I love bragging to my US friends about Jamaica’s labour laws — they ensure that workers’ rights are protected and that women get 12 weeks’ maternity leave, eight of which are paid. These are hard-fought rights which birthed our two major political parties.

Workers have been hit by high inflation and so they are feeling the pressure on their pockets as witnessed by recent labour unrest. On the other hand, Jamaica is just emerging from its steepest economic slide due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Some businesses are slowly recovering while others have closed.

This is a painful dilemma for our Government, demanding agile planning and negotiations. It is admirable that the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is offering emergency funds to citizens who are not currently covered by other programmes. However, lower middle- and middle-income Jamaicans are struggling to keep up with the myriad expenses that confront them daily. Many of them can be described as working poor, a sad situation after they have completed their education, found a well-paying job, qualified for a mortgage and started their families. That once reasonable pay can now barely keep up with spiralling financial obligations.

The Government faces huge financial burdens — unexpected road repairs and demands from education, health, security, and housing ministries.

To address the unending road repairs brought on by the repeated flooding of certain areas, our parish councils could designate no-build zones and give incentives for tree planting. I hear that squatting is a political hot potato from one administration to the next, but again, there are acres of stable, arable land, the owners of which have long migrated. With our renewed focus on the Diaspora, efforts could be made to acquire land and develop schemes, giving our people the dignity they deserve.

Did you see on TVJ last week the folks who were stranded in Montego Bay during the thankfully brief strike by air traffic controllers? Some were unhappy at the inconvenience, while others welcomed the opportunity to spend more time in Jamaica. That is the magic of our beautiful country.

It is now for us to ‘hang’ together and find a way through these stormy times.

HAPPY 70TH, MONSIGNOR RAMKISSOON

Family and friends of Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon gathered at Mustard Seed’s Jacob’s Ladder in Moneague earlier this month to celebrate his rockstar of discipleship. Jacob’s Ladder was created after Monsignor Ramkissoon contemplated the impending departure from Mustard Seed homes of scores of residents who would, after their 18th birthday, no longer be eligible for the government grants which help to fund their expenses.

“I just couldn’t send them on the street,” he said, and so he founded Jacob’s Ladder. Each home has a supervisor and there is a large central facility donated by his classmate from Holy Cross University in Boston, Denis O’Brien, complete with therapy rooms. The exquisite chapel looks like it was picked up from the Vatican and dropped on top of that hill.

Monsignor Ramkissoon ascribes the growth of Mustard Seed to his supportive board and volunteers. It was beautiful to see archbishops and clergy supporting the celebratory Mass, but the star of the event was wheelchair-bound Keemo Birthwright, who gave an eloquent presentation on his journey with Mustard Seed and the nurturing guidance of Monsignor Ramkissoon.

Besides Jamaica, Mustard Seed Communities now has missions in Haiti, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. The faith of one man has been the saving grace for thousands. We celebrate with him and wish him many more inspiring years.

FAREWELL, BARBARA AND ANCILE

We join with the media community in mourning the passing of Jamaica’s icon of media and theatre Barbara Gloudon last Thursday, a week after her husband Ancile Gloudon.

“An entire country grew up listening to Miss G inform, educate, and entertain listeners with her trademark sharp wit and depth of knowledge,” said Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) President George Davis in a release from the organisation. “She was inspirational, ferocious, and dignified in her approach to media, qualities her thousands of readers and listeners appreciated.”

Gloudon served the PAJ as a trustee for several years. She edited papers for The Gleaner company, was the beloved host of Hotline on RJR and a columnist with the Jamaica Observer. She was a founding member of the Little Theatre Movement and was playwright for 15 national pantomimes. She was conferred with one of Jamaica’s highest honours, the Order of Jamaica and received an honorary doctorate from The University of the West Indies.

I love this story she shared with me. Gloudon was a guest at a King’s House event in honour of Queen Elizabeth. It was just a few weeks after the passing of The Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, and Gloudon found a moment when she could tell her how sorry she was to hear of the princess’s passing. Barbara said that The Queen’s face softened and her eyes appeared misty — she became a woman just like all of us, moved by words of comfort, and in sorrow for her loss. That is our Barbara Gloudon, walking with queens and never losing the common touch.

Ancile Gloudon was a deputy director of Carifesta 76, and I remember the time he took with us, his young colleagues, to share photos of his breathtaking collection of orchids. In later years, he wrote beautiful religious poetry.

As her daughter Anya says, Barbara and Ancile are now reunited up above. Deepest sympathy to their children and to the Gloudon and Goodison families.

HONOUR FOR ALPHA ACADEMY’S ELDEST GRADUATE

The ultra-modern Jessie’s Café, named after Alpha founder, Jamaican Jessie Ripoll, was the setting for a special event last Thursday to honour 103-year-old Carmen Robertson Brown, the eldest graduate of Convent of Mercy “Alpha”. Leader of Mercy Associates Jamaica Marcia Thwaites lauded the keen supporter of the school, which was also attended by her four daughters, one of whom was my late witty classmate Frances Brown Sweeney. Sister Susan Frazer, director of the Mercy Sisters of Jamaica made a special presentation and members of Alpha’s Mercy Circle said special prayers for her.

Brown’s daughters, Jean Moss-Solomon and Marguerite Forrester were also in attendance. Jean shared, “She has lived fully yet simply a life of calm courage and unwavering faith, unifying and sustaining us all.”

WALK GOOD, CHRIS ARMOND

It was a pleasure to have collaborated with Chris Armond at Caymanas Park when our shop managed the racing public relations account in the 1980s. You knew from his bearing and his extensive knowledge of the industry that Armond was racing royalty, the third generation of the Armond family, whose service went back to the days of Knutsford Park.

Armond’s ebullience charmed his colleagues, making him a beloved team leader. We learnt from Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission Chairman Clovis Metcalfe and racehorse trainer Anthony Nunes that Armond’s expertise made an impact on the Caribbean region and that his advice was also sought in the US. Indeed, he mentored scores of youngsters and has left a legacy of excellence in the racing community. We send condolence to his family and close friends. May his soul rest in peace.

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com