‘With no apology, I thank God!’
Over 400 members of the GraceKennedy senior team and scores of others via the Internet looked expectantly at their group CEO, Don Wehby, as he stood to address them earlier this month. He began by thanking them for their contribution to the group’s success and then stated, “With no apology, I thank God for His blessings.”
Wehby commented that he was surprised at the number of calls he had received afterwards applauding those words. “I grew up in a home that believed in prayer and worship,” he said. “This was supported by my teachers at St George’s College, and I am grateful for my faith.”
There are many leaders in the private and the public sector like Don Wehby, whose practices in the workplace are underpinned by their Christian beliefs. This week they will be among the scores of Jamaican leaders who will gather for the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast, which will have as its theme, ‘Righteousness Exalts The Nation’.
What a challenge this theme is to our leaders, especially those in the political sphere. The undertone of desperation that has entered the political conversation leaves us wondering if righteousness has been left out of Jamaica’s political equation.
For our parties and other organisations to produce strong and decent leaders, they must ensure that their representatives are trustworthy so they can inspire the trust of others.
I will never forget the call for help from a terrified police superintendent of blessed memory. He had pulled over a car in St Ann and discovered contraband and millions of dollars in cash. As a strong Christian, an elder in his church, he prepared a detailed report on the matter, stating the sum that was in the vehicle. Lo and behold, he received ugly threats from fellow officers who were at the scene. They demanded to know why he had not reported a smaller amount so they could all split the difference among them. They also made threatening phone calls to his wife, a respected teacher. Sadly, the following year I heard that this relatively young man had died.
Many of our leaders have had to face similar dilemmas, wondering whether they should just follow the negative status quo or step out and show the courage of their convictions. It is not easy, nor is it simple. I continue to believe that one cannot change the system if one stays out of it; therefore, we have to commend those who take the bold step of entering politics.
More than ever, we have to affirm representatives like Councillor Venesha Phillips of the August Town area, who has openly condemned criminality and has led the citizens of the area in a march against it.
It is interesting how many political leaders tiptoe around the issue of criminal gangs when they make their major speeches. The formula of putting thugs in charge of tightly packed tenement yards seems to be a cynical method of keeping a seat. In our garrisons, the phenomenon of destitute mothers having six, seven children, when they can hardly feed one, forces a question. Surely their representatives know that family planning clinics offer free assistance.
As our church leaders plan this national leadership exercise, we need to ask them to follow through on the strong and moving messages delivered at these events. They have the influence and should not only call out leaders at the prayer breakfast, but also from every pulpit in Jamaica.
Dr Lucien Jones, an ‘elder’ at the St Andrew Parish Church, shared these thoughts of theologian Oswald Chambers on prayer in his Internet ministry: “It is not so true that ‘prayer changes things’ as that prayer changes me, and then I change things.”
We are looking forward to the presentation of this year’s speaker, Pastor Glen Octavius Samuels, president of the West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The event will be broadcast live on television and radio. Please gather in your homes, schools, and workplaces to participate in this moving event, and encourage your family, friends and colleagues to make their own pledge towards a more righteous Jamaica.
Indeed, the words of our Jamaican National Pledge, written by Rev Hugh Sherlock, remind us of our responsibility: “I promise to stand up for justice, brotherhood, and peace; to work diligently and creatively, to think generously and honestly, so that, Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity, and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race.”
RJR Sports Foundation awards
The RJR Sports Foundation awards, organised by the meticulous Yvonne Wilks-O’Grady and her team, left us filled with pride. There they were, the fastest man and woman in the world, Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, being crowned as Jamaica’s sportsman and sportswoman of the year.
There was cancer survivor, Novlene Williams-Mills, who roared past the American leader in 4×400 World Games event in Beijing to take the gold medal for Jamaica, showing us the courage and perseverance that can come from our darkest moments.
Guest speaker, UWI Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles, lauded Jamaica for our “most incredible contribution to sport”. In recalling the resolve of the Swiss to preserve their reputation as the world’s top watchmakers, he advised that sports in Jamaica “must be institutionalised and industrialised” to maintain this excellence. He said that what has happened to West Indies cricket must never happen to Jamaica, and that we had a responsibility to come together to safeguard our dominance.
As he spoke, I recalled how a Chinese spectator pleaded with me for my Jamaican flag at the Beijing Olympics. Are we gearing up for Rio? Is there a project to embrace our craft workers so that our vibrant Jamaican colours will shine in Brazil? How far ahead are our sports tourism plans? Let us heed Sir Hilary, thus ensuring that all Jamaicans can benefit from our phenomenal sporting successes.
Rest in peace, P J Mara
P J Mara, Jamaica’s honorary consul in Ireland, who passed away last week, has been described as “the most effective campaign director in Irish political history”. No wonder then that Digicel Chairman Denis O’Brien invited him to join his board in 2003.
The Irish media has been carrying many tributes to this legendary gentleman who was as much at home when he visited the humble folk assisted by the Digicel Foundation, as he was in the highest circles of Ireland and Europe. Only last year he met with the foundation team, emphasising that our projects must make life better for grass-roots Jamaicans. He was a compassionate visionary. May his soul rest in peace.
lowriechin@aim.com
www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com