Join me on a journey through the activities of last week to the lawns of Jamaica House, where our Special Olympians were honoured; the celebration of the 55th anniversary of Jamaica’s relationship with the World Bank, hosted by Country Manager Galina Sotirova; an environmental forum and the opening of a well-equipped digital lab at Convent of Mercy Academy ‘Alpha’; seniors and millennials grooved to vintage music at Waterfalls in Liguanea.

Rewarding Special Olympians

What joy we felt at the affirmation poured out for our Special Olympians at Jamaica House last Friday when they were honoured for their best-ever performance at World Summer Games, held this year in Abu Dhabi, last March. They bagged 14 golds, 10 silvers and 8 bronze medals. Under the guidance of Special Olympics Executive Director Lorna Bell, they marched proudly to their places, then ascended the stage — sometimes with difficulty — to receive recognition from Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange.

We were buoyed by the prime minister’s commitment to the special needs community. He referred to the Government’s policy for inclusion, harking back to his time as education minister when he initiated programmes for special needs individuals. He said, however, “This country has to do more for our special needs community to ensure that they have a positive, meaningful future.”

Towards this, Holness announced that $200 million had been earmarked to be administered by the Ministry of Labour & Social Security and the Jamaica Development Bank for the assistance of social enterprises operated by individuals with special needs, or entities that can generate employment for them.

“As the economy improves and unemployment is at its lowest ever,” he said, “we must ask: Is this growth inclusive, will it reach persons with special needs? We cannot take it for granted that everyone is included. We will use these resources to assist and support initiatives that are already in place. We don’t want to leave you behind!”

Minister Grange spoke glowingly: “All the men and women, boys and girls who wear our national colours and represent our country in international organisations are inspirations to us. But our [Special Olympians] are in a whole other category. Each of them pushed themselves, overcame challenges, and achieved success that we all can share.”

She challenged us to take a positive perspective of these courageous athletes: “When some look at our [Special Olympians] they see disabilities, but Special Olympics is a space in which we do not see disability, but rather it’s a space where we highlight and celebrate ability.”

Jamaica’s unified team included individuals with intellectual as well as physical challenges. Travis Ebanks, a law student at The University of the West Indies (UWI), received good news at the event when Minister Grange announced that she had organised a full scholarship for him.

“When I heard that he was having financial difficulty and was in danger of dropping out of the programme I made the decision that this must never happen,” she said, thanking UWI Principal Professor Dale Webber, Arlene Supersad and Professor Denise Eldemire Shearer “for their intervention and support”.

Congratulations, Jamaica

It was encouraging to hear positive words from World Bank Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean Axel van Trotsenburg, who was here to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Jamaica’s relations with the organisation. A Jamaica Information Service report from Douglas McIntosh quotes him: “I don’t know any country that has achieved, over a sustained period of time, the fiscal adjustments and reforms as Jamaica has done, and produced a most spectacular reduction of its debt level that reached almost 150 per cent, to fall, this year, below 100 per cent,” he said. “It’s certainly a world achievement… that probably would be number one, in terms of that success… I can only congratulate the country for this.”

The World Bank supports the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), which under the stewardship of Scarlette Gillings, and now Omar Sweeney, has transformed communities through their poverty alleviation projects aimed at assisting the most vulnerable. The JSIF team is admired for its culture of discipline and productivity.

Care of our common home

Among the activities to mark Convent of Mercy Academy, Alpha’s 125th anniversary was a seminar addressed by internationally renowned environmental management expert Eleanor Jones, CEO of Environmental Solutions, and land surveyor Timothy Thwaites. Do we understand that climate change is that big truck coming around the corner on the wrong side of the road?

We in Jamaica belong to the group called small island developing states (SIDS), which are particularly vulnerable to the rising seas caused by global warming. Of note, Indonesia has decided to relocate its capital city because of flooding. Let us take the advice of these experts seriously and set the good example to conserve, plant, manage waste, re-use, and recycle.

After the seminar, we proceeded to the library where Principal Kali McMorris told us of the valiant efforts of Librarian Hopplin Thompson and her colleagues which resulted in a modern digital lab. The alumnae of the school have been supportive; it is encouraging to hear of the contributions being made by past students to many schools throughout Jamaica.

Bridging the generation gap

Seniors of Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) and millennial friends got together for vintage night at Waterfalls in Liguanea. I can safely say that some of the young ones were out-danced by CCRP members, notably Miss Jamaica World 1978 Joan McDonald.

We decided on this event after noting research that dancing promotes cognitive health. We filled the dance floor as we enjoyed Jamaica’s golden oldies. Thank you, millennials Jaevion Nelson, Bella Branglin, Orville Levy, and my son Noel for being such good sports.

Farewell, Dr Tony Vendryes

We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Anthony Vendryes, who gave his all to promote wellness for his fellow Jamaicans.

I first heard him at a seminar in Florida at which he spoke of stress reduction. He took us through an exercise with soft music. At the end of the session a lady who had been suffering from continuous migraine headaches, emotionally shared that her headache was gone. He ensured that she left the seminar with a complimentary recording of the music. Another memorable lesson was his explanation of the danger of “EGO”. “Do you know what that stands for?” he asked. “It means Edging God Out. Stay humble.”

With all his achievements, Dr Vendryes stayed humble and accessible, sharing his knowledge through his radio programmes, columns, and his popular book An Ounce of Prevention. Jamaica is grateful that we had such a generous doctor and advisor among us.

Our deep sympathy to his beloved wife Dorothy and other members of his family. May his soul rest in peace.

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com