in spite of the social and economic capital invested, the companies found themselves staring down the wrong end of the barrel in an environment that was growing increasingly strident and demanding the highest standards of environmental practices.

Communities were becoming more sensitised to environment standards and the companies were now at odds with neighbours over these matters.

The 1990s were marred by periodic community demonstrations in retaliation to alleged emissions and environmental damage and the community relations process, of which I was a part, was severely tested by incidents which, in some cases, led to production interruptions.

Roadblocks, protests, sometimes even physical altercations, muddied the process of consultation and communication. Joint resolution of these problems was the answer and active community councils, with joint representation from community groups and employees, were formed to seek to resolve issues on a win-win basis.

Over the ensuing period, the success of this problem-solving mechanism was to lead to the councils developing abilities and capacities to include improved communication and project development as part of their relationship with the companies. The councils of today have gone way beyond the once volatile and aggressive approach, which once characterised the approach to environmental problems.

Flash-forward now to 2014 when the latest industry player in Jamaica, Noranda Bauxite in Discovery Bay, enjoyed what was a minor revolution in community attitudes when their partner, the Noranda Community Council, spent an afternoon with them last week Thursday celebrating the community development achievements of 18 Discovery Bay citizens.

It was an afternoon of elegance and what guest speaker, St Ann Custos Norma Walters, referred to as a class act, a microcosm of heritage celebrations at the national level on Heroes Day.

The council had as its guests the top management of Noranda, headed by new Vice-President and General Manager Antoine Liddell. But, on this occasion, the bauxite company took a back seat as the council, made up of ordinary village folks representing districts around the plant, took full charge of the agenda.

The programme highlighted the outstanding contributions of people from the grass roots and other levels of the society, who have served Discovery Bay in education, fishing, health, religion, small business, sports, law and order, transportation, and youth and community development.

But, not so fast. What represented a turning point in the history of sometimes conflicting relationships between the industry and community was the top award presented to Noranda Bauxite’s former president, now Executive Director Pansy Johnson, for “most significant contribution to the bauxite industry and to community leadership and support”.

While the bauxite executive headed the list, the citations to the group of humble residents provided fascinating insight into what makes a community tick and how community life depends on the quality of people who live there and serve.

For example, we learnt how Dudley Phillips, who has been the groundsman at the company sports club for nearly 50 years, has presided over the “best in sports field preparations, not only in Discovery Bay, but beyond borders within the parish, and with his name called at Sabina Park

and overseas”.

With an unaccustomed jacket and tie draping his chest and shoulders, Dudley stood teary-eyed as waves of applause saluted his skills, reliability, honesty and outstanding contribution to the field of sports.

Louise Palmer and Neville Wallace, retired schoolteachers, were hailed for their devotion to the classroom over an accumulated 80 years, and the qualities of love, care and concern for students which were among the hallmarks of their career. We got an insight into a bus driver named Vincent Barrett, a true gentleman on the road who has been responsible for taking generations of schoolchildren to school and back home in a safe condition, taking time out to lecture and counsel his passengers on civility and

good manner.

Then there were the pharmacists Joyce Dawson and Richard Garel, described as dedicated to helping the less fortunate, whispering kind and understanding words to troubled patients, and plying their trade with understanding and compassion over many years.

Dr Fiona Henry-Pinnock was lauded as the lady “who ministers to the sick and brings healing to the mind, body and soul by her gentle and compassionate dispensations”.

A young businessman from the community, Fitzroy Pryce, received his excellence award based on his availability, quality of service, and generous contributions to schools, churches, and individual charitable causes, “giving that poor person an extra in his basket, or a ‘mek-up’ of small change to fill a household bag of groceries”.

Then there were the two policemen, Inspector Levi Pinnock of the Discovery Bay Police Station, congratulated as the first of that rank to head the local station, and Special Constable Lindsay Williams, lifeguard as well as police, with both officers “earning the respect of all law-abiding citizens

in the community”.

Rudolph Stokes was next, a fisherman who “has been a constant vocal champion representing fishing rights and the welfare of fishing cooperatives in the area, and who has the record of diving deepest and staying longest underwater in the Discovery Bay lagoon”.

Pastor Horace Rose and Pastor Stanley Benbow of the Discovery Bay Tabernacle and the Bethel Town Revival were honoured as two very special human beings who have ministered to the community for an accumulated

80 years.

The highlight of the eveining were hree senor citizens, Miss Cassie (Cassandra Stewart), Miss Tina (Ethlyn Redway), and Miss Anna, (Anna James) who were given rounds of applause for their lives of service, unselfishness, guidance and Christian leadership. Miss Cassie, at 100, is still a faithful donor to schoolchildren-in-need, while Miss Anna and Miss Tina are regarded as the godmothers of their districts, revered and beloved citizens who were present for the occasion.

Lance Neita is a communications and public relations professional. Comments to the Observer or to lanceneita@hotmail.com