It is a new week, and we are hoping that Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has enjoyed a reflective weekend, and will review his decision to challenge the ruling of the Constitutional Court, which had deemed unlawful the signed undated letters of resignation he had used to oust Arthur Williams and Dr Christopher Tufton from the Senate.  Had he not attended that service at the Boulevard Baptist Church and apologised to the two gentlemen, we would have understood a challenge, but this radical change of heart does not sit well with the Jamaican public.

Holness’s Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been attracting several negative reports in recent days. Hard on the heels of the court ruling, there was news that someone had been paid to end the life of the Opposition leader. It turned out to be a tangled web indeed, as the man who first said he had been contracted revoked his first statement and later disclosed he had been paid to lie about the threat. Further, there was cross-talk between JLP Chairman Robert Montague and JLP spokesperson on culture, Member of Parliament Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange; that matter is now settled, as it seems there was a genuine misunderstanding.

Regardless of which political party we support, Jamaicans should be concerned at the crises in the JLP. To have a thriving democracy the country needs strong choices and this fractured JLP needs healing. Holness should comfort himself in the knowledge that it is in such valleys that one can find lessons to take one to greater heights.

We are hoping that Holness will be that team captain who will affirm the positive qualities of his members, take the advice of seasoned members, and promote unity.  He has some gems in his team, including new caretakers Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, Fayval Williams and Floyd Green, former G2K president. It will take that humility shown at Boulevard Baptist Church to reconcile with key members like Delroy Chuck and Daryl Vaz. It may be a painful process for young Holness, but that is the price of leadership, one that he owes those who continue to show faith in him and his party.

Good move: Gibson/McCook Relays

As our fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt, put it, the adding of the McCook name to the title of the Gibson Relays was “Brilliant!”  Indeed, it was the late Teddy McCook who helped to organise Usain Bolt’s move to Kingston for formal coaching when the young talent was discovered. Teddy McCook’s colleagues remember the enthusiasm he had for the Gibson Relays, named for Bishop Gibson, founder of his beloved Kingston College.

He was a stickler for punctuality and declared that, “you could set your watch on the Gibson Relays schedule”. These were the practices that built our athletes into world-class competitors.

Teddy McCook was a sought-after expert regionally and internationally and, at the time of his death in 2013, was a council member of the world governing body for athletics, the IAAF, as well as president of the powerful North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC).

It was interesting to note that Teddy McCook had instructed that no tributes be read at his funeral, which lasted little over an hour. “Let my life speak for itself,” he was quoted as saying.  He was absolutely right. As we saw the Gibson and McCook names side by side on the relay banner, we were proud that Teddy’s life had spoken strongly, and that the relay committee had replied with this well-deserved honour.

Long may Teddy McCook’s name endure to inspire his fellow Jamaicans.

Gracious St Andrew custodes

Our leaders would learn well from the passing of the baton from former Custos of St Andrew Marigold Harding to the new Custos Donna Parchment-Brown. Marigold Harding had a dynamic term during which she emphasised training and commissioned 450 new justices of the peace (JPs).

In a recent letter to St Andrew JPs, Harding wrote: “I ask of you to uphold the integrity of the office and the association as we welcome Mrs Donna Parchment-Brown CD, JP as our new custos. Not only is she well known to me and whom I consider my good friend, she is highly qualified and equally up to the task, and I am sure will serve you well.”

In turn, Donna Parchment-Brown wrote: “I look forward to working diligently, respectfully and joyfully with you to continue the valuable and distinguished work of former custodes, including working with my immediate predecessor, Hon Marigold Harding, CD, JP, (Ret’d), whom I salute along with the executive members of the association and all justices of the peace.”

This is true respect. What a great example we have from these distinguished ladies.

Protect special needs Jamaicans

How painful it was to watch two schoolboys punching a young man, a special needs individual. This was featured on CVM TV last Friday.  The recording, done at the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre, showed the special needs student not hitting back, and trying to shield himself from the blows of the merciless schoolboys. This is abhorrent behaviour and calls for a strong response from Jamaicans to ensure that every Jamaican is respected, regardless of their disabilities.

Leslie Wan, a volunteer for the STEP Centre, has been blogging about the school and working to change perceptions of folks with special needs.  She shared a post in which she mentions the gifts she receives from those special children: true joy, laughter, reality, and going outside of herself.

“I smile in life as much as I can,” she says, “but these children make me have marathon smiles, and yet I never even realise I am smiling. Who can’t be drawn into the moment when a child sees you approaching and is genuinely happy to see you, and smiles so beautifully in greeting?”

She notes, “Reality isn’t always a bad thing actually… these children do not have a motive behind their gratitude… the children ask only kindness, patience, respect and attention.”

“Nothing about this place or these children is about me! It is all about them! They could be invisible, they could be scorned, or they can be that moment to remember that we all have a place in this world, and we all bring something to others if we open our eyes and our hearts to the view,” writes Leslie.

After working with the children, she notes: “Your heart is expanded, your blessings are magnified, and your smiles and joy are evident when you leave.”

Like Leslie and the many teachers and caregivers, let us open our hearts to the special ones among us and discover the special gifts they are.

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com