WE have been mourning the loss of so many precious children over recent weeks. Our severely stretched children’s homes are barely coping on limited budgets, even as more parents are appealing to them to take their children because they “can’t manage”.

Meanwhile, a Canadian couple I know was turned down, a second time, recently in their effort to adopt a Jamaican child. They had lost a child tragically some years ago and had heard that Jamaica had many needy children. They were introduced to a baby boy whom they began to support while filing papers. After hopeful signals and preparation of a beautiful nursery — I saw the photos — they were turned down.

However, they decided to once again see if they could adopt a little one, this time by private arrangement. They heard about a woman in very trying circumstances who wished to give up her baby daughter for adoption. They received the full written consent of the birth mother. I remember a joyful e-mail from my friend saying that, finally, all was well and soon their baby would be home. No such thing! Once again they were turned down.

As an adoptive parent, I cannot even imagine the agony of this couple, as I remember the nightmares I had when I was awaiting the final word from the authorities. There were press reports about two years ago regarding a couple who had been taking care of a motherless child for years, pleading for adoption papers to be approved before the child turned 18, before she lost her right to inheritance. I am dearly hoping that the time did not expire — and puzzled that this was even a problem. What sort of policies are these preventing our children from enjoying a secure future, even as more of them are running away from children’s homes and some are losing their lives so tragically?

Last week, the Adoption Board had newspaper ads inviting applications. I trust that those who do so will not be faced with the difficulties and heartbreak that many others have had to face.

Getting our priorities straight

I remember a telling exercise at a summer school we held for a group of children. First, we asked them to tell us what they would buy if they got $5,000 to treat themselves at a plaza. Their shopping list ranged from icecream, candy, fast food, toys and games to books. Then, we asked them to pretend that when they got to the plaza, they heard that a hurricane was coming. What would they buy? The answers were very different: canned food, crackers, candles, matches, bottled water, and juice.

As the discussion heats up on security assignments, salaries, and pensions, we should be aware that Jamaica is in ‘hurricane’ mode. The rising number of murders, including those of our innocent, beautiful children, make it clear that policemen cannot be used as messengers while ordinary citizens are cowering in fear because of a shortage of security personnel. Retired nurses, teachers, police officers, and civil servants cannot be allowed to descend into near poverty; there has to be some balance in how remunerations are arrived at. If, as we say, we are one people, then we cannot sequester ourselves from the crying needs around us.

Social enterprise awakening

This column has lauded the model developed by Dr Henley Morgan for our inner-city communities, where his Agency for Inner City Renewal (AIR) has brought employment and empowerment to hundreds. Reports are that the summit held last week by the Social Enterprise Business Initiative (SEBI), a joint project of USAID and the Jamaica National Foundation, was enlightening and inspiring. Several organisations have benefited from the close mentorship being offered by SEBI, which has developed business models for them to ensure their sustainability.

SEBI has been assisting the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (of which I am founder and CEO) to develop a model for seniors’ employment. This led us to the Labour Market Information Systems (LMIS) Division of the Ministry of Labour, where we met with Acting Director Lyndon Ford, who walked us through their website featuring an Electronic Labour Exchange (ELE) facility. This allows applicants to post information online, which can then be matched with vacancies in the over 60 organisations that have registered with LMIS.

Dalia Green, administrator of ELE, and LMIS team members Simone Mair and Shaine Palmer were enthusiastic to explain the strides being made by the division. We made it clear that the retired people who had expressed interest in employment were not seeking to take away the jobs of younger people, but rather were looking at part-time assignments to provide experienced assistance in their respective fields, as well as mentorship of younger workers.

Small businesses and non-governmental organisations could benefit from seasoned experts in the areas of management, accounting, marketing, investment, health, and education without having to burden themselves with full-time salaries. The LMIS representatives have invited us to collaborate on a Memorandum of Understanding as they see this as a beneficial move for all stakeholders.

Big thanks to SEBI for placing so many organisations on the path of sustainability.

Afternoon of peace and love

Last Wednesday I visited Denham Town High School on Spanish Town Road at the invitation of Janilee Abrikian, general manager of the Peace & Love in Schools Programme (PALS). Guest speaker was chief of the Jamaica Defence Force, Major General Antony Anderson who, with Warrant Officer Class 1 Anthony Lysight and Major Carl Brissett, engaged the students in motivational activities and discussions.

Major General Anderson explained to them that they should have a plan for their lives and take deliberate steps with ability, confidence, and courage to achieve their objectives. He said that having gratitude was important for growth, as “even the bad experiences teach us a lesson”.

In replying to the question, How does it feel to serve your country? his response was: “Best feeling ever! Every day I feel blessed that I can do something for Jamaica, serving our people and protecting our land.” He mentioned — and my colleagues in Haiti have attested — the “huge work” done by the JDF in Haiti after the earthquake, and also the ascendancy of women in the JDF.

It was heartening to see the engagement of the students and the respect they showed to their guests. Well done, PALS and Denham Town High.

Tourism Farm-Up!

My friend Dave Rodney was part of the team of 640 US tourists to Jamaica last month for a fun vacation as well as a ginger-planting exercise in Haddo, Westmoreland. New York-based Jamaican, Neil Curtis, founder of Farm Up Jamaica, introduced our ginger to the doTERRA Company, which declared it best quality and invited 640 of their distributors to participate in the activity. The crop will earn us valuable foreign exchange and give them the finest ginger oil for their essential oil business. Brilliant!

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com