Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States Audrey Marks has been engaging the Jamaican Diaspora in her ‘Let’s Connect’ online events organised by the Jamaican Embassy team in Washington, DC.

Her Christmas event held last Thursday focused on the nation’s business, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson as special guests.

The central issue was crime in Jamaica and the reasons for the continued states of emergency. The prime minister pointed out that this has been used in countries around the world to achieve stability, noting that a certain developed country maintained a state of emergency for 10 years. He pointed out that with increased commercial and entertainment activities came greater risks. He said that during the three previous holiday seasons there had been an increase in homicides.

The prime minister said: “The purpose of my being in the United States is that we have to have a multifaceted approach to tackle crime in our country, particularly homicides, and so the use of emergency powers is just one of a suite of tools that we use. One of the areas we are pursuing is greater partnership with the United States. Today we had an excellent meeting that was hosted by the Department of Justice.”

He noted that the US recently passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and had their first conviction. “We have asked that Jamaica be made a priority, in terms of identifying, interdicting, and prosecuting persons who may be using the United States as cover to export weapons back to Jamaica,” he said.

Police Commissioner Anderson said the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been recruiting and training more police officers — 300 in the current year — and is introducing technology for greater efficiency.

“There are a lot of good things happening in Jamaica,” assured the prime minister. “…[T]he best news is that the economy is going to grow by about 5 per cent. Inflation has stabilised, though still below what we have targeted…Jamaica’s credit rating continues to be stable and very strong…the economy is doing well and continues to be an example which continues to be the poster child of good fiscal management.”

Friendship in the Pavilion

It was a beautiful surprise to see former prime minister and former People’s National Party (PNP) President P J Patterson raising a birthday toast to his former political opponent Bruce Golding. It turns out that the two gentlemen have stood together at Caricom conferences when they were in politics. Now they say they are “in the pavilion and no longer on the pitch” and their friendship has bloomed. Patterson related that after his car accident on his property, Golding would bring him choice fish and other healthy foods to aid his recovery.

Imagine, while their fellow Jamaicans are on social media arguing over politics and calling each other names, the words we heard from these two men were positive affirmations of each other. Tribalists seem to be unaware of the personal and family relationships of politicians on both sides. Golding referred to his school days at Jamaica College with a smiling former PNP President Dr Peter Phillips. Prime Minister Andrew Holness, meanwhile, recalled a special moment in his teenage life when Golding inspired him to enter politics.

The most touching moments were the tributes from Golding’s daughters Senator Sherene Golding Campbell and Ann-Merita Golding as they spoke of their caring, handy dad, installing their car radio, doing home repairs, supporting, and advising. The banter with his son Stephen Golding and sparkling emcee daughter-in-law Emprezz Golding told of a strong family.

Their ageless mother Lorna Golding is their bond and protector. Golding shared that during his early political times he had told her to leave in her own interest, whereupon she responded that she cared more about his interest. The eldest of their six grandchildren gave a lovely tribute to his grandfather as did his brothers Dr Trevor Golding and Anthony Golding. I am proud that their mother Enid Golding was a beloved teacher at my alma mater Convent of Mercy “Alpha” Academy.

We learnt that Golding first resisted plans by his children and close friends, gracious hosts Glen and Marva Christian, to celebrate his milestone birthday. We are richer for his assent, joined together in affection for this great Jamaican who told us he is emulating the prayerful life of his late father, Member of Parliament Tacius Golding. We departed in a spirit of gratitude for a man who has sacrificed for his country and has stayed true to his values.

The great Stella Gregory

Thanks to Maxine Wedderburn, who shared the precious work of the late Professor Barry Chevannes, I was able to learn about the late social welfare leader and human rights activist Stella Gregory for whom the annual excellence award of Soroptimist International is named.

Born in 1912 to Anglican Canon Brown and his wife, the St Andrew High School and The University of the West Indies graduate traversed the country with him. She joined the civil service and was put in charge of the affairs of women in the land settlement schemes in the 1950s.

She and her husband Rupert Gregory were assigned to a resettlement programme for the Windrush generation in England, where she met members of Soroptimist International and founded Soroptimist International in Jamaica in 1962. Congratulations to the club on its 60th anniversary and the awardees, including my friend Jeanne Robinson-Foster.

The more I learn about Stella Gregory, the more humbled I am to have received the award named for her from Kingston President Sonia Black in the presence of her son Robert Gregory and previous honourees Joyce Hewett and Eleanor Jones.

Alpha Mercy Unveiling

Today a special installation at the Alpha Mercy Historical Museum will be unveiled in memory of the Sisters of Mercy who had served, beginning with Alpha founder Jamaican Jessie Ripoll, who joined the “Mercies” in 1890 when they arrived in Jamaica.

What an impact they have made from one end of Jamaica to the next, graduating some of Jamaica’s finest musicians and professionals. Congratulations to Sister Theresa Lowe-Ching who initiated the development of the museum and to Sisters of Mercy Jamaica administrator Sister Susan Frazer for seeing to its completion. We give thanks to sisters Veronica, Magdalene, Mechtilde, Ignatius, Pascal, Bernadette, and still with us, Sister Benedict Chung for their unstinting service to Jamaica.

lowriechin@aim.com

www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com