Members of our Jamaican Diaspora have been the lifeline for communities and schools in their homeland. Jamaicans overseas have organised significant fund-raising events and medical missions, while overseas alumnae and alumni organisations have assisted their alma maters. Their contribution over the years is immeasurable.

Professional Jamaicans for Jamaica, led by Horace “Shad” Daley and assisted by Dr Clover Baker, awards high school and tertiary scholarships. Jamaicans have heeded the call of the American Friends of Jamaica, joining with US Ambassador N Nick Perry and former US ambassadors to Jamaica to pour millions into scores of worthy causes.

However, there seems to be negative forces in our diaspora behind the flow of guns and ammunition to the island. Last Friday 64 guns and a considerable number of live rounds and magazines were seized at Kingston Wharves Limited. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Fitz Bailey, in commenting on the incident and arrest of two individuals, said, “…I want to make an appeal to the Jamaican citizens who actually are creating the significant problem that we have in Jamaica. They are the ones who are sending the firearms and I am appealing to the diaspora to sort of engage the citizens and encourage them to desist from this type of destructive activity.”

So here we are, the majority of us decent Jamaicans, being preyed upon by gangs fuelled by their conspirators in the diaspora. Some years ago at a Press Association of Jamaica meeting with US journalists the suggestion was made that if a local journalist is in fear of uncovering criminal schemes, they could appeal to their overseas counterparts to assist in such investigations. Clearly DCP Bailey has some level of intelligence on the source of the shipments, so a tip to an overseas media house could help us to name and shame these traitorous individuals.

Jamaican Diaspora groups may not have been aware of this blight on their reputation. They are in every sector of the US, including police departments. With their support, we can help to staunch the flow of these murderous weapons.

Expert tips for debaters

My post on social media that I was proud of our debaters as it was a good look for our democracy after last Thursday evening’s Local Government Debate was met with witty criticism. Well, the former debating coach for The University of the West Indies, whose team won multiple international competitions, took me to task for saying that they were “well prepared”, but he agreed that it was great for our democracy. He happens to be my evergreen uncle, Carlton Lowrie of Mannings School, Munro College, and Irving Hall fame.

“There was too much mudslinging,” he averred. “There was no need to keep putting down the other side and getting personal. The focus should have been on the issues. Jamaicans have passed that stage of being comforted by promises. Our politicians have a duty to educate our citizens who now refuse to be fooled.”

Lowrie said that the only person who stayed with the issues was Richard Creary, though his presentation could have been stronger. He said it was regrettable that neither party’s manifesto was ready and no date was offered for publication a mere 11 days before the elections.

He advised that the best way to handle a verbal attack is to “manage your anger and take the higher ground, finding an issue which responds to the attack and extrapolating on it”.

“When you stay calm and measured in your response, it says a lot about your character,” he said and referred to Michelle Obama’s famous saying, “When they go low, we go high.”

Poor deaf signing at the debate

The deaf community has protested the poor interpreting at the February 15 debate by an untrained signer. In a statement, they wrote, “The Jamaican deaf community, which also included hearing individuals who use Jamaican sign language, were devastated when they encountered the ‘interpreter’ who signed at [the debate], who was not well equipped to perform in the role of an interpreter.”

They alleged that this individual was hired instead of the experienced Antoinette Aiken, “in favour of a low-priced alternative.” This would surprise me as Aiken’s fees are not exorbitant.

This brings back memories of the state visit by President Barack Obama to President Nelson Mandela in South Africa, the so-called interpreter’s incompetence was an embarrassment to the organisers.

Deaf students upskilled in agriculture

Twenty deaf students at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD) campus in Knockpatrick, Manchester, recently completed a training programme in Climate Smart Agriculture Greenhouse Production.

The 10-week course was organised by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in collaboration with the Jamaica Red Cross. The courses included introduction to greenhouse production, crop management and nutrition, integrated pest management, safe use of pesticides, and marketing and farm business management.

RADA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Winston Simpson congratulated the students: “We are proud to partner with you; I am pleased to see men dominating the numbers, and it’s a big plus for us. Over the 10 weeks we witnessed the convergence of dedication, resilience, and innovation in a unique blend that defined this historic training initiative.”

CCCD Executive Director Leon Samms said the greenhouse currently in operation yields sweet peppers, and cabbage, lettuce, pak choi, and pumpkin are being produced on the property. While the recent COVID-19 pandemic and last year’s drought were setbacks, the centre now operates at higher level of efficiency, having installed an additional 1,000-gallon tank to enhance water supply and a solar-powered irrigation system.

The CCCD property comprises 50 acres of arable land which is used for cattle, pig, and poultry rearing and to grow crops for export.

My deaf colleagues would like me to remind reporters that they do not want to be described as ‘hearing impaired’; our productive deaf community is far from being impaired.

Get ready for Marley fans

The movie Bob Marley: One Love has taken the world by storm, breaking the US box office record for a midweek release, earning US$14 million last Wednesday alone and some $50 million by Saturday. You cannot scroll YouTube for more than a few seconds and not see an interview with producer Ziggy Marley and the leads Latasha Lynch and Kingsley Ben-Adir or a music video of the legend himself, Bob Marley.

This is going to bring a new wave of Marley fans to tour his birthplace and resting place at Nine Miles, his home at Hope Road, Tuff Gong studios, and Trench Town. The good people at Jamaica Tourist Board and Tourism Enhancement Fund should be collaborating with the Ministry of Culture and the Bob Marley Foundation to upgrade facilities near or at these locations for our food and craft stalls. Marley-themed concerts at our parks, theatres, and auditoriums would attract great attendance.

Let us use Marley’s spirit of excellence, perseverance, and inclusivity to inspire us to enrich our tourism offerings, delivering opportunity to the humblest workers in the industry.

To paraphrase Marley, “So Jah seh, not one of my people should sit on the sidewalk and beg your bread.”

Jean Lowrie-Chin is founder and executive director of PROComm, PRODEV and CCRP. Send comments to
lowriechin@aim.com.